I live in Edmonton. Living in Alberta’s capital city and in theParkland region is great! All winter, my friends and I play hockey onour community rinks. I also get to see lots of games. My dad and Icollect hockey and football cards together.

My mother’s family hasbeen farming near Beaumont(boh mohn) for almost 100 years. Beaumont wasnamed after the beautiful hillit was built on. Beau montmeans “beautiful hill” inFrench. Grand-mère (grawhmair), my grandmother, saysthe brick sidewalks and thebuildings with steep roofsand shutters show the town’sheritage. It and many othercommunities in Alberta were started by Francophones.

I’m glad Beaumont is just south of Edmonton, so we can visitoften. My cousins and I like to play hide-and-seek in the fields.Grand-mère always reminds us, “Don’t trample all the barley!”Once, I fell asleep in the field. All the neighbours were helping tolook for me. Was I ever in trouble then!

The Parkland region has small marshy lakes called sloughs. Mygrandfather—I call him Grand-père (grawh pair)—and I clear thesnow off their slough for skating. I always have plenty to do, winterand summer, on the farm and in the city!

5 The Parkland RegionWhat makes the Parkland region a unique part ofAlberta?

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What I Want to Know…What I Want to Know…

…About the Parkland Region

How arecommunities such asEdmonton linked tonatural resources?

How do we celebrateAlberta’s heritageand people?

The Parkland region isin central Alberta. It issurrounded byAlberta’s other regions.

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How does the oiland gas industryaffect our quality of life?

What do you valueabout the Parklandregion?

How doesgeography affect our activities?

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LandformsMuch of Alberta’s land and its resources were created millions

of years ago. The remains of ancient animals and plants wereburied under heavy layers of earth. Over millions of years, heat and pressure changed the remains. Today, rich oil and gas resourceslay beneath the surface in the Parkland region and other areas of Alberta.

Imagine a large snowplow scraping the snow and pushing snowto the sides. Moving glaciers and ice sheets had a similar effect.They scraped, ground, and plowed rocks and soil aside. Theybecame covered with rock and soil.

The mounds left behind when the glaciers and ice sheets meltedare called moraines. The ice also smoothed some areas. This is whythe Parkland region is a mixture of flat and hilly areas.

Moraines

Glacierrecedes

The Parklandregion has manyareas with fertilesoil. This photoshows a healthycrop of onionsgrowing in theblack soil nearCamrose.

The rolling hills atRumsey are moraines.They were createdwhen ice sheets meltedand left soil and rocksbehind.

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Okotoks Big RockIn a few places, large rocks were deposited on the prairies. South

of Calgary, near the town of Okotoks, is a huge rock that is split intwo. Scientists say this rock came from Jasper and was carried alongand then dumped by a glacier. It is best known as the Big Rock, butit is also sometimes called the Okotoks Erratic.

The Big Rock is thelargest example in the world of a boulderthat was moved by aglacier.

Napi and the RockFirst Nations Elders often

tell stories to teach importantlife lessons. Some stories tellof people’s connection to theenvironment or how thingsin nature took their shape.

Napi is a figure who isincluded in some legends ofthe Blackfoot people. TheSiksika legend shown on theright is about Napi and theBig Rock near Okotoks.

One day, Napi was out walking.He was very tired, so he rested on abig rock. He gave his robe to therock as a gift. It got cold, so he tookhis robe back. The rock got angryand chased Napi all over the place.Napi asked some nightingales forhelp and they dive-bombed the rockwith their droppings until it brokeapart. You can see that rock byOkotoks.—as told by Matthew Many Guns,

Siksika Nation

NAMES IN ALBERTA

Okotoks is an Englishpronunciation of theBlackfoot word for therock—Ohkotokiksi (ohkoh doh geegs).

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Bodies of Water

Many streams to the east of the foothills feed the NorthSaskatchewan River. Along its path, the river has carved wide valleys.

The regionalso has lakesand wetlands.Wetlands areareas that arecovered withwater all ormost of thetime. Aslough is onetype ofwetland.

