Opinion

Canmore Tourism prepares levy submission

Following several weeks of reports, brainstorming sessions and a successful annual general meeting, Canmore Business & Tourism (CBT) is preparing to deliver a proposal to council with the aim of implementing a three per cent levy on accommodations and activities within the town.

At a Committee of the Whole meeting last month, CBT President and CEO Andrew Nickerson presented options for a sustainable funding model to members of council and indicated how the current system in place is not ideal to continue. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Public schools in Bow Valley achieve ‘exceptional’ results

Canadian Rockies Public Schools (CRPS) might not be the biggest school division in the province, but it may be one of the brightest.

Earlier this month, Alberta Education released the latest batch of provincial achievement test (PATs) and diploma exam results, which show CRPS has improved in some areas and surpassed provincial goals in others.

Test results are managed in two categories, standard of excellence and acceptable standard. The first category, according to the Alberta Education website, refers to students who demonstrate a mastery of the core subject material while the latter includes students who demonstrate an understanding of the subject material. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Rabbit program to resume in Canmore this month

Following a four-month campaign that resulted in 189 rabbits captured, all of which were sent to a not-for-profit sanctuary, and cost taxpayers $29,680, the Feral Rabbit program is set to resume in Canmore later this month.

According to Town Communications Co-ordinator Sally Caudill, administration is working with the contracted trapper, Animal Damage Control, to determine the most appropriate time to start trapping. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Photo radar to continue in Canmore

Automated traffic enforcement, more commonly known as photo radar, will continue to exist in the Town of Canmore to curb speeders and improve the overall safety of the roads for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Town council debated the topic at length on Tuesday (Oct. 2) and eventually passed a motion to initiate a request for proposal (RFP) to renew photo radar services for the next three years.

According to a report submitted to council by the Town’s manager of protective services, Greg Burt, Global Traffic Group Ltd. has provided Canmore with 24 hours of photo radar services per week since March, 2007. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

MPC grants conditional approval for public eyesore in Banff

It took the Town of Banff’s municipal planning commission over an hour of in camera discussion, but the group granted conditional approval of a project to redevelop a parcel of land that has largely been viewed as an eyesore in the middle of the downtown core.

The proposed redevelopment, which is located at 204 Wolf Street and is the site of Timbers Food Company Restaurant, is expected to cost over $3.5 million and will have space for one retail unit and two restaurants. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Speed traps to continue in Bow Valley

A total of 434 motorists travelling in the Bow Valley were charged with speeding over the Labour Day weekend and police say they will continue to be aggressive in their enforcement over the next few weeks.

Throughout August, 2,096 people were charged with speeding, compared to 770 charged in July. Speeding enforcement efforts were part of a promise members of the Bow Valley Integrated Traffic Unit (BVITU) made to catch those driving too fast. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Death triggers safety review for bylaw officers

The death of a 62-year-old peace officer near High River earlier this month has triggered Alberta’s solicitor general to conduct a safety review to determine whether or not bylaw officers should carry firearms.

However, local bylaw supervisors indicate officers in the Bow Valley may not need to carry such weapons since situations involving violent subjects don’t often occur.

A retired Mountie with 35 years of experience, Foothills peace officer Rod Lazenby died on Aug. 10 after investigating a dog complaint at a property near Priddis. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Locals have their say in ‘big ride’

Despite a power outage, heavy traffic and a course change at the last moment, the overall impression both local residents and businesses owners delivered about the inaugural RBC GranFondo Banff event last weekend was positive.

On Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 28), organizers of the “big ride” held a public debriefing to hear feedback about the first GranFondo Canada event held solely within a national park.

Prior to the ride taking place, several environmental concerns were raised about the impact on wildlife as the planned 142-kilometre course ventured along roads typically inhabited by bears at this time of year. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Proposed Wild Rose boundary changes good for Tories, NDP

Proposed boundary changes to the Wild Rose federal constituency, which would be renamed Banff-Airdrie, could be beneficial to both the governing Conservatives and the opposing New Democrats, say local representatives.

Earlier this month, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Alberta submitted a proposal to change the boundaries of the current Wild Rose constituency. The changes would divide the constituency in half, with the southern part expected to include Canmore, Banff, the MD of Bighorn, Crossfield, Morley, Cochrane, Airdrie, and parts of Rocky View County and portions of Springbank. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Column: Moving lock, stock and barrel

– published in the St. Paul Journal on July 3, 2012

After over six months of rodeos, town and county meetings, a provincial election, high school sports games, cups of coffee from McDonalds and Tim Hortons, one week without said drink, and a baby of the month story, I have officially moved on.

The move is to another newspaper in a town located in the mountains. As exciting as it is to move to a different place and experience the freshness that comes with being in a new surrounding, thinking back on my experience here in St. Paul has reminded me that living and working here was something I needed to do.

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