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Organization: MD of Pincher Creek

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Council pushes back on provincial gravel pit rules

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

MD of Pincher Creek council will tell the province it has concerns about changes that give provincial gravel pit approvals priority over local planning, following its Sept. 8 meeting.

Council also heard a neighbour’s objection to a proposed gravel pit east of Pincher Creek and agreed to keep subsidizing waste service at Castle Mountain Resort.

Provincial gravel pit approval changes

Council directed administration to send the province the MD’s concerns about proposed changes to how gravel pits are approved.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is updating its Code of Practice for Pits. The changes follow amendments to the Municipal Government Act through Bill 28 and recommendations from the provincial Sand and Gravel Task Force.

The province and municipalities have each played separate roles in approving aggregate pits on private land, with the province focused on environmental impacts and municipalities on land-use planning.

Bill 28: Municipal Affairs and Housing Statues Amendment Act, introduced a new section to the MGA that makes provincial approvals paramount. Municipalities are required to bring their land-use bylaws and planning documents in line with decisions made at the provincial level rather than running a parallel approval process.

The MD received information from Rural Municipalities of Alberta, which said in a Sept. 18 statement: “Based on what is known and not yet known about how x. 619.1 will be implemented, the change may introduce significant risks to municipalities, landowners and industries.”

The RMA lists:

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—Impact of poor co-ordination and alignment across different government processes.

—Limited ability to appeal a pit registration coupled with a lack of public hearing or community engagement in the provincial registration process.

—Unclear division of roles and responsibilities with potential unintended consequences.

—Need for improved communication and inspection and enforcement measures to prevent expansion of operators with a poor history of compliance.

Proposed gravel pit rezoning

Council also held a public hearing on Bylaw 1374-26, which proposes changing the land-use designation of a quarter-section east of Pincher Creek (NE-7-9-1-W5) from agricultural to direct control. The proposed rezoning would allow gravel pit development on the property.

The public hearing drew a written objection from an adjacent landowner, but no one appeared in person to speak against it.

The neighbour argued there is no need for a third gravel pit within less than a mile of the site, urging the MD to explore alternative sites or expand existing pits rather than disturb native grassland.

The letter raised concerns about dust, noise, traffic and groundwater contamination, and said the pit could put the writer’s property, livestock and family at risk, and permanently harm land values. The letter asked council to reject the application and prioritize conservation of the grassland over further extraction.

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Gavin Scott, senior planner with the Oldman River Regional Services Commission, outlined the history and reasoning behind the proposed amendment.

An open house is scheduled for Oct. 1 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the MD council chambers.

Castle Mountain Resort to keep free recycling and garbage service

Council agreed to continue providing Castle Mountain Resort Inc. with a fully subsidized cardboard recycling service and residential garbage bin after reviewing the expense of the arrangement.

Administration will write to the resort to say the service continues at no cost for now but could be revisited.

The cost varies, says Jessica McClelland, executive assistant for the MD. The landfill picks up a full cardboard bin at an average of $317 a trip, plus the landfill’s tipping fee.

“Some months it’s once; some months it could be twice,” she says.

Library seeks support for dark sky event

Pincher Creek Municipal Library asked the MD for financial support for a dark sky event planned for January 2027. The library plans to expand the program to two days, running 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

The total cost is expected to be $8,200. The library has already secured $6,000 through grants, leaving $2,200 to raise.

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Council received the request as information and recommended the library contact the MD’s grant writer to explore other funding options.

Lundbreck growth study

Council gave second and third reading to Bylaw 1373-26 after a public hearing at which no one spoke and no written submissions were received.

The bylaw amends the MD’s municipal development plan, replacing an existing hamlet policy with new wording that requires the Lundbreck Hamlet Growth Study be referenced in all future development matters in the hamlet.

It also calls for the study to be periodically updated with current data and progress on its action items.

Council approves ALUS letter of support

Council also approved a letter of support for Alternative Land Use Services, which is applying for funding through the Ecosystem Services Grant Program.

ALUS pays farmers and ranchers to maintain wetlands, grassland and other habitat on working land.

Committee meeting

The MD council committee met earlier the same day. Committees make recommendations rather than decisions.

Food centre reports increase in demand

The Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre told the committee it served 427 people between May 2025 and April 2026, including 282 existing clients and 145 new clients.

The number was up from 412 people in 2024-25 and 197 in 2023-24.

The centre provides free food hampers to eligible residents in the town and MD, based on a means test.

An average of 77 households were served each month. The centre recorded 785 deliveries and 140 pickups. People in Pincher Creek can have hampers delivered, while rural residents generally pick them up in town.

The centre reported $392,314 in income and $341,895 in expenses for the year. Board chair Davina Brown also reviewed the centre’s strategic priorities and outcomes with the committee.

Councillors discussed ways the MD could help promote the food centre, including a program that allows ranchers to donate beef in exchange for a tax receipt.

Tourism group seeks $12,500

Representatives from the South Canadian Rockies Tourism Association told the committee the organization is seeking municipal funding for the 2026-27 year to support regional destination marketing and management.

Senior board adviser Sacha Anderson and executive director Erin Fairhurst outlined the association’s work, which they said helps secure additional partner funding and supports tourism projects without adding to the workload of municipal staff.

The association said the municipal contribution would form part of an 80-20 funding request to the province, with the town and MD of Pincher Creek, and Improvement District No. 4 providing the 20 per cent local share.

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The association outlined several areas of planned work. One is a resident sentiment campaign aimed at helping rural residents understand tourism and provide feedback about its growth.

It is also developing a detailed inventory of tourism assets across the MD. The inventory will include attractions, recreation sites, events, accommodations, short-term rentals and visitor services. The association said the inventory could help identify needs such as signage, parking, washrooms and trails.

Another proposed focus is public education around responsible recreation. The association plans to promote Leave No Trace principles, safety guidelines and appropriate recreation areas.

The association also detailed its regional advocacy work involving transportation, signage, trails, parking, cellular coverage and recreation access. It said a regional approach could help connect local priorities with provincial tourism strategies and future funding opportunities.

The association is also exploring a destination marketing fee, a levy on hotel and other accommodation bookings that funds tourism promotion. It said any such fee would require local discussion, industry participation and municipal consideration.

RMA convention plans finalized

The committee also reviewed plans for the Rural Municipalities of Alberta fall convention and trade show, running Nov. 2 to 5 in Edmonton.

Couns. Dave Cox and John MacGarva will take a budget and finance course Nov. 2, then join the remaining councillors, the chief administrative officer and the public works manager for the convention.

Related stories

News briefs from July 14 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Food Security, Gravel Pits, Land-Use Planning, Municipal Government Act, Public Hearings, Recycling, Responsible Recreation, Tourism

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Catch the wind: Business loan partnership pitched to council

Written on . Posted in Business & Economy, Civic & Government.

A regional non-profit is proposing a formal partnership with the Town of Pincher Creek that would give local businesses access to interest-free improvement loans, free consulting and business training.

The proposal by Community Futures Alberta Southwest includes loans of up to $25,000 for business improvements, with the town covering interest costs within a council-approved annual limit. It was presented by Mark Brown, executive director, at town council’s Sept. 14 regular meeting.

“Catch the wind” is a reference to the Cowley Ridge wind farm built west of Pincher Creek in 1993. Brown used it as a metaphor for the untapped energy of local entrepreneurship, saying ambition and local capital, like wind, generate nothing until something is built to capture them.

“There’s a second invisible force in the town: the energy of people with ideas and businesses to build,” he said.

Brown identified four challenges that can hold back small businesses: capital leaving the region when loans come from national banks, a financing gap for viable but unproven businesses that banks decline to fund, an aging group of business owners without succession plans, and entrepreneurs building businesses without outside guidance.

He cited a failure rate of about 75 per cent within five years for small businesses in Alberta.

To address those pressures, Brown proposed a partnership built around four components. The first is a referral pipeline, in which town staff would direct entrepreneurs who inquire about business licences or starting a business toward Community Futures for free consulting, coaching and training.

“Most businesses would get these services free. We provide up to six hours of free coaching or consulting,” Brown said in a later interview. “We also offer free online education, and then if a business decides they want to take that part of it farther, they can.”

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The second component is a redesigned business improvement loan program offering interest-free loans of $5,000 to $25,000 over terms of three to five years.

Community Futures would administer the financing and report back to the town. Its own board, not council, would approve each loan, a process Brown said typically takes one to four weeks.

Brown said the redesign grew from a 2025 Community Futures survey of more than 900 business owners across southern Alberta.

“The research we did said that that program is still needed, but $10,000 doesn’t buy you much nowadays,” he said.

“So, they’re looking for an increase to that from $5,000 to $25,000 in amounts, up to five years, and again, interest-free, or the town would pay the interest on that loan over the course of that loan,” He said.

The third component is joint promotion, with Community Futures and the town advertising Pincher Creek’s business-friendly programs together rather than separately.

The fourth is a standing seat for Community Futures in the town’s economic development discussions.

