It would be fair to say there is never a dull moment in Canmore and throughout 2015 that proved to be the case.
Between a major gas explosion that rocked a downtown neighbourhood and left an entire block homeless, to significant debate in the community around when, where and how to use land for affordable housing initiatives – the past year was chock full of headlines.
Heading into 2016, the Outlook took a look back through the past year at the news that filled our pages and shaped the community we know and love.
JANUARY
The year began with good news for art and culture lovers in the community, of which there are many, with news that artsPlace would officially begin construction. After several designs had to be redone due to budget constraints and building code requirements, tenders came in under the $2.5 million budget and the design included a wet studio, kiln, fabrication studio, visual arts studio and a performance studio that also doubles as a movie theatre. The new facility officially opened in September with a major community celebration and over 3,000 people taking the opportunity to tour the brand new space.
The beginning of a new year saw the renewal of a major municipal contract for economic development services extended with Canmore Business and Tourism. The destination marketing organization’s contract to provide those services expired at the end of 2014. The contract renewal, however, was not as simple as originally proposed, as council felt it needed more input into how specific economic development initiatives are delivered. At the same time, CBT was undertaking a review of the business registry fee system and proposed changes to it later in the year. It was approved eventually in November.
One of Canmore’s longest running festivals, the Canmore Highland Games, reached out to the community in January for help going into its 25th year. The Three Sisters Scottish Festival Society launched a $50,000 fundraising campaign in order to put on the 2015 event and rebuild its reserves. The society said the games have lost money every year since 2011 and that has depleted its reserves. Various reasons were behind the loss of funds, however, the community rallied and the games went forward and the society moved forward with adjusting its operations to address funding in the future.
What would turn into a year-long (and not over yet) debate begins about infill development and rezoning of land in the Peaks of Grassi subdivision after a 1998 settlement agreement determined no more units would be built there began in earnest at the beginning of 2015. Lawrence Hill, Pierre Doyon and Dan Madlung, all longtime residents of the Peaks, purchased three undeveloped parcels of land and put forward a proposal to rezone it from urban reserve to residential and build approximately 20 homes. Throughout the consultation process on the proposed development the land, owners put forward that two units of Perpetually Affordable Housing would be provided as part of the project. Neighbourhood opposition was significant, yet a public hearing also saw many Canmore residents speak out about the need for more affordable housing in the community. There was also much debate about the settlement agreement signed by the municipality and Three Sisters Mountain Village. Legal counsel for the Town indicated if neither party took exception to additional development in the area in February, the agreement does not bind them. Council voted against the rezoning, citing the fact that not enough community benefit was achieved through the proposal to disregard community concerns and the 1998 agreement.
Canmore council began considering changes to the business registry as recommended by Canmore Business and Tourism. Hit hardest in the proposed changes were food and beverage businesses in particular. CBT suggested that particular sector have increased fees to support economic development as the hotel industry already voluntarily supports CBT through a destination marketing fund. The argument went that restaurants benefit from tourism marketing and economic development work CBT undertakes without contributing financially towards it.
Canmore council voted to support long-term mitigation plans for Cougar Creek after the 2013 debris flood ravaged the steep mountain creek and the homes that abut it. The $37 million debris retention structure proposed and approved did not sit well with all elected officials – Councillors Ed Russell and Vi Sandford did not support the direction. Sandford stated “dams” are simple solutions to complex problems that should be scrapped. Russell expressed concern about unknown long-term repair and maintenance costs.
Nominations began for the upcoming provincial election. Incumbent Progressive Conservative MLA Ron Casey put his name forward uncontested to run again.
FEBRUARY
With Cougar Creek not the only mountain stream to fill with debris water in 2013, council began considering mitigations for Three Sisters Creek in February. A berm was proposed, a much more passive form of mitigation than what was approved for Cougar Creek. Cheaper as well, at a cost of $3.8 million the Town of Canmore contribution makes up just $540,000 of that and the remaining funds to be provided by the province.
Since it began operations in 2013, Elevation Place has exceeded expectations in terms of membership numbers, revenues and popularity. In particular, the fitness gym at the facility has been well received by community members. That success, however, was at issue in February as private fitness businesses began expressing concerns about the public facility competing with them – the private sector. Facilitator Ron Remple began working with the municipality’s recreation department and the private sector to find a mutually agreeable solution to limit expansion of Elevation Place’s offerings.
After a full year with Beyond Curbside recycling in all Canmore neighbourhoods, (blue bins that accept cardboard and mixed paper, glass, metal and plastic recycling), diversion rates from the landfill for the community remained unchanged. A report to council showed residents continue to recycle 30 per cent of household waste, the same average as the previous five years.
