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Year in review: headlines from Canmore in 2020

There were a lot of headlines in 2020 for the community of Canmore – here are some of the highlights from the past year.

JANUARY 

The year that was 2020 for the community of Canmore starts off with news that the Quarry Lake off-leash dog park will see some major changes this year. The Town of Canmore announces it would change a one-kilometre loop trail from the main off-leash area to a nearby pond to remove the ability for dog owners to walk their furry friends off leash. Officials say it was a compromise to protect wildlife habitat and maintain areas for off-leash dog walkers to enjoy.  

A Canmore family suddenly finds itself homeless after a fire destroys their mobile home in Spring Creek. The community rallies its support to find supplies and temporary housing for the family in the aftermath of the fire.  

Canmore resident and doctor Laura Kosakoski is killed in an avalanche on Mount Hector on Jan. 10. In the aftermath of the tragic incident, her husband Adam Campbell shares how much Kosakoski meant to himself and the community, especially her patients.  

Alpine Helicopters receives a RECCO device as part of a two-year pilot project. The device helps to locate people buried in avalanche debris from a high elevation, if they are wearing a RECCO device that can be picked up by the device that hangs under the helicopter.  

The first of several rallies in support of health care workers is held in Canmore, organized by the Alberta Union of Public Employees and the United Nurses of Alberta unions.  

A 2015 gas explosion that destroyed several homes, and damaged a dozen more adjacent to the Bow River Seniors Lodge finally reaches the end of its court proceedings for charges filed under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. APM Construction Services, the general contractor, is fined $75,000 after it plead guilty to charges at a prior court appearance. Subcontractor Ground Zero Grading Inc. was fined $50,000 in 2019 for its part in the natural gas explosion.  

FEBRUARY 

Canmore council confirms that the public will be able to provide feedback on the renewal of the lease for the municipal heliport, set to expire in May 2021. However, the town hall meeting on the issue did not occur because of restrictions on events and gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Canmore council approves a new Safe Parking program to manage the growing number of residents in the community living in their vehicles and parking overnight in public places. While the Safe Park pilot proposed to use different locations around town, it is not actually implemented due to the pandemic.  

The government of Alberta announces it has given final approval for the $48 million debris flood retention structure in Cougar Creek. A revised application to the Natural Resources Conservation Board for the flood structure was officially approved in October, 2019. Construction begins on the infrastructure project in the spring.  

Canmore council votes to approve sale of a parcel of unused road allowance to an adjacent landowner near Policeman’s Creek. The land sale, and the road closure, is later objected to by the community as it would affect a nearby trail and greenspace used by the public.  

The Canmore Golf and Curling Club wins an environmental award from the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association for its innovative vermicomposting system.  

MARCH 

The Alberta government announces it had accepted the submission from Three Sisters Mountain Village for the final wildlife corridor required from the developer to move forward with the final phases of its project in Canmore. Conservation groups question the alignment with respect to its width and slope, while local development industry leaders welcome the news after the company spent years trying to go through the regulatory approval process.  

Up until a state of public health emergency is declared in Alberta and the World Health Organization deemed COVID-19 to be a pandemic, there is very little discussion in public by Canmore’s elected leaders as to what risk it posed to the community. However, after March 17, council and administration with the municipality responded to the emerging crisis. 

Across Alberta, students in kindergarten to Grade 12 move to an online learning environment for the rest of the school year. Those living in staff accommodation who are laid off find themselves without a home, while municipal governments and businesses close down facilities and operations for lockdown to mitigate the spread of the virus.  

Grassroots volunteer groups sprang up on social media to connect neighbours with each other and provide support during difficult times. As well, food security was a top concern for many who lost their jobs as a result of the lockdown. A number of efforts are undertaken to meet the food needs in the community.  

That included the popular Food and Friends weekly community meal program, which switched to home delivery and expanded to twice a week thanks to the support of the Iron Goat Pub and Grill. 

Canmore Community Housing offers rent relief to its tenants for March, April, May and June.  

Even as the pandemic began to unfold, local doctors warn the community at a town hall event that budget cuts by the UCP to health care in the province will affect the delivery of health care in the valley.  

APRIL 

Plans for Canmore to implement paid parking in the downtown core in 2020 are delayed as a result of COVID-19. Council also switches Canmore’s approach to economic development as a result of the pandemic. In addition to providing support for businesses, Canmore’s elected officials also approve funding for the social and community response.  

Canmore council passes a motion to reduce 2020 municipal property taxes to the same level as in 2019.  

While some also called on council to follow Banff’s direction and set up checkpoints into the community, Canmore’s emergency coordination centre, established under a state of local emergency, decides not to pursue that strategy.  