Brown also described a separate service, the exit navigator program, aimed at helping business owners prepare for retirement or ownership transitions. He said it is underused but important for keeping storefronts from sitting vacant when longtime owners retire.

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He asked council to direct administration to work with Community Futures on a memorandum of understanding. This would set out how the partnership would work, what it would cost the town and who would be responsible, while providing real numbers for council to base a decision on.

Community Futures has similar formal arrangements with the towns of Cardston and Claresholm, and Brown said he is also in talks with the MD of Pincher Creek about the program.

Community Futures Alberta Southwest is a non-profit funded by Prairies Economic Development Canada, the federal economic development agency for the Prairies. Brown described it as a one-year contribution agreement with Ottawa.

It serves Pincher Creek, Fort Macleod, Cardston, Claresholm, Waterton and other communities in the region from its office in Fort Macleod. Its focus is on economic diversification and support for the agricultural and tourism sectors.

According to figures Brown presented, the organization has funded 391 businesses and invested $21.3 million since 1999, with about $2.23 million currently circulating through repaid and re-lent loans.

In Pincher Creek, Community Futures has approved 96 loans totalling $5.31 million since 1999, with about $760,000 still in circulation.

Business Loans, Business Succession, Business Training, economic development, Entrepreneurship, Small Business

Town and MD approve $467,255 for six community groups

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government.

Six local organizations will receive a combined $467,255 in 2026 funding from the Town and Municipal District of Pincher Creek after councils reviewed their requests at a special joint budget meeting Sept. 9.

Funding amounts are split equally between the town and MD.

The meeting also prompted a push to rethink the joint budget process, after councillors questioned whether recurring recipients should be treated as ongoing budget lines and raised concerns about incomplete financial information.

Councils also approved 2027 per-capita grants for 21 community groups.

Pincher Creek Municipal Library

The largest allocation is $285,000 for the library.

The library requested a 7.5 per cent increase in its municipal funding for 2027, followed by annual increases of five per cent from 2028 through 2030.

Representatives told councillors library visits are up an average of 10 per cent since 2022 and cardholders by six per cent. Programming sessions are up 25 per cent and participation is up 20 per cent over the same period.

The library also highlighted expanded programming, a reorganized children’s section and a partnership with United for Literacy. It would like to use the former Consistent Fitness space in the multipurpose facility for programming.

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Library board members asked why they had not heard back on three expansion options presented months ago. Town officials said they cannot afford the $4 million originally sought from the town but are open to a lower-cost option.

Grant specialist

The Southwest Alberta Sustainable Community Initiative will receive $80,000 for its grant specialist position.

SASCI representatives said the program has helped secure $13.2 million in funding since it began in 2018.

The grant writer applied for $2.1 million and obtained $1.12 million in funding for 2025.

Humane society

The Pincher Creek Humane Society will receive $40,000. The shelter helped 276 animals in 2025.

The organization said veterinary costs are its largest expense at about $100,000 annually. It is exploring an in-house veterinary service to reduce those costs.

Heritage Acres

The Oldman River Antique Equipment and Threshing Club, which runs Heritage Acres Farm Museum, will receive $35,000.

The group had asked for $200,000 for redevelopment, conditional on securing more funding to hire staff. The club said the $200,000 would help unlock matching grants rather than cover operating costs.

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Heritage Acres representatives said gate admissions for the museum’s annual show increased 64 per cent over the previous year.

The funding motion included an offer of a letter of support and future case-by-case funding talks.

Search and rescue

The Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society will receive $22,255. The society’s 30 members have volunteered more than 2,600 hours, not including administration and equipment maintenance.

The group responded to 22 call-outs in the previous 12 months, including incidents requiring helicopter and long-line rescue resources.

Historical society

The Pincher Creek and District Historical Society, which runs Kootenai Brown Historical Park, will receive $5,000.

Council members said incomplete financial information from the society made it difficult to make decisions involving taxpayer funds.

The society’s board president said there was confusion over what financial information had been requested and what had been submitted.

Joint grants under review

The councils directed the joint grant subcommittee to review the history of the six organizations included in the joint budget and develop a policy and framework for the process. Councillors also raised concerns about financial reporting from some organizations.

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Councillors said joint grants are discretionary and do not guarantee ongoing funding. The review is intended to clarify how organizations become part of the joint budget and how future requests should be assessed.

Per-capita grants

For 2027, councils also approved per-capita funding for 21 community organizations:

—Syncline Castle Alpine Trails Association, $380

—McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association, $500

—Pincher Creek Dolphins Swim Club, $1,500

—Five-Pin Bowling Association, $2,000

—Pincher Creek Mustangs Football Club, $2,000

—Windsor Heritage Drop-In Centre, $2,000

—Coalfields Community Centre, $2,500

—The Cowboy Show, $2,500

—Group Group Youth Society of Pincher Creek, $2,500

—Adaptable Outdoors, $3,000

—Pincher Creek and District Agricultural Society, $4,000

—Pincher Creek Care Bears Society, $5,000

—Pincher Creek Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43, $5,000

—Pincher Planters $5,000

—SASCI, $5,000

—Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre, $7,160

—Pincher Creek and District Chamber of Commerce, $7,500

—Community Hall, $15,000

—Pincher Creek Handi-Bus Society, $15,000

—Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek, $20,000

—Pincher Creek Family Centre, $30,000

Correction: A Sept. 23 version of this story incorrectly reported that overall attendance at Heritage Acres Farm Museum rose 64 per cent over the previous year. The 64 per cent increase was in gate admissions for the museum’s annual show.

Related stories

Town council briefs: Heritage Acres grants, joint meeting agenda

Briefs from the March 23 town council table

Community Grants, Municipal Funding, Non-Profits

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Council holds off on cutting utility franchise fees

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government.

Pincher Creek town councillors put off a decision on utility franchise fees Sept. 14 after debating whether trimming the charges to ease pressure on residents’ bills was worth the hit to the town’s budget.

Council also heard Northback Holdings’ economic case for its proposed Grassy Mountain coal mine, voted down a funding request from the library, and set a date for its tax recovery auction.

Council debates utility costs

Council deferred decisions on both the natural gas and electricity franchise fees to Sept. 28.

It was asked to set the franchise fee percentages for 2027 and 2028 at once, as the town now budgets on a two-year cycle. Residents pay these fees on their gas and power bills.

The natural gas fee with Apex Utilities has sat at the maximum allowable 35 per cent since 2024, bringing in about $849,000 in 2025. The electricity fee with FortisAlberta, capped at 20 per cent, brought in about $673,000 in 2025.

Coun. Brian McGillivray proposed reducing the gas fee to 30 per cent, saying residents are facing difficult choices between groceries, rent and utility bills.

Coun. Sahra Nodge has historically supported the higher fee because it allows the town to collect revenue from utility customers who do not pay property taxes. However, she said the increasing dollar amounts have changed her view.

Chief administrative officer Konrad Dunbar told council a reduction from 35 to 30 per cent would reduce revenue by about $134,000. He said that could affect the town’s target of a three per cent tax increase and that keeping services at current levels might require other changes.

Mayor Wayne Oliver said framing the fees as percentages was misleading, since a household’s actual savings from a five-point cut would amount to only about a dollar or two per bill.

He asked administration to report back on how much franchise fee revenue the town collected last year compared with what was budgeted. He also suggested councillors review their own annual utility bills before making a decision.

Northback outlines economic impact of coal mining

Northback CEO Brad Johnson presented council with findings from a socioeconomic impact study the company commissioned from the accounting firm EY to support its bid to revive the Grassy Mountain coal project in the MD of Ranchland, north of Blairmore.

Johnson said Northback provided EY with project data, including expected costs, employee numbers and other activities. EY then used Statistics Canada data and economic modelling to estimate the project’s broader effects.

The proposed mine would require about $1.4 billion in capital investment during a two-year construction period, Johnson said.

According to the study, about $1.2 billion of that spending could contribute to Canada’s gross domestic product during construction.

The study also estimates about $14 billion in additional Canadian exports over the life of the project.

Johnson said the mine could support about 9,577 full-time-equivalent positions during construction. Operations could support about 1,756 full-time-equivalent positions nationally.

He said the regional impact could include about 875 full-time-equivalent jobs, including direct, indirect and induced positions. Northback expects about 425 full-time-equivalent employees to work directly at the mine.

Johnson said the company expects about $3.8 billion in wages over the mine’s operating life and that about 90 per cent of its operating spending would remain in Canada.

The company is still completing its integrated application for regulatory approval. Johnson said Northback expects to submit the application within the next six months. That could be as early as December, depending on the completion of technical modelling, particularly related to water.

He said the regulatory process could eventually lead to a statement of concern process and additional information requests.

Oliver asked how Northback would address housing needs if the project proceeds, saying the region has limited housing options and could see an influx of workers.

Johnson said Northback has considered the issue and expects employee busing to be part of its plans. The company could provide transportation from Pincher Creek and communities farther east, as well as from Crowsnest Pass, he said.

