Welcome to Holden
Welcome to our community! We hope the information contained within this profile is useful. If additional information is required, please contact our representative from the "Key Contacts" section.
The Village of Holden is conveniently located a short 55 minute (93 km) drive Southeast of Edmonton and 45 minute (63 km) drive Northeast of Camrose. Access to Vegreville and the TransCanada Highway is just 25 minutes to the North. This provides Holden the ability to offer its residents easy access to large city ammenities, while still allowing them to enjoy a peaceful, safe and relaxing small-town lifestyle.
Area Overview
The Village of Holden derived its name from the late Mr. J.B. Holden, the first M.L.A. in the constituency for the Province. There were few settlers in the area before 1902. By 1903, the community was starting to be settled with the name Pleasant Ridge chosen. The Village of Holden was formally incorporated as a village on April 14, 1909.
Holden is situated on fairly flat land with wide streets, sidewalks and some paved roads. Homes are well kept and numerous new homes have been built.
Experience the charm of country living when visiting Holden. There is a lot to see in Holden. One can view the Beaver Regional Arts Centre, a museum with a large array of historical items, and the elaborate Holy Ghost Ukrainian Church where tours can be arranged.
Location
The Village of Holden is located heart of the Beaver County. It is 95 km southeast of Edmonton and 63 km northeast of Camrose.
Holden is located on Highway 14, at the intersection with secondary Highway 855. The Yellowhead Highway (#16) is 25 minutes north of the Village.
Economic Base
Holden's major economic base is Agriculture and Natural Gas.
Economic Facts
Soils in the Holden area are among the most fertile in the province. There is 3 to 4 times as much nitrogen and organic matter in the surface foot as the average brown or grey wooded soil. This black soil zone, mostly class 2, is deep and holds moisture well. It offers moderate-high productivity for a wide range of crops.
Regional resources include Agriculture, Cereal Grains (Wheat, Barley, oats, Canola, Canary Seed), Cattle and Natural Gas & Coal.
Financial Institutions
Alberta Treasury Branch Agency
Utilities
Cable Television
Eastlink
Tel: 1-866-737-7662
Electrical Power
Epcor
Customer Service
Tel: 310-4300
Fortis
Trouble
Tel: 310-9473
Natural Gas
Direct Energy
Tel: 1-866-420-3174
Telephone
Telus Communications Ltd.
Tel: 310-2255
Internet - High Speed
MCSNet
Tel: 1-866-390-3928
Water Supply
Highway 14 Regional Water Services Commission
Tel: 780-663-2019
Sewer & Garbage
Village of Holden
Tel: 780-688-3928
Waste Management
Sewage treatment is by lagoon, 4 short and 2 long detention.
Taxation
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Municipal Tax Rate |
.01124 |
.01609 |
| Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate |
.00203 |
.00377 |
| Allowance for Non-Collection of Requisitioned Taxes |
0 |
0 |
| Seniors Lodge Accommodation Tax Rate |
.00024 |
.00024 |
Mill Rates [2010]
Residential - 13.51
Non-Residential - 20.10
Transportation
Air Services
There are two airports located nearby.One in Tofield to the west, and Viking to the east. The nearest commercial and air freight facilities are at Edmonton.
Rail Services
Holden is served by a Canadian National Railway main line from Vancouver to Montreal. Spur trackage is available.
Highways
Connecting highways are Highway 14, leading west to Edmonton and east to Viking, and Secondary Highway 855, leading south to Highway 26.
Trucking Firms
CN Trucking
Bus Services
Greyhound Bus Lines provides regularly scheduled inter-community bus service.
Couriers and Taxis
DHL Express (Canada) LTD and Purolator Couriers
Community Lifestyle
Recreation
Recreation facilities include the Holden Complex arena and show ring, 3 ball diamonds, a performing arts theatre, art gallery, playground, and spray park.
Community Organizations
Local community organizations include the Agricultural Society, Royal Canadian Legion, Municipal Library Board, Masonic Lodge, Historical Society, Minor Hockey Association, Senior's Club, Holden Parent Nursery, Beaver Regional Arts Society, Beaverhill Players, Holden Economic Development Committee, Holden Community Hall Association, HEARTS, Beaverhill Players and the Studio 14 Art Association.