FloodingIn 1915, meltwater

from the foothills andheavy rainfall caused theNorth SaskatchewanRiver to flood its banksin Edmonton. Buildings,wooden sidewalks,fences, and otherwreckage smashedagainst the Low Level Bridge. It was feared that the rising waterwould wash the Low Level Bridge away, so two trains were parkedon the bridge to hold it steady.

In the end, the bridge remained, but hundreds of homes hadbeen damaged or swept away, and 2000 people were left homeless.

In 2005, heavy rains in Alberta caused the river to rise. A floodwarning was given in Edmonton and various other communities inAlberta. People were told to be ready to leave homes and buildingsnear the river.

The flood did not happen in Edmonton. However, communitiesto the south, such as Red Deer, Calgary, Black Diamond, HighRiver, and Okotoks, experienced flooding.

How does geography affect our activities?

River valley paths arepopular with joggersand cyclists inEdmonton.

NAMES IN ALBERTA

The NorthSaskatchewan River is part of theSaskatchewan Riversystem. The Creepeople called theSaskatchewan RiverKisisskatchewani (kis siscatch chew wo),meaning “a swiftlyflowing river.”

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ClimateOur climate is special because the weather varies so much.

Commonwealth Stadium is an open-air stadium. At EdmontonEskimos football games in the fall, I’ve sat in sunshine, rain, and snow!

Grand-mère says, “We live our lives around the weather in thisprovince.” The weather can help farmers. The right amount of rainand sun at the right time means healthy crops. What could happen,however, if it doesn’t rain when crops are planted? What couldhappen if it rains and rains, or even snows, right at harvest time?

Albertans like to talk about the weather and tell stories. It’s nowonder, since it affects everything we do at work and play. Grand-mère told me a great story her mother used to tell her. One day in 1930, in Provost, strong winds lifted dirt particles intothe air. When the rain started, down came mud!

PausePause

1. How does theclimate affect youractivities andrecreation?

2. Share a flood orweather story witha classmate.

The St. Albert Kinsmen Rodeo and Exhibition was nicknamed theRainmaker Rodeo because it rained so often during the event. At the time of this photo, it was a sunny day!

Many people in rural Albertaenjoysnowmobiling.

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VegetationIn its natural state, the Parkland region used to be fully covered

with woodlands and areas with grasses and shrubs. In the early1800s, the Beaver Hills area had thick clumps of aspen treessurrounding small areas of grassland.

This has changed because much of the land is now used foragriculture—farming activities such as growing grain crops andraising animals such as cattle. Only about five per cent of theParkland region is now left in its natural state.

Green and GoldYears ago, Mrs. Marion Kirby Alexander looked at the banks

of the North Saskatchewan River. She thought the rich, autumncolours of green and gold were beautiful. Her husband was Dr. Alexander, a professor at the University of Alberta. She suggestedthe colours green and gold for the university’s new team uniforms.

When the Edmonton Eskimos football team was formed, theybought green and gold uniforms from the university.

Today, University ofAlberta teams and theEdmonton Eskimos still weargreen and gold. This cardshows Mathieu Bertrand ofthe Edmonton Eskimos.

Alberta’s earlyfarming familiescleared thewoods andplowed thegrassy areas so they couldplant crops.

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Animal LifeAlthough many areas have been cleared for agriculture in the

Parkland region, areas with trees still provide shelter and protectionfor elk, moose, and deer. The cover and food source of grain fieldsattract some animals, such as pheasants.

Coyotes are numerousacross Alberta. Theyfeed on mice andrabbits.

The Beaverhill Bird Observatory Beaverhill Lake Natural Area is a protected wetland located

60 kilometres east of Edmonton. Large numbers of shorebirds andwaterfowl use the area as a stopover site during migration.

The staff and volunteers at the observatory count birds in thespring. They also put bands on the birds’ legs so they can tracktheir movement.