Johnson also said Northback owns surface land in Crowsnest Pass and is open to discussions with the municipality about potential housing opportunities.

Library funding request denied

Council voted 6-1 against contributing up to $1,100 to Pincher Creek Municipal Library’s two-day dark sky planetarium program, planned for January 2027. Coun. Mark Barber was the only member in support.

The expanded two-day program is expected to cost $8,200. The library has secured $6,000 through grants and is seeking the remaining $2,200.

McGillivray questioned whether the town should contribute while looking for ways to reduce spending and support residents facing financial pressures. He said the request should have gone through the joint funding process instead.

Tax recovery auction set for November

Council approved the terms and process for its 2026 property tax arrears recovery public auction, set for Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. in the council chambers at town hall.

Council also set reserve bids for two properties heading to auction, a mobile home lot at $26,600 and a house at $313,400, based on assessed values.

Oliver questioned whether the reserve amounts were reasonable and why the figures must be discussed publicly.

Dunbar said the practice follows the Municipal Government Act’s requirement that current owners have the opportunity to recover their assessed value.

Regional water planning grant

Council agreed to join the MD of Pincher Creek’s application for a 2026-27 Alberta Community Partnership grant for a regional water and wastewater expansion and upgrade plan. The MD would serve as managing partner, with the town as a participating partner.

The proposed plan would examine the costs of servicing areas including the Pincher Creek Airport and Pincher Station.

The grant program can cover 90 per cent of eligible planning costs, up to $150,000. The application deadline is Oct. 1.

Council reviews second-quarter finances

The town recorded an operating surplus of about $2.24 million for the first six months of the year, largely because the full year’s property taxes were billed in that period. Council accepted the operating statements for the six months ending June 30.

Total revenue for the period reached about $9.18 million, about 75 per cent of the $12.15-million annual budget. Net municipal property taxes came in at about $5.66 million, essentially matching the full annual budget.

Other revenue was closer to the halfway mark:

—User fees and sales: $1.47 million of $2.92 million.

—Franchise and concession fees: $816,000 of $1.43 million.

—Government operating transfers: $623,000 of $838,000.

—Rental income: $322,000 of $829,000.

Total expenses stood at about $6.94 million, or about 52 per cent of the $13.41-million annual budget, in line with the midpoint of the year.

Salaries, wages and benefits made up the largest single expense category at $2.37 million, about 46 per cent of the $5.19 million budgeted for the full year.

Recreation and culture was the largest department expense at $2.08 million of a $4.22-million budget.

Spending on water supply and distribution, wastewater treatment, roads and protective services all tracked between about 28 and 46 per cent of their respective annual budgets.

Dunbar said administration has not identified any major concerns with the statements. He said the town is also working toward more detailed quarterly reporting as it moves through its two-year budgeting process.

Related stories

Economic hopes, environmental concerns collide at Northback presentation

News briefs from June 22 Town of Pincher Creek council table

News briefs from June 8 Town of Pincher Creek council table

Coal Mining, Franchise Fees, Municipal Budget, Regional Water Planning, Tax Recovery, Utility Rates

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News briefs from July 14 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government.

Approving an unbudgeted $20,000 capital increase for a new truck deck, responding to residents’ concerns over road dust, and advancing plans for a new municipal gravel pit were among the issues before Municipal District of Pincher Creek council during its July 14 meeting.

Councillors also backed local agricultural initiatives, updated agricultural policies and authorized several infrastructure and administrative items.

Christie Mines Road dust concerns

Council considered a request from residents asking the MD to resume dust control on Christie Mines Road.

A letter signed by 31 residents said dust along Range Road 11 is a growing concern because of increased traffic, including heavy equipment. They said it affects nearby residences as well as wildlife and fish habitat, and raises safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists and police vehicles.

An addendum from the Edges of Waterton cycling group cited dust on Christie Mines Road, Alberta Ranch Road and nearby intersections.

Council directed administration to send a letter advising residents they can apply individually for dust control, as other landowners in the MD do. The group is invited to meet with council if they wish to discuss the issue further.

Truck deck budget increased

Council approved a $20,000 increase to the 2026 capital budget to purchase a new deck for a one-ton truck.

Administration said the existing truck deck could not be transferred to the new vehicle. The new truck’s crew-cab configuration has different cab-to-axle dimensions than the single-cab truck the deck was built for. Using the old deck would create weight distribution and safety concerns.

The additional funding will come from the equipment reserve.

The existing deck will remain on the current vehicle, which will be converted into a public works welding truck. The old welding truck will be declared surplus and sold.

Road maintenance support for Cowley

Council agreed to provide road grading services to the Village of Cowley. The municipality will charge the village according to the hourly rates outlined in its fees policy.

Ownership maps to be released

Council authorized an agreement with Inside Outside Studios, also known as i-Hunter, to release the May 2026 MD ownership maps. Council also directed administration to renew the agreement if future versions of the ownership maps are released through the company.

Funding approved for agricultural organizations

Council approved $5,000 for the Foothills Forage and Grazing Association — $2,000 in core funding and up to $3,000 more for individual events in 2026 — from the budget for grants to groups and organizations.

Council also approved a $1,500 contribution to Ag for Life for 2026, with funding coming from the same budget.

Lundbreck growth plan moves forward

Council gave first reading to a bylaw that would amend the municipal development plan to recognize the Lundbreck hamlet growth study as a guiding planning document.

The study examines existing conditions, future growth opportunities, infrastructure, transportation and community services. It is intended to guide future land-use and development decisions in Lundbreck.

A public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 3 p.m., before council considers second reading of the bylaw.

Proposed gravel pit advances

Council also gave first reading to a land-use bylaw amendment needed for a proposed municipal gravel pit, known as the Sapeta Pit.

The amendment redesignates part of a parcel from agriculture to direct control to allow for a future natural resource extraction operation. The site is west of Range Road 1-5 and south of Township Road 9-2.

Administration said Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has already approved the project as a Class 1 gravel pit. A public hearing on the proposed land-use amendment will take place Sept. 8 following the Lundbreck bylaw hearing.

Agricultural policies updated

Council approved updates to the MD’s agricultural pests policy and weed-control policy following recommendations from the agricultural service board.

The revised weed-control policy outlines responsibilities for managing weeds on municipally owned land while continuing inspections and enforcement on private land under provincial legislation.

Council also approved revisions to the agricultural pests policy.

Wording on problem wildlife investigations was updated to specify coyotes in cases of livestock harassment. References to the former Alberta Agriculture and Forestry ministry were changed to Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.

The policy also adds emerald ash borer and wild boar to Alberta’s list of declared agricultural pests.

Agricultural fieldman appointed

Council appointed Ayla Peacock as the MD’s agricultural fieldman, effective July 14. She was originally proposed for the role of assistant fieldman.

Administration said provincial legislation recognizes only the position of fieldman, not assistant fieldman, and using the assistant title could create legal issues if enforcement decisions were appealed.

Appointing Peacock as fieldman also eliminates the need for annual renewal of her inspector’s licence. The change ensures enforcement authority remains valid and provides continuous coverage when the primary fieldman is unavailable.

Cardiac-care campaign supported

Council authorized a letter of support for Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation’s Bringing Hearts Home fundraising campaign, which aims to expand cardiac-care access in southern Alberta.

The MD previously committed $15,000 from its tax rate stabilization reserve to the campaign in March 2026.

The regional campaign is pushing for continued provincial investment following the government’s commitment of $59 million over three years toward the overall $445-million project.

Agriculture, Municipal Government, Roads

Map showing Pincher Creek, the Captus project site, Drywood Power Plant and nearby highways, rail, transmission lines and natural gas infrastructure.

Early-stage AI data centre plans take shape south of Pincher Creek

Written on . Posted in Business & Economy.

South of Pincher Creek, on an industrial site that once housed a natural gas processing plant, Captus Generation is exploring plans for a natural-gas-fired power plant and an AI data centre that could bring a new form of digital infrastructure to the region.

The Calgary-based company wants to develop the project on an 825-acre site about 20 kilometres south of Pincher Creek. Under the concept, Captus would build a power plant, while a technology partner would build and operate the data centre using electricity generated on site.

Many details — including the size of the facility, who would operate it, its final design, water requirements, traffic impacts and when construction could begin — remain undetermined.

Laura McKinnon, the MD of Pincher Creek’s development officer, says representatives from Captus have met with council several times to discuss the company’s operations, but no application is before the municipality.

The distinction is important because the MD changed its land-use bylaw last year to establish a specific process for data centre developments, including requirements for public engagement and technical information before a decision can be made.

About Captus Generation

Captus Generation was founded in early 2024 by a group of midstream energy professionals under CEO Harry Andersen, who had previously served as chief operating officer at Pembina Pipeline. The company initially explored building a natural-gas-fired power plant on the site and pursuing an industrial partner to use the electricity.

In October 2025, Captus was acquired by Summit Point Capital LP, a private equity firm the company describes as experienced in major infrastructure projects across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Andersen resumed his role as CEO, and Eric Gallie joined as chief financial officer. Summit Point Capital currently funds the company’s operating costs.

