Opinion

Canmore approves 4.3 per cent tax increase

Canmore taxpayers will see a 4.3 per cent increase in municipal taxes next year after council unanimously passed its operating budget on Tuesday (Dec. 11).

The budget includes a 13 per cent increase for waste and recycling as well as a 12 per cent utility rate increase per year for the next three years, effective the first of January.

Totaling $39.3 million, next year’s budget includes funds for a full year of operations for projects such as Elevation Place, the Roam regional transit service between Banff and Canmore, the 20-year contract with the RCMP and a stand-alone fire rescue service. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Capital budget worth $14.5 million passed

Canmore council has approved a capital budget worth $14.5 million that includes funds for the Legacy Trail, Community Arts Centre and redevelopment of the pool at the Rec Centre once Elevation Place opens next year.

Following debates at 10 budget committee meetings a few weeks ago involving this year’s budget as well as the five-year capital plan, debt levels, reserves and expected grants, council voted unanimously in favour of the budget on Dec. 5.

There are currently 42 individual capital projects slated to take place next year, which involve $6.5 million for solid waste and utilities and another $8 million for other Town operations. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Alberta Parks closes popular skiing area due to grizzly and cubs

A popular backcountry skiing area in Kananaskis has been closed indefinitely due to a grizzly bear and her three cubs roaming in the vicinity and potentially denning for the winter.

Last Wednesday (Nov. 21), the Black Prince area in K-Country was closed after Alberta Parks noticed one of its collared grizzlies, bear 94, was in the area with three cubs, looking to set up a den site.

John Paczkowski, park ecologist for Kananaskis Country, confirmed on Tuesday (Nov. 27) the 11-year-old mother is still moving around and the area will remain closed until further notice. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Framework approved for Three Sisters Mountain Village

Unlike last week’s public meeting where a packed council chamber heard plans that could finally move the town’s largest area of undeveloped land out of receivership, about 30 people were present for council’s approval of a framework agreement on Tuesday (Nov. 20) that outlines the process leading up to an eventual decision in spring.

Three Sisters Mountain Village, which is currently managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) through a court-ordered receivership, has accumulated around $115 million in debt, but could be ready for development sometime next year.

The Town’s general manager of municipal infrastructure, Gary Buxton, presented the framework, answered questions from council and stated clearly that the Town is not bound to the contents in the framework and the decision will be made by council following a public process. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Local Wildrose Party team committed to the cause

The Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta is on its way to becoming the longest running provincial government in Canadian history, however, roughly three and a half years from now Alberta may finally see a changing of the guard if the upstart Wildrose Party continues to attract voters.

Defeated by 699 votes in the Banff-Cochrane constituency while still gaining 37 per cent of the popular vote during the spring election, the local Wildrose team is now prepared to work with official opposition status and focus on attracting Albertans fed up with a lack of conservative politics. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Town approves new arts centre

The Town of Canmore has taken the opportunity to create a vibrant centre for the arts that will fulfill a long held need and engage the whole community.

On Tuesday (Nov. 6), the community arts centre advisory committee made its final push for council to adopt a plan to redevelop the library, which will move to Elevation Place next year, for a space that will showcase, provide programs and act as a central hub for artists in the community.

“Canmore holds a true grassroots movement. Artists and volunteer groups have invested time and effort to grow their art. The dedication of those people has brought the Canmore arts scene to where it is today,” said Dea Fischer, chair of the committee during her presentation to council. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

MP’s bill to curb masked rioters at events

A bill sponsored by Wild Rose MP Blake Richards has passed third reading in the House of Commons and, if approved by the senate, could implement stiff penalties for those who conceal their identity while participating in a riot or unlawful assembly.

Bill C-309, otherwise known as the Concealment of Identity Act, is Richards’ private member’s bill that was first introduced in Oct. 2011 and will apparently provide police officers with a new tool to prevent, de-escalate and control riots. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Town engages in pool redevelopment talks

With the opening of 77,000 square foot Elevation Place scheduled for early in the new year, discussion has now turned to what will be done with the existing pool at the Canmore Recreation Centre.

The decision, by and large, will be determined by the community.

Last Thursday (Oct. 18), the Town held its first public engagement meeting to kick-start a campaign to decide what the pool – originally constructed in 1988 as an Olympics legacy project – will become.

Over 75 people, including some members of council and Mayor John Borrowman, attended an orientation session held at the Rec Centre to learn about the Town’s plan for engaging the public through a tool kit that can be submitted online or in person at the Civic Centre. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Council not regulating public smoking

Canmore council confirmed its support for the Provincial Tobacco Reduction Act, which prohibits smoking inside public buildings/vehicles, workplaces and within five metres of doorways and windows, but it will not proceed with creating more smoke-free outdoor spaces at this time.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 16), council voted 5–2 in favour of upholding the existing Smoking Control Bylaw with respect to non-regulation of smoking in outdoor spaces.

A presentation delivered at the meeting by manager of protective services, Greg Burt, indicated the Town recently received a request from Action on Smoking and Health to increase the number of smoke-free outdoor spaces. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Canmore recognized by Google Canada

The Town of Canmore is known for its mountain town lifestyle, excellent training grounds for athletes and, most recently, as a leader for small businesses taking advantage of the World Wide Web.

On Tuesday (Oct. 16), Google Canada presented Mayor John Borrowman with one of five eTown Awards in recognition of the town’s numerous small businesses showing initiative regarding finding new customers, conducting operations and growing their business through use of the internet.

Divided into five sections across the country, Canmore was selected as the winner for the Prairies region, alongside other regional winners Moncton, N.B., Dorval, Que., Parry Sound, Ont. and Duncan, B.C. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.