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MD sees $11.7M surplus but major spending still ahead

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government.

The Municipal District of Pincher Creek is sitting on an $11.7-million surplus, but the mid-year financial picture comes with a major caveat: much of the municipality’s spending is still to come.

The MD collected $18.3 million in revenue by June 30, already surpassing its full-year budget of $16.7 million, while expenses totalled $6.6 million — less than half of the $14.5 million budgeted for the year.

The result is an $11.7-million gap between revenue and expenses so far this year, according to the municipality’s second-quarter financial summary, accepted by MD council July 14.

But the numbers do not mean the MD has suddenly found itself with an $11.7-million windfall. Property taxes and requisitions account for much of the revenue already received, while several significant expenses are still expected in the second half of the year, including road, gravel and infrastructure work that is seasonal and had not yet started as of June 30.

Taxes drive early revenue

Property taxes and requisitions brought in $17.6 million by the end of June, about $2.9 million more than the $14.7 million budgeted for the full year. Administration noted the Alberta School Foundation Fund requisition is still paid quarterly, which affects the timing of the figures.

Not every revenue line beat expectations. Investment income came in at just $50,592, far short of the $350,000 budgeted — an 85 per cent shortfall. Administration attributed the gap to timing: investment interest is calculated at year-end, not throughout the year, meaning the mid-year figure does not reflect the full amount expected for 2026.

User fees, government operating transfers and licensing revenue also came in under budget at the halfway mark.

Overall, the MD recorded $18.29 million in revenue compared with $17.27 million at the same point in 2025. Expenses were $6.63 million, compared with $13.61 million in the first six months of 2025.

An older couple smiles while leaning on a wooden railing outdoors, above text describing their $879 profit share from Vision Credit Union and a website link.

Spending trails budget across departments

On the spending side, the biggest underspend by far was roads, streets, walks and lighting. The MD had spent $2.36 million of its $6.22-million budget by June 30. That left the department about $3.86 million below its annual budget at the halfway point.

Administration said the public works numbers should be viewed in the context of the municipality’s seasonal work schedule.

Contracted services were below budget, but several seasonal activities had not yet started. No major repairs had been required by June 30, while fuel was on budget. Gravel crushing was scheduled for the fall and additional roadwork was still to come.

The MD also noted that gravel, dust control and cold mix work was underway.

Administration spending told a similar story, with $1 million spent against a $2.75-million budget. Legislative, protective services, water supply and several other departments were all well under their halfway targets.

Salaries, wages and benefits — the MD’s single largest expense category — sat at $2.24 million spent against a $5.45-million annual budget, also tracking under 50 per cent.

The MD’s airport operations were also showing a favourable variance. The airport recorded about $28,754 in revenue or reduced expenses against a budgeted deficit of $69,500. Administration attributed the difference to limited repairs being required and lease revenue being received.

Capital funding lagging

Government transfers for capital projects came in at $319,124, compared with a $1.4-million budget — a $1.1-million shortfall.

Event poster for a Secondhand Dreamcar concert at the Empress Theatre on November 20, 2026, at 7:30 PM, featuring a photo of the band members.

After accounting for that capital transfer, the municipality’s total excess of revenue over expenses reached just under $12 million by June 30.

A separate internal document, used for budget tracking rather than formal financial reporting, shows a lower mid-year figure of about $10.6 million. That version includes transfers to and from reserves, which are not counted as revenue or expenses under standard accounting rules but are tracked separately for budgeting purposes.

Municipal staff cautioned the two views will not match exactly and are not meant to.

Reserves grow to $20.56 million

While spending remains below budget in several areas, the MD has continued to build its reserves.

The municipality’s restricted surplus accounts had a combined opening balance of about $19.4 million. By June 30, the balance had grown to about $20.56 million after $1.92 million in transfers into reserves and $763,673 transferred out.

The equipment reserve was the largest, ending the quarter at about $5.2 million. The bridge reserve stood at about $3.84 million, while the road infrastructure reserve had about $3.53 million. The water and wastewater infrastructure reserve held about $2.82 million.

The equipment reserve includes planned purchases such as a plow truck, water truck, heavy truck tractor, loader scale, portable welder, rotary cutter and other municipal vehicles and equipment. The budget allocated about $1.42 million toward those purchases, with about $131,713 transferred out of the reserve by June 30.

The bridge reserve also has several projects identified, including the Waldron Flats bridge over Indian Creek, the west-end Maycroft bridge over Ernst Creek and the Connelly Creek bridge.

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The road infrastructure reserve includes Pisony Road, Beaver Creek Road and Gladstone Road. About $10,605 had been spent on those projects by June 30 against a combined budget of $145,000.

The water and wastewater infrastructure reserve also has money allocated toward the Oldman Reservoir intake and Lundbreck wastewater main repair. A total of $66,213 had been transferred out of the reserve by the end of June.

The tax rate stabilization reserve saw a $15,000 withdrawal tied to a donation to the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation.

Infrastructure Spending, Municipal Finances, Municipal Reserves

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

News briefs from Aug. 24 Town of Pincher Creek council table

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

Pincher Creek town council approved up to $225,000 for a wastewater pump replacement and renewed its regional planning agreement during a wide-ranging meeting Aug. 24, which also touched on a rise in break-ins, staffing shortages at the local RCMP detachment and support for several community organizations.

The meeting opened with a presentation from the Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre, which reported serving 427 people and completing 785 deliveries over the past fiscal year.

Food centre reports busy year

Board chair Davina Brown told council the food centre served 282 returning clients and 145 new ones over the past fiscal year. Children aged 18 and under made up the largest group of recipients, at 132.

The program serves Pincher Creek and surrounding communities, including Pincher Station, Beaver Mines, Lundbreck, Twin Butte, Castle Mountain and Cowley.

The centre also reported a $50,000 surplus for the fiscal year and said it has been accredited by Food Banks Canada.

Brown credited past town funding with helping cover delivery costs, including a monthly refrigerated truck run to Lethbridge.

The centre’s priorities for the coming year include surveying clients, strengthening financial reserves, improving board recruitment and increasing community engagement.

The centre plans to hold an open house on World Food Day, Oct. 16.

Get Stuff’d meat and seafood shop sign, located at 214 13th St. in Fort Macleod, open Thursday through Saturday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., phone 368-996-1968, follow us on Facebook at Get Stuff’d.

Wastewater pump needs replacement

Council approved up to $225,000 from the utilities reserve to replace one of three pumps at the town’s main wastewater lift station.

The decision followed heavy rain in the spring that caused stormwater to seep into the sanitary system and exceed the lift station’s capacity.

