Best in the West by a Damsite

Bassano’s history began in late September 1883, when the Canadian Pacific Railway was laying steel westward. The town was named after the Marquis de Bassano, a Canadian Pacific Railway shareholder from Bassano, Italy.

Located midway between Medicine Hat and Calgary, Bassano was initially a siding 97 miles west of Medicine Hat. The early years saw the establishment of a post office in 1903, followed by a pharmacy, newspaper, and lumber yards. The fertile soil was excellent for gardening and record crops.

Bassano’s resources grew to include natural gas production and coal mining nearby. The town began to boom when the Canadian Pacific Railway Company started constructing the Bow River Dam south of Bassano. This dam provided irrigation to a large area, attracting more settlers to the area.

By 1910, Bassano had grown to village status, and by 1911, it acquired town status. In 1914, Dr. Alexander G. Scott constructed a hospital, the only one between Medicine Hat and Calgary. The town also organized a fire brigade and surveyed a cemetery into proper lots.

Today, Bassano is a thriving town located on the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately 140 kilometres southeast of Calgary and 160 kilometres northwest of Medicine Hat. It is also on the main line of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City. A short distance south of the town is the Bassano Dam, which holds the record for the highest temperature in Alberta, 43.3 °C.