Paul Connolly, Captus vice-president of commercial development, says the company sees the project as a continuation of the region’s industrial history.

“We are building on the region’s energy legacy of 75 years of natural gas production,” he says, adding that both the power plant and data centre would be privately funded, with no government subsidies or tax breaks.

The proposal

Captus says the project is being considered on an industrial property already designated for heavy industrial use, with existing natural gas and power infrastructure. Electricity generated by the plant would be sold to the technology company operating the data centre.

Laurie Stretch, Captus spokesperson, says plans shifted toward a data centre after the company identified the property as suitable for digital infrastructure.

“The critical next step is to sign an agreement with a technology partner,” Connolly says.

Negotiations are underway, he says, but a technology partner has not been finalized.

The power plant would be built specifically to supply the data centre. Captus says it would be connected to the provincial electricity grid for backup, rather than relying on the grid for its primary power supply.

Stretch says the first phase of the power facility could be around 400 megawatts, although the final capacity will depend on the requirements of the eventual data centre partner.

Power supply and environmental claims

Both Connolly and Stretch say the project would generate its own electricity rather than draw on Alberta’s grid — meaning, Captus says, it would not put upward pressure on local power prices, a concern raised about data centres elsewhere.

Any surplus power could be sold to the grid.

Connolly says the project would not draw on freshwater sources. Instead, cooling would rely on non-potable saline water drawn from deep underground and circulated through a closed-loop system.

“Many of the questions we’re being asked stem from mistakes in other jurisdictions that are not comparable to the Captus opportunity,” he says.

Connolly further says the power plant would use modern, high-efficiency natural gas turbines producing lower emissions than older facilities, and that carbon capture and storage could be added later.

He says environmental studies are underway to confirm the project’s impacts, and that Captus intends to meet or exceed regulatory standards.

The company says the development would not remove agricultural land from production, since the site already carries that industrial designation, and that it would have no impact on the Waterton Reservoir or other regional water bodies.

Those environmental claims would be subject to further study and regulatory review as the project advances.

Economic case and regulatory groundwork

Captus says the project represents a potential investment of around $1 billion, along with several hundred construction jobs and several dozen permanent operating positions once complete.

Connolly says the development would also boost municipal tax revenue supporting local services and infrastructure, though the company cannot yet calculate a specific figure without a finalized data centre design.

Ahead of any formal application, the MD of Pincher Creek adopted an amendment to its land-use bylaw in September 2025 specifically addressing data centre operations. McKinnon says the change was made pre-emptively, in step with a broader trend across Alberta municipalities, rather than in response to a specific proposal.

According to Land Use Bylaw Amendment 1361-25, any future data centre application would have to seek redesignation to direct control.

The bylaw also requires the applicant to hold a public open house and submit detailed plans covering water use and disposal, employee numbers, roads and traffic volumes, any associated power plant or battery storage, weed management, reclamation, historic resources, noise, fencing and security lighting.

A noise impact assessment is required as well.

McKinnon says the municipality regularly updates its land-use bylaw to prepare for emerging development trends, pointing to recent amendments covering gravel pits, irrigation dugouts and short-term rental accommodations.

The requirements are not exhaustive and council can request additional information or studies.

What remains unknown

Captus has not finalized the project’s overall size or electrical demand, nor identified a data centre operator. That uncertainty extends to the data centre’s design, schedule and operating requirements.

Connolly says Captus expects to file for regulatory approval with the Alberta Utilities Commission once the technology partnership is secured.

The AUC process would be separate from the municipality’s land-use approval process.

Public engagement to come

Captus first engaged with the community in 2024, before the data centre concept had been finalized. The company held presentations with the MD and Town of Pincher Creek and hosted an information session at Twin Butte Community Hall in May 2024.

Stretch says Captus later went quiet while its ownership situation was being resolved.

The company has since restarted its community outreach through newsletters, website updates and discussions with the municipality. More information is available online at captusgeneration.com, where residents can subscribe for updates.

Another community session will be required through the AUC process.

The company also plans further engagement once a technology partner is selected and residents can be shown more specific information about what is being proposed.

For now, there is no confirmed construction date. Connolly says the company cannot estimate one until a technology partner is secured and the scope of the project is established.

For the MD, the next significant step is a formal development application.

Until one is submitted, McKinnon says, council has no proposal before it to approve or reject.

*******************

Correction: Captus Generation data centre project

Shootin’ the Breeze wishes to correct information in the related article Conservation Group Demands Scrutiny of AI Data Centres, published in the Aug. 12 issue (not the article above).

The story incorrectly stated that Captus Generation had been acquired by Gryphon Digital Mining Inc. Captus announced in January 2025 that it had agreed to be acquired by Gryphon, but in August 2025 it announced the transaction would not proceed, and the purchase agreement was terminated. The company remained under the ownership of BTG Energy and West Lake Energy Corp.

In October 2025, Captus Generation confirmed it had been acquired by Summit Point Capital LP, a private equity group.

The story also described the project’s scope and details based on a news release issued by Gryphon Digital Mining. Those details reflected Gryphon’s plans for the site and do not represent Captus Generation’s current proposal.

We sincerely apologize to Captus Generation and our readers for the error.

The incorrect information was included based on several published news reports, as well as a news release that appeared on Captus Generation’s website at the time of our reporting. Before publication, we made several attempts to contact Captus Generation for comment but were unable to reach the company.

We have since contacted Captus Generation again and have included the company’s response and perspective in our updated reporting on the proposed project, Early-Stage AI Data Centre Plans Take Shape South of Pincher Creek.

We regret the error and are committed to ensuring our reporting is accurate, fair and balanced.

Data Centres, Land Use Bylaws, Natural Gas

A large group of people poses together for a group photo.

The cowboy way endures on the Hewitts’ 120-year-old ranch

Written on . Posted in Agriculture & Rural Life, History & Heritage.

For more than a century, the Hewitt family has raised cattle in the Porcupine Hills, while preserving native grasslands and the cowboy way tradition. That legacy earned Hewitt Ranch recognition as the 2026 BMO Farm Family.

The ranch, north of Cowley, was homesteaded in 1906 by John Samuel Hewitt and his wife, Margaret. For 120 years, the family has focused on herd breeding, land stewardship and community service, leading the MD of Pincher Creek to nominate them for the annual award.

Presented in partnership by the Calgary Stampede and Bank of Montreal, the annual program recognizes Alberta farm families that represent multigenerational legacies while embracing new technologies and practices. Nineteen families were honoured at a Calgary Stampede reception in July.

For the Hewitts, the award is more than a plaque — it’s a celebration of their legacy, resilience and shared commitment to the land across generations.

“We were surprised,” says Charity Hewitt, recalling the moment they learned of the honour.

The Hewitts have been recognized before, receiving the Century Farm and Ranch Award from the Province of Alberta in 2006. This is their first BMO Farm Family title and Charity says having the whole family together made the moment especially meaningful.

The family’s Canadian roots trace back to 1903, when John and Margaret immigrated from England with seven children. Their first homestead sat too close to a riverbank to be usable, so the family relocated to Morrissey, B.C., and reapplied for land.

In 1906, they secured the land that remains Hewitt Ranch today. Son Edward later took over the ranch from John.

In 1958, Edward’s son Robert married Marjorie Gates and took over her father’s purebred Hereford operation. Their son, Richard, married Charity in 1982, and the couple worked other ranching jobs for 20 years before returning full time to Hewitt Ranch.

Today, Richard and Charity are joined by son Dustin, his wife, Kelsey, and their children, Wylie and Piper. Their other son, Lyle, runs his own operation in Buffalo, Alta., with wife Rylee and their children Meritt, Wacey and Callahan, but still helps during branding and weaning season.

Looking back over more than a century of ranching, Charity says the family’s greatest accomplishment is keeping the operation together through multiple generations.

“I think being able to maintain the ranch as a family unit since it was first homesteaded in 1906 is a huge accomplishment,” Charity says.

Today, Hewitt Ranch operates a commercial Black Angus cow-calf operation alongside a yearling heifer seed stock herd, with breeding decisions guided closely by genetics.

“We pay very close attention to genetics and expected progeny differences for production, fertility and longevity,” says Richard, who has helped build the herd for more than 40 years.

Much of the ranch sits on native rough fescue, a grass species growing increasingly rare across southern Alberta. The Hewitts have spent recent years shifting more land solely to grazing, with a goal of keeping it 100 per cent native grass.

Charity says preserving native grasslands has become increasingly important as more land across southern Alberta is cultivated for agriculture.

“Native grass is becoming an endangered species, so it’s important to protect it,” she says.

The family avoids cultivating native grass, limits motor vehicle use, rotates grazing and carefully manages cattle to prevent overgrazing. Water systems are also designed to keep livestock away from watersheds and sensitive riparian areas.

“It’s vital to keep the grasslands in its original form for the wildlife,” Charity says. “We hope to be able to preserve it for years to come.”

