Bragg Creek is named after Albert Warren Bragg from Collingwood, Nova Scotia and his 14-year-old brother John Thomas who homesteaded in the area in 1894. The community was established between a forestry reserve, the SarceeIndian reserve and a Provincial Park. Ranching was the original primary economic generator in Bragg Creek. The economy diversified with the emergence of recreation in the 1920s. Bragg Creek was featured in the feature filmsStorm and Killer Image both directed by David Winning, and also Betrayed directed by Costa-Gavras. During the 1990s, CBC aired the television program North of 60, which was mainly filmed in Bragg Creek. The town was the filming location for the new BBC/Discovery Channel series Dinosapien and the 2009 CBC television series Wild Roses, as well as portions of the movie FUBAR.
2005 flooding
In the late spring of 2005, Bragg Creek and areas surrounding the Elbow River were put on a flood watch and eventually voluntary evacuation when the river rose over 2 metres, overflowing and eroding in some places. The majority of Bragg Creek buildings were damaged in this event, as were the majority of houses in nearby Redwood Meadows. The voluntary evacuation was not met with widespread co-operation, as many residents stayed to battle the flood by building makeshift dams. Bragg Creek has since recovered from the event.
Demographics
As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Bragg Creek recorded a population of 589 living in 241 of its 288 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2011 population of 595. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016. Rocky View County's 2013 municipal census counted a population of 454 in Bragg Creek, the same population recorded in its 2006 municipal census. As a designated place in the 2011 Census, Bragg Creek had a population of 595 living in 235 of its 286 total dwellings, an 8.2% change from its 2006 population of 550. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2011.
Amenities
Bragg Creek is popular for shopping, with its quaint shops, restaurants, and mountain scenery. The area is a popular spot for vacations and short day trips from Calgary. It is near the Rocky Mountains and Kananaskis Country. The Elbow River and the scenic Elbow Falls are a short distance away. There are many recreational areas in the area. These include Bragg Creek Provincial Park and the Canyon Creek Ice Cave, also known as the Bragg Creek Ice Cave. There are numerous hiking/biking trails, equestrian trails and picnic/camping areas. Downhill skiing used to be popular, although since the abandonment of the nearby downhill ski centre, Wintergeen, only cross country skiing facilities are available. In recent years the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association has developed over 140 km of biking, hiking, snowshoeing, and horseback riding trails. Many summer camps, such as OLQP, Easter Seals Camp Horizon and Kamp Kiwanis are also near Bragg Creek. The powderface42, a marathon and half-marathon takes place in the vicinity every year. This event is called a mountain marathon, but is more like a classical marathon running race rather than the multi-day mountain marathon events in the UK. The race does not have a navigational element to it; participants run on a predefined and marked course with water stations along it.