The town had to use vacuum trucks to pump effluent from the lift station wet well and transport it to the lagoons. When the trucks were no longer available because of run-time restrictions, some effluent overflowed into the creek.

Administration reviewed the lift station and inspected all three pumps, finding all are at or near the end of their service lives. One was completely inoperable and could not be rebuilt.

Chief administrative officer Konrad Dunbar told council the failed pump has no off-the-shelf replacement and must be custom-built, with a lengthy lead time.

“Normally, I would try and save this for [the] budget process,” Dunbar said, but the order needs to go in soon if the town wants the pump installed before next spring. Most of the cost is not expected to come until 2027 and any funds not spent in 2026 will be allocated through the 2027 budget.

Council renews regional planning agreement

Council approved an updated 2026 membership services agreement with the Oldman River Regional Services Commission.

It combines and replaces three previous agreements covering planning services, regional assessment review services and the Chinook Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

Ace of spades card on ad for Chase the Ace at the Pincher Creek Legion

Coun. Sahra Nodge said the updated agreement appeared to mainly bring the town’s existing arrangements in line with current practices and legislative requirements.

Mayor Wayne Oliver asked who would be responsible for enforcing conditions added to a development permit by the regional appeal board.

Dunbar said the town remains responsible for ensuring compliance with board decisions.

Nodge said the regional appeal board provides an independent appeal process while allowing municipalities to handle the follow-through locally.

Break-ins surge, other crime mixed

An RCMP report on crime statistics for April through June showed break and enters rose to 13 files from four during the same period in 2025. The detachment linked the rise to a wave of thefts targeting commercial sites for copper wire and said investigators identified suspects and laid charges.

Several other property offences also climbed. Fraud files rose from five to 12, while mischief cases involving property damage doubled to 10. Overall property offences increased from 45 to 67, though the detachment said the five-year trend remains within normal range.

Crimes against persons decreased compared to the previous year. Assault files fell from 15 to 10 and criminal harassment from six to three. Sexual assault files rose from one to two.

Total Criminal Code offences increased from 95 to 112.

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Traffic enforcement was active during the quarter, with 223 tickets issued. Many were tied to tourism traffic and a highway construction zone south of town.

RCMP staffing remains an issue

The detachment reported five officers working out of 11 established positions. Three officers are on temporary leave and there are three hard vacancies. The report said two constables and one corporal are expected to transfer into the detachment in the fall.

Council discussed asking for a meeting with the RCMP K Division commander at the Alberta Municipalities convention in September, continuing years of talks over the town-owned detachment building. The town has previously explored the possibility of the RCMP taking ownership.

Dunbar said the building has experienced some settling but no longer appears to be undergoing the significant movement seen in its early years.

Coun. Bernice Cyr raised separate concerns about new recruits and about unanswered questions on drug enforcement and elder abuse raised at police advisory meetings. Oliver will attend the next meeting with Cyr to better understand the concerns.

Council backs watershed, AI initiatives

Council agreed to send a letter supporting the Oldman Watershed Council’s request for renewed provincial funding.

The OWC’s current four-year core grant provides $320,000 annually and accounts for about 20 per cent of its operating budget. The funding is set to end March 31, 2027.

Council also agreed to support Community Futures Alberta Southwest’s application for funding for a proposed Rural AI Accelerator program.

The program would help rural businesses, entrepreneurs, organizations and municipalities understand and adopt artificial intelligence for day-to-day operations.

Councillors approved for conferences

Council approved Coun. Valerie Wynder’s attendance at the Tourism Economic Leaders Forum dinner and gala awards in Edmonton on Nov. 16.

Wynder said the event could provide an opportunity to learn more about tourism development and bring ideas back to the region.

Council also authorized Cyr and Wynder to attend a course on effective meetings at the Alberta Municipalities convention. The $425 course will cover meeting procedures, motions, debate, conduct and decision-making.

Coun. Sahra Nodge received council’s support to apply for an Alberta Municipalities committee position.

Library update

Council received an update from the Chinook Arch Regional Library board about changes to the Alberta Libraries Act and Regulation. The changes require libraries to restrict access to certain materials based on age, with policies and procedures due by Jan. 1, 2027.

Libraries, Property Crime, RCMP Staffing, Regional Planning, Rural AI, Wastewater Infrastructure

At left is a portrait of an older man. At right, a woman cuts a ribbon outdoors while another person holds the ribbon.

Blackburn Jewellers celebrates 90 years, looks ahead to 100

Written on . Posted in Business & Economy, Community Life.

Need a watch battery changed in Pincher Creek? Blackburn Jewellers is the place to go. Need a chain re-hooked, a watch band shortened or a gift wrapped with ribbon? The store has been doing those jobs for generations.

On Sept. 3, Blackburn Jewellers will mark 90 years on Main Street — a milestone that, for owner Doris Blackburn, carries a second, more personal anniversary. It has also been 30 years since she left her life in Edmonton and returned home to help her aging father run the family business.

When Doris returned in 1996, she thought she was simply coming home to give her father a hand. Instead, she became the latest person responsible for carrying a family business into its next generation. Three decades later, she is looking ahead to a centennial anniversary.

A phone call that changed everything

Doris grew up in the business, working at the store on Saturdays and during Christmas. She learned from her father, Laurie Blackburn, who was the town watchmaker for more than 60 years.

She left Pincher Creek after graduating in 1979 and went to university, later settling in Edmonton. In 1987, she briefly returned to work at the store while her sister was on maternity leave.

By the mid 1990s, however, her father was getting older and running the business largely on his own. Doris’s sister called in 1995 and said their father needed help.

“I knew that I would come back to help my dad because, in my life, my parents never said no to me,” she says.

She expected the move to be temporary. Instead, she spent the next 3½ years working alongside her father.

Laurie died of a brain hemorrhage in 2000. By then, Doris was deeply involved in the business and continuing it felt like the natural next step.

“I just never really thought ahead, because we can’t plan our future,” she says. “I’m so grateful that I moved back.”

Lessons from her father

Doris says her father taught her the value of doing a job properly, even the smallest ones. She remembers him sending her out to sweep the sidewalk, then checking her work himself.

The lesson was about more than sweeping. He believed that if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing well — a principle Doris says has stayed with her in business and in life.

“If you have honest and direct communication, then you can have a clean conscience,” she says. “I think that’s very important in business.”

Working in a male-dominated trade

Watch repair and jewelry making have long been considered male-dominated trades. Doris says she faced some skepticism when she took over the business, but it did not last long.

“Most people are very accepting of a female, especially if you’re confident that you can do the work,” she says.