That philosophy extends to the family’s approach to ranching.

For the Hewitts, “the cowboy way” means relying on horses instead of all-terrain vehicles for many day-to-day jobs, including checking cattle, treating livestock and moving herds.

“We are maintaining heritage as much as we can,” Charity says. “By using horses and riding, we’re preserving the heritage of the Western lifestyle.”

While ranching has evolved over the decades, some challenges have tested the family more than others.

Charity says the BSE crisis is the most difficult period the ranch has faced, alongside recurring droughts, limited feed supplies and unpredictable weather.

Like many ranchers, the Hewitts have learned that no two days are the same.

“What you might think you’re going to do during the day could change 15 different times,” Charity says, describing how a wandering elk herd tearing through a fence can turn a day of baling into a day of repairs.

The family’s connection to the region dates back to the early years of the ranch, when John successfully petitioned for the North Fork post office to be built on the homestead in 1913. The post office became a lifeline for area residents, providing mail service, groceries, feed and even the area’s first telephone.

That spirit of helping others continues today.

Robert and Marjorie helped establish the local Timber Trails 4-H Club, and family members remain active with grazing associations, local clubs and non-profits including STARS and the Windy Slopes Health Foundation.

Charity helps maintain the Livingstone Cemetery, while Kelsey runs a summer barrel-racing series in Pincher Creek and volunteers at Livingstone School.

Richard and Charity also mentor local ranchers and regularly help an 85-year-old neighbour manage her cattle operation by assisting with calving, branding, fencing and shipping calves.

“It’s important to help the next generation and help your neighbours,” she says. “That’s what community and agriculture is all about.”

She worries that sense of neighbourliness is becoming harder to find as agriculture changes and more rural land is developed into acreages.

Despite the long hours and uncertainty, Charity says ranching remains deeply rewarding. She hopes more young people will consider careers in agriculture, even though rising costs make it increasingly difficult to enter the industry.

“It’s a lot of work, and you have to be very dedicated,” she says. “You don’t go on a lot of vacations or holidays because that generally doesn’t happen.”

Seeing the next generation become involved, however, makes the effort worthwhile.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Charity says of working alongside her grandchildren. “It kind of makes it worthwhile when you see the grandkids get excited about helping with the cattle, riding, moving cattle and helping with calving.”

As the family celebrate their BMO Farm Family award, Charity says the recognition belongs not only to those working the ranch today, but to every generation that came before them.

“We’re just very appreciative of being nominated,” she says. “Our hats off to them for doing that and recognizing the Hewitt family for the amount of years and generations that they put into this place in this area.”

BMO Farm Family, Cattle Ranching, Cowboy Culture, Land Stewardship, Native Grasslands

A construction worker on scaffolding

$2M curling rink deal moves ahead after councils compromise

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Sports.

For weeks, Pincher Creek’s two councils were stuck on a single question: whether the town should guarantee its new curling rink stays a curling rink for the next 40 years. This week, the MD dropped the demand.

The MD of Pincher Creek voted July 29 to abandon the condition — which the Town of Pincher Creek had refused two days earlier — clearing the way for up to $2 million in additional public funding and allowing construction to continue.

Broader questions about the building’s long-term future are left for future negotiations.

The sticking point

At the centre of the standoff was the MD’s proposed defined-purpose agreement, which would have required the rink to operate as a curling facility for up to 40 years. If that ever changed, the town would be on the hook to repay the MD’s funding on a sliding scale.

Town council rejected the agreement at its July 27 meeting, voting 4-2 to decline, with Couns. Mark Barber and Bernice Cyr opposed. Coun. Sahra Nodge was absent from this vote but arrived later in the meeting.

Town administration had already flagged problems with the MD’s draft, including inconsistent grant figures and a clause that could put the town in breach even in circumstances beyond its control, such as the club dropping retail or liquor sales.

Mayor Wayne Oliver compared the request to a 2018 agreement tied to the town’s early-learning centres, where the MD contributed $1 million in exchange for a similar use commitment. But he said this case is different because the town didn’t build the curling rink — the club did.

“By signing this agreement, we are committing to the longevity of curling in the community, with or without the curling club,” he said.

Several councillors said they supported protecting the MD’s investment but questioned whether taxpayers should be responsible if the curling club were ever unable to continue operating the facility.

Councillors were split on how long a commitment made sense, with suggestions ranging from five to 20 years. Couns. Mark Barber and Bernice Cyr both said they were open to a shorter deal; Couns. Valerie Wynder and Gordon McMullen argued any binding term was too much to ask of future taxpayers.

MD drops condition

The MD of Pincher Creek called a special council meeting July 29 to revisit its funding terms. Council voted to rescind the motions it had passed July 14, which had made its additional $1-million contribution conditional on the town signing the defined-purpose agreement.

In its place, council approved a revised package requiring only that the Pincher Creek Curling Club sign an updated funding agreement with the MD. The new terms maintain the MD’s ability to recover its contribution under defined circumstances while dropping the requirement for the town to guarantee the building’s future use.

MD council also reauthorized an interim payment of $340,212 toward the project’s ninth progress payment, to be released once the club signs, from the community initiatives reserve.

What else the town decided

Along with rejecting the agreement, town council settled two other pieces of the curling file July 27.

It approved a revised lease with the curling club. This was a condition of its earlier commitment of up to $1 million, which council approved June 22 contingent on the MD matching the money and on lease changes formalizing the town’s ownership of the completed facility.

The club approved the revised lease on July 17.

The updated version drops a clause requiring the town to consolidate the leased land at no cost and narrows the property description to a single address.

It passed 4-2, with Couns. Brian McGillivray and McMullen opposed. Coun. Nodge was also absent from this vote.

McGillivray said he still doesn’t have a clear total cost for the project.

“I want a line of sight on what we’re spending our money on and I want to know what it is,” he said.

The six councillors also voted unanimously to order a report reviewing how the curling project reached this point, covering council decisions dating back to January 2024. Some debated the terminology, with Cyr objecting to the word “post-mortem,” arguing it implied curling in the town was already finished.

The review will proceed internally unless it proves too costly, in which case council could consider hiring an outside reviewer.

Finally, Oliver proposed the town offer joint ownership of the building as an alternative, a model under which the MD could gain a say in the building’s future use without the town facing financial penalties if the club folded.

That motion passed unanimously, with Nodge joining by then, though councillors stressed it was only a starting point for talks.

How the project got here

The funding dispute follows months of public debate over a funding shortfall that emerged after construction was already underway — the latest chapter in a replacement-rink effort dating back more than a decade.

The Pincher Creek Curling Club first approached the MD in 2015 seeking support for a replacement rink, after the project was estimated at $3 million in 2011. It moved between proposed sites, survived a failed borrowing bylaw, and outlasted a task force that was later dissolved before construction finally began in October 2025.

By then, the budget had grown to $5.23 million, supported by $1.25 million from the town, $1 million from the MD, and a $1-million grant through the Community Facility Enhancement Program.

The gap emerged when the club’s application for a $1.5-million provincial Active Communities Initiative grant was declined in November 2025. By April 2026, club officials told both councils they were running out of money and needed up to $1.8 million in bridge financing while they reapplied.

The request sparked months of public debate over whether taxpayers should fund the half-built facility or risk leaving it unfinished. A mid-June information session drew about 130 residents from the town and MD, divided between support for curling’s role in the community and questions about how the shortfall happened.

Active Communities Initiative, Capital Projects, Community Facility Enhancement Program, Curling, Curling Rinks, Municipal Government, Public Funding

Alex, Xaviar and Annalese hold gift cards they received through the MD of Pincher Creek’s Positive Ticketing Program.

A different kind of ticket: MD program rewards youth for positive choices

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Community Life.

A ticket from an enforcement officer is something people generally hope to avoid. But for young residents in the MD of Pincher Creek, a ticket can now be a reward for doing the right thing.

When community peace officer Robyn Potter recently stopped Alex, a Lundbreck youth, after spotting him walking his dog safely on a leash, Alex thought he was in trouble.

“I explained to Alex that he was caught doing the right thing and that I wanted to reward him with a positive ticket,” she says. “Alex got excited and told me that he walks his dog every day and asked me if he could get another ticket tomorrow.”

Moments like this are the idea behind the MD’s new Positive Ticketing Program, launched in June.

Everyday acts of responsibility — from safe cycling to following community bylaws — present opportunities for encouragement and connection. Kids are ticketed for doing things right, not for doing things wrong.

The idea came to council in January, when Potter pitched the concept during a committee meeting. Council backed it right away.

Positive ticketing isn’t new — it’s already used in communities across Alberta — but Potter says the timing made sense for Pincher Creek, with new bylaws recently passed.

“I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to engage with the younger generations, educate, promote and reward compliance with those bylaws,” she says.

How it works

The process is simple. When Potter spots a child or teen doing something responsible, such as wearing a helmet, crossing safely, walking a leashed dog or showing kindness, she stops to say thanks.

