Town just outside of Calgary named one of the most offbeat in Alberta
A town south of Calgary was just named one of the most offbeat in Alberta, being touted as a “quaint bedroom community.”
World Atlas, one of the largest publishing resources in geography, released its list of seven offbeat towns to visit in Alberta, and Okotoks found itself on the list.
The name Okotoks is derived from the Blackfoot word “Okatok,” which means “rock.” According to the Town of Okotoks, “The Blackfoot may have referred to this area as ‘Okatok’ because of the Big Rock, which they used as a reference marker in their journeys.”
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Located just a few kilometres south of Calgary, Okotoks was incorporated as a village in 1893, and it wasn’t until June 1, 1904, that it became a town.
From 1892 to 1896, the town was called Dewdney, after Lieutenant Governor Lord Edgar Dewdney of the North West Territories; however, it was changed back to Okotoks because there was another Dewdney in the North West Territories.
From 1904 onwards, Okotoks continued to grow, celebrating its 100th birthday in 2004. In more recent years, the town has seen a large population gain, doubling in size from 12,187 in 2004 to over 27,000 in 2014. As of 2024, the town has a population of over 33,000, according to the Alberta Regional Dashboard.
“Those with palpable tastebuds can feel enlightened and overjoyed at the Chinook Honey Company & Chinook Arch Meadery, while golfers will certainly adore the dozens of golf courses and parks all over Okotoks,” World Atlas noted.
The hamlet of Bragg Creek also made the list, which was also named one of the most overlooked spots in the Rockies earlier this month.
You can view the full list online.