After her father’s death, an older gentleman phoned to ask whether she knew how to use the tools. Doris grew up around tools. Her father taught her how to use them and she was always the one doing repairs around her own house.

“My dad bought me all my tools,” she says. “My dream job would be to work in a hardware store and sell tools.”

“When you have confidence in yourself, people will believe you,” Doris says. “I never doubted my own abilities. I think that’s the biggest key in any success.”

Changing with the times

Doris says the jewelry and watch business looks very different than it did 30 years ago.

Camera phones ended the demand for picture frames, once a steady seller in the store. Smartphones have also cut into watch sales, though some customers still buy watches as fashion pieces.

“There’s not a lot of young people wearing watches,” she says.

Technology has changed how the store operates, too, with Doris introducing the store’s first computer in 1999.

Her store windows remain important. A recent display called “The Mountains Are Calling” drew tourists into the store, including one visitor who sold Doris a new line of local honey.

“All my store windows are huge attractors,” she says.

A full-service store

Blackburn Jewellers sells jewelry, watches and giftware. Doris also handles custom orders, including engagement rings, and a goldsmith has provided services for about 30 years.

Repairs remain part of what she considers important to a small community. The demands of running the business mean she now does less watch repair herself, but she still changes batteries and handles minor jewelry repairs.

She also cleans jewelry and can arrange specialized work through her goldsmith.

For Doris, those services are part of what makes an independent business valuable.

Family ties

Doris’s oldest son, who now lives in Lethbridge, has helped in the store over the years. He recently helped sort through her father’s belongings for a museum donation.

Her father’s legacy was honoured last year when his workbench and handmade tools were donated to Kootenai Brown Historical Park.

Doris is grateful her father’s tools now have a permanent home in a replica of the original Blackburn Jewellers shop.

Advice for the next generation

Doris says small business ownership requires both a love of people and solid business skills.

“If you have a passion for business and you love to sell jewelry, then it would be a really good idea for you to have a jewelry store,” she says.

She encourages young women interested in the trade to take business and accounting courses, and to be prepared for a slow start.

“You need to be prepared to earn less until you can establish yourself,” she says.

Celebrating 90 years

The anniversary celebration on Sept. 3 includes a one-day sale and a chance for the community to stop by. There will also be giveaways and a draw.

Doris is serving carrot cake — her father’s favourite. Her sister is travelling from Airdrie for the event, along with her mother and former staff members, including one who worked at the store for 23 years.

“We’re hoping that people will come and have a piece of cake,” Doris says. “They don’t have to buy something, just drop in to say hello.”

Looking toward 100

Doris says Pincher Creek’s downtown has grown stronger in recent years, with new restaurants drawing more foot traffic to Main Street.

“Pincher Creek is never going to die,” she says. “We’re only going to grow.”

As for her own store, Doris plans to keep adapting, whether that means expanding her online presence or bringing in new products. She wants the business her father built in 1936 to still be standing a decade from now, when it reaches its 100th anniversary.

“I’m hoping the business will continue,” she says.

Business Anniversaries, Family Business, Jewellery, Small Business

Three men stand outdoors behind an oversized cheque made out to Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta.

Cyclists return to Pincher Creek to raise funds for affordable homes

Written on . Posted in Community Life.

Thirty-six cyclists rolled into Pincher Creek for the second consecutive year, climbing through challenging terrain and riding through rain — all to help families turn the dream of homeownership into reality.

Ride Through the Rockies returned to the community Aug. 14-16, bringing riders together to cycle more than 300 kilometres over three days and raise money for Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta.

The annual event has raised more than $2.5 million since it began in 2013, including nearly $450,000 this year, to support affordable homeownership.

Founded by Ken Crockett, vice-president of Star Building Materials, the event brings people together from the building and home construction industries to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

Crockett says the idea came from a similar cycling fundraiser in Winnipeg that supports Habitat for Humanity Manitoba.

“I felt there was an opportunity to create something similar here in southern Alberta,” he says. “We wanted to bring people from across the industry together.”

The ride has grown from 13 cyclists in its first year to 36 riders this year. Participants came from across Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba.

Each rider is expected to raise at least $2,500. Many raise more through personal fundraising pages and donations from their networks.

The event has become more than a fundraiser.

“It has become a community united by the belief that, together, we can help build stronger communities and brighter futures,” Crockett says.

Pincher Creek earned its return invitation by offering the combination of scenery, challenging cycling routes and community support organizers look for.

“The community has been incredibly supportive and engaged,” Crockett says. “From the local partners and volunteers to the businesses and residents who encouraged riders along the route, everyone has helped make the event feel at home in Pincher Creek.”

Riders based themselves in a local motel for all three nights, heading out each morning and looping back.

Nina Wulder, manager of marketing and communications at Star Building Materials, says each day brought a different route in and around the community. The group logged 125 kilometres on the first day, which proved to be the toughest.

“It was very wet and about eight degrees [Celsius], so it was a very challenging day for cyclists to be on the ride,” she says. “Very cold, very wet, not the ability to get warm again.”

Jeff Hodgson, vice-president of stakeholder and community engagement at Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta, says conditions improved just in time.

“Friday was such a wet day for them,” he says. “I was glad that the weather improved greatly on Saturday and Sunday.”

Each morning before setting out, riders gathered to hear the story of a Habitat family, a tradition Wulder says helps push cyclists when the conditions turn difficult.

“When things get hard like that, we dig deep and try to think of the families that we’re helping,” she says.

 

A large group of cyclists in matching shirts poses outdoors around a bicycle.

Ride Through the Rockies participants pose with their bicycles and cycling gear in Pincher Creek during the three-day fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta, Aug. 14-16.

Ashley Williams, Isolated Peak Photography

 

Hodgson and Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta’s president and CEO, Gerrad Oishi, attended the riders’ Aug. 15 celebration dinner at Kootenai Brown Historical Park, where a Habitat homeowner shared her experience with affordable homeownership.

“It was just a pleasure to get to know them and to thank them for their efforts,” Hodgson says. “They’ve developed their own bike riding community, and it was just great to witness that.”

Crockett, along with Claudio Palumbo, regional vice-president of Qualico Southern Alberta, presented a $434,897 cheque to Oishi for Habitat Southern Alberta. Fundraising continues, and as of Tuesday the total had climbed to $449,167.

The money will support current construction projects in Chestermere, including 24 homes under construction and another 17 expected to start later this year.

Habitat’s model is designed to help families who cannot afford traditional homeownership. Eligible families purchase their homes with no down payment and no interest. Their mortgage payments are adjusted so they do not exceed 30 per cent of household income.