“When I observe a child or youth engaging in positive behaviour or being a great community member, I stop and chat with them to thank them for doing the right thing,” she says.

From there, she writes a positive ticket on the spot. The recipient can take it to the MD’s administrative office to trade for a gift card toward a cold treat.

Three positive tickets have been handed out so far.

When Potter pitched the program to council, her sample ticket showed a youth walking a dog on a leash — which happened to play out for real with Alex.

“I enjoy these positive interactions and being a part of showing kids that doing the right thing is cool,” Potter says.

Community support

The program relies on local businesses to fund the rewards. Three sponsors are on board, each having donated gift cards.

“We warmly welcome any additional sponsors who want to help reward the good choices made by children and youth in the MD,” Potter says.

Businesses that sign on get their logo featured on the positive tickets — visibility for them and rewards for the kids.

The program has minimal cost for the MD, requiring no additional staffing or resources.

Businesses interested in becoming sponsors can contact Potter at 403-632-5096 or MDCPO@mdpinchercreek.ab.ca.

Looking ahead

Potter says the goal is to build trust between young people and enforcement officers.

“Enforcement services hopes that these positive interactions between the children and youth, and officers, will inspire more positive decision-making, build a friendly relationship with the youth, and make them feel comfortable approaching us with questions, concerns or just to chat,” she says.

She encourages residents to celebrate the program’s small wins.

“If you know someone in your community that has received a positive ticket, congratulate them,” Potter says.

“Keep up the great work, everyone. We love catching people doing the right thing!”

Positive Ticketing Program

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the MD of Pincher Creek" on the left side, featuring a stylized image of people seated around a meeting table on the right.

Curling rink gets MD funding boost, but strings attached

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Sports.

The unfinished walls of Pincher Creek’s new curling rink moved a step closer to completion last week, after the MD of Pincher Creek approved up to $1 million in additional funding. Council attached a series of conditions meant to protect taxpayers while construction continues.

Council’s decision follows public debate over whether municipal governments should commit more public money to a project that ran short of funds after construction was underway.

The funding will be released only after agreements are signed with the Pincher Creek Curling Club and the Town of Pincher Creek. Payments will be tied to construction progress, with provisions allowing the MD to recover its contribution if the club later secures provincial grant funding.

To ensure construction is not delayed while those agreements are finalized, council also authorized an instalment of $340,212 for the project’s next progress payment.

Deputy reeve Tony Bruder chaired the July 14 meeting in the absence of Reeve Rick Lemire. He says the instalment is intended to keep construction moving while the required agreements are completed.

The payment is part of the approved contribution of up to $1 million and is expected to be issued by the end of July.

Bruder says the MD will not provide the entire amount up front. Instead, funds will be released as construction bills are submitted, with the final total depending on what construction actually costs.

Funding tied to agreements

The MD’s approval includes several conditions before the full funding commitment proceeds.

The first motion, which approves up to a maximum of $1 million, directs the funding to come from the Community Initiatives Reserve.

The curling club must sign a funding agreement with the MD. Under the agreement, payments will be provided in instalments and may be recoverable depending on the terms.

The MD also requires the Town of Pincher Creek to sign an agreement ensuring the building remains a curling facility for the life of the structure.

Only once both agreements are signed will the MD advance further money beyond the progress payment. That payment was carved out specifically so construction crews get paid regardless of how long the paperwork takes.

“We don’t want to hold up the process,” Bruder says. “In case all the agreements aren’t signed in time, that fourth motion makes sure that the next monthly instalment is covered. So the construction can carry on.”

Repayment tied to grants

The MD and curling club are still finalizing an agreement on repayment. Any provincial grant money the club secures would be used to repay the MD’s contribution, Bruder says.

The club has applied for a $1.5-million Active Communities Initiative grant after an earlier application was declined. Should that application succeed, the club has committed to repaying both the town and MD for their respective shares of the additional funding.

Dispute over ownership

The ownership issue has been a key difference between the town and MD throughout discussions.

During its June 22 meeting, town council approved up to $1 million in additional funding, but attached its own conditions. Those included amendments to the lease agreement to formalize town ownership of the facility before additional money is released.

“From the start of all this, the MD has had the opinion that we want the curling club to own the building,” Bruder says. “We still have that opinion.”

However, because the building sits on town-owned land, he says the MD cannot prevent the town from establishing ownership.

“The town has unilaterally decided that they’re going to own the building. We don’t agree with it, but we can’t stop it because the town owns the land,” Bruder says. “I guess the MD just has to follow along with [what] the town wants.”

Council says project must be completed

Councillors expressed concerns about how the project reached its current financial position but Bruder says they did not want to see the partially completed facility abandoned.

“All of us councillors have discussed this with a lot of our ratepayers in our separate divisions. We’re all kind of disappointed that it got to this point,” he says. “We don’t want to leave a building half built and then put a fence around it and watch it just fall down.”

How the shortfall happened

Discussion of a new curling rink in Pincher Creek dates back more than a decade. The curling club first asked the MD to match town funding for a replacement facility in March 2015, when the project was estimated at $3 million.

In 2017, the town, MD and curling club shared the cost of a new ice plant, with the condition that it could be moved to a future facility.

In 2018, the club again requested municipal support for a new rink.

The proposal moved through multiple sites and stalled repeatedly over the following years. A $4-million borrowing bylaw failed in 2023, withdrawn after a petition opposed it, and a task force on the project was later dissolved.

A memorandum of understanding signed in June 2023 cleared the way for the club to build on land occupied by the town’s golf course, before the club shifted the project to its current site on Chief Mountain Avenue.

Construction began in October 2025, with the project’s budget standing at $5.23 million, supported by $1.25 million from the town, $1 million from the MD and a $1-million provincial Community Facility Enhancement Program grant.

In November 2025, the club learned it was unsuccessful in attaining a $1.5-million Active Communities Initiative grant after construction had already started.

In April 2026, club representatives met with MD officials and requested bridge funding while reapplying for the ACI grant. The club told council it would repay municipal contributions if it successfully secured the $1.5-million grant or other funding sources.

Bruder confirms that repayment remains part of the MD agreement.

“If they get the grant, our portion of the million dollars, or whatever of the million dollars that is used, then they pay us back that amount,” he says.

Community debate preceded decisions

The municipal decisions followed a June 17 public input session that brought together about 130 residents from the town and MD. The meeting featured both support and criticism of additional municipal funding.

Supporters highlighted the curling rink’s role as a community gathering space and pointed to opportunities beyond curling, including youth programs, tournaments and other community uses.

Critics questioned why the project reached a funding shortfall and whether additional taxpayer money should be committed.

Several residents raised concerns about cost increases and accountability, asking why construction started before all funding sources were secured.

The discussion continued when town council considered the issue on June 22. Councillors were divided on whether to provide additional funding.

A motion from Coun. Brian McGillivray to provide no additional funding was defeated in a 4-3 vote.

Coun. Bernice Cyr later brought forward a motion to provide up to $1 million, conditional on matching funds from the MD. That motion passed 4-3.

The town’s funding would be released through monthly instalments tied to construction costs and would require amendments to the lease agreement to formalize town ownership of the facility.

Next steps

MD council’s decision satisfies its side of the matching-funds condition set by the town, but does not resolve remaining uncertainties.

Both the curling club’s agreement with the MD and the town’s agreement guaranteeing the building’s long-term use as a curling facility still need to be signed before the bulk of the $1-million commitment is released.

The town’s lease amendment formalizing its ownership of the building, directed by council in June, also has yet to return for final approval.

The curling club’s application for the ACI grant is also still pending.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of September 2026.

Active Communities Initiative, Community Facility Enhancement Program, Construction Funding, Curling, Municipal Funding

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the MD of Pincher Creek" across the top, featuring an image of large windmills in a field with mountains in the background.

News briefs from June 23 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government.

A resident’s challenge to how fire-suppression costs are billed, and confirmation of more than $1.4 million in local funding allocations from the province, were key topics at the MD of Pincher Creek’s June 23 meeting.

Fire-suppression costs

Bill Thorpe, a longtime MD resident, questioned charging property owners for emergency response costs. He said residents already pay for emergency services through municipal taxes and suggested a model where fire response is funded through taxation instead of recovery charges.

He offered to lead a committee, with support from the MD and the Town of Pincher Creek, to review alternatives.

Council said fire response charges are capped at $25,000. The cap was introduced after a major fire where multiple residents assisted and air support was used, and some landowners later received significant bills for emergency response costs.

Council said it was willing to continue working with the community on the issue, but noted that not all fires occur under the same circumstances. It suggested Thorpe also take the matter to the Pincher Creek Emergency Services Commission.

Provincial funding confirmed for 2026

Council received a letter from Alberta Municipal Affairs outlining the MD’s 2026 funding allocations.

The MD will receive $1,146,862 through the Local Government Fiscal Framework Capital program, $107,056 through the LGFF Operating program and $244,929 through the Building Communities Strong Fund’s community stream.

The funding is part of the province’s support for municipalities to maintain services, improve infrastructure and invest in community priorities.