Canmore Fire-Rescue amends its peak staffing pilot project in response to the pandemic. The additional full-time firefighter available to respond to calls helps to reduce call out times over the next six months.  

After the UCP government announced in 2019 that it would dissolve the successful Parent Link network in the province, its replacement – the Family Resource Network – officially begins operations in Canmore.  

The Canmore Folk Music Festival cancels its 2020 event. All other major cultural and community events in 2020 are also cancelled, including the Canada Day parade, Miners Day parade, the Highland Games and the New Year’s Eve party on the pond.  

The Canmore Public Library and artsPlace adapt to the pandemic by switching service models. Online programming becomes a very popular and easily accessible method to connect with others while avoiding social gatherings.  

Businesses also adapt to the new normal, with social distancing rules coming into effect and e-commerce opportunities. A number of businesses find new and innovative ways to meet the pandemic needs of the community, like selling bulk grocery items and producing hand sanitizer.  

MAY 

The Town of Canmore’s emergency operations centre determines that shutting down Main Street to vehicle traffic to allow for social distancing of pedestrians for the summer will go ahead. Municipal officials estimate the unemployment rate in the community is between 50 and 65 per cent.  

Canmore council approves providing $54,000 in public funding to Tourism Canmore Kananaskis, the community’s destination marketing organization. At the same time, elected officials approve a new bridging document with TCK and direct administration to create a partnership agreement tied to future funding. In June, council establishes a task force to look at the future of tourism for the community.  

Canmore council approves first reading for changes to the Teepee Town area redevelopment plan (ARP) and sets a public hearing for the fist week of June. The changes to the ARP are eventually approved along with subsequent Land Use Bylaw changes. However, there is disagreement with property owners along Second Avenue with a decision by council to limit the number of tourist homes allowed per lot to one. A second public hearing on that issue is set to go ahead Tuesday (Jan. 5).  

Bow Valley College closes its Canmore campus in 2020, citing low enrollment numbers in local programs as one of the main reasons for the move. In 2020, the Alberta government also announces it will be cutting funding to post-secondary institutions across the province beginning this year.  

JUNE 

Undermining regulations related to the Municipal Government Act are officially updated for the first time since the 1990s. The regulations are directly connected to the fact that some development has and will take place on undermined lands. The undermining review regulation is updated to clarify the engineering and approval process, insurance requirements and associated guidelines.  

The brand new $16 million Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies officially opens after years of development of the new church along Palliser Trail.  

Canmore high school grads celebrate their milestone differently this year with vehicle parades and outdoor ceremonies to ensure safe distancing. 

With businesses reopening with health restrictions and protocols in place, and the usually busy summer tourist season about to begin, but with the U.S.-Canadian border closed and international travel drastically down, it was not clear what the summer would bring in terms of visitation to the region. Visitation at certain destinations, like Quarry Lake and the trails system surrounding Canmore, is very high, resulting in the need for different levels of government to respond to overcrowding and illegal parking.  

JULY 

The Canmore Mountain Market secures a new location to operate on Thursdays in the community. In the past, the weekly farmers market was held in front of the Civic Centre, but it did not allow for secured entrances and exits as required for COVID-19 protocols. The 2020 market moved to the Canmore Rec Centre parking lot, however ended once classes resumed at the adjacent Canmore Collegiate High School.  

Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy student Jenna Murphy was awarded the prestigious $100,000 Schulick Leadership Scholarship.  

The Canmore Rec Centre and Elevation Place begin to reopen after being shut down in March due to COVID 19.   

Canmore’s busiest intersection where Bow Valley Trail, Benchlands Trail and Railway Avenue meet, is slated for a major infrastructure replacement project and redesign over the summer. However, after all tenders came in over the $3.5 million approved budget the start is delayed. Problems with phasing and contractors not having the resources needed to do some of the work later creates additional delays and pushes completion of paving into 2021.  

Staff Sgt. Ryan Singleton takes over as detachment commander for the RCMP in Canmore.  

The Canmore Lions Club celebrated 50 years of community building in 2020, although its planned event was cancelled.  

Former Canmore accountant James “Russ” Neilson is found guilty of fraud in relation to his former business Abaca Solutions. The charges stemmed from allegations that Neilson defrauded approximately 40 clients of an estimated $5.5 million in 2015. In September, Justice Kristine Eidsvik sentenced him to five years.  

AUGUST 

Canmore’s mandatory mask bylaw comes into effect for all public indoor spaces.  

As a result of increased visitation at Quarry Lake and illegal parking along Highway 742, the Town of Canmore confirms it is considering paid parking at the popular outdoor recreation and wedding venue location.  

