Airdrie, Alberta
2020 Update
The saints in Airdrie
Airdrie, Alberta is a rapidly growing city located 20 kilometers north of Calgary. Over the past 10 years a number of families and single saints from the church in Calgary have moved to Airdrie and the surrounding towns of Beiseker, Olds, and Strathmore for work, school, or the more affordable cost of living. In the last year one family and one sister (completing graduate studies) have migrated to Airdrie for the Lord’s move there. Furthermore, four brothers in the FTTA are in corporate living in Airdrie while attending the training remotely. There are now 13 households in and around the city of Airdrie, with another 3 families in surrounding towns that are related to Airdrie. The average Lord’s table meeting has around 30 saints, with up to 42 coming at least once a month. There are 32 children, 8 college-age, and 6 young people. The total name list is currently around 83.
For the past few years there has been a growing burden among the brothers to take responsibility for the Lord’s testimony in Airdrie. For four years the church in Calgary has been practicing meeting in districts. For a time, the saints from Airdrie were grouped together in “District 1” along with a few other saints from the northwest of Calgary. This provided an initial opportunity for building and blending among the saints in Airdrie. In July 2019 following fellowship with the brothers in Calgary the saints branched out to become District 4/Airdrie. In September 2019 the saints began meeting in Airdrie in a rented facility (a school) on the Lord’s day. Due to the large number of Christian groups in Airdrie no facilities were available to rent in the morning, so the Lord’s table meeting was held in the afternoon. The saints also come together for prayer meetings and several small group meetings. There is also a weekly sisters’ meeting.
The burden to establish the church life in Airdrie is in line with the goal of increasing the number of churches in Canada to 50 over the next 5 years. Many of the saints have family members, friends, and other contacts in Airdrie that they are burdened for.
Our current needs and prayer burdens:
- For all the saints to enter into the reality of the day-to-day, vital group church life;
- For a meeting place that fits our needs in terms of time of availability, adequate space, and
sanctified atmosphere;
- For the saints to be bold in preaching the gospel;
- That we could properly care for the large number of children the Lord has given us.
Location, Climate and Health
Airdrie lies on the outskirts of Calgary. Surrounding localities include Edmonton (the capital city of Alberta), which is 166 miles north of Airdrie. Vancouver, BC is 620 miles west, Lethbridge, AB is 150 miles south, and Regina, SK is 485 miles east. Airdrie is 178 miles north of the USA/Canada border. Average temperatures through the year range from -12°C to 23°C. Winters are cold and dry, but this is broken up by warm chinook winds which come from the Rocky Mountains several times a month. The average annual snowfall is approximately 50 inches. Summers are warm and pleasant.
Universal healthcare coverage is publicly funded for all residents of Alberta. Within Airdrie there is an urgent care center, and multiple primary care clinics. There are 5 large tertiary care hospitals in Calgary that provide service to Airdrie, including the Foothills Medical Center and the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Demographics
The population of Airdrie is approximately 70,000, up from 18,000 only 20 years ago. Airdrie is the 6th most populous city in the province of Alberta. It is largely a “bedroom community” with almost 50% of the population working in Calgary. It has a large percentage of young families. The median age group is 35-40, over 30% of the population is under 20 years of age, and 83% of the population is under 65 years old. The racial makeup of Airdrie (2006 census data) is primarily Caucasian (94%). The remainder of the population is Aboriginal (3%) and other visible minorities (3%).
Economy
Airdrie’s job market is largely composed of work in trades, transport, farming, and oil and gas-related industries. Other occupations include business, finance, and healthcare-related jobs.
Prior to the economic downturn related to COVID-19 the median annual household income in Airdrie was $110,000 CAD, which was above the Alberta median of $93,835 CAD. The average cost of a detached home in Airdrie is $354,300 CAD compared to $414,800 CAD in Calgary (based on 2018 market data).
Interests
There is an emphasis on outdoor activities in Airdrie. There are 1,200 acres of parks, 104 km of pathways, and 63 playgrounds. Parks are dispersed throughout the city, with no dwelling place being located more than 5 minutes from a park. The Rocky Mountains are only 90 minutes away with hiking trails, ski resorts, and other sightseeing opportunities. Winter activities are popular, including hockey, cross-country skiing, and tobogganing.
Campuses
Although Airdrie does not have a college campus, there are several large post-secondary institutions in Calgary, including the University of Calgary (31,950 students), Mount Royal University (14,250 students), and SAIT (over 12,000 students). These are all within a 35-minute radius of Airdrie. Many students from Airdrie live at home while attending university.
Schools
Education is mainly delivered through the Public or Catholic School Divisions, both of which are publicly funded. Public schools are operated by Rocky View School District and Catholic schools are operated by the Calgary Catholic School Division. There is also a French immersion school (École francophone d’Airdrie) and several private schools, including Airdrie Christian Academy.
Homeschooling is also permitted and is popular in the province of Alberta and in Airdrie. There is some financial support (~ $830 per student per year) from the government for the costs of homeschooling a child. A number of the saints in Airdrie homeschool their children.
Transportation
Airdrie is only 19 minutes from the Calgary International Airport (YYC), which has service from the following airlines: United, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, WestJet, Air Canada, Hainan, KLM, British Airways, and AeroMexico, among others. Most people depend on cars for transportation although there are some limited bus routes, including bus links to Calgary.