Coordinates: 50°43′33″N 113°58′27″W / 50.72583°N 113.97417°W / 50.72583; -113.97417

Okotoks
—  Town  —
Town of Okotoks
A view of Okotoks; overlooking downtown and facing south.
Motto: Historic Past, Sustainable Future
Location of Okotoks in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Calgary Region
Census division	6
Municipal district	M.D. of Foothills No. 31
Incorporated	1904
Government[1]
• Mayor	Bill Robertson
• Governing body	Okotoks Town Council Florence Christophers Stephen Clark Laurie Hodson Matt Rockley Ed Sands Ray Watrin
• Manager	Rick Quail
• MP	Ted Menzies
• MLA	Danielle Smith
Area (2011)[2]
• Total	19.24 km2 (7.43 sq mi)
Elevation	1,053 m (3,455 ft)
Population (2011)[2]
• Total	24,511
• Density	1,273.8/km2 (3,299/sq mi)
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
Postal code span	T1S
Area code(s)	-1+403
Highways	Highway 2A Highway 7 Highway 549
Waterway	Sheep River
Website	Town of Okotoks

Okotoks ( /ˈoʊkətoʊks/, originally /ˈɒkətɒks/) is a town situated on the Sheep River, 18 km (11 mi) south of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The town is a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership, a cooperative of communities within the Calgary Region. Okotoks has become a popular bedroom community for the City of Calgary.^[3] According to the 2011 Census, the town's population has grown by 42.9% since 2006.^[2]

The town celebrated its centennial in 2004.

History[link]

Big Rock glacial erratic

The town's name is derived from "ohkotok", the Blackfoot First Nation word for "rock". The name may refer to Big Rock, the world's largest known glacial erratic, situated about 7 km (4.3 mi) west of the town.^[4]

Before European settlement, journeying First Nations used the rock as a marker to find the river crossing situated at Okotoks. The tribes were nomadic and often followed large buffalo herds for their sustenance. David Thompson explored the area as early as 1800. Soon trading posts sprang up, including one established in 1874 at the Sheep River crossing on the current Okotoks townsite. This crossing was on a trade route called the Macleod Trail, which led from Fort Benton, Montana to Calgary.

In 1879, the area saw the killing of the last buffalo. Government leasing of land for one cent per acre ($2.47/km²) began in 1880. This created a major change in the region.

A community grew up around a sawmill that was established in 1891, and it would grow in size. The last stagecoach stopped in Okotoks in 1891 when rail service between Calgary and Fort Macleod replaced horse-drawn travel. By 1897 the community name had changed three times: from Sheep Creek to Dewdney to Okotoks, assigned by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The rail line is still a main line south to the U.S. border, but the last of the passenger service (Dayliner unit) ended in 1971.^[5]

Okotoks, like much of southern Alberta, suffered major flooding in June 2005. Virtually all lands adjacent to the Sheep River, including the central business district, were at least briefly flooded, with the most serious damage being inflicted to riverside pathways, parks and campgrounds.^[6] Prior to this event, the last major flood in Okotoks and the surrounding area occurred in 1995.^[7]

In 2007, the energy efficient Drake Landing Solar Community was established in Okotoks.^[8]

Geography and climate[link]

• Average hours of sunshine per day: 6.34
• Chinook average: 25 days
• Frost free days: 112
• Mean rainfall per year: 11.8 in (300 mm)
• Mean snowfall per year: 60 in (153 cm)
• Mean total precipitation: 16.7 in (424 mm)
• Number of days with precipitation: 113
• Distance to Calgary City Centre: 32 km (20 mi)

Street in Okotoks

Water conservation[link]

Although the Sheep River runs through Okotoks year round, artesian wells near the river supply the town with its water. In September 1998, Okotoks became one of the first communities in Canada to recognize its environmental limits to growth were restricted by the carrying capacity of the local watershed. In concern for the supply of water, the town announced a unique and controversial suggestion of capping its population at 25,000 residents. ^[9] In an interview on The Current, Mayor Bill McAlpine stated that this objective may be politically difficult due to the surrounding region. ^[10]

Historical conservation[link]

Numerous old buildings have been restored, and one house was even resituated^[11] blocks away to avoid destruction by the widening of the highway through the townsite.

