City of Brooks

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About

With a population of over 13,600 and growing, Brooks is the major urban centre between Calgary and Medicine Hat and the second largest community in southeastern Alberta. The City of Brooks has a booming oil and gas industry, with agriculture being a significant contributor to the local and regional economy. 

Brooks is an “oasis” on the prairie. With Lake Newell Reservoir at its doorstep, this body of water serves as the primary water source for irrigation in the County of Newell as well as a major recreational feature for southeastern Alberta.

Quality of life is a priority with recreation and parks throughout the city encouraging an active lifestyle, and a parks and trails system that provides leisure options for all ages. Brooks places an emphasis on programs and services aimed at children and youth, providing a health foundation for the next generation.

In Brooks, you will experience the dynamic atmosphere of one of the fastest growing communities in Alberta and one of the youngest communities in Canada. Share in the enthusiasm of Brooks!

Housing

Although the region’s hot economy continues to remain strong, the housing market offers many attractive options whether you are looking at building a home, buying a home, or checking out rental accommodations.

Real estate in Brooks continues to be a strong. With a growing City comes the need for quality housing. Click here for local development statistics.

Brooks offers a broad range of housing options from for the first time buyer to those looking for executive estate lots. The following resources can assist you in your search for the perfect home:

  • Coldwell Banker
    Brooks Realty
    440-2nd Street West
    Brooks, Alberta
    Tel: 403-793-2001
  • Remax
    Main Street Realty
    103-2nd Street West
    Brooks, Alberta
    Tel: 403-362-0123
  • Pro Real Estate Ltd.
    A212-3rd Avenue West
    Brooks, Alberta
    Tel: 403-362-2222
  • Royal LePage
    Community Realty
    #3, 1308 – 2A Street West
    Brooks, Alberta
    Tel; 403-362-9700

A range of rental accommodations are also available:

  • 494294 Alberta Ltd.
    Tel: 403-527-9359
  • Delday Properties Inc.
    Tel: 403-362-7300
  • Eldor Place Apartments
    Tel: 403-362-5950
  • Mesets Apartments
    Tel: 403-362-5950
  • Percival & Associates
    Tel: 403-362-7098
  • Pro Property Management
    Tel: 403-362-3999
  • Signature Square
    Tel: 403-362-0482
  • Willowbrook Estates
    Tel: 403-362-5108
  • Drummer Realty
    Tel: 403-363-8764

Brooks Bulletin is a local newspaper which provides real-estate and rental listings.

For more information
  • CMHC - A national site that has lots of general information about buying, renting, and renovating homes. You will also find detailed information and links about housing costs, financial assistance programs, legal information and specialized housing issues. Links to various related Government sites also assist with housing related information.
  • MLS Canada - A searchable data base that lists homes for sale. Property searches by community are available.

Community Services

Palliser region communities have many services available for residents to keep them safe and secure.  A diverse range of recreational facilities and places of worship provide families the opportunity to stay active and maintain spiritual well-being.  All Palliser communities have a library or are part of a library system. 

Emergency Services and Fire Protection
  • Policing  - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), comprising of 22 members provide community policing, highway patrol and identification units.  The city of Brooks also employs five Community Peace Officers.
  • Ambulance, Fire, Rescue - The Brooks and District Ambulance provide ambulance services for both the City of Brooks and surrounding rural area.  911 services.  Fire protection is provided by the Brooks Volunteer fire Department, which consists of Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, four volunteer Officers and twenty five volunteer fire fighters.
  • Justice Infrastructure: Provincial Court of Brooks.
Parks and Recreation
  • Leisure Centre (with Swimming Pool, Fitness Centre, Curling Rink)
  • Parks
  • Provincial Park
  • Playgrounds
  • RV Campgrounds
  • Baseball Diamonds (7)
  • Outdoor Ice Rinks (4)
  • Soccer Pitch
  • Golf Courses (2)
  • Tennis Courts (9)
  • Museum
Religious Services
  • Alliance Church – 304 Cassils Road East; Tel: 403-362-8908
  • Anglican Church of Canada – 240-1st Street West; Tel: 403-362-3501
  • St. Mary’s Catholic Church – 511-4th Street West; Tel: 403-362-4466
  • Christian Reformed Church – 1104 Frazer Avenue; Tel: 403-362-8142
  • Church of God-Pentecostal -424-3rd Street West; Tel: 403-362-8697
  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – 40-10th Street West; Tel: 403-362-2855
  • Evangelical Free Church – 625-8th Street West; Tel: 403-362-2952
  • Immanuel Bible Chapel – 420-2nd Street West
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses – 1307 Centre Street; Tel: 403-362-7130
  • Lakewood Community Church – Cassils Rd and Lakewood Rd; Tel: 403-362-5060
  • Lutheran Church Trinity – 811 Cassils Rd. West; Tel: -362-4259
  • United Church of Canada – 507-3rd Avenue West; Tel: 403-362-3627
  • Victory Church of Brooks – Tel: 403-362-7785
Library

Climate

Sunshine coupled with warm dry summers means more time to spend outdoors and exploring our region.  The low altitude of the region produces a very warm climate, with particular areas often matching or surpassing the “hot spot” of Canada.  Winters have become very mild over the last few years with average temperatures on the rise.