Families also contribute 500 volunteer hours through Habitat. That can include work at construction sites, in the community or at Habitat ReStore locations.

Hodgson says the model gives families more financial stability.

“Children raised in a stable home environment have better outcomes,” he says. “That takes the stress of shelter off their plate, so they can meet the other needs that they have.”

Habitat Southern Alberta has partnered with more than 400 families since it began in 1990. Those partnerships have touched the lives of more than 1,200 children.

Last year alone, Habitat moved 30 families into homes, including 82 children.

But Hodgson says the need for affordable housing continues to grow.

Rising land, construction and material costs remain challenges for the organization. Fundraising events such as Ride Through the Rockies help Habitat increase the number of homes it can build.

“We are trying to ramp up the homes that we build to meet the growing need,” Hodgson says.

The organization’s work also has a local connection.

In 2019, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta worked with the Pincher Creek community to build two homes for local families.

Hodgson says both families remain in those homes. One of the homeowners also volunteered during this year’s Ride Through the Rockies.

“It’s great to see that connection come full circle,” he says.

Crockett says the fundraising total is important, but the community built around the event is what makes him most proud.

In its first year, 13 riders raised $65,000. This year’s 36 participants included six women, most from the home-building industry. The ride has grown in its routes, destinations and fundraising, but its purpose, Crockett says, remains unchanged.

“The fundraising total is remarkable, but behind that number are thousands of individual decisions to participate, volunteer, donate, sponsor and support the event,” he says.

Organizers hope to expand the event and its impact in the years ahead. Crockett says the goal is not simply to reach another fundraising milestone. The priority is ensuring the money raised continues to create tangible support for affordable homeownership.

“The ride may be over for this year, but its purpose continues,” he says. “We’re looking forward to building on this year’s success and continuing to bring people together for a cause that matters.”

Those who wish to contribute can donate online at my.habitatsouthernab.ca/2026RTTR.

Affordable Housing, Cycling, Fundraising, Ride Through the Rockies

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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

A hand places a blank ballot into a wooden ballot box.

Crowsnest council sets byelection date after MacDonald resigns

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government.

Crowsnest Pass voters will head to the polls this fall after council set the date for a byelection to fill the seat vacated by Colleen MacDonald.

At its Aug. 18 regular meeting, council passed a motion setting Nov. 17 as election day and Oct. 20 as nomination day. Barbara Kelly was appointed returning officer, with Kristin Colucci as substitute returning officer.

The byelection is required under the Municipal Government Act, which mandates a vote be held within 120 days of a council vacancy. MacDonald resigned effective Aug. 6, meaning the municipality had until Dec. 4 to hold the vote.

Nomination period now open

The nomination period began Aug. 19, the day after council approved the election date, and continues until noon on Oct. 20.

Nomination packages are available through the municipality and papers can be submitted at the municipal office at 8502 19th Ave. in Coleman.

Under a legislative change introduced in 2025, anyone intending to run must file a written notice, known as Form 29, before accepting campaign contributions or incurring election expenses. The municipality is required to maintain a public register of candidates who have filed that notice.

Kelly has served as returning officer for the municipality’s previous three elections. Colucci, her substitute, has worked on the past six elections and leads the department responsible for municipal elections.

The returning officer appoints election workers, establishes voting stations, orders election supplies, receives nomination papers and oversees the conduct of the election.

Voting subdivisions unchanged

Council opted to keep the municipality’s existing three voting subdivisions rather than treat Crowsnest Pass as a single one.

Subdivision A covers Coleman, subdivision B covers Blairmore and Frank, and subdivision C covers Bellevue and Hillcrest.

Voting stations are expected to remain at their usual locations: the MDM Community Centre gym for Bellevue and Hillcrest, the Elks Community Hall for Blairmore and Frank, and either the Crowsnest Curling Club or Coleman Seniors Centre for Coleman.

Voting stations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., as required under the Local Authorities Election Act.

Advance, special and institutional voting

As a municipality with a population of more than 5,000, Crowsnest Pass is required to hold an advance vote. The returning officer will set the exact date, which must be more than 24 hours before election day. Administration is targeting Nov. 5, depending on when ballots can be printed following nomination day.

Special ballots are available to eligible electors who cannot vote during the advance vote or at a voting station on election day. Under other 2025 changes, special ballots can no longer be returned through the municipal office drop box.

Institutional voting will be held at Peaks to Pines Lodge, Crowsnest Pass Health Centre, Tecumseh Apartments and Westwind Apartments.

Election costs

The byelection was not included in the municipality’s budget. Council approved $25,000 from the mill rate stabilization reserve to cover election expenses. There will be no cost recovery through a shared election with the school board.

The 2020 byelection saw 553 voters cast ballots out of 4,540 eligible. In comparison, 2,028 of 4,932 eligible voters cast ballots in the 2025 municipal election.

Administration recommended reducing the number of voting polls because the byelection is expected to have lower turnout than a general municipal election. Using one poll per voting subdivision is expected to save about $4,800.

Administration also presented an option to eliminate the voting subdivisions and operate three polls at Blairmore Community Hall, which would have saved an additional $1,400. Council chose to retain the three established voting subdivisions while reducing the number of polls.

MacDonald’s resignation

MacDonald resigned after a legal challenge to her eligibility to run in the 2025 municipal election. It alleged she did not meet the six-month residency requirement under the Local Authorities Election Act ahead of the October 2025 vote.

The court had not ruled on the merits of those allegations before MacDonald resigned.

MacDonald received 714 votes and finished last among the six successful council candidates.

In her resignation statement addressed to CAO Patrick Thomas and Mayor Pat Rypien, and published in the Pass Herald, MacDonald said defending her eligibility had come at “enormous personal cost,” affecting her reputation, emotional well-being and family finances.

She said she ran for council to serve the community and did not regret seeking office.

MacDonald also expressed hope her successor could focus on serving the community without experiencing the same level of what she described as personal scrutiny.

With MacDonald’s resignation, the byelection will now determine who fills the vacant seat, with results expected to be declared Nov. 23, ahead of council’s Nov. 24 meeting and December budget deliberations.

Elections | Referendums

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

Two men on horseback in a field with mountains in the background

Two ranchers lead Village People documentary series

Written on . Posted in History & Heritage.

Kootenai Brown Historical Park has produced a 10-part oral history video series called Village People, highlighting Pincher Creek residents and heritage buildings preserved at the park.

The first video in the documentary project is available online at youtu.be/sSeslegsO0s, with the remaining episodes to follow.

The series is supported financially by the Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life, through the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta. Fittingly, the first video features the two ranchers behind that fund — Bill Long and his uncle Henry S. Varley.

