Rosebud, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Rosebud, Alberta is a hamlet
in southern Alberta
, Canada
within Wheatland County
. It is located on Highway 840, approximately 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) northeast of Calgary
and 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) southwest of Drumheller
Rosebud sits in a sheltered valley on the Rosebud River
near the edge of the Canadian Badlands. This area was called Akokiniskway by the Blackfoot
people, which translates roughly to "by the river of many roses".
s, Alberta
's official flower. Wishart then reportedly said, "Here's the promised land, we go no further."
The beauty of the valley has attracted many people throughout the years, from nature lovers to artists. Notable artists A. Y. Jackson
and H. G. Glyde, members of the Group of Seven
, spent a summer in 1944 painting in the area.
Over the years, farming and coal mining have been the primary industries. In 1972 the Severn Creek School was shut down as part of an Alberta wide education consolidating process and local children were bused to Standard
and Drumheller. This resulted in many of the local businesses being closed and the hamlet population dropped to under a dozen people. However, the farming community of around 400 still supported three elevators and a seed cleaning plant.
Easter 1973, a group of young adults from Calgary brought about 40 teenagers out and camped in the then empty mercantile. This pilot event evolved into a summer camp initially funded by a grant from the Alberta government and then supported as Rosebud Camp of the Arts by Crescent Heights Baptist Church in Calgary. In 1977 a high school was founded using the old buildings of the town as classrooms and emphasizing practical, visual, music and the performing arts in its curriculum. In the 1980s, Rosebud School of the Arts
began to run theatre, which eventually developed into Rosebud Theatre
and the school shifted its emphasis to post-secondary education.
The current population is about 80 permanent residents with about 300 residents in the surrounding area. With the influx of students at Rosebud School of the Arts
, the population changes throughout the year with a high of about 115.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in southern Alberta
Southern Alberta
Southern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of the year 2004, the region's population was approximately 272,017. The primary cities are Lethbridge and Medicine Hat...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
within Wheatland County
Wheatland County, Alberta
Wheatland County is a municipal district in south-central Alberta, Canada, east of Calgary.It is located in Census Division 5. The municipal seat is the Town of Strathmore.-Demographics:...
. It is located on Highway 840, approximately 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) northeast of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) southwest of Drumheller
Drumheller, Alberta
Drumheller is a town within the Red Deer River valley in the badlands of east-central Alberta, Canada. It is located northeast of Calgary...
Rosebud sits in a sheltered valley on the Rosebud River
Rosebud River
Rosebud River is a river in Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Red Deer River. The river passes through agricultural lands and ranchland for most of its course, and through badlands in its final reaches...
near the edge of the Canadian Badlands. This area was called Akokiniskway by the Blackfoot
Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
people, which translates roughly to "by the river of many roses".
History
The hamlet was founded in the 1885 by James Wishart. While following the Gleichen Trail to Montana with his family, they awoke to the river valley covered by wild roseWild Rose
Wild Rose is the name given to certain flowering shrubs:*Genus Rosa:** Rosa acicularis, or Wild Rose, a rose species which occurs in Asia, Europe, and North America...
s, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
's official flower. Wishart then reportedly said, "Here's the promised land, we go no further."
The beauty of the valley has attracted many people throughout the years, from nature lovers to artists. Notable artists A. Y. Jackson
A. Y. Jackson
Alexander Young Jackson, was a Canadian painter and a founding member of the Group of Seven.- Early life and training :...
and H. G. Glyde, members of the Group of Seven
Group of Seven (artists)
The Group of Seven, sometimes known as the Algonquin school, were a group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920-1933, originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael , Lawren Harris , A. Y. Jackson , Franz Johnston , Arthur Lismer , J. E. H. MacDonald , and Frederick Varley...
, spent a summer in 1944 painting in the area.
Over the years, farming and coal mining have been the primary industries. In 1972 the Severn Creek School was shut down as part of an Alberta wide education consolidating process and local children were bused to Standard
Standard, Alberta
Standard is a village located in the southern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is situated within the County of Wheatland, approximately east of the city of Calgary. The Canadian Pacific Railway tracks pass south of the village. The village was originally settled by Danish immigrants...
and Drumheller. This resulted in many of the local businesses being closed and the hamlet population dropped to under a dozen people. However, the farming community of around 400 still supported three elevators and a seed cleaning plant.
Easter 1973, a group of young adults from Calgary brought about 40 teenagers out and camped in the then empty mercantile. This pilot event evolved into a summer camp initially funded by a grant from the Alberta government and then supported as Rosebud Camp of the Arts by Crescent Heights Baptist Church in Calgary. In 1977 a high school was founded using the old buildings of the town as classrooms and emphasizing practical, visual, music and the performing arts in its curriculum. In the 1980s, Rosebud School of the Arts
Rosebud School of the Arts
Rosebud School of the Arts is a post-secondary guild school that provides theatre training within a community of professional artists.Located in the little hamlet of Rosebud, Alberta, Canada, one hour north east of Calgary, Rosebud School of the Arts trains students for the professional theatre in...
began to run theatre, which eventually developed into Rosebud Theatre
Rosebud Theatre
Rosebud Theatre, located in the hamlet of Rosebud, Alberta, Canada, is the only professional rural theatre in Alberta. It produces four mainstage shows a year, attracting over 40,000 people per year to the hamlet of about 100 people....
and the school shifted its emphasis to post-secondary education.
Rosebud today
Currently the primary industries within the hamlet are tourism and the arts. Agriculture along with oil and gas production are significant industries in the surrounding area.The current population is about 80 permanent residents with about 300 residents in the surrounding area. With the influx of students at Rosebud School of the Arts
Rosebud School of the Arts
Rosebud School of the Arts is a post-secondary guild school that provides theatre training within a community of professional artists.Located in the little hamlet of Rosebud, Alberta, Canada, one hour north east of Calgary, Rosebud School of the Arts trains students for the professional theatre in...
, the population changes throughout the year with a high of about 115.