Aerospace partnership signed

Council approved a memorandum of understanding with three neighbouring municipalities — Cardston County, the MD of Willow Creek and the Town of Fort Macleod — to support regional aviation and aerospace collaboration.

Public auction set for November

The MD will hold a public auction this fall for a property with tax arrears. Under the Municipal Government Act, municipalities must prepare an annual tax arrears list for properties with more than one year of unpaid taxes.

One property currently sits on the MD’s 2025 tax arrears list. Council set a reserve bid of $49,500 for the property, located at SW-01-09-03-W5. The auction is scheduled for Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. at the MD administration building.

In the meantime, the owner can still pay the arrears to prevent the property from being sold.

Humane society receives gravel donation

Council approved a request from the Pincher Creek Humane Society for material support for its agility dog run project. The MD will provide 65 yards of small gravel plus delivery.

The gravel will help create a safer, well-drained surface for the run, which provides exercise, stimulation and training opportunities for shelter animals.

Bylaw error corrected

Council fixed a clerical mistake in a bylaw dealing with agricultural reservoirs and dugouts. Administration found that Bylaw 1369-26 listed the wrong volume — 2,500 cubic metres where it should have read 7,500.

Provincial legislation allows municipalities to correct clerical or technical errors without a public hearing, as long as the fix does not change the bylaw’s substance.

Council gave Bylaw 1372-26 three readings and approved the correction.

Letter of support for ALUS

A letter of support was approved for Alternative Land Use Services for its Building Communities Strong Fund proposal.

Correspondence received as information

Council accepted several other pieces of correspondence without further action.

A Beaver Mines resident, Marie Everts, thanked the MD for supporting the community’s annual spring cleanup and reuse fair, crediting administration and crews for organizing it.

Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors responded to MD concerns about litter at the Pine Ridge turnout.

The province said No Overnight Camping signage would be installed soon, with enforcement to follow through bylaw officers, sheriffs or the RCMP. It said garbage bins at the site are cleaned twice a week and provided a phone line for reporting overflow between cleanings.

Administration will forward the response to the landowners who raised the concern.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas replied to an MD letter about water access for livestock, saying it is working with MD staff on options including temporary diversion licences, temporary pumping stations and reservoir improvements to increase access for producers.

Hometown Award recipient visits council

Council welcomed Hunter McMullen, a student from Matthew Halton High School, who received the 2026 Hometown Award from the town and MD. McMullen attended the meeting to thank council for the recognition.

Aviation and Aerospace, Building Communities Strong Fund, Fire-Suppression Costs, Hometown Award, Livestock Water Access, Municipal Government Act, Tax-Recovery Auctions

An Alberta range road sign.

Drop the dash: Rural address format matters for faster 911 response

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, RCMP & Public Safety.

A simple change in how rural residents describe their address during a 911 call could help emergency crews reach them faster.

Pincher Creek Emergency Services asks MD of Pincher Creek residents to change how they report rural addresses when speaking with dispatchers. Specifically, callers should omit the dash when stating range and township road numbers.

Emergency services Chief Pat Neumann says the change will help dispatch systems interpret addresses accurately and reduce confusion during emergency calls.

The issue stems from how different municipalities format rural addresses.

Neumann says the MD of Pincher Creek uses the numbering format originally used across the province, which includes a dash — for example, Range Road 28-1. Other municipalities have dropped the dash from their systems, calling the same location Range Road 281.

That inconsistency, he says, has led to mix-ups when dispatchers outside the region have been confused by the dash.

Fire and rescue calls are dispatched out of Lethbridge, while ambulance calls are routed through Calgary. If that centre is at capacity, calls can be bumped to Edmonton or, in some cases, as far away as Grande Prairie. That distance compounds the problem, since dispatchers far from the region may not recognize local landmarks.

Dispatchers unfamiliar with local geography rely on how clearly and consistently an address is stated. Neumann says residents should identify their location as the MD of Pincher Creek rather than using informal regional descriptions such as north of Cowley or other local references that won’t be recognized by dispatchers elsewhere in the province.

He says most residents shouldn’t run into trouble as long as their phone number is registered with the 911 system, since that information is automatically shared with dispatch. But knowing the correct address format is an important backup, particularly in areas with unreliable cell service or when a call is placed from a different phone.

“The biggest thing is to make sure you know where you live,” Neumann says. “Either know your legal land description or know your proper gate number and your township or range road number.”

Rural gate numbers that serve more than one residence are another, less obvious, issue. Unlike a home in town, where a civic address corresponds to a single house, a rural gate number can lead to two or three separate residences on the same property.

Neumann says EMS has arrived to find as many as four houses sharing a gate on the same property on numerous occasions. During an emergency, when every minute counts, being clear with the 911 dispatcher can make a difference.

Giving clear identifiers, like the house with the red roof or the one with a new Ford pickup parked in front, will assist emergency responders.

While dropping the dash is a simple change, Neumann says it can make a meaningful difference in how quickly help arrives, particularly in a rural municipality where addresses are often the only tool dispatchers have to locate a caller.

911, Emergency Response, Municipal Services, Rural Addressing, Rural Emergency Services

A sign that says "welcome to Pincher Creek" with the town in the background.

Downtown visibility effort raises fairness concerns

Written on . Posted in Business & Economy, Civic & Government.

A slowdown in customer traffic on Main Street prompted a group of Pincher Creek business owners to seek the town’s help in attracting more visitors downtown, but the pitch didn’t go quite as planned.

After local merchants proposed a town-funded brochure promoting 23 downtown shops, councillors agreed the concept had potential but said it needed broader consultation, more inclusive business representation and a cohesive marketing strategy before public money could be committed.

In the meantime, council directed administration to look at improvements to existing downtown signage while broader branding discussions continue.

Mayor Wayne Oliver said the requests included creating a promotional brochure and improving signage directing visitors to Main Street. He said both projects could be covered within existing budgets.

“I met with a couple of business owners on Main Street. They’ve seen a decrease in foot traffic on Main Street businesses this year, and they’ve proposed creating some awareness of some of the good things that we have,” he said.

The brochure presented lists 23 downtown businesses and a map to show their location on Main Street.

It also includes a brief history of downtown Pincher Creek, tracing the community’s roots from Indigenous Peoples of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Stoney Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations through the arrival of the North West Mounted Police and the ranching and railway era of the late 1800s.

The proposal called for printing 5,000 copies for distribution in local hotels and other visitor spots.

Oliver said the estimated cost is about $2,000 — roughly $1,400 for the outer brochure and $600 for the insert, or about 40 cents per copy.

A question of fairness

Council’s questions came quickly, many circling the same concern: if the town pays, who gets left out?

Coun. Sahra Nodge said she was confused about the origin of the brochure and whether it was a town product or a private one. That distinction, she said, mattered. She also questioned whether the town should fund a publication that highlights some businesses while leaving others out.

“If this is a Town of Pincher Creek product, we need to be aware that the things we include and don’t include have an impact on businesses in our community,” she said.

If the brochure becomes a town publication, Nodge said, council must ensure businesses are treated fairly. She noted businesses that were omitted and said those decisions could create the appearance of favouritism.

She also questioned some of the brochure’s content.

“In terms of imagery, I think it’s a little bit misleading to have an ice cream cone [on the brochure] when they don’t have any ice cream businesses in town,” Nodge said.

Coun. Gordon McMullen said the Royal Canadian Legion was also overlooked.

“They’ve always got signs out inviting everybody in,” McMullen said. “If it’s brought up to them, they would be willing to probably fund some of it too.”

Coun. Valerie Wynder asked whether the business owners behind the brochure had connected with the local chamber of commerce or with the South Canadian Rockies Tourism Association, a regional destination management organization with access to tourism grants.

“As a council, it doesn’t look great for us to cherry-pick certain businesses. We want to support the whole thing,” she said.

Coun. Brian McGillivray raised the question of fairness beyond downtown. If the town funded promotion for Main Street businesses, he said, it would have to consider doing the same for businesses elsewhere in Pincher Creek.

“If we’re going to pay for it, it should be inclusive rather than exclusive,” he said.

Is a brochure the answer?

McGillivray went further, questioning whether the brochure would make a meaningful difference at all.

“This isn’t going to build business downtown,” McGillivray said. “What we need to consider is that the real reason why business is shrinking is because people are out of money.”

He said spending patterns at local grocery stores reflected broader economic strain, with shoppers shifting to lower-cost brands. Some businesses, he said, had seen sales drop by as much as 50 per cent.

Nodge pushed for a more strategic approach. Rather than producing one-off promotional pieces, she said the town should develop a cohesive brand — one where billboards, brochures, online content and regional partnerships all tell the same story.

“I want them to be really pretty and really connected,” Nodge said. “A whole branded promotional strategy rather than one-offs that look different all over the place.”

Wynder added that cohesive regional branding could also strengthen future grant applications.

“When we can show regional collaboration, that makes us look more attractive to granting,” she said.