Demographics[link]

In the 2011 Census, the Town of Okotoks had a population of 24,511 living in 8,423 of its 8,704 total dwellings, a 42.9% change from its 2006 population of 17,150. With a land area of 19.24 km² (7.43 sq mi), it had a population density of 1,274.0/km² (3,299.5/sq mi) in 2011.^[2]

The population of the Town of Okotoks according to its 2011 municipal census is 23,981,^[33][34] a 3.4% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 23,201.^[35][36]

In 2006, Okotoks had a population of 17,145 living in 5,927 dwellings, a 46.7% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 18.55 km² (7.16 sq mi) and a population density of 924.4 /km² (2,394 /sq mi).^[37]

Almost 3% of Okotoks residents identified themselves as aboriginal at the time of the 2006 census.^[38] About 93% of residents identified English as their first language while 1.4% identified French and 1.0% identified German as their first language learned. The next most common languages were Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, Korean, and Slovak.^[39]

Neighbourhoods[link]

^{[40] [41]}

• Air Ranch
• Central Heights
• Cimarron
• Cornerstone
• Crystal Ridge
• Downey Ridge
• Drake Landing
• Hunter's Glen
• Rosemont
• Sandstone
• Sheep River Ridge
• Suntree
• Tower Hill
• Westmount
• Westridge
• Woodhaven

Economy[link]

Olde Towne Plaza in downtown Okotoks

The sawmill that was established by John Lineham along the Sheep River in 1891 operated for 25 years and was a major part of the local economy. At one time it employed 135 people, producing an average of 30,000 feet (9,000 m) of lumber per day. The growth of the Canadian Pacific Railway created a demand for railway ties and the mill helped meet that demand. Logs were brought down from the west via the Sheep River. The mill has long since disappeared but one building (one of the oldest remaining in the township) still stands. It housed an award-winning (butter) dairy from the 1920s to the 1940s. It currently houses a law office and restaurant.

In 1900, just west of Okotoks, four brick-making plants were opened. Many of the first brick buildings in Okotoks (of which a number still exist) were constructed using locally-made brick. The industry reached its peak in 1912, when twelve million bricks were manufactured. The outbreak of World War I caused the shutdown of “Sandstone” as it was known.

By 1906 the population had hit 1900, a figure that would not be reached again until 1977.

Oil was discovered west of Okotoks in 1913. Okotoks became the supply centre. In its heyday, from 1913 to the 1960s, Okotoks was busy with horses, wagons, and transports hauling all types of equipment to the oil fields, and crude oil back through town to refineries in Calgary.

The Texas Gulf sulphur plant (known as CanOxy) opened in 1959, employing 45 people. It was not unusual to see the bright yellow, three-story high, block-long, block-wide sulphur storage waiting to be melted or ground up and poured into railway cars.

Since 1974, Okotoks has been hosting a collector car auction in late May. It is the longest running collector car auction in Canada.

Okotoks was one of the few communities its size to have its own airport. A number of small air shows were held there over the years. It was the home of an aircraft charter company, flight school, and a helicopter flying school. The site has now evolved into an airpark community called the Okotoks Air Ranch, where the property owners, if they wish, can build homes with attached hangars for their private planes.

Education[link]

Foothills School Division

• Big Rock Elementary School
• Cameron Crossing Outreach School
• Dr. Morris Gibson Elementary School
• Percy Pegler Elementary School
• Ecole Okotoks Junior High School
• Ecole Foothills Composite High School
• Alberta High School of Fine Arts
• Ecole Francophone d'Okotoks
• Westmount School (opening September 4, 2012)

Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division

• Good Shepherd School
• John Paul II Collegiate
• Holy Trinity Academy
• St. Mary's School
• St. Luke's Outreach Centre
• St. Paul's Academy

Private Schools

• Edison Private School
• Strathcona Tweedsmuir School

Sport and recreation[link]

In July 2004 Okotoks, High River, and the Municipal District of Foothills hosted the Alberta Summer Games. More than 3,200 athletes competed in 17 sports. In the three-day competition, the largest in its 30 year history, 512 medals were handed out.

Sports teams[link]

Hockey

• Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League
• Okotoks Bisons of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League
• The Oilers minor hockey team

Football

• Foothills Eagles Bantam Football Club
• Foothills Eagles Peewee Football Club
• Foothills Eagles Atom Football Club
• Foothills Falcons Bantam Football Club - 2008 Provincial Champions - 2006, 2007, 2008 League Champions.
• Foothills Falcons Peewee Football Club
• Foothills Falcons Atom Football Club
• Foothills Composite High School Falcons Football
• Holy Trinity Academy High School Knights Football

Baseball

• The Okotoks Dawgs began play in the Western Major Baseball League in 2007.

Aquatic Sports - Swimming, etc.

• Foothills Stingrays Swim Club^[42]
• Okotoks Stingrays Swim Club^[43]
• Okotoks Synchro Sea Queens^[44]
• Dolphins Water Polo^[45]
• Okotoks Masters Swim Club

Lacrosse

• Okotoks Ice - Tier II
• Okotoks Icemen - Tier III

Rugby

• Foothills Lions
• Under 13-15-17 and mens leagues

Recreation[link]

Golf courses

The D'Arcy Ranch Golf Course

The River's Edge Golf Course is an 18-hole, grass-green course on the banks of the Sheep River 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Okotoks.