Brooks’ climate is considered semi-arid, with the City receiving more than 2,300 hours of sunlight annually.  The average annual precipitation is 37 cm while the number of frost free days is 130.  The average temperature in July is 18.5 degrees Celsius and the average temperature in January is -13.9 degrees Celsius.

Taxes

Residential property taxes are definitely a factor to consider when relocating. Although taxes vary depending on the community, Albertans pay low provincial and municipal taxes, overall, in Canada.

Each year Council establishes a rate of taxation based on assessed values, sufficient to pay for those expenditures that are not recovered from other revenue sources. For 2009, the rate is $8.87480 per $1,000 of assessed value for residential taxpayers and $13.97888 per $1,000 for commercial and industrial taxpayers.

Brooks has a favorable tax mill rate compared to other similar sized Alberta communities. The following table outlines the tax mill rate for 2009.

2009 Taxation Year

 

Municipal

$6.11390

Provincial School Program

$2.61110

Newell

$0.14980

Total

$8.87480

Commercial

 

Municipal

$9.76630

Provincial School Program

$4.06278

Newell Foundation

$0.14980

Total

$13.97888

*all tax rates per $1,000 of assessment.

Additional Information

Property tax is either provided as a percentage or as a millage rate. A mill is one-thousandth of a dollar. To calculate the property tax, the assessed value of property is multiplied by the mill rate and then divided by 1,000. For example, property assessed at $100,000 located in a municipality with a mill rate of 20 mills would have a property tax bill of $2,000 per year.

Utilities

Utilities including natural gas, power, and water are necessary expenses to consider for both homeowners and those renting. Communities in southeast Alberta boast some of the lowest rates in the country.

Electrical Power
  • EPCOR 
    Customer Service Tel: 403-310-4300 (local call anywhere in Alberta) 
  • FORTIS ALBERTA
    Toll Free Tel: 403-310-9473
Natural Gas
  • Atco Gas
    211 - 1st Avenue East
    Brooks, Alberta,   T1R 0G9
    Tel: 403-362-2733
  • Direct Energy
    Tel: 1-866-420-3174
Telephone
  • Telus
    Tel: 403-310-7353

Utility Rates (water, sewer, garbage, etc.) for the City of Brooks can be accessed by clicking here

Composting

City of Brooks
Parks and Environmental Services Department
Tel: 403-362-0271

Residents can take yard and garden waste to the southeast corner of the rodeo grounds located on 7th Street East or drop in green composting bins located in residential alleys.  

For more information

Health

Under the Canada Health Act, Alberta has a publicly administered and funded health care system that guarantees Albertans receive universal access to medically necessary hospital and health care services.

All eligible Alberta residents are covered under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) to access healthcare services. An eligible resident of Alberta is a person who is:

  • Legally entitled to be or to remain in Canada and makes his/her permanent home in Alberta;
  • Committed to being physically present in Alberta for at least 183 days in a 12 month period;
  • Not claiming residency or obtaining benefits under a claim of residency in another province, territory or country;
  • Any other person deemed by the regulations to be a resident not including a tourist, transient or visitor to Alberta.

Effective January 1, 2009, Albertans are no longer required to pay AHCIP premiums.

An Alberta Health Care card gives you access to the public health care system including medical checkups and hospital visits. Private clinics exist, but are permitted to perform only elective services not included as part of the primary care available through our health care system.

Alberta Health Services provides a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

The Brooks Health Centre is an acute and continuing care facility. Core programs at the Brooks Health Centre include short stay surgical, pediatrics, 24-hour emergency ad ambulatory care services, obstetrics and community health.

  • Brooks Health Centre
    Bag 300, 440 - 3rd Street East
    Brooks, Alberta, T1R 1B3
    Tel: 403- 501-3232

Services provided at Brooks Community Health Services include: community nutrition program, early post-partum discharge, health promotion services, immunization services, prenatal classes, public health nursing, speech language pathology, speech language and hearing services as well as baby services.

  • Community Health Services
    440 – 3rd Street East
    Brooks, Alberta
    Tel: 403- 501-3300

Alberta Mental Health also has an office located in the City of Brooks.

