Our History

WE ARE ON TREATY 7 LAND
TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE BLACKFOOT, TSUU T’INA, PLAINS CREE AND STONEY NAKODA PEOPLES

1885– FORT NORMANDEAU IS ESTABLISHED BY THE RED DEER CROSSING. IT MARKS THE BIRTHPLACE OF RED DEER. THE FORT WAS OCCUPIED BY THE 65TH BATTALION, MOUNT ROYAL RIFLES.

1893– FORT NORMANDEAU CLOSED. PACIFIC RAIL WHISTLE STOPS ALONG WHAT IS NOW 2A ESTABLISH NEW TOWNS SUCH AS PENHOLD.

1901– RED DEER IS INCORPORATED AS A TOWN. HIGHWAY 2A IS BUILT OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

1913– RED DEER IS INCORPORATED AS A CITY.  THE GREAT DEPRESSION IS FELT; HOWEVER, THE DUSTBOWL DOES NOT HIT THE AREA AS HARD AS OTHER PLACES AND FARMING CONTINUES.

1939– AIR FIELD CONSTRUCTION BEGINS.

1940– THE MILITARY BASE OPENS. 31 BUILDINGS, 7 HANGERS, 6 HARD SERVICE RUNWAYS, BARRACKS AND ADMISTRATION BUILDINGS ARE BUILT.

1941– THE BASE IS HANDED OVER TO THE ROYAL AIR FORCE. No. 36. THE SERVICE FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL TRANSFERS FROM BRITAIN AND 600 OFFICERS ARRIVE TO START TRAINING.

1944– AIR TRAINING CLOSES. MILITARY RADIO STATION REMAINED. MOST BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED
CADET CAMP WAS HELD AT THE BASE DURING THE SUMMER.

1951– RCAF FLYING SCHOOL RE-OPENED THE BASE.

1953– FLIGHT TRAINING FOR NATO BEGINS.

1954– HOUSES, DUPLEXES AND TOWNHOUSES WERE BUILT AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREA WAS CALLED MYNARSKI PARK. ANDERSON OF CRAIGMYLE SCHOOL OPENED (gr. 1-8). NAMED AFTER THE ANDERSON FAMILY WHO LOST 3 SONS IN THE WAR. THE COMMUNITY INCLUDED AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL, CHURCHES, POST OFFICE, AN RCMP DETACHEMENT, BOWLING ALLEY, CANTEEN, RANGE, CURLING RINK, BANK AND MORE.

1960– RADIO RADAR WITH SEARCH FOR HOSTILE AIRCRAFT IN OPPERATION.

1964– A 77,000 sq ft BUNKER WAS SECRETLY CONSTRUCTED. DESIGNED TO HOUSE PROVINCIAL LEADERS IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR EMERGENCY. IT HOUSED THE PROVINCIAL WARNING CENTER. IN 2001 THE BUNKER WAS DEMOLISHED.

1965– MILITARY FLYING OPERATIONS CEASED.

1966– THE BASE WAS NAMED CFB PENHOLD. SOON AFTER THE CITY OF RED DEER TOOK OVER AIRFIELD OPERATIONS NAMING IT RED DEER INDUSTRIAL AIRPORT. THE RCMP USED THE GROUNDS FOR TRAINING BETWEEN 1966- 1974.

1973-1986– LEADERSHIP AND RADAR SCHOOL WAS IN OPPERATION.

1995– THE BASE CLOSED PERMANENTLY AND WAS SOLD TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.

1996– THE RESIDENTIAL AREA NAME WAS CHANGED TO SPRINGBROOK. SPRINGBROOK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (SCA) WAS ESTABLISHED. THE OLD BARRACKS AREA BECAME PRIVATELY OWNED AND NAMED HARVARD PARK.

1999– RED DEER REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY TAKES OVER FLIGHT OPERATIONS.

2006– SPRINGBROOK FIRE HALL IS BUILT.

2009– RED DEER COUNTY  UPGRADED WATER LINES AND REPAVED ROADS.

2014– THE PENHOLD AIR CADET SUMMER TRAINING CENTER CLOSED.

2016– HAMLET OF SPRINGBROOK SURVEY COUNTED 1507 RESIDENTS, WITH 552 DWELLINGS.

2019– SPRINGBROOK CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COMMUNITIES IN THE PROVINCE.

2020– CONSTRUTION STARTS ON A NEW WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM.

2021– ROUNDABOUT IS CONSTRUCTED AT 2A AND AIRPORT DRIVE INTERSECTION.