The Crystal Ridge Golf Club opened on August 8, 2004. The 9-hole, 3125-yard, par 35 track features water and rock work on every hole, with many mature trees, berms, sand traps, and large undulating greens. Each hole features a minimum of five tee boxes.

BMX bike track

The town has its own BMX bike track maintained by local volunteers.^[46]

Indoor recreation facilities

• Okotoks Recreation Centre
  • Swindell's Swimming Pool
  • Murray Arena
  • Piper Arena
  • Shane Homes Gymnasium
  • Okotoks Curling Rink
• Centennial Arena

Outdoor recreation facilities

• Skateboard Park
• Kinsmen Outdoor Skating Arena
• Various outdoor ball diamonds, soccer fields and tennis courts
• Okotoks Spray Park (opened June 4, 2010)

Camping

• Okotoks Lions Sheep River Campground
• Country Lane RV Park
• Okotoks Wilderness Campgrounds
• Riverbend Campground

Fishing

The Sheep River offers some excellent opportunities for fly fishing.

See also[link]

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of towns in Alberta

References[link]

External links[link]

• Town of Okotoks (Official website)
• Western Wheel - Community Newspaper (Established August 3, 1976)
• THE FOOTHILLS GUIDE - Okotoks Community/Regional Portal (Business Listings, Classifieds, & Events)
• Maps of Okotoks

	Bragg Creek	Calgary	Strathmore
	Black Diamond		Arrowwood
		Okotoks    East
	Longview	High River	Vulcan

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The People vs. Larry Flynt is a 1996 American biographical drama film directed by Miloš Forman about the rise of pornographic magazine publisher and editor Larry Flynt, and his subsequent clash with the law. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, and Edward Norton.^[3]

The film was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. It spans about 25 years of Flynt's life from his impoverished upbringing in Kentucky to his court battle with Reverend Jerry Falwell, and is based in part on the U.S. Supreme Court case Hustler Magazine v. Falwell. The film grossed just over $20.3 million domestically with a budget of $35 million.

Plot[link]

The film opens with a 10-year-old Larry Flynt (Cody Block) in 1953, as selling moonshine in an Appalachian region of Kentucky. The narrative then advances 20 years. Flynt (Woody Harrelson) and his younger brother, Jimmy (played by Brett Harrelson, Woody's younger brother) run a Hustler Go-Go club in Cincinnati. With profits down, Flynt decides to publish a "newsletter" for the club - the first Hustler magazine, full of nude pictures of women working at the club, in the hopes of attracting customers. The newsletter soon becomes a full-fledged magazine, but sales are weak. It's only after Hustler publishes nude pictures of former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis that sales take off, partially due to all the publicity surrounding the photos.

Flynt, a habitual womanizer, becomes particularly smitten with Althea Leasure (Courtney Love), a runaway-turned-stripper who works at one of his dance clubs. With help from Althea and Jimmy, Flynt makes a fortune from sales of Hustler, and other business activities. With all his success, naturally, comes enemies - as he finds himself a hated figure of conservative, anti-pornography activists. He argues with the activists, one of a number of themes the film explores: in one scene, he argues that "murder is illegal, but if you take a picture of it you may get your name in a magazine or maybe win a Pulitzer Prize". "However", he continues, "sex is legal, but if you take a picture of that act, you can go to jail". Flynt becomes involved in several prominent court cases, and befriends a young, whip-smart lawyer, Alan Isaacman (Edward Norton). In 1975, Flynt loses a smut-peddling court decision in Cincinnati, but escapes jail time when the case is thrown out on a technicality, thereby beginning his long clash with the legal system. (The real Larry Flynt plays the presiding judge in a cameo appearance.) Ruth Carter Stapleton (Donna Hanover), a Christian activist and sister of President Jimmy Carter, seeks out Flynt and urges him to give his life to Jesus. Flynt seems moved and starts letting his newfound religion influence everything in his life, including Hustler content, much to the chagrin of staffers and Althea alike.

In 1978, during another trial in Georgia, Flynt and Isaacman are both shot by a man with a rifle while they walk outside a courthouse. Isaacman recovers, but Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Wishing he was dead, Flynt renounces God. Because of the emotional and physical pain, he moves to Beverly Hills and spirals down into severe depression and drug use. During this time, Althea begins to dabble in Flynt's pain medications, eventually becoming hooked on painkillers and morphine.

