The town of Bassano is located on the #1 Trans-Canada Highway midway between Calgary (142 km to the west) and Medicine Hat (155 km to the east). The town was named in 1884 after a Canadian Pacific Railway shareholder, the Marquis de Bassano who was a native of Bassano, Italy. Bassano had the first flying doctor, so serve patients spread over the vast prairie farmlands. The town is also the location of the RCMP’s first canine (K-9) training centre. The town also has a 9-hole golf course, heated swimming pool, and children’s park.
The Bassano Dam irrigates 320,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of land, and the Crawling Valley Reservoir behind it has some of the best fishing in southeastern Alberta. The area is home to numerous deer and antelope. The ponds and wetlands around the town are under protection by Ducks Unlimited. The Reservoir has a beautiful 130-site campground on its shores.
Town of Bassano
Bassano Annual Events
Annual events include the Crawling Valley Annual Fish Derby (May long weekend), Bassano Amateur Rodeo (end of June), Bassano Car & Truck Show, Beach Volleyball Tournament (in August, and the Annual Fall Fair (mid Sept).
Bassano Attractions
Bassano Dam
Township Rd 205B, Bassano, AB T0J 0B0
(8 km SW of Bassano)
(403) 641-3788
Once the most important composite structure of its kind in the world because of i length, peculiar foundation, and depth of water. Now the dam is a historic site, with picnic areas and good fishing.
Crawling Valley Reservoir
Located N of the town of Bassano
Eastern Irrigation District: 403-362-1400
The reservoir stretches nearly 16 km (10 mi.) north from the dam, and covers 2,500 hectares. Recreation area open year-round.