Welcome To Our Website

Bow Island is a quiet town in the middle of a very diverse agricultural area. The town is surrounded by irrigated farming which encompasses a variety of different crops such as beans, potatoes, sugar beets, dill, spearmint, and a very progressive dry land farming economy.

Current Events ...

To view the  Arena schedule click here

H1N1
For more information on H1N1 Vaccinations please check the Alberta Health Services website .  To view this website please click here :   www.albertahealthservices.ca

For more information about the Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy Phase 2, click here



About Our Town ...

The Town of Bow Island has created a 30 second TV commercial about itself. To view this commercial please click here.

To view the Bow Island Brochure please click here.

Bow Island is located in the southeastern corner of Alberta, approximately 200 miles south of Calgary, and 60 miles north of the US border. We're easily found on Highway 3 between Taber and Medicine Hat.

Moving to Bow Island?
Click here for important information you will need!!



Our History ...

The community of Bow Island received its first families in 1900. In February, 1910, the Village of Bow Island was formed, and February 1st of 1912 the village was declared the Town of Bow Island.

The Naming of Bow Island brings many stories to the forefront - but the most prominent one is that the communities of Grassy Lake (located 15 miles west) and Bow Island had their respective names mixed up. North of Grassy Lake the confluence of the Bow River and the Oldman River form an Island called "Bow Island", and just south of Bow Island a low depressional area was called "Grassy Lake".

The Town of Bow Island was one of the first towns in the province of Alberta to have natural gas wells and operated them until the franchise was sold to a private company. The community of Bow Island suffered through the depression years as did all the communities in Western Canada.

In the early 1950's irrigation was extended to the Bow Island area. The Town of Bow Island doubled in population when irrigation water finally flowed through the ditches. 110,000 acres of highly productive lands surround the Town of Bow Island. Some of the most modern irrigation systems in the world are located in the area. The first pivot sprinkler system in Canada was erected on a farm in close proximity of Bow Island in 1961. The first linear sprinkler systems in Canada were put into operation in the Bow Island area. A completely automated distribution system was installed in 1982 by the St. Mary's River Irrigation District (SMRID), and farmers, serving an area of 5,000 acres. The system is known as the Lateral 12 System and has been toured by groups from around the world.

Bow Island has become a vibrant agricultural community with many agri-processing industries located here such as: Bow Island Dry Edible Bean Plant, Alberta Sunflower Seeds Ltd. (Spitz) and Classic Grains of Canada PanOil.



Statistics ...

The population of Bow Island is 1,868 as of the 2007 federal census. The trading area of Bow Island is considered to add an additional 2,500 persons.

Economic:
The major economic base for Bow Island:
• Agriculture (Farming: Dryland / Irrigation)
• Food Processing
• Service Centre Businesses

Sunshine:
The longest summers in Alberta are in Bow Island with an average of 2500 hours of sunlight.

Soils:
• Brown soil zone of the Chernozemic order
• Chernozemic soils have developed under grassland
• Depth of soil - 4 to 7 inches with lime accumulating in the subsoil
• The sandy loam soil found in the Bow Island area is ideally suited for irrigation and vegetable production.

Heat Units:
The Bow Island area averages 2400 (+) per year. Heat units are calculated on the basis of temperatures above 50F in the daytime and 40F at night.

Last Killing Frost:
• April 28 - (31 Year Average)

First Killing Frost:
• September 29 - (31 Year Average)



Tourism ...

The Bow Island area has much to offer the passing visitor.

• SPITZ Sunflower Processing Plant
• DTSC & LTAC (Essential Oil Processing Plants)
• Corraini Essential Oils - PH: 403-502-3286
• Viterra Bow Island Bean Plant (Dry Edible Beans)
• Irrigation System

There are also many fun local sights to see as well such as:
• The Town Mascot - Pinto MacBean
• The SPITZ Sunflower
• Oil Derrick
• World's Largest Putter 
• See the Buffalo mounted atop of a weather vane

Bored in Bow Island?
New updated list of Things to do in Bow Island coming soon!!!