Genesee, Alberta

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Hamlet of Genesee
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settlement_type = Hamlet
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dot_mapsize = 200px
dot_map_caption = Location of Genesee
dot_x = 86 |dot_y = 156
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = AB
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Central Alberta
subdivision_type3 = Census Division
subdivision_name3 = 11
subdivision_type4 = County
subdivision_name4 = Leduc
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established_date = 1905
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population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes = Cite web| url= http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CD&Code1=4811&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Division%20No.%2011&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4811 | title= Division No. 11 - Community Statistics | author= Statistics Canada| authorlink= Statistics Canada| year= Census 2006 | accessdate= 2007-06-06]
population_note = Dispersed rural population.
population_total = 60
population_density_km2 = <3
population_density_sq_mi = <3
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
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latd= 53|latm= 20|lats= 38.24|latNS=N
longd= 114|longm= 20|longs= 33.80|longEW=W
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elevation_m = 820
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blank_name = Highways
blank_info = 770
blank1_name = Waterways
blank1_info = North Saskatchewan River
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Genesee is a small farming hamlet in Central Alberta which came into existence in 1905, the same year as Alberta was entered into Confederation.

Recent history

Geography and location

Genesee is approximately 44 miles west southwest of the City of Edmonton in Alberta. It is transected by Secondary Highway 770 and bordered by the North Saskatchewan River to the North and West, Highway 627 to the South, and the Genesee Bypass Road to the East. The center of the hamlet is currently considered to be the EPCOR Generating Station.

Climate

Genesee, like the City of Edmonton has a northern continental climate with extreme seasonal temperatures, although the city has milder winters than either Regina or Winnipeg, which are both located at a more southerly latitude. It has mild summers and chilly winters, with the average daily temperatures ranging from -11.7°C (10.9°F) in January to 17.5°C (63.5°F) in July. [http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=ALL&StationName=Edmonton&SearchType=BeginsWith&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=1867& Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000 - Edmonton City Centre Airport] ] Annually, temperatures exceed 30°C (86°F) on an average of three days and fall below −20°C (−4°F) on an average of twenty-eight days. The highest temperature recorded in Edmonton was 34.5°C (94.1°F) on August 5, 1998. For additional information, see the City of Edmonton page.

Economy

Genesee main employment vehicle is the EPCOR Genesee Generating Station. This coal-fired plant employs 300+ people over 3 generating units, as well as a significant labour force for the strip mining operations.

The rest of the hamlet is divided between agrarian activities and residents who commute to larger centers for employment.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Genesee is served by one paved road – Secondary Highway 770. The remaining roads are gravel topped roads averaging 20 feet in width. The County of Leduc maintains these roads with periodic grading and gravel resurfacing. Residents are offered oiling options for the immediate area in front of their houses for dust management.

Being a hamlet, Genesee residents require a car. There are no mass transit options.

Electricity and water distribution systems

Electricity is provided by local utility companies post deregulation. Prior to deregulation, TransAlta Utilities was the only provider. Electricity is extended via overhead power lines and you do have to rent your transformer.

Water and Septic are traditional drilled well/cistern setups and septic fields/mounds. Water quality in the area was exceptional; however, recent strip mining in the area has led to some degradation of the shallow wells in the area.

Hospitals and Emergency Services

There are four main hospitals serving Gensee: the Breton hospital, the Drayton Valley hospital, the Westview Stony Plain hospital and the Leduc hospital. Additional facilities and more advanced care is available in the City of Edmonton hospital's various facilities.

Emergency Services are provided by county options; however, the residents of the Hamlet of Genesee are further covered by the emergency services within EPCOR’s Genesee Generating Station’s facility. These include fire and first responder EMS services.

Education

K-12

There is only one public school for the Genesee area, located in the Village of Warburg. This offers Playschool through Grade 12 education in both Matriculation and Vocational streams.

Genesee has a unique school history, dating from a one room schoolhouse that existed until 1960, to the former community hall (Kindergarten and Gr. 1 only) that was closed when the EPCOR plant’s cooling pond flooded the south side of the hamlet in 1985. All schooling operations were consolidated in Warburg

Nightlife

Most residents need to drive to nearby towns of Stony Plain/Spruce Grove and Leduc for major clubs and movies, but local rural bars do abound in Warburg, Sunnybrook, Breton, Mink Lake, Wabamun and Beach Corner.

Other activities center around local neighbors arranging evening activities. Like most rural areas, informal "bush parties" are commonplace.

Culture

Museums and galleries

The local history is contained with in the Warburg Museum, a converted two room schoolhouse on the grounds of the current Warburg School facilities.

Local festivals and activities

Genesee Sting Slo-Pitch team4-H activities

Sports and recreation

Located between Stony Plain/Spruce Grove and Warburg Alberta, Genesee residents can utilize the services of both towns. Warburg provides hockey and curling facilities as well as any organized sports for baseball and court sports out of the local High School. Stony Plain/Spruce Grove area offers access to the same breadth of offerings, but adds the Tri-Leisure center for aquatic sports as well as many fitness facilities.

The local Genesee community hall has facilities for baseball, slo-pitch, horseshoes, and a playground. The outdoor arena has since been decommissioned and moved to the Warburg School.

Airports

Genesee is served by the Edmonton International Airport, but local grass fields abound. The closest are the Zajes airfield on Highway 770 3 miles north of Highway 39, and the St Francis Airfield (Byrne Farm) approximately 5 miles west of St Francis on Highway 627.

Religion

Genesee had a United Church assembly throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s. Catholic services were held in St Francis until that parish was closed and the congregation moved to Warburg.

Canadian City Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre = Genesee
Northwest = Carvel, Alberta
North = Wabamun Keephills
Northeast = Stony Plain
East = Edmonton Elk Island National Park
Southeast = Devon Leduc Strawberry Halmet Telfordville Hamlet Devon Thorsby
South = Warburg Pigeon Lake St Francis Hamlet<
Southwest = Breton Winfield
West = Drayton Valley Lindale Hamlet Tomahawk Hamlet

References

External links

* [http://www.transalta.com/transalta/webcms.nsf/AllDoc/6787DF19EF203AD287257157004FC437?OpenDocument "EPCOR in Genesee"]