She suggested the town reach out to Alberta Southwest Regional Alliance and the MD of Pincher Creek as potential partners.

Oliver said the brochure should be viewed as an early draft intended to start a conversation rather than a finished product.

Council accepted the report as information without approving funding for the brochure.

Signage gets a closer look

Oliver noted a sign near the Heritage Inn directing traffic from Waterton Lakes National Park is faded and partially obscured by trees. A second sign on Main Street heading south is almost entirely hidden by overgrown bushes. A third sign on Highway 3, between Highway 785 and Pincher Station, has carried a graffiti tag for more than 20 years.

Coun. Mark Barber said the signage work shouldn’t wait for a full branding exercise to be completed.

“The downtown vendors and stores are really struggling right now,” he said. “If we can do anything, if they feel that better signage would help, I’d like to get on top of it sooner rather than later.”

Konrad Dunbar, the town’s chief administrative officer, said addressing the existing signs was already on the town’s to-do list. He recommended separating the immediate maintenance work — trimming trees, washing signs, touching up paint — from any larger rebranding effort, which he said would be better addressed during budget discussions.

Council agreed and passed a motion directing administration to examine the costs of improving existing downtown signage, with a focus on rebranding and consistency.

Business Promotion, Downtown Revitalization, Municipal Branding

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the MD of Pincher Creek" on the left side, featuring a stylized image of people seated around a meeting table on the right.

News briefs from June 9 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Community concerns over rail noise, infrastructure support and regional project planning were among the issues before MD of Pincher Creek council June 9.

Council also addressed correspondence items ranging from community events to infrastructure support and a proclamation recognizing municipal development officers.

Reeve Rick Lemire and councillors Tony Bruder, Dave Cox, John MacGarva and Jim Welsch were in attendance at the meeting.

Train whistling decision tabled

Council tabled discussion on whether to pursue a train whistle cessation application for crossings near Lundbreck, pending further information on municipal liability.

The issue came to council after a landowner raised concerns about the whistles with a member of council, who passed the matter to administration. The railway company, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, told the landowner that any request for whistle cessation must come from the municipality itself.

Administration confirmed there is a formal process in place with CPKC and asked council whether to proceed and, if so, at which crossings.

Northback water plan update

Council received a followup presentation from Northback Holdings regarding changes to its proposed water-management approach, tied to its term licence Water Act application.

The update outlined revisions to the project’s final terms of reference, including a commitment that Northback will not draw water directly from creeks or streams.

Instead, the company indicated it will rely on precipitation collection and mine dewatering, with storage in constructed dams during freshet, an approach it compared to methods used in Alberta’s irrigation systems.

Water collected through this system requires licensing under Alberta’s water allocation framework. Northback said further public information would be released as the application advances.

Castle Mountain fire guard advances

Council unanimously supported Pincher Creek Emergency Services Commission in advancing the Castle Mountain Fire Guard Project (CFP 24-11) to its construction phase.

Gravel for Twin Butte Community Hall

Council approved a request from Twin Butte Community Hall for a municipal donation of three loads of gravel, including delivery.

Development Officers Week proclaimed

Council proclaimed Sept. 14 to 18 as Alberta Development Officers Week in the MD of Pincher Creek.

The proclamation, put forward by the Alberta Development Officers Association, recognizes the contributions of development officers to planning across Alberta municipalities. They are responsible for enforcing and administering land-use regulations and policies under the Municipal Government Act.

Reeve Lemire signed the proclamation on behalf of council.

Community events

Council declined an invitation to attend Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre’s annual general meeting and facility tour June 23, as it falls on a regular council day.

Couns. Cox, Welsch and MacGarva were approved to attend the Pincher Creek Emergency Services open house June 25.

Any interested councillors were authorized to attend a community celebration recognizing completion of the Fishburn Cemetery Restoration Project, scheduled for July 25 at Fishburn Marr United Church.

Coal Mining, Community Events, Development Officers Week, Fire Guards, Municipal Governance, Rail Noise, Train Whistle Cessation, Water Act, Water allocation, water management

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the MD of Pincher Creek" across the top, featuring an image of large windmills in a field with mountains in the background.

News briefs from May 26 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Municipal District of Pincher Creek council heard updates on a proposed water management approach linked to Northback Holdings and made several decisions on local infrastructure and community funding during its May 26 committee and regular meetings.

Highlights included approval of emergency bridge repairs near Connelly Creek, the defeat of a Fish Lake pumping proposal and the acknowledgment of a conservation easement notice from the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society.

Northback outlines revised water management approach

Mike Young, chief executive officer of Northback Holdings, presented updates to the company’s water management plans tied to its proposed coal mine development. He told council Northback has revised its approach in response to changes made to the final terms of reference and its term licence Water Act application.

Young said the revised approach removes any direct water withdrawal from creeks or streams. Instead, Northback would meet operational water needs using precipitation captured on-site and water generated through mine dewatering processes, which involve removing water during mining operations.

Water would be collected and stored in dams during precipitation events and seasonal freshet flows, and Young described the model as similar to water storage approaches used in Alberta’s irrigation systems. Because the collected water would be stored and used under this system, it would still require licensing under Alberta’s water allocation framework.

Council was told further information will be provided to the public as it becomes available throughout the application process.

Emergency bridge repairs approved for Connelly Creek crossing

Council approved $37,500 in emergency capital repair funds for a bridge crossing on Range Road 23A over Connelly Creek, after the MD’s bridge inspector flagged a structural concern during spring checks.

Administration reported the northwest bank at Bridge File 13957 is being undermined, with water flow beginning to move behind the north abutment back wall. An assessment strongly recommended placing riprap on the toe of the embankment and upslope to maintain slope stability and prevent further deterioration.

As Connelly Creek is home to species protected under the federal Species at Risk Act, work in the bed and banks carries stringent permitting requirements, including recommendations from a qualified aquatic environmental specialist.

However, administration noted that given the bridge’s proximity and habitat similarity to a nearby crossing — Bridge File 1348, already an approved 2026 capital project — the work can be carried out concurrently to avoid duplicating environmental assessment and permitting efforts.

Administration noted that Bridge File 13957 is on the 10-year prioritization list with a target replacement year of 2036 due to other existing deficiencies. Completing those repairs in full this year was deemed not feasible, given the scope of land acquisition, permitting requirements and preliminary engineering work that would first be needed.

Council approved the funding and awarded the work through the bridge reserve.

Library system funding update received

Council received as information a presentation from Chinook Arch Regional Library System, originally delivered at the May 12 council committee meeting.

The presentation outlined the structure of the regional system and how it supports Pincher Creek Municipal Library through shared access to resources and interlibrary services. It also included budget details for the 2023–26 cycle.

For 2026, the per capita levy was $7.76, with a proposed increase to $8.17 for 2027. A formal request for that increase is expected to come before council at a later date.

Fish Lake pumping proposal defeated

Coun. Dave Cox moved that funds be drawn from the tax rate stabilization reserve to pump water to Fish Lake at a cost of $81,250.

The motion was defeated.

Conservation easement notice acknowledged

Council acknowledged receipt of a conservation easement notice from the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society for two parcels of land known as the Lievaart West project, located at NW-11-8-3-W5 and NE-11-8-3-W5, totalling about 322 acres.

Under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act, municipalities must be notified prior to registration of conservation easements. Council also agreed to waive the 60-day notice period, allowing the easement to proceed to registration.

While the MD has the option to register an objection to the easement, administration noted that the easement may still be registered regardless.

Outdated licence of occupation policy repealed

Council repealed Policy C-AES-001, Licence of Occupation, following the adoption of Traffic Bylaw 1365-25, which now covers all use of highways within the MD, including temporary grazing permits and road allowance use, making the existing policy redundant.

Heritage Acres to receive donated gravel

Council agreed to donate remaining waste material from the Heritage Gravel Pit — up to 400 cubic yards — to Heritage Acres Farm Museum for use on its grounds.

Community funding and events received

Council dealt with several correspondence items related to community events, sponsorships and regional participation.

Interested councillors were authorized to attend the Alberta SouthWest annual general meeting June 3 and the Pincher Creek Rodeo Parade and dignitary luncheon Aug. 15.

Council approved a $160 sponsorship for Community Safety Net, a children’s safety program operating in Pincher Creek. The funding will support 10 local families at $16 per family, up from five families sponsored by the MD last year. Funds will come from the grants to groups and organizations budget. Coun. Tony Bruder moved the motion, which carried.

Council received as information an invitation to participate in the Elkford Wildcat Days Parade on June 27.

A call for nominations for the 2026 National Fire Chief of the Year Awards, jointly presented by the Fire Underwriters Survey and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, was also received. Nominations for both a volunteer and a full-time fire chief are open until June 30.

Council also agreed to provide a letter of support for Kootenai Brown Historical Park in its application to the FCC AgriSpirit Fund.

Alberta Land Stewardship Act, Bridge Repairs, Coal Mining, Conservation Easements, Municipal Governance, Road Allowances, Traffic Bylaw, Water Act, Water allocation, water management