SEPTEMBER 

Draft area structure plans for the last two developable parcels owned by developer Three Sisters Mountain Village are released for community feedback. Smith Creek is proposed to include a new school site and an industrial area in addition to residential development; however, it also includes areas that are not within Canmore’s urban growth boundary. Three Sisters Village is proposed to include a hotel and spa district, village centre, innovation district, indoor recreation and residential. It is different from previously approved plans that included a golf course and there is concern in the community that change would remove a buffer zone for wildlife and proposes development on undermined lands.  

Canmore’s artsPlace reopens to limited programs and events with COVID-19 protocols.  

Phase two of the Bow River Seniors Lodge expansion project begins in Canmore. The additional 60 units will provide higher levels of care currently not available in the Bow Valley.  

Councillor Esmé Comfort takes a six-month leave of absence from her council duties to take care of her health after overcoming a cancer diagnosis, breaking her hip and fracturing her spine.  

Officials from the Town of Canmore join members of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation from the Bearspaw band to announce the official naming of a peak on Mount Charels Stewart to Anû Kathâ Îpa, which translated into English as Bald Eagle Peak. The official name now gives the public something to call the geographic feature other than the unofficial racist and misogynistic name it has been referred to until now. 

Canmore's Main Street reopened to vehicle traffic after being closed during the summer months. 

Canmore's newest piece of public art, Altered Ground by local sculptor Tony Bloom, is unveiled along Fairholme Drive. 

OCTOBER 

The Defend Alberta Parks lawn sign campaign arrives in Canmore. In an effort to convince the UCP government to reconsider its announcement earlier in the year to close 20 park sites and remove 164 others from the Alberta Parks system, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society launched the campaign. By the end of December, the government announces it will no longer be removing or closing most of those sites from the system.

The Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative is working on launching in the valley. The grassroots enterprise says its vision is to make renewable energy affordable and accessible. The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley began the work to establish community generation with a feasibility study in 2019. 

The first COVID-19 outbreak in Canmore is confirmed through Alberta Health Services. A Calgary company hired for renovations at the local Safeway is the source of the outbreak, although only one employee from the grocery store is involved. At the same time, AHS confirms a Canmore man died from the virus as part of the outbreak at the Foothills Medical Centre. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes time to speak with the Bow Valley's Rob Murray during an interview on Mountain FM. Trudeau speaks to the importance of the tourism-based economy in this region and notes that programs like the wage subsidy have helped keep businesses open locally. 

NOVEMBER

The Town of Canmore's 2021 operating and capital budgets will be considered and approved in January. In the meantime, council approves an interim budget and hears from administration on some of the considerations being made while preparing the budget. While council capped the 2020 municipal property tax rates at 2019 levels, it gives direction to administration to prepare a budget that caps the increase at 7.8 per cent. 

Canmore will receive $4.2 million in funding from the provincial and federal governments to manage the financial effects of COVID-19. 

In response to a question in the legislature, Minister of Finance Travis Toews confirms that a wildlife overpass will be constructed east of Canmore near Lac des Arcs in 2021-22

The Canmore Community Daycare reopens after closing for two weeks due to two cases of COVID-19 among staff. Later in the year, the Mountain Munchkins Daycare is included in the outbreak list on the AHS website. Nobody from Mountain Munchkins returned interview requests from the Outlook. 

The Town of Canmore considers and approves a clean energy improvement tax bylaw. The bylaw allows property owners to borrow money from the municipality to do energy retrofits or install solar panels, with the funds paid back through a levy on their municipal property taxes over time.

 

DECEMBER

Canadian Rockies Public School division unveils plans to develop land it owns in Canmore near Lawrence Grassi Middle School. The plans being put out to the community for feedback will require an area redevelopment plan to be created and approved, as well as changes to the Municipal Development Plan and the creation of a direct control district in the Land Use Bylaw.

The Town of Canmore's plans to hold a New Year's Eve fireworks display is up in the air administration receives conflicting reports from AHS and the chief medical officer of health about whether or not the socially distanced event could go ahead. By the end of the month, officials announce the fireworks will happen at 9 p.m. from an undisclosed location in the centre of town. 

The Iron Goat Pub and Grill and Food And Friends receive the citizen of the year award from the Rotary Club of Canmore for the work they did throughout the year to provide food supports for the community. 

As the COVID case count in Canmore and the valley rises from mid-November into December, locals from Lake Louise, Canmore and Banff begin the Three Communities: One Valley initiative to provide home delivery of essential supplies to those in isolation or quarantine. Canmore's case count reaches its highest number of 93 at the beginning of December.

Canmore council votes to expand its mandatory mask bylaw to require face coverings for those lining up outside local businesses. 

With additional public health restrictions coming into effect in December that mandate the closure of recreation facilities, the Town of Canmore lays off 100 staff. Council also approves spending $20,000 on a new electric sign trailer. 

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