The First 100 Days on Canmore Council
The newly elected Canmore council at our swearing in ceremony in October, 2021.
It has been 100 days since the municipal election last fall and I felt this was the perfect opportunity to provide an update about what I have been working on since that time.
Life of a town councillor can be pretty busy. This week, for example, I have 14 scheduled Zoom calls. While it can be tiring, I am still keen after the election to listen and learn as much as I can before making important decisions. I knew before putting my name forward as a candidate that this would be a role that involved meetings, and I am enjoying the work so far.
My committees include: Canmore Community Housing, Canmore Museum, Canmore Planning Commission, Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission, and the Southern Alberta Energy to Waste Association.
I am also happy to share that I have been appointed to the Alberta Municipalities (formerly the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association) environment and sustainability committee. This is an important role to have a voice in advocacy at a provincial level.
I put my name forward after attending a session at the ABMunis annual convention in Edmonton in November. It was an invigorating experience as a newbie politician, as it is at the core to how advocacy works between municipalities and the provincial government.
In other good news, I have joined the team at Paintbox Lodge as an assistant manager. I am excited to be part of this exceptional local tourism business. Owners Sara Renner and Thomas Grandi live their values and exemplify the regenerative tourism framework that Canmore council has set out for the future of the industry locally.
That reminds me that there is a multi-stakeholder tourism roundtable being formed after the release of the framework and it needs members from the community. That’s you!
What else has happened? So much!
I was nervous to put forward my very first budget amendment as part of our operational and capital deliberations in December. Canmore’s operating budget is $61.5 million and its 2022 capital plan represents $26.3 million in projects. I successfully put forward a motion that added increased frequency for local fare-free Roam public transit in our community to the budget.
There is so much I could write about this year’s budget, but instead I will be brief. Heading into 2022 there are many exciting projects and initiatives that will move forward. COVID-19 has hijacked our lives for two years, and that includes our local municipal workloads.
One project I am keen to see be developed is a food truck pilot project. If you didn’t know already, there are absolutely no regulations around food trucks as a commercial use in our community. Those who have started businesses have had to be adaptive and creative to find a place to operate locally.
Another initiative that will be exciting for summer 2022 is another period of pedestrianization for Main Street. This time, however, it will not be a COVID adaptation to create more space for people to socially distance.
I look forward to the work that will be undertaken to look at this concept as we have seen it unfold over the past two seasons, and improve it.
I am also excited that another position in our planning and development department was approved by council to begin the work on community-focused planning work, beginning with a downtown area redevelopment plan.
Are we there yet?
I am reminding myself every day that COVID-19 is temporary. What we are going through right now is not a permanent change in our lives; this is not the new normal.
I have hope and I know we are all struggling with the emotional toll this pandemic has taken. We are closer to getting to the other side of this virus than we have ever been. If we all do our part, the sooner it will happen.
It is easy to feel frustrated. Our lives have been affected negatively by forces beyond our control. It is important to invest time and energy into processing our feelings, especially when our needs are not being met.
I am focusing on future positivity. Once we are able to lift restrictions and mandates, what can I do to celebrate the end of this trying time? I think the thing I am looking forward to the most, is being able to gather as a community again.
Collectively and individually, we will have to process the events of the past two years. But while we are still experiencing a high level of disruption and anxiety in our lives, hold fast!