  • Alberta Mental Health Board
    440 – 3rd Street East
    Brooks, Alberta
    Tel: 403-362-1252
    After Hours Crisis Management Helpline: 1-800-408-5465
For more information
  • Alberta Health Care Insurance - The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) is a publicly administered and funded health care system that guarantees Albertans receive universal access to medically necessary hospital and medical services. AHCIP forms, information on premium and drug assistance, answers to common questions and more are available at this site.
  • Alberta Health and Wellness – Alberta’s Health and Wellness provides information about Alberta’s health care system including the forms needed for registration.
  • Service Alberta – The Health Care Professional section of this Service Alberta site provides information for the wide variety of health professionals in Alberta – doctors, nurses, ambulance operators, and many others who provide services for the maintenance and improvement of health.  Use this page to learn about Alberta Netcare, to look up Health Professionals, to find contact information for nursing homes and hospitals in Alberta, and much, much more.
  • Alberta Health Services – Alberta Health Services provides a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Use this site to access information about specific health care facilities and to get the latest news relating to health care.
  • Health Canada – The Health Canada site focuses on providing immigrants with information about health care coverage. It also contains good links to other helpful information on employment, health promotion, and more.

Education

Providing access to education and training opportunities is essential in creating a well-prepared workforce and strong communities. Southeast Alberta’s schools, college, and other education institutions have a lot to offer newcomers in lifelong learning.

Brooks is part of the Grasslands Regional School Division #6, headquartered in Brooks (Tel: 403-793-6700, Fax: 403-362-8225) and Christ the Redeemer School Division, headquartered in Okotoks (Tel: 403-938-4575).

Nursery School
Public Schools
Separate Schools
Continuing Education
  • The Brooks Community Adult Learning Council (BCALC) provides educational programs and non-credit courses to the community of Brooks.
    Brooks Community Adult Learning Council (BCALC)
    #200H, 327 – 3rd Street West
    Brooks, Alberta T1R 0E7
    Tel: 403-362-5372
Post-Secondary Education
  • Medicine Hat College (MHC) has been serving students in southeastern Alberta and beyond since 1965. Situated in Canada’s sunniest city, MHC’s main campus services almost 3,000 students each year with another 200 attending Brooks Campus, located 100 km west of Medicine Hat. With some of the lowest student-to-instructor ratios in the province, MHC offers a very personal, one-on-one student experience. MHC offers a wide variety of programs to meet the ever-changing needs of students from southeastern Alberta and around the world.
  • The Brooks Campus of the Medicine Hat College (LINK: www.mhc.ab.ca/brooks) is located in Brooks and offers high school upgrading, university and college transfer courses, business training courses and apprenticeship courses.
    Medicine Hat College – Brooks Campus
    200 Horticultural Station Road East
    Brooks, Alberta T1R 1E5
    Tel: 403-362-1677
  • Athabasca University , Canada’s Open University, is dedicated to the removal of barriers that restrict access to and success in university-level study and to increasing equality of educational opportunity for adult learners worldwide.
For more information
  • ALIS (Alberta Learning Information Service) – This site provides information on education, training, financial assistance, grants, bursaries, transfers, on-line student services, and more.
  • Alberta Education Curriculum - Excellent information and resources for parents of students is provided on this site; it includes information on school choices, summaries of required curriculum, and “homework” help.
  • Alberta Education - Schools - A complete list of schools and school boards is available here.
  • Alberta Children's Services – This site provides information and check-lists to help parents find quality child care; information and links about child care subsidies, adoption, parent support services; and phone numbers for the Kids Help Line, and the Child Care Help Line for Parents.
  • Child Care Subsidy – If you have child care costs for preschool children, you may not be aware that all eligible Albertans may qualify for the Child Care Subsidy Program.  Go to this site to get complete information about the Child Care Subsidy or to try the Estimator.
  • Monthly Living Allowance - Information from the Alberta Student Finance Board is available at this site.
  • National Child Benefit (Low Income Families) - This program provides financial and social support to low-income families.

Community Lifestyle

Community lifestyle is one of the most important factors when considering a move.  Sports, recreation, community involvement, cultural events, hospitality, and safety are just a few of the many reasons why people choose southeast Alberta as an excellent place to live.

The Brooks area is famous for world-class pheasant, upland game, deer and antelope hunting. Also, some of the best fishing in southern Alberta is available within thirty minutes of Brooks.

There are a number of notable provincial parks in the area:

  • Dinosaur Provincial Park
  • Canadian Badlands a World Heritage Site and one of the largest and most spectacular tracts of badlands in Canada.
  • Lake Newell Reservoir where camping, hiking and picnic facilities are available a short distance away.
  • Kinbrook Island Provincial Park
  • Tillebrook Park
  • The Brooks Aqueduct, a designated National Historic Site

Numerous activities are available throughout the community for all residents. The newest is the Lakeside Leisure Centre located at 111 - 4th Avenue West (Tel 403- 362-3622). This facility houses a water fun park, lazy river, water slide and a lap pool for competitive swimming. It also has 2 gymnasiums, a hockey arena, curling rink and many more multi-purpose rooms.