This video follows Bill’s childhood and his close relationship with Henry, and his grandparents Edna and Ernest Varley. It celebrates the family’s ranching practices and explains the origins of the Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life.

The fund was established through Bill’s bequest and named for his uncle. Its objective is to enhance and sustain a high quality of life in the rural communities of southwestern Alberta, supporting local organizations and community projects across the region.

The folks interviewed for this series are family friends and neighbours Frank Jenkins and Lester Hochstein, Varley in-law Judy Vance, Fishburn Cemetery registrar Margo Maclean, and Bill’s cousin Robyn Bodgener.

Many of the family now rest in the Fishburn Cemetery.

Village People was produced and edited by Dinah Gaston, with the cinematography stylings of Mallory Salmon and Ayva Kauffman.

History, Ranching

A brown puppy with their mouth open

Humane society pauses dog intakes following suspected distemper case

Written on . Posted in Community Life.

A suspected case of distemper has prompted the Pincher Creek Humane Society to pause dog intakes for 14 days and to warn dog owners in the area to make sure their pets are vaccinated. The shelter announced the pause Aug. 12.

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that attacks a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. It is often fatal, especially in puppies and unvaccinated dogs. There is no cure, only supportive treatment.

It does not infect people, but it can spread among dogs and some wild animals such as foxes, skunks and raccoons.

The pause comes after Blossom was taken to the shelter Aug. 8 by a Good Samaritan who found the puppy just south of town in the MD of Pincher Creek.

After initially showing no signs of illness, Blossom was taken to a veterinary clinic for evaluation after she began vomiting and developed blood in her stool.

Two parvovirus tests taken Aug. 11 produced inconclusive results. While waiting for the second test, Blossom experienced head tremors, which, coupled with her other symptoms, led the veterinarian to strongly suspect distemper. He determined Blossom’s odds of surviving with a good quality of life were slim and she was euthanized.

Shelter manager Crissy Riegert says a distemper test was not sent for official confirmation, as the veterinarian was confident in his assessment. Erring on the side of caution, the shelter proceeded with the pause based on that assessment rather than pursue additional testing.

While no other dogs at the shelter had direct contact with Blossom, Riegert says there is a possibility of indirect exposure through staff or other means. The shelter is taking extra precautions to protect the other dogs in its care, stepping up already strict disinfection measures.

Waylon, a puppy who had no direct contact with Blossom but was housed in the same run, is under strict isolation. He was vaccinated shortly after Blossom became ill and, along with the shelter’s other dogs, showed no symptoms as of Monday, Aug. 17.

Riegert says the shelter routinely quarantines incoming animals for 14 days because of the incubation periods of illnesses such as distemper and parvovirus.

“We are hopeful that our policies and procedures have done their job,” she says.

Riegert encourages dog owners to make sure their animals are up-to-date on vaccinations.

“It really does make a difference,” she says. “It not only protects your dog, but potentially protects the dogs that are not vaccinated.”

Riegert says Blossom’s exact source of exposure is unknown. Because the puppy showed no symptoms when she arrived and became ill days later, the shelter is concerned distemper may be present in the area.

Early signs of distemper can include eye and nasal discharge, fever, coughing, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes progressing to tremors, seizures or other neurological signs. Owners who notice these symptoms should contact a veterinarian immediately.

The dog intake pause is in place until Aug. 27, provided no other dogs develop symptoms. It applies only to dogs and the shelter continues to accept cats.

Anyone who finds a stray dog during the pause is asked to call the shelter in advance. While the shelter can’t take in a dog directly, staff can meet people outside the facility to check for a tattoo or microchip and try to reunite the dog with its owner without bringing it inside.

If a dog cannot immediately be returned home, the shelter may work with other animal shelters or volunteers to find temporary placement until the pause is lifted.

The shelter can be reached at 403-627-5191.

The Pincher Creek Humane Society will post updates on its social media pages and advise if the intake pause needs to be extended beyond Aug. 27.

Canine Distemper, Pet Vaccinations

Construction vehicles working on a double lane highway

Mountain section of Highway 3 twinning still without a timeline

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Alberta’s transportation minister says the province is still working through the most challenging stretch of the Highway 3 twinning project — the section between the Crowsnest Pass and Piikani Nation — and cannot yet say when construction will move forward.

Speaking at an Aug. 11 rural media roundtable, Devin Dreeshen said the complex mountain section remains in the design phase. He was also questioned about wildlife crossings and other transportation issues.

Pressed on when planning for twinning the Crowsnest-to-Piikani section will finish and when construction tenders might follow, he said the province is still deciding the best route through the mountain pass.

“You can’t design and engineer forever,” he said, adding a decision on alignment will eventually need to be made.

The Treasury Board requires projects to be fully shovel-ready before construction money is approved. Dreeshen promised more details on timelines later.

The 47-kilometre twinned section between Taber and Burdett is now complete, while the remaining segments are in various stages of planning, design and engineering.

Dreeshen said the province divided the overall Highway 3 twinning project into eight sections so work could begin on the less complicated stretches first. The mountain sections near the British Columbia border are more complicated, while the connection near Medicine Hat still requires design work.

Dreeshen described Highway 3 as the next step in supporting southern Alberta’s growing economy. He linked the project to the province’s investment in irrigation infrastructure, saying expanded irrigation is expected to increase agricultural production and attract new agri-food investment, which would mean more commercial traffic along the corridor.

As work continues in Alberta, he said, the province is also discussing Highway 3 improvements with British Columbia. He acknowledged concerns that twinning the highway to the Alberta border could simply shift congestion west if similar upgrades are not completed in B.C.

Alberta will continue talks with the B.C. government about extending twinning on the B.C. side of the border, he said, adding the province wants Highway 3 to function as an economic corridor that extends beyond Alberta’s border.

Wildlife crossings called a success

Dreeshen said wildlife overpasses, underpasses and fencing have proven successful in reducing collisions between vehicles and animals.

“I think we should be telling that story better,” he said.

He noted that other jurisdictions, including Montana, have shown interest in Alberta’s wildlife crossing program.

Following the roundtable, a department spokesperson from the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors told Shootin’ the Breeze that the proposed Island Ridge Wildlife Overpass remains in the design phase. It is planned for the north side of Highway 3 near the Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area, west of Crowsnest Pass.

The Iron Ridge Wildlife Underpass is also in the design phase. It is planned for the Jim Prentice Wildlife Corridor, about five kilometres along Highway 3 between Coleman and Crowsnest Lake.

Other wildlife crossing projects along Highway 3 are in preliminary design.

The Rock Creek Wildlife Underpass, which runs along Highway 3 between Lundbreck and Burmis along with a short distance north up Highway 22, was completed in December 2025.