PausePause

1. How do animals inthe Parkland regiondepend on theenvironment tosurvive?

2. Why is it importantthat areas are setaside to helpprotect animals?

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People can see andlearn about birds, suchas these snow geese,during visits to theobservatory.

NAMES IN ALBERTA

The Beaver Hills wetland provided a goodhabitat for beavers, as well as birds. In theBlackfoot language, the area is calledKsissksstaki‘tommo (gsis gs da gee dohm oh).In Nakoda, it is called Caba paha (cha bah pa ha).Both of these names mean “beaver hills.”

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People and PlacesPeople and Places

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1795: The Hudson’s Bay Companybuilds Fort Edmonton, a fur trading fort,on the North Saskatchewan River. Theriver provides transportation and waterfor the community. This photo showsthe reconstructed fort today.

1897: Gold is discovered in the Yukon.Miners come to Edmonton to buysupplies for their long journeys. Somedecide to stay. The population ofEdmonton increases greatly.

2

3

From the beginning: Dene Sù¬iné andDunne-za (da nay za) people live to thenorth of the North Saskatchewan River.Nakoda people live to the south. TheBlackfoot people are to the west end ofthe river. The area around present-dayEdmonton is the summer camp for anumber of First Nations. As the fur tradegrows, Cree people from the east moveinto the area to obtain more furs. Thisphoto shows Cree people in Edmontonin 1903.

1

FACTSFACTSMany FrancophoneMétis andFrancophones fromQuébec lived andworked at FortEdmonton. French wasthe first and most usedEuropean languagethere from 1821 to themid-1800s.

FastFast

Edmonton, Alberta’sCapital City

People were attracted to Edmonton and surrounding areas formany reasons. This timeline shows and describes some key eventsin the development of the area.

How are communities such as Edmonton linked tonatural resources?

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1902: The railway arrives. Trains bringmore settlers, and Edmonton becomes acentre for agriculture.

1905: Alberta becomes a province ofCanada, and Edmonton becomes thecapital city. Sandstone from near Calgaryis used in the construction of theLegislature Building. The AlbertaLegislature Building is opened in 1912.

5

4

1947: A major oil discovery ismade at Leduc, near Edmonton.Pipelines and refineries areconstructed, leading to many newbusinesses in Edmonton.

6

PausePause

1. Choose threeevents fromEdmonton’s historythat show how andwhy the communitygrew. Write anewspaper headlinefor each event.

2. Why would findingoil in Leduc createjobs in Edmonton?

NAMES IN ALBERTA

Leduc was first set up as a telegraph station.The town was named after Father HippolyteLeduc, a Francophone missionary in thearea. A missionary is someone sent by achurch to assist people in an area. He camewest in 1865.

Cree people called what is now EdmontonAmiskwaciywaskahikan (a misk wa chee wowask kuh hik un), which means “BeaverHills House.”

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Natural ResourcesOnce the railroad reached Calgary in 1883, settlers from eastern

Canada and Europe began to arrive by train in great numbers.Many then moved north and set up farms in the Parkland region.

Businesses that gather natural resources and make goods to sellare industries. Today, farming is a major industry in the Parklandregion and around Alberta.

Agriculture

• graintransportation

• farmequipmentdealers

• grain seedandfertilizerdealers

• creamery

Businesses Supportedby Farming

• banks

• fueldepots

• grocerystores

Good farmland attractedsettlers to the Red Deer area.Today, a variety of agriculturalservices are available there.The man in this photo worksat a plant where products aremade from grain.

Grand-mère said farmers support farming towns. I wasn’t surewhat she meant, so she challenged me to make a list of all thebusinesses farmers need. Now, I am beginning to understand howfarmers and people in farming towns rely on each other.

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Farming Know-howHutterites are groups of people who live together on large

community farms, or colonies. They share the same religious faith.Hutterite people do mixed farming. This means they work at morethan one type of farming. They grow crops and raise farm animals.

The Hutterite peoplenoticed a demand for farm-grown vegetables. Whengrowing vegetables andother crops, they usemodern machinery. This isone way that the Hutteritesuse present-day equipmentto help support theirtraditional way of life.

