John Petrie said there are 330 housing and apartment units in the works in an interview. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

ECONOMY

Hundreds of new housing units in the works for Brooks, mayor says

Mar 27, 2025 | 1:07 PM

Brooks Mayor John Petrie says, with Alberta’s population increasing, the city’s had some good economic development for the first time in about 20 years.

Specifically, Petrie said there are 330 housing and apartment units in the works in an interview Wednesday.

“Whether it be Medicine Hat, Brooks or Toronto, everybody is into the challenges with housing. So we’re pretty positive about that,” Petrie said.

“Other things in the works too, we’ve got a new junior high school that’s been approved that’s under construction that’s about $41 million. So that’s going to add a lot of local economics too,” he added.

“We got the Catholic school, the planning for that was approved, and that more than likely will be $45 to $50 million dollars.”

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Alberta government data shows population estimates for the city of Brooks have it growing from about 12,000 people in 2001 to just under 17,000 people in 2024.

The biggest spike in growth occurred between 2022 to 2024, when the city saw an estimated increase of over 1,500 residents.

Petrie said this has impacted the cost of living for those renting, because the cost has gone up.

“But we’re kind of hoping that with maybe more units in the market, it will at least stabilize the rents and maybe bring them down a little bit there too,” Petrie said.

“That’s probably the biggest impact that the locals are having there. Two things, the rents, groceries. But everybody’s affected by the grocery prices.”

After a term as a councillor and his first term as mayor, Petrie said he will make a decision in mid-April about whether he will seek another term in October’s municipal election.