Community Organizations

Most service and fraternal organizations have clubs in the community.

Religious Services
  • Alliance Church – 304 Cassils Road East; Tel: 403-362-8908
  • Anglican Church of Canada – 240-1st Street West; Tel: 403-362-3501
  • St. Mary’s Catholic Church – 511-4th Street West; Tel: 403-362-4466
  • Christian Reformed Church – 1104 Frazer Avenue; Tel: 403-362-8142
  • Church of God-Pentecostal -424-3rd Street West; Tel: 403-362-8697
  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – 40-10th Street West; Tel: 403-362-2855
  • Evangelical Free Church – 625-8th Street West; Tel: 403-362-2952
  • Immanuel Bible Chapel – 420-2nd Street West
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses – 1307 Centre Street; Tel: 403-362-7130
  • Lakewood Community Church – Cassils Rd and Lakewood Rd; Tel: 403-362-5060
  • Lutheran Church Trinity – 811 Cassils Rd. West; Tel: 403-362-4259
  • United Church of Canada – 507-3rd Avenue West; Tel: 403-362-3627
  • Victory Church of Brooks – Tel: 403-362-7785
Special Events/Attractions
  • Kiwanis Ice Derby at Lake Newell Reservoir – February
  • “The Gather” Cattle Sale – March
  • Trade Show - Early spring
  • Brooks Kinsmen Rodeo – First weekend of June
  • Street Fair - June
  • Music in the Park - June
  • Canada Day - July
  • Medieval Faire - July
  • Diabetes Association hosts a number of events
    • Turkey Supper - March
    • Walk for Diabetes - May
    • Steak & Beans Golf Tournament - July
    • Breakfast with Santa - November
    • Festival of Trees - November
  • Brooks Museum Heritage Day – August
  • Terry Fox Run – September
  • Pheasant Festival Week – October
  • Community Christmas – December
For more information
  • Service Alberta helps caregivers by providing information on resources available for persons or organizations that care for individuals who need support due to age, or physical or mental illness or disability.
  • Service Alberta has information for parents on topics such as Alberta Centennial Education Savings Plan, Bully Free Alberta, and Passports for Children. There is even a day care look-up at this site.
  • Rural residents can obtain information specific to their needs through Service Alberta. Here, rural residents can look for links to information and publications about the Rural Development Initiative, water wells, the weekly Agri-News, hunting licenses and more.
  • Seniors can find links to the government information and services that apply to seniors, covering topics such as pensions, health care, retirement and more at this site.

Employment

The job market in Southeast Alberta is strong! There are lots of great career opportunities in many different industries from trades to healthcare to manufacturing and many, many more. There is demand for all levels of positions, from entry-level to senior positions.

Check them out at www.findingwork.ca

Employer Profiles
Occupational Profiles
For more information
  • Alberta Government Learning Information Services - Alberta's leading on-line source for career, learning and employment information and services. Here you'll find the resources you need to make the most of your future.
  • Alberta Occupational Profiles - Information about a variety of career occupations, and advice about how to develop careers in Alberta, including information about current job markets is available at this site. There is a searchable database that makes it easy to research career options by interest, professional title, or industry.
  • Alberta Wage & Salary data - The Alberta Wage and Salary Survey covers over 400 occupations and provides information on wages and salaries for full-time and part-time employees in Alberta by occupation, geographic area, and industry group.
  • Alberta Works - Alberta Works focuses on training people for employment.
  • Service Alberta’s Job Seekers provides information for those looking for employment. Here, you will find the Alberta Work Search Online, the Federal Job Bank, and even a free e-Résumé Review Service.
  • The Government of Canada has bilingual information about Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Service Canada, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, and Foreign Credentials Referral Office.
  • The Government of Alberta provides information on immigration process for Canada and Alberta, as well as about programs and services designed to help immigrants before and after they arrive.
  • Canadian Information Centre for Immigrants - A bilingual site that provides a thorough overview of information about credentials, education, qualification, and employment in Canada. It is well organized and easy to navigate.
  • Job Bank Canada - Job Bank is the largest web-based network of job postings available to Canadians.

Business Directory

Click here to access the Brooks business directory.

More Info

Website
Additional Community Information
Government of Alberta Services
  • Service Alberta provides information on vehicle licensing, employment, property and more.
  • Moving to or Around Alberta includes information on health care services, electrical rates, population, housing support services, immigration and more.
Print Media
Sports & Recreation
PALLISER ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP BOX 1046, 109 - 346 THIRD ST. SE MEDICINE HAT, AB, CANADA T1A 0G7
TOLL FREE 1-877-226-7552 TEL 403-526-7552 EMAIL