MARCH
With construction of Perpetually Affordable Housing rental units underway on Dyrgas Gate by Canmore Community Housing Corporation with phase one of McArthur Place, Canmore council was asked to approve moving forward with phase two immediately. According to CCHC, the construction prices received at the time of tender for phase two were favourable to move forward on without delay. The first phase consists of 32 units and the second of 16 – all are expected to be complete in 2016.
Canmore’s municipal census results were presented to council in March and a new reality began to reveal itself when it comes to the community’s non-permanent population. Prior census data showed a 30 per cent population of weekenders or second homeowners, but new methods used to conduct the census in 2014 revealed that figure may in fact be closer to 20 per cent.
Canmore Fire-Rescue crews responded to a fire in their own hall in March. The blaze was located in the offices of the fire hall on 10th Street and Railway Avenue and affected some storage space as well. Repairs began immediately, however, administration soon discovered the municipality’s insurance coverage was lacking and would not cover all costs.
With years of planning, Bow Valley Regional Housing Authority prepared to break ground at the Bow River Senior’s Lodge for a $15.7 million upgrade and extension to the facility on Fairholme Drive in Canmore. The project replaces 43 aging units and adds an additional 20 to the facility. In March, the province announced another $6 million for BVRH efforts to improve seniors housing in the valley.
With food and beverage businesses facing a 50 per cent increase in business registry fees and feedback from a public hearing, council voted to increase all business licence fees 30 per cent.
APRIL
When Canmore Community Daycare and Preschool moved into a new building – the Roundhouse – on Seventh Avenue adjacent to Lawrence Grassi Middle School, the question of what to do with the land the old daycare building was located on was once again front of mind for the municipality. Zoned municipal reserve with a neighbourhood skating rink, the old daycare lands became a controversial discussion in April when council began considering rezoning it in April as part of a plan to address affordable housing needs in the community. Neighbourhood opposition rallied against the rezoning, with those against the proposal saying the valued park space, or Larch Park, should be left undeveloped for community enjoyment. A public hearing was held in June, with support on either side of the debate and council subsequently voted to rezone the land in July.
A provincial election is called for Alberta – incumbent MLA Casey is challenged by NDP candidate Cam Westhead and Wildrose candidate Scott Wagner.
The future of the undeveloped lands in Three Sisters Mountain Village – lots 7, 8 and 9 – begins to be a topic of conversation for the community, council, administration and the developer. A never before tried planning process involving both municipal and TSMV representatives at the same time is proposed along with a community advisory group to provide input along the way.
Neil Richardson and his company Heritage Property Corporation propose the Canmore Hotel for municipal heritage designation. Part of the designation comes with compensation from the municipality for preserving the historic building. By November, the designation was passed by council paving the way for renovation, restoration and expansion of the hotel.
CCHC released a report on secondary, or accessory, suites in the community. The report was presented to council in advance of considering a rewritten Municipal Development Plan with the hope recommendations in it would inform that process and pave the way for more secondary suites in the community.
CP Rail begins installing a new span bridge along its tracks in Canmore where Cougar Creek meets the railway. While the creek normally runs dry, the 2013 flood saw it nearly washed out and many in the community expressed concern the mishmash of culverts were insufficient and a bridge needed.
MAY
The 44-year Progressive Conservative dynasty in Alberta politics came to an end on May 5 with an NDP government elected. One term MLA PC incumbent Ron Casey was unseated locally by NDP candidate Cam Westhead.
JUNE
Ever since the province – or Alberta Health Services to be specific – took over EMS services in the province there has been concern locally over the fact that the community may be without an ambulance at any given time. As a result, elected officials approved a two-year pilot program to keep Canmore Fire-Rescue staffed with EMTs and paramedics who can provide advanced life saving response if needed in a medical emergency. Fire departments are often called out as a first responder depending on the severity of the emergency, or if no ambulance is available. After the pilot ended, council was briefed on it in June and voted to maintain first responder status at an advanced level.
A black bear that ran up a tree very close to Canmore’s downtown core was tranquilized and removed. As a wildlife incident, it heralded issues throughout the summer months with black bears in town, many of which were accessing fruit trees as a result of a lack of natural food sources in the wild. More than a dozen bears were relocated out of town throughout the year.