Religious Services
Special Annual Events/Attractions
- The Beaver Regional Arts Centre hosts an annual series of concerts, and a Christmas show every December.
- Beaverhill Players produces a live drama each year.
- The museum is open on weekends in the summer season, and by appointment at any other time for historic research and visits to the past.
- Holden Farmer's Day and Soapbox Derby is the main community celebration of our unique Charm of Country Living. Many visitors come to Holden and enjoy the full weekend of activity centred around the second Saturday of June each year.
- A Christmas Market is held in the Community Hall on the third Saturday of November.
Accommodation
Restaurants
- Country Kitchen
- Patti'sPlace
- Larry's Family Restaurant
Education
Holden is part of the Battle River Regional School Division, headquartered in Camrose [Tel: 780-672-6131].
Daycare/Nursery
Holden Parent Nursery
Public
Holden School provides Kindergarten to Grade 6 programs for Holden and the Village of Ryley. Junior and Senior High School students attend the Ryley School.
Separate
N/A
Private
N/A
Post Secondary
Holden residents have access to Edmonton-based post-secondary institutions such as The University of Alberta, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology [NAIT] and Grant MacEwan College.
Camrose offers training at Augustana College and other venues.
Healthcare
The nearest hospitals and medical offices are at Tofield, 37 km west of Holden, and at Viking, 32 km east of Holden. Daysland, 30 minutes south, and Vegreville, 30 minutes north, also offer medical facilities and services.
There is a senior citizen's lodge and seniors' self-contained apartments in Holden.
Emergency Services
Fire Protection
Holden is served by a Volunteer Fire Department [Tel: 911], which is part of the Beaver Emergency Services Commission. This organization also provides Emergency Management for the region.
Police Services
Holden is served by the Tofield/Viking Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP] [Tel: 911].
Ambulance Services
Holden is served by Beaver Ambulance. They are a federally registered charitable society, providing service in all of Beaver County, including Tofield, Ryley, Holden, and Viking. They have two Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances stationed in Tofield, and one ALS unit in Viking. Currently there are 28 staff, comprising both full-time and casual/part-time, who are dispatched by the Strathcona Emergency Dispatch Center in Sherwood Park, using enhanced 911.
Community Services
Municipal
Village of Holden
Box 357
Holden, Alberta T0B 2C0
Tel: 780-688-3928
Fax: 780-688-2091
Holden Muncipal Library
4912 - 50 Street
Holden, Alberta T0B 2C0
Tel: 780-688-3838
Provincial
N/A
Federal
Canada Post Office
Climate
Average annual rainfall: 29.36 cm
Average annual snowfall: 86.63 cm.
Droughts are rare with less evaporation and hot winds than in other zones.
Frost free days: 100 - 120
Hours of sunshine: 2180 - 2200.
Key Contacts
Municipal
Village of Holden
Box 357, 4810 - 50 Street
Holden, Alberta T0B 2C0
Tel: 780-688-3928
Fax: 780-688-2091
vholden@telusplanet.net
Christine Mackay
Mayor
Katherine Whiteside
Chief Administrative Officer
Provincial
Dawna Allard
Regional Manager, South Central
Alberta Finance and Enterprise
T: 403.340.5302 | F: 403.340.5231 | E. dawna.allard@gov.ab.ca
Ed Stelmach
Member of the Legislative Assembly [MLA]
Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville Constituency
607 Legislature Annex
9718 107 Street
Edmonton AB T5K 1E4
Tel: 780-422-5384
Fax: 780-415-0951
Constituency Office:
Box 451
4945 - 51 Avenue
Vegreville AB T9C 1R6
Tel: 780-632-6840
Fax: 780-632-6888
Federal
Leon Benoit
Member of Parliament [MP]
Vegreville-Wainwright Constituency
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Tel: 613-992-4171
Fax: 613-996-9011
Constituency Office:
5004 - 49th Street
Professional Building
P.O. Box 300
Mannville, Alberta T0B 2W0
Tel: 780-763-6130
Fax: 780-763-6132