In 1983, Flynt undergoes surgery to deaden several nerves, and as a result of it, feels rejuvenated. He returns to an active role with the publication. In his absence, Althea and Jimmy run Hustler, removing any Christian influence in its content. Flynt is soon in court again, and is told to provide his source regarding a video tape of a drug deal. During his ever-increasing courtroom antics, Flynt fires Isaacman on the spot, then throws an orange at the judge, all the while refusing to name his source. Flynt is sent to a psychiatric ward, where he sinks into depression again. Before going to the psychiatric ward, Flynt publishes a satirical parody ad where famous evangelical minister Jerry Falwell (Richard Paul) "speaks about his first time", and tells of a sexual encounter with his mother. Falwell sues for libel and inflicting emotional distress. Flynt countersues for copyright infringement (because Falwell copied his ad). Everything ends up in court in December 1984, attracting the attention of the media. The jury's decision is a mixed one, as Flynt is found guilty of inflicting emotional distress but not libel.

By that time, Althea has contracted HIV, which proceeds to AIDS. Some time later in 1987, Flynt finds her dead in the bathtub, having drowned (possibly as the result of an overdose, though this is unclear in the film). With his true love gone, Flynt presses Isaacman to appeal the Falwell decision to the Supreme Court of the United States. Isaacman refuses, saying Flynt's manic courtroom antics humiliate him. Flynt pleads with him, saying that he "wants to be remembered for something meaningful". Isaacman agrees and argues the "emotional distress" decision in front of the Supreme Court, in a case the media nickname "God versus the Devil" (actually Hustler Magazine v. Falwell in 1988). While Flynt is uncharacteristically quiet in the courtroom, Isaacman argues the case and wins, with the court overturning the original verdict in a unanimous decision. The film culminates with Flynt's victory; after the trial is over, Flynt is shown alone in his bedroom wistfully watching old videotapes of a healthy Althea.

Cast[link]

• Woody Harrelson (Cody Block, young) as Larry Flynt
• Courtney Love as Althea Leasure
• Edward Norton as Alan Isaacman
• Richard Paul as Jerry Falwell
• James Cromwell as Charles Keating
• Donna Hanover as Ruth Carter Stapleton
• Crispin Glover as Arlo
• Vincent Schiavelli as Chester
• Brett Harrelson (Ryan Post, young) as Jimmy Flynt
• Miles Chapin as Miles
• James Carville as Simon Leis
• Burt Neuborne as Roy Grutman
• Jan Tříska as The Assassin
• Norm Macdonald as Network reporter
• Larry Flynt as Judge Morrissey

Comparison to actual events[link]

In the scene where Flynt is shot, attorney Isaacman is the other person wounded. In reality, Isaacman was not present at the shooting. It was Flynt's Georgia attorney, Gene Reeves Jr., who was wounded with him. The scene preceding the shooting shows Flynt and his attorney being pursued by a mob of reporters. In reality, the Lawrenceville trial was lightly covered (because Flynt was on trial so frequently), and the two men were walking quietly to lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Also, when Flynt appears in federal court in Los Angeles, court security is provided by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies. This would not happen in real life, as the U.S. Marshals Service provides such security in federal court. L.A. County sheriff's deputies provide security for state courts in the county. In the film, the judge refers to the deputies as "marshals," but they are wearing L.A. County Sheriff's Department uniforms.

While Althea's death scene is fairly accurate, it shows the paraplegic Flynt on the phone with a doctor he has called regarding Althea's condition when he spots water appearing from under the bathroom door. He drops the handset and scrambles to the bathroom in his wheelchair, where he finds her drowned, picks her out of the bathtub and cradles her dead body. In reality, the overweight Flynt could not so much as drag himself out of his bed without assistance and when he saw water seeping under the bathroom door, it was two maids whom Flynt summoned by the bedroom intercom who were the ones who found Althea in the bathtub after she drowned.

Reception[link]

The People vs. Larry Flynt received positive reviews; based on 53 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating from critics of 87%, with an average score of 7.7/10.^[4]

Box office[link]

The film was a hit in limited releases.^[5] Based on a $35 million budget,^[1] the film grossed a domestic total of $20,300,385.^[2]

Awards and nominations[link]

See also[link]

• Larry Flynt
• Anti-pornography
• Hustler
• Hustler Magazine v. Falwell

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: The People vs. Larry Flynt

• The People vs. Larry Flynt at the Internet Movie Database
• The People vs. Larry Flynt at the TCM Movie Database
• The People vs. Larry Flynt at AllRovi
• The People vs. Larry Flynt at Box Office Mojo
• The People vs. Larry Flynt at Rotten Tomatoes
• The People vs. Larry Flynt at Metacritic