Canmore was shaken on June 26 when a house exploded after a natural gas line was ruptured at a construction site in the same neighbourhood. The home at 932 14th Street was destroyed, however, the Calgary family that owned it was not there at the time. About 14 other homes in the neighbourhood were extremely damaged and only minor injuries reported. Almost all the homes remain vacant and are at various stages of reconstruction at the end of December. The gas line was hit on the site of the Bow Valley Seniors Lodge expansion, a provincial project under management by Calgary-based APM Construction Services. Despite six months having passed, no new information on the cause or the investigation was made available to the Outlook.
JULY
An assessment of Town-owned facilities revealed there is far more work needed to be completed at the Canmore Rec Centre than previously thought. With $5 million in the capital plan for renovations, council heard from administration that all those funds would be needed for the Alex Kaleta ice rink roof and other facility work.
A 63-year-old Canmore man was lucky to still be alive after lightning struck him while he was golfing at the Canmore Golf Club. The summer storm came on so quickly the golf club’s equipment barely had time to warn golfers about the danger when George Crookshank was struck. His wife performed CPR immediately, reviving him and he was taken to Foothills Hospital by STARS Air Ambulance.
AUGUST
A federal election was called on Aug. 4 for a vote on Oct. 19 – marking one of the longest election campaigns in Canadian history. Incumbent Conservative MP Blake Richards was challenged by Liberal candidate Marlo Raynolds, Green Candidate Mike McDonald and NDP candidate Joanne Boissenault.
Banff Community Foundation announced a major change to its organizational structure with expansion of its mandate to cover other communities in the Bow Valley – from Morley to Lake Louise. The Banff Canmore Community Foundation officially unveiled its new name, focus and logo in August at its new offices on Banff Avenue.
All things biking, ever popular in Canmore, took on a new life with the completion of brand new cycling infrastructure by the municipality. Improvements at Bow River Bridge, dedicated cycling lanes, shared lanes and one pedestrian-oriented street in South Canmore were celebrated by the community.
SEPTEMBER
With an election looming, Canmore and Banff organizations organized two forums for candidates to address residents of both communities. While Raynolds representing the Liberals, McDonald the Greens and Boissenault the NDP were available for both, PC Richards declined to attend any forum in the Bow Valley citing scheduling and format concerns. He appeared at forums in Cochrane and Airdrie.
Canmore’s municipal planning department launched the consultation process for a rewritten Municipal Development Plan in September. The MDP would replace the 1998 statutory planning document and as an entirely new plan it put forward a number of policies not previously addressed – including development near steep creeks and affordable housing. Immediate feedback from the community expressed concern the timeline for the MDP was rushed and as a result council extended its process into 2016 for feedback, review and changes to be considered.
The owners of land in Peaks of Grassi previously submitted for a contentious land use change put forward a brand new proposal to council for rezoning, with up to 40 units considered and seven Perpetually Affordable Townhouse units included. A public hearing was held at the end of November, with significant opposition from neighbourhood residents.
As part of a presentation on the future of the Silvertip development, Stone Creek Resorts owner Guy Turcotte unveiled plans to pursue a gondola from the golf course clubhouse in the subdivision to the top of Lady MacDonald.
OCTOBER
In light of a new development application from owners of land in Peaks of Grassi, a neighbourhood group launched a legal challenge to the rezoning in the Court of Queen’s Bench. The injunction and lawsuit was later withdrawn after a public hearing was held.
The newly elected NDP government announced it would continue to pursue redevelopment of Kananaskis Golf Course after it was ravaged in the 2013 flood. The NDP reviewed the process undertaken by the previous government to contract Kan-Alta to continue managing the facility and found significant issues. However, the review found that it would cost more to cancel the contract than it would to continue with the rebuild.
While Blake Richards was re-elected in the Banff-Airdrie riding, analysis of voter turnout showed it was Liberal candidate Marlo Raynolds that received the most votes in the Bow Valley. With a Liberal government elected, Richards was named tourism critic and Raynolds was handpicked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as chief of staff for the minister of the environment and climate change.
NOVEMBER
Canmore council voted to quit the Calgary Regional Partnership in November after learning the provincial government would not include the Bow Valley in the regional planning body it plans to make official and mandatory in 2016. The new planning region will take over the work done by the CRP and Canmore Mayor John Borrowman said expending staff time and political efforts to contribute to a process that won’t include Canmore is not worth it.
DECEMBER
While Canmore’s operating and capital budgets are considered and approved in December, it is the inclusion of local transit that made the biggest splash in December. With approval of the budgets, council gave the green light to local transit with a single route to loop the community in the fall when two new buses arrive.
The Chinook sculpture on the Bow River pathway was up for repair and maintenance in 2015, however, administration briefed council that ongoing costs for that work would be close to $5,000 on a regular basis. As a result, the municipality and the artist chose to decommission the public art piece.