Construction on the $10.7-million underpass and wildlife fencing project began in June 2024.

The underpass provides a safe crossing for wildlife such as deer and elk through an area with a high number of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Camera monitoring recorded an estimated 76 animals using the underpass during its first month of operation, with mule deer accounting for most of the recorded crossings.

Post-construction data collected in 2026 is expected to be released through Alberta’s open data portal in early 2027.

The ministry also pointed to Reconnecting the Rockies, a scientific initiative led by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas in partnership with researchers and non-profit organizations. The project is studying how wildlife move through the landscape before, during and after wildlife crossing infrastructure is built.

Reconnecting the Rockies aims to create a connected system of wildlife crossings and fencing along 80 kilometres of Highway 3 between Hosmer, B.C., and Lundbreck. It is designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions while restoring movement for species including grizzly bears, elk, deer, sheep and wolverines across one of the most important wildlife corridors in the Canadian Rockies.

Other issues

Dreeshen also addressed transportation issues elsewhere in Alberta, including regional air service, photo radar and truck enforcement.

He said the province is reviewing expressions of interest from airlines interested in providing regional air service to communities such as Medicine Hat, after WestJet ended service earlier this year. Alberta is also examining models used in other provinces, including Saskatchewan, where governments subsidize a certain number of seats on regional routes.

Dreeshen defended the province’s restrictions on photo radar, saying Alberta relied on the technology more than most jurisdictions without seeing better traffic safety results. Municipalities can still apply for exemptions if they can demonstrate a need for photo radar outside school, playground or construction zones.

On truck safety, Dreeshen said Alberta has shut down 20 trucking companies and five fraudulent driver-training schools since October as part of an ongoing enforcement campaign. While it is too early to measure the long-term impact, he said removing unsafe carriers should improve safety over time.

Highway 3 Twinning, Wildlife Crossings

The Alberta Health Services logo above text that reads "New hemodialysis unit at Chinook Regional Hospital." There are hands holding a paper cut out of kidneys next to the text.

More home dialysis among goals of Lethbridge unit expansion

Written on . Posted in Health & Wellness.

Southern Alberta’s kidney-care system is getting more room to grow as cases of advanced kidney disease have risen by 20 per cent over the past five years.

A new hemodialysis unit at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge increases weekly treatment capacity by 25 per cent, while an expanded kidney-care clinic gives patients more options for home-based dialysis.

The province has invested $23.4 million in the expansion, increasing the number of treatment stations at the hospital from 24 to 30 and allowing the hemodialysis unit to support up to 180 patients each week.

The expansion is more than a Lethbridge project. It is part of a regional kidney-care system that serves patients from Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Fort Macleod and other surrounding communities.

For rural patients, distance is part of the picture. Hemodialysis is typically needed three times a week, and the drive to Lethbridge is about 100 kilometres each way from Pincher Creek and about 150 from Crowsnest Pass.

Although there are dialysis centres in Blairmore and Fort Macleod, patients typically receive their first few treatments in Lethbridge before they can transition closer to home. The Lethbridge expansion does not add spaces at the rural centres, but growth in home dialysis could let more patients avoid the drive.

Shakhawat Hossain, patient-care manager with Alberta Kidney Care South, says the larger Lethbridge unit is important because patients starting dialysis need closer monitoring during the first few weeks.

“Usually when we start this treatment, especially the hemodialysis treatment, we try to keep them in our bigger centre, and our bigger centre is Lethbridge for this area,” he says.

Once patients are stable, the care team can move them to a rural centre, based on where they live and available space. Crowsnest Pass Health Centre and Fort Macleod Health Centre are the two rural options in the area.

Fort Macleod has capacity for 38 patients, while Crowsnest Pass has capacity for only five, Hossain says.

Staff settle into new shared space

The Lethbridge unit, which opened in late July, “has been good so far,” Hossain says.

“We’re adjusting some things here and there, and finding out what’s been working, what’s not, and working with the rest of the team, making sure that everybody is satisfied and making sure that we provide the best care possible.”

The new unit also brings staff together in one location. Previously, the dialysis team worked in a unit outside the main area, which made communication between nurses and other staff more difficult, Hossain says.

The new space is brighter and larger, allowing staff to work more closely and support each other during patient care.

A system under growing pressure

Hossain says the services offered have not changed. What has changed is the unit’s ability to keep pace with a growing patient population.

The Lethbridge centre was not over capacity, but he says it was getting close.

“Even in the next five years, if our number goes to 160, 170, we’re ready for it,” Hossain says.

Planning for the new unit factored in projected demand across the wider region, which includes Taber, Cardston, Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Fort Macleod and Picture Butte, among others.

Increasing the number of patients who can be treated at home will be a key measure of the program’s success, Hossain says.

Patients can choose between two options: peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis. The kidney-care clinic has four clinical rooms and five treatment areas, and supports both.

“Over the coming months, we’re looking to see if we can increase our home modality capacity so that we can have more and more patients receiving their treatment in their home,” Hossain says.

Alberta Health Services will also track patient comfort, treatment effectiveness and staff satisfaction in the months ahead, he adds.

The home-based approach could also help reduce pressure on hospital-based care, although Hossain says it is too early to tell whether the new unit has affected emergency department wait times or patient flow.

How patients get access

Patients with chronic kidney disease are followed regularly through the clinic. When a nephrologist determines a patient needs dialysis, a modality team explains the options.

After discussion with their care team, patients can choose between peritoneal dialysis, home hemodialysis or in-centre dialysis, depending on what fits their needs.

Province highlights closer-to-home care

In a July 30 media release, Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s minister of hospital and surgical health services, framed the expansion as part of the province’s push to deliver care closer to home.

Martin Long, minister of infrastructure, said the new renal program providing home-dialysis training supports a service many Albertans rely on multiple times a week.

The province says the $23.4-million investment is part of broader health-care infrastructure spending in southern Alberta.

It also includes $59 million over three years for cardiac services at Chinook Regional Hospital and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, and $74 million over three years for a new health centre in Cardston.

Dialysis, Home Dialysis, Kidney Disease

Young entrepreneurs serving it up for Pincher Creek’s Lemonade Day

Written on . Posted in Community Life, Youth.

During rodeo weekend, some of Pincher Creek’s smallest business owners will set up shop on Main Street, armed with lemonade, hand-painted signs and business plans.

Set to return on Saturday, Aug. 15, Lemonade Day gives kids a hands-on turn at running a business of their own.

Organized each year by Pincher Creek and District Chamber of Commerce, Lemonade Day teaches children how to start, own and operate a business. Chamber manager Crystal Senkpiel says the real-world component is what makes it valuable for local youth.