New IdeasFeedlots buy great numbers of calves to fatten for market. For a

few years, beginning in 2003, there were strong concerns about acow disease called BSE. As a result of “mad cow disease,” fewerpeople wanted to buy Alberta cattle.

A feedlot near Vegreville came up with a new business idea. The owners worked together with the Alberta Research Council.They developed a way to use the methane gas produced by cowmanure, or waste. Once the gas is collected, it can be burned tomake electricity. Some day, this could be a major source of power.

Many Hutterite peopleuse technology in theirfarming. This man usesa computer to keeptrack of livestock onthe farm.

PausePause

1. Write a caption forÉric’s organizer toexplain how farmersand businesses innearby townsdepend on eachother.

FACTSFACTSThe waste of the beefcattle in Alberta couldbe used to createenough power to heatone million homes.

FastFast

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The Oil and Gas Industry

In addition to agriculture, industries related to oil and gasresources are very important in the Parkland region.

How does the oil and gas industry affect our qualityof life?

I’ve seen the refineries on the eastern outskirts of Edmontonwhile on my way to Sherwood Park to play hockey. At therefineries, thick black oil called crude oil is changed into usefulproducts. The refineries heat the oil, clean it, and change it intoproducts such as gasoline.

The refineries need tall columns. Some are called flare stacks. I think they look like giant lit matches. With the car windows down inthe summer, you can hear hissing and roaring sounds from the pipes.

At the refineries, there are also huge storage drums set in basinsmade of hard-packed earth. These earth basins are designed tohold anything that leaks from the tanks.

One day, there was a stinky smell in the air near the refineries.Was it harmful? Mom said there are laws to protect theenvironment and people. The laws say what may be released intothe air or water. Laws also outline how to safely dispose of waste.

Mom said we can let the people in charge of the refineries knowif there is a problem with the air quality. We think it’s ourresponsibility to help.

We looked in the front of the telephone book under EmergencyNumbers. There is a 24-hour number to call about environmentalconcerns andemergencies. I’m gladto know how to helpkeep our environmentsafe!

Buried Utility LocationAlberta One-Call 1 800 242-3447

Dangerous Goods Incidents – 24 Hours 422-9600*EMA (Emergency Management Alberta) 422-9000

1 800 272-9600Environmental Complaint Emergency – 24 Hours

Alberta Environment Toll Free 1 800 222-6514*Industrial Accidents – 24 Hours

(Notification of Fatality or Serious Injury)Workplace Health & Safety Call Centre 415-8690*

Environment Canada’s Reporting Service 951-8625

PausePause

1. Who could you askto help if there is aproblem in theenvironment? Whatinformation is atthe front of thetelephone book?

Inquiry

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OccupationsThe petrochemical industry involves the production of oil and

gas products. It provides a great number of jobs for Albertans. Thisflow chart shows some of the steps and occupations needed forgathering oil and gas and developing oil products.

PausePause

1. Look at the flowchart. What jobsare connected tothe oil industry?

2. How do you thinkthe development offarming and oil andgas industrieschanges thetraditional ways oflife of First Nationsand Métis people?For example, howmight hunting,trapping, andgathering beaffected?

The EdmontonOilers werenamed becauseof Edmonton’sconnection tothe oil industry.This card showsRyan Smyth.

conclusionsDraw

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1. Exploring:Geologists find crude oil underground.

2. Drilling:Riggers drill and put pipes deep in the ground.Pipe fitters and welders build and repairequipment.

3. Extracting (removing):Oil pumps, called pump jacks, draw crude oilfrom the ground. Mechanics fix any equipmentproblems.

4. Transporting:Some oil is sent to the refineries in pipelines.Drivers also transport oil in trucks calledtankers.

5. Processing (making products):Engineers and process workers use heat and pressure to separate the products in the crude oil.

6. Storing and Selling:Huge tanks in basins hold the products untilthey are sold to customers. Office staff keeptrack of the materials.

