Brooks Aqueduct Alberta Canada |
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Brooks is a city in Alberta, Canada. Brooks became a city on September 1, 2005 and is located 168 kilometres (104 mi) east of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway and 10 kilometres (6 mi) east of Veterans Memorial Highway. Originally, the area of Brooks was used as a buffalo hunting ground for the Blackfoot and Crow natives. After Treaty 7 was signed in 1887, homesteaders moved into the area to begin dry land farming. The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railroad saw more settlers move to the area of Brooks. By 1904, Canada Post was interested in putting a post office in the settlement, however the area was still unnamed. By a Canada Post sponsored contest, the new area was named after Noel Edgell Brooks, a Canadian Pacific Railway Divisional Engineer from Calgary. The Village of Brooks was incorporated in 1910, and became a town a year later. To encourage immigration and growth into the region in the early part of the century, the Canadian Pacific Railway began the construction of major irrigation works. These works included the two mile long Brooks Aqueduct, constructed over 2 and a half years and completed in 1915. The aqueduct is featured on the Brooks city crest. In 1935, the C.P.R. transferred control of these works to local farmers and the Eastern Irrigation District was formed. Irrigation has allowed Brooks to become a service center for livestock, grain and vegetable producing industries. |
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