The Crown Village of Ralston is located to the east of Highway 884 on

CFB Suffield Canadian Forces Base Suffield (also CFB Suffield) is a Canadian Forces base, host to the largest military training area in Canada. It is located in southeastern Alberta, north-northwest of Suffield, northwest of the city of Medicine Hat and sou ...

within

Cypress County Cypress County is a municipal district in southeastern Alberta, Canada that surrounds the City of Medicine Hat and the Town of Redcliff. The municipality is part of Census Division 1, Alberta.http://www.albertafirst.com/profiles/statspack/20 ...

southern Alberta Southern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta. In 2004, the region's population was approximately 272,017.Suffield and the

Trans-Canada Highway The Trans-Canada Highway (French: ; abbreviated as the TCH or T-Can) is a transcontinental federal–provincial highway system that travels through all ten provinces of Canada, from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast to the Atlantic Ocean on ...

History

Approval was given in August 1947 for the construction of 60 prefabricated housing units for scientists, technologists, and military personnel working at the

Suffield Experimental Station The military research facility located north of Suffield, Alberta, operated under the name of the Suffield Experimental Station (SES) from 1950 to its renaming to the Defence Research Establishment Suffield in 1967. History Experimental Station ...

at a site named after the Honourable J. L. Ralston. Due to delays, major construction did not complete until 1953. In June 1969, Dr. Perry of the

Defence Research Establishment Suffield The Defence Research Establishment Suffield was the name of the military research facility located north of Suffield, Alberta, from 1967 to its renaming to ''DRDC Suffield'' in 2000. History After being renamed from the Suffield Experimental Sta ...

(DRES) informed the tenants of the Crown village that the

Defence Research Board Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC; french: Recherche et développement pour la défense Canada, ''RDDC'') is a special operating agency of the Department of National Defence (DND), whose purpose is to provide the Canadian Armed Forces ...

was considering the possibility of closing Ralston due to the financial situation of the federal government at the time."Crown village facing closure", ''The Medicine Hat News'', 16 June 1969 A decision was to be reached in September or October of that year. The decision would affect approximately 150 families, the bowling alley, theatre, store, swimming pool and elementary school. At the time, of the 200 homes, approximately 40 to 50 were vacant. A committee was looking at the cost saving options that would be phased in over two years. One option was to move Ralston's houses to Medicine Hat and discussions were under way with the

Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) (french: Société canadienne d'hypothèques et de logement) (SCHL) is Canada's national housing agency, and state-owned mortgage insurer. It was originally established after World War II, to help r ...

(CMHC) concerning the possibility setting up new housing in Medicine Hat. In the letter given to the occupants of Ralston's houses, Dr. Perry stated "I cannot emphasize too strongly that a decision to close the village, if adopted, will not in any way imply a change in the decision already made to continue the program and operation of DRES at the level established last fall, and I can assure you that any final action will be taken so as to minimize the possible hardships which may arise." In April 1970, Ralston was saved from closure when Dr. Perry released that the Defence Research Board was "very favorably inclined towards incorporation" in a private letter to a citizen committee."DRB favors Ralston incorporation", ''The Medicine Hat News'', 14 April 1970 The formal announcement was to be made publicly by

Léo Cadieux Joseph Alphonse Léo Cadieux, (May 28, 1908 – May 11, 2005) was a Canadian politician. A newspaper journalist and publisher who was born in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, Cadieux was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada as the Libe ...

, Minister of National Defence. The citizen committee, chaired by Dr. James Lipp, was "very happy with the information. Maybe with luck we'll have it done (incorporated) this year." A site survey of Ralston was undertaken and the plan registered with the province. Negotiations ensued with the province in order to ensure Ralston would be debt-free and that all essential road, power and water services would remain intact. A survey of Ralston's tenants indicated that a majority of them were willing to purchase their houses that had already been assessed for value and taxation. The homes and lots would be bought through the CMHC for an average price of $4,000. In addition, a number of farm families in the Jenner/Iddesleigh area expressed interest in purchasing lots and houses. On August 3, 1971,

Agriculture Minister An agriculture ministry (also called an) agriculture department, agriculture board, agriculture council, or agriculture agency, or ministry of rural development) is a ministry charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister ...

H.A. (Bud) Olson announce "that a Canadian Forces Base will be established on the military reservation of the Defence Research Establishment at Suffield, near Medicine Hat" where more than 6,000 British troops will train between May and November 1972. A few weeks later, on August 25, 1971, the Canadian Government ratified a ten-year agreement with the British Government that allowed the United Kingdom Forces to use the Military Training Area (MTA) on the Suffield Block. Ralston's future was uncertain until October 27, 1971, when the management of the village was transferred from the DRB to the Canadian Forces (CF) for use by CFB Suffield"Interim Memorandum of Agreement Between the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Chairman, Defence Research Board Relating to (A) the Establishment of the Canadian Forces Base, Suffield (B) the Provision of Services to the Defence Research Establishment Suffield and (C) the Provisions of Services to the Canadian Forces Base, Suffield", signed 27 October 1971 to support the visiting British forces. The agreement specified that the CF would "either proceed with the incorporation on schedule or be responsible for making, before December 31, 1971, a recommendations that the Minister's previous decision on this issue be revised." Today, th
Canadian Forces Housing Agency
(CFHA) manages the housing at Ralston on behalf of the Department of National Defence. The CHFA has an entry for Ralston.

Demographics

In the

2021 Census of Population The 2021 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population with a reference date of May 11, 2021. It follows the 2016 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 35,151,728. The overall response rate was 98%, which is sli ...

conducted by Statistics Canada, Ralston had a population of 257 living in 87 of its 171 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 282. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021. As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Ralston had a population of 282 living in 90 of its 179 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2011 population of 409. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2016.

Attractions

Recreation venues and amenities including a "gymnasium, racquet courts, an ice rink, bowling alleys, a restaurant/pub, weight/cardio room, golf driving range, fitness trails, and retail stores all exist for the enjoyment of the community.". In August 2012, CFB Suffield hosted the 33rd annual Ralston Rodeo which is part of the Border Country Rodeo Circuit. "With competitors coming from Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, and a few from B.C., they compete for the prizes and points, just as they would in any other rodeo."Cassie Weiss
Ralston rodeo a day of laughter and fun
, The Bow Island Commentator, 14 August 2012 LCol Doug Claggett, CFB Suffield Base Commander in 2012, had this to say about the rodeo. "It’s important to go back to the original idea of why we actually started rodeo here in the first place. The British come here with their families and it is an introduction to the Canadian way of life, Alberta way of life."

Education

Constructed in late 1951, the Ralston School is a recognized federal heritage building.

References

{{Reflist

External links