Airdrie is a city of 68,000 residents (50,000 more than in 1995) is about 30 km north of Calgary on Highway 2, fast becoming a bedroom community for Calgary. Many Calgarians for its automobile dealers on its “low overhead” Auto Mile, and the place where the RCMP blocks off the highway to Edmonton for bad winter snowstorms.
Airdrie was named by William McKenzie, the construction engineer for the Calgary and Edmonton Railway, for a Scottish town in Lanarkshire, east of Glasgow. The town was just a mail stop on the rail line to Edmonton. He named the new town in 1899 after his birthplace, a small village north east of Glasgow. The name “Airdrie” is Scottish for “The King’s Height” and namdes for The Battle of Ardryth (in 577 AD). The first home was built in 1901, and by 1909 Airdrie was a village. By the mid-sixties, Airdrie had 1,000 residents. During the 70s and 80s Alberta oil boom, Airdrie quickly topped the 10,000 mark. In 1985, Airdrie became Alberta’s 14th city.
Annual events include the Airdrie Chute-Out Pro Rodeo (late June)
Airdrie Attractions
Bert Church Theatre
Bert Church High School, 1010 East
Lake Boulevard
(403) 948-2153
This 400 seat performing arts theatre hosts many performances each year. in Airdrie, tickets are available at the box office, Tower Lane Florist, Best Photo, and Air-Alta Insurance.
Nose Creek Valley Museum
1701 Main St S
(403) 948-6685
This historical museum includes a 1917 blacksmith shop replica, a pioneer home, and a general store. It also
has several vintage automobiles, and it hosts the Gablehouse Collection of Southern Alberta Native Art.
The museum is open daily between June to August from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 to 5 p.m. during the winter. Admission fee.
CrossIron Mills
261055 CrossIron Blvd,
Rocky View No. 44, AB T4A 0G3
(403) 984-6800
Discover the biggest one-level Outlet Shopping Mall in Alberta, with more than 200 specialty stores & outlets, located between Airdrie and Calgary’s Airport on the east side of Highway 2