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Forming Communities

The Parkland region has the largest population in Alberta.People of various cultures and languages have moved to the regionfrom across Canada and the world.

Francophone people started over 30 communities in Alberta,such as Edmonton, Morinville, Legal, Villeneuve, St. Albert, St. Paul, Bonnyville, Brosseau, and Lamoureux. Some came fromother parts of Canada and some from Francophone countries.Others were born in Alberta.

In 1894, for example, five Francophone families, originally fromQuébec, moved from Kansas, in the United States. They started acommunity. It was named Vegreville in honour of Father ValentinVegreville, a Francophone missionary.

Francophone CelebrationsProvincial events, such as

La Fête franco-albertaine(la fet frahn koh al bair ten),bring Francophones together.It is a celebration of theFrancophone history andpresence in Alberta. People getto meet family and friends andhave fun. There is music andentertainment, and there aremany activities for children.

How do we celebrate Alberta’s heritage and people?

My family is Francophone. We speak French at home. I go to aFrancophone school in Edmonton where I learn in French. My sistertakes courses that are taught in French at Campus Saint-Jean. It is apart of the University of Alberta.

We read a newspaper called Le Franco. My parents also listen toFrench radio and television stations. They have two bumperstickers. One says they listen to CHFA and the other says theywatch CBXFT. Both are Alberta stations. They are part of Radio-Canada, one of Canada’s French-language networks.

The statue ofFather Vegrevillerecognizes thehelp he gave tothe newsettlement ofVegreville.

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Changing CommunitiesIn the late 1800s, some German

homesteaders settled in the Bruderheimand Stony Plain areas. Ukrainian familiesalso settled in the region, around Star,near Lamont. Beginning in 1905, therailway brought more settlers.

The communities changed over time.In the 1920s, for example, more andmore Ukrainian people moved from thesurrounding areas to Vegreville. Today,there is a strong Ukrainian culture there.

The Heritage FestivalIn Alberta, there are special events where people can celebrate

Albertans’ heritage, cultures, and traditions.The Heritage Festival is held in Edmonton every August. The

event takes place in a large park in Edmonton called WilliamHawrelak Park. Hundreds of thousands of people attend.

Groups of various cultural backgrounds each have a displayarea. They wear traditional clothing. Some sing, dance, andperform music. Many children take part. This is a place to taste the wonderful foods of the world.

PausePause

1. Why is it importantto learn about andcelebrate theheritage of peoplein Alberta?

2. What places andevents does yourcommunity have tocelebrate itsheritage?

Musicians, such as these from Nigeria, entertain people at theHeritage Festival.

A giant pysanka (pihsahn ka), a UkrainianEaster egg, is anattraction in Vegreville.

and knowWhat I think1SK

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E

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Alberta’s Capital RegionEdmonton and the surrounding communities are sometimes

called the capital region. Communities such as Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Fort Saskatchewan, and Sherwood Park are part of thecapital region in Alberta.

People in the capital region have an opportunity to share ideasand some services because they are located near each other. Capitalregion communities and groups often cooperate on projects toimprove the quality of life of people living there.

Community ConnectionsCommunity Connections

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Capital Health provideshealth services topeople in Edmontonand surroundingcommunities.

Some capital regioncommunities sharewater treatmentservices. Water fromthe E.L. Smith WaterTreatment Plant inEdmonton travels inunderground pipes tonearby communities.

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People and PlacesPeople and Places

An Albertan HeroMatt Armstrong attends school in Fort Saskatchewan, a city

just northeast of Edmonton. In 2000, when he was in grade four,doctors discovered a medical condition in Matt’s brain thatrequired treatment.

Matt was sent to the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.For weeks, he had to stay in his hospital bed. Matt wanted to be upand active. “Kids really need exercise,” he said. He decided to raise2000 dollars to buy an exercise bike.

