Saddles, Sleighs and Sadirons

The area around what is now Chestermere Lake was initially settled by a few farmers before the 20th century. The establishment of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s brought more settlers to the west. To make farming more productive, settlers began to devise ways to irrigate their land. Chestermere Lake, a natural wetland, was deemed perfect for use as a balancing pool for the Western Irrigation Block. By 1907, a dam and canal system had been built, transforming the wetland into a lake, and farmers began using the water for irrigation.

Following the irrigation development, the lake began to be used for recreation. People leased land from the Western Irrigation District, built cabins, and stayed on the lake during the summer months. In 1959, the Chestermere Cabin Owners Association was incorporated with approximately 50 members. The association held events, bought a fire truck for the community, worked to reduce pollution in the lake, planted trees, and arranged for electricity and natural gas for the cabins. By 1977, the lake boasted 120 permanent homes and gained official status as the Summer Village of Chestermere Lake.

Today, Chestermere has grown into a city with over 22,000 residents. It primarily serves as a commuter town of Calgary. The city, which surrounds Chestermere Lake, was known as Chestermere Lake from 1977 to 1993. In recent years, Chestermere has seen significant political changes. Shannon Dean, a former teacher, principal, and longtime community volunteer, was elected as the mayor of Chestermere. He leads a largely fresh-faced council, with voters choosing to close a political chapter rife with controversy. Dean and the new councillors will serve for at least the next 15 months until the October 2025 municipal elections.