Nestled somewhere between the epic Rocky Mountains and wide-open Canadian prairies, Nanton offers charm, safety and opportunity.

Just 40 minutes south of Calgary, the community is on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, and has direct access to markets in the United States and across Alberta. Another major highway, #533, links the community with other provincial market areas.

Nanton, while definitely embracing a small-town lifestyle, remains close to urban facilities and conveniences, and provides its more than 2,000 residents with excellent recreation and business opportunities close to home.

History

Pioneers first settled in the area of present-day Nanton in the late 1800s.

The village itself was formed in 1903 and named after the late Sir Augustus Nanton, director of many iconic Canadian companies including the Canadian Pacific Railway and Hudson’s Bay Company.

Nanton was incorporated as a town in 1907.

Arts, Culture & Shopping

Nanton’s historic downtown streets have a distinct charm. There’s a wonderful selection of antique shops, specialty stores, artisan galleries and eateries.

Nanton has a built a name as somewhat of an antiquer’s delight: the hidden gems in its shops draw treasure hunters from around the area.

Recreation

There are a number of parks in Nanton, the largest of which, Centennial Park, offers several recreational activities. There are four baseball diamonds, a batting cage, horseshoe pits, beach volleyball courts and a large fenced playground for the kids.

For indoor games and workouts, the Tom Hornecker Recreation Centre has a large ice rink for hockey and curling, and a racquetball court. It also has an open-air pool that’s open from May to September.

If looking for links, the Nanton Golf Club is an 18-hole championship course with spectacular views of the foothills.

Finally, this is rodeo country, so if you’re up for it, or more likely, up for watching, the Nanton Agricultural Society’s Rodeo Grounds are busy every weekend of the summer months with rodeo amateurs looking to climb the rankings.

Schools

Nanton has two schools, A.B. Daley for kindergarten to grade six students, and J.T. Foster High School for grades seven to 12.

Transportation

High River conveniently sits on Highway 2. To reach it from Calgary, you can head south on either Deerfoot or Macleod Trail.