Matt noticed there were other things that could make adifference to the children on his ward. His list included babyswings and strollers, craft supplies, socks, slippers, video games,DVDs, toys, and books. With determination, Matt began to collectdonations. So far, he has raised over 100 000 dollars!

Matt likes to give people a homemade bookmark to thank themfor their donations. “You must say thank you or it seems you don’tcare,” he says.

their positive contributions to their schools, communities, andfamilies.

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PausePause

1. Who has beenhelped by Matt’sefforts?

2. Interview studentsto find out howthey help out intheir community.Work as a class tocreate a web toshow your findings.

3. As a class,brainstorm waysyou could make a difference in your school orcommunity. Selectan idea. Discuss thefirst steps you couldtake to carry outthe idea.

Encouraging messages toMatt were posted on a wallin the hospital. In thisphoto, he is standing withCathy Belanger, his aide, infront of his “Wall of Will.”

Matt’s fundraising enabledthe hospital to buy a newtreadmill.

questionsAsk

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actionTake

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in 2003. It is given to Albertans between the ages of 5 and 18 forMatt was one of 17 children who received the Great Kids Award

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What Have We Learned?Natural resources, such as fertile farmland and oil and gas,

led to the formation and growth of communities in this region. We celebrate the history and heritage of people who live in thesecommunities.

People and communities in Alberta cooperate to help meet theneeds of others. In our inquiry on page 90, we were challenged tofind ways to take environmental action. We also learned about MattArmstrong. He saw the need for improving the quality of life forchildren in the hospital and took action.

Inquiring1. Go to www.nelson.com/albertasocialstudies and click on the

link to learn more about the Great Kids Award in Alberta. Readabout some of the children who have received this award.Make a list of some of their qualities.

Imagine you are nominating someone for the award. Writea persuasive letter telling why this person is a “great kid.” Tellwhat contributions this person makes to their school, family,and community.

Developing Your Thinking2. Éric’s first language is French. He is Francophone, and he also

has learned English. Many Alberta students in grade four arelearning French. Why do you think so many people choose tolearn French in Alberta? Conduct an inquiry to learn more.

Work with a small group to develop aclass survey to seek the answers to thesequestions:• Who speaks more than one language? • What languages do your classmates speak?• For those who speak a second language,

what advantages do they experience?Organize your information and share

your group’s conclusions. Has your opinionabout learning second languages changed asa result of your inquiry? Explain yourthinking.

ideasOrganize

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actionTake

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Appreciating Our Alberta 3. Look back at the questions on the strips of paper found

throughout the chapter. Think about how much you havelearned!

Now, it’s time to share what you appreciate about ourAlberta. Write or draw your ideas to answer these two questions:

Reflecting4. Think back to the inquiries you have done this year. Some

inquiries may have involved researching, others may haveinvolved participating, and some may have involved both.How were these projects similar? How were these projectsdifferent? Explain what made each of them an inquiry.

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The Alberta ProjectThe Alberta Project

Éric has shared samples of his sports card collection with you. Suchcards have pictures on one side and information on the other. Maketwo cards to show what you appreciate about the Parkland regionand the quality of life possible in the region.

On the front of the first card, draw and name a person you think isimportant to the Parkland region. Choose someone who has had apositive impact on the environment or on a community in this region.Record information about the person on the back of the card.

On the front of the second card, draw and label a Parkland activitythat relates to the natural environment. Research and put theinformation on the other side.

Try using some of the following sources to help you research forinformation:

• library books

• Internet

• newspapers

• radio/television broadcasts

• your parents or another adult

• magazines

What makes the Parkland region a unique part ofAlberta?

What do you value about the Parkland region?

Parkland Person:

Location:

Why is this person importantto the Parkland region?

How does this personcontribute to our quality oflife?

Parkland Activity:

Location:

Why is this activity importantto the Parkland region?

How does this activitycontribute to our quality oflife?

Matt Armstrong

goes to school in

Fort Saskatchewan

raised money for Stollery

Children’s Hospital

He helps kids feel happier

when they’re in the hospital.

SAMPLE

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