“Instead of just reading about economics in a classroom, the kids get to set up their own business and run it with real customers and real money, and it teaches crucial life skills like business planning, problem solving, that sort of thing,” she says.

“It’s just a great opportunity to encourage youth entrepreneurship and plant that seed for future business.”

Eight stands will be set up throughout town, with 16 children taking part. Four stands will be run by individual participants, the rest by pairs or groups of siblings and friends.

While stands can be opened earlier to serve parade-goers and those in town for rodeo festivities, judging runs from noon to 2:30 p.m., with stands open to the public throughout.

Participants will be assessed on several aspects of their businesses.

Judges score the lemonade on flavour, tartness, sweetness, presentation and value, while the stand itself is assessed on appearance, health and safety, signage and branding, location and customer service.

The third category, the business plan, includes the participant’s completed workbook, gross income, net profit, profit goals and charitable donation.

The chamber introduced a revised workbook this year, aimed at making business concepts easier for younger participants to understand. It is used primarily for planning before Lemonade Day, with participants finishing after their businesses have run.

Completed workbooks are due to the chamber by 4 p.m. on Aug. 22, when judges will review them as part of the final scoring. They can be dropped off at Pincher Pets or emailed to Senkpiel.

The three category winners — best lemonade, best display and best business plan — each receive $100, while the overall winner receives $300. The overall winner also gets to showcase their business at the chamber’s Awards of Excellence on Oct. 23, serving their lemonade to gala guests.

Participants can add a touch of realism to their businesses by obtaining a free business licence through the Town of Pincher Creek. The licence is not scored by judges, but Senkpiel says participants are encouraged to display a licence in case a bylaw officer swings by to check.

With the competition running alongside the rodeo parade, Senkpiel looks forward to seeing how the young entrepreneurs distinguish themselves.

“I’m excited to see their creativity and how those kids are thinking outside the box,” she says. “A lemonade stand sounds pretty basic, but it’s fun to see how they get creative and come up with ideas that maybe make them stand out against their competition.”

Senkpiel says community support also helps the young participants build confidence.

“If you could bring your change and come prepared to spend a little bit of money at their stands and give them some encouragement, it would be great,” she says.

Community members are also encouraged to photograph their favourite stands and share them on social media using #PincherCreekLemonadeDay.

For more information, visit pincherchamber.ca/lemonadeday. Questions can be directed to Senkpiel at info@pincherchamber.ca or 403-627-5199.

 

Entrepreneurship, Lemonade Day

A cowboy competes beside a brown horse in a rodeo arena as spectators and rodeo personnel watch from behind the chutes.

Cowboys bring strong seasons home to Pincher Creek

Written on . Posted in Rodeo, Sports.

Pincher Creek will be cheering on six familiar names when the rodeo gets underway this weekend, with six area competitors entered across three days.

The Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo runs Aug. 13 to 16, with professional performances Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Friday — Riley Roy and Billy Potts

Pincher Creek’s Riley Roy and Brocket’s Billy Potts both compete in team roping during the Friday night performance.

Riley is roping with Garrett Brownlee of Moose Jaw, while Billy is paired with Jay Louise of Vernon.

Riley heads into his hometown rodeo 21st in the Canadian team roping header standings, with $11,472.13 earned through 40 rodeos as of Aug. 7.

It has been a steady season of collecting cheques rather than relying on one big payday, with a top placing of second paired with Brett Buss at Sundre.

Billy has also been busy on the rodeo trail this season, appearing at a number of CPRA stops. While he hasn’t cracked the top 30, the heeler has a chance at a payday close to home.

Saturday — Otys Little Mustache, Ridge Flundra and Kash Lievers

Saturday afternoon belongs to three more local cowboys.

Otys Little Mustache of Brocket is having a strong season on the Indian National Finals Rodeo trail, sitting 13th in the INFR Tour steer wrestling standings with $4,753.77. HIs biggest payday listed so far is $2,013.48 at Rocky Boy.

Ridge Flundra and Kash Lievers, both of Twin Butte, have spent much of the summer making their presence felt in junior steer riding.

Ridge sits fourth in Canada with $5,412.78 in season earnings as of Aug. 7. Only about $50 separated him from third place when the standings were posted. He has also climbed to the top of the C-Bar Buckers Junior Steer Riding Series.

Ridge has collected money consistently through the season, with wins at Airdrie and Williams Lake. The Airdrie win was an 80.5-point ride.

Kash was 17th in the Canadian steer riding standings with $1,432.33 as of Aug. 7, but that total is already out of date.

He added a 70-point winning ride after the standings were posted, tying for first and earning another $632.34. That brings his winnings over $2,000.

Sunday — Ben Mitchell

Ben Mitchell of Twin Butte gets the final local turn in front of the hometown crowd during Sunday’s performance.

He comes home 18th in the Canadian steer wrestling standings with $15,516.73 earned from 42 rodeos as of Aug. 7.

Ben’s results come from a combination of speed and a busy summer on the road, including a 4.0-second run to share the win at Taber, another 4.0 at Lea Park and a 4.4-second victory at Bassano.

Lundbreck cowboys making noise elsewhere

Two local names won’t appear in the Pincher Creek draw this weekend, but their seasons deserve mention.

K’s Thomson is ninth in Canadian saddle bronc standings, with $29,586.16 earned through 25 rodeos.

His season includes an 87.5-point win at Wainwright and an 88-point second-place ride in Williams Lake.

K’s has also given bareback riding a go, earning $125.25 through two rodeos. It’s just something he does “every once in a while.”

Ryatt Thomson is making his own mark in novice saddle bronc, where he sits eighth in the Canadian novice standings as of Aug. 7, with earnings of $4,402.44.

His season includes wins at Wilwood and Sundre, with a season-best 78.5 ride at Wildwood.

Junior Steer Riding, Saddle Bronc, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping

A rodeo rider on horseback carries a large Canadian flag through the arena.

From grand entry to intermission flag riders step up their game

Written on . Posted in Rodeo, Sports.

When the Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo gets underway Friday evening, spectators will see a familiar group of riders charge into the arena with sponsor flags flying and horses at full speed.

Local cowgirls will once again take the reins for their traditional grand entry, performing choreographed moves on horseback while flying the flags of event sponsors to kick off each day of pro rodeo action from Aug. 14 to 16.

This year, the riders are adding another routine, returning during intermission each day for a second choreography and another chance to fly the sponsor flags.

“It’s great to just put it out there for all the new businesses and even just getting everyone involved in the rodeo,” says Brynn Grose, who organizes the team alongside Gray Bennett. “Being such a small town, it’s worth getting everyone recognized.”

Bennett is teaching from the ground this year while Grose remains in the saddle.

This year’s team consists of Brynn Grose, Delainy Grose, Emily Neufeld, Naoise Gelber, Kate Bennett, Ava Jessen, Ava Prout, Reata Herr, Bella Mackenzie, Faith Edwards and Romel Herr, who will once again carry the Canadian flag.

The grand entry routine features the riders moving through the arena in formation carrying sponsor flags, followed by individual sponsor recognition laps. The new intermission routine adds a second pattern and another set of flags.

The routines are set to music, with choreographed moves including circles, crossovers and other patterns. Different songs are planned for each of the six performances, with the music selections being kept under wraps until showtime.

While some elements carry over from last year, Grose says the team has incorporated new ones. The routines are meant to be an exciting spectacle but the team avoids overdoing it, as safety is a major consideration when working with horses and flags at such high speeds.

“Flags can definitely be quite a dangerous part of the rodeo,” she says. “As much as it can look fancy, we try to keep it simple.”

Putting the routines together takes considerable preparation, with Grose and Bennett starting to plan the following year’s performance only a few months after the previous rodeo wraps up.

Grose says the process includes arranging clothing and making sure every rider has what they need. This is no small task when it means finding matching shirts and jeans for the whole group.

The first practice for this year’s rodeo was held June 22, giving riders time to work through the routines and giving those with newer horses a chance to prepare their mounts for performing in front of a large crowd.

The group has continued practising in the weeks since, with extra sessions planned in the final days leading up to the rodeo.

That preparation extends beyond the organized practices, Grose says, with many riders spending considerable time working with their horses on their own to ensure they are physically and mentally prepared for the pace of the routines.

“I know a couple of the girls, including myself, put a lot of work into their horses outside of the grand entry itself,” Grose says. “It’s definitely not a place you can throw a brand new colt into.”

The riders’ responsibilities extend beyond their performances. They keep the action moving by assisting with livestock following roping events and filling in divots in the arena during barrel racing.

Lynn Lievers, who co-chairs the Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo organizing committee, says the local cowgirls have become an important part of the rodeo, through both their performances and the work they do across the weekend.

“It just kind of sets the tone for the rodeo, and it just kind of gets the crowd really ready,” she says. “I think that it just [gives] an added boost to our rodeo.”

“We are all volunteers, including those girls, and they put in a lot, so I hope that people appreciate everything that they’re bringing forward,” Lievers says.

For Grose, who began riding in flag routines at about 13 years old, performing for her hometown crowd has become a significant part of her personal rodeo experience.

“It’s just so fun to have all your family come and watch you in the rodeo,” she says. “It’s definitely a point where you get to have your own time to shine in the arena and show what you’ve been working on.”

Flag Riders

Purple circle with three raised haised hands

Rodeo still needs weekend volunteers

Written on . Posted in Community Life, Rodeo, Sports.

With the much-anticipated Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo just around the corner, organizers are calling for a few more weekend volunteers — no experience required.

The rodeo runs Aug. 13 to 16, and while organizers have filled most volunteer positions, they still need help for Saturday and Sunday.

Lynn Lievers, who co-chairs the rodeo organizing committee, says the openings are for the two most eventful days of the rodeo.

Volunteers are needed to take admission and sell programs at the gates and take admission and sell tickets at the cabaret. Those with ProServe certification can take roles pouring beer in the beer gardens or at the cabaret.

The cabaret remains one of the harder areas to staff, particularly for the late-night shifts, which can run until about 2 a.m., but Lievers makes the case that it’s also where volunteers have the most fun.

“Honestly, I think they have the most fun out of all the volunteers we have all weekend,” she says. “Everyone’s in a good mood, there’s great music, it moves quickly; you’re not sitting around waiting for things to happen.”

The beer garden is also a lively place to volunteer and has several open positions for the Sunday afternoon shift.

Volunteers must be 18 or older to work the cabaret or beer gardens. Under the rodeo’s liquor licence, Lievers says, 25 per cent of servers must have ProServe certification, while other volunteers without certification can assist with selling beer tickets and other duties.

Shifts run two to four hours, depending on the position and the day, and people can sign up for as many as they like. No experience is needed and organizers will show volunteers what to do.

In return, volunteers receive free admission and lunch from the concession on the day they work and a free pass to attend another day of their choosing. Packages are available at the contestant gate and can be picked up in advance of the scheduled shift.

For Lievers, volunteering is about giving back to a “beautiful community” that has given her family so much over time and ensuring the rodeo remains a fixture in Pincher Creek.

“I truly believe that if you benefit from living in a community, then you should find a way to give back to it in whatever way suits you, and this is just our way, my husband and I,” she explains.

Reflecting further, Lievers recalls advice from Dale Butterwick, her former rodeo coach, who encouraged those involved in rodeo to take responsibility for supporting the events in their hometowns.

“He said, ‘If you don’t do it, then the rodeos in your little towns will die out,’ and I really took that to heart because I thought he is exactly right,” she says.

Upwards of a dozen volunteers are needed to fill the remaining positions.

Lievers says organizers will ensure volunteers know what they need to do when they arrive for their shifts, with herself, Lana McGlynn or another board member available to answer questions and address any issues that arise.

Those interested in volunteering can visit the rodeo’s volunteer online sign-up page at volunteersignup.org/DPTH7 and select from available shifts.

There is no formal deadline but Lievers encourages anyone signing up close to or during rodeo weekend to contact her directly at 403-432-1369 so organizers can prepare their volunteer package.

Lynn Lievers, Volunteer Opportunities, William Cockerell

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

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Personal data status unknown after Crowsnest Pass cyberattack

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government.

Two weeks after a cyberattack hit the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, officials still cannot say whether residents’ personal information was affected — even as most services have been restored.

The municipality detected the breach July 29 and immediately brought in external cybersecurity specialists to investigate. The incident was announced in a July 30 news release.

Most systems and services have since been restored, according to deputy chief administrative officer Kristin Colucci, though tax and utility billing have been slower to come back.

Officials say they are still working to determine the full scope of the incident, including whether any personal information was affected.

“As the investigation is ongoing, the municipality is unable to provide further details at this time,” Colucci says. “If the investigation determines that any personal information has been affected, appropriate steps will be taken in accordance with applicable privacy legislation.”

Billing delays

Property tax withdrawals and utility billing notices, both by mail and email, are normally processed on the last day of the month but have been delayed by the incident.

Municipal office staff are currently unable to provide account information, such as balances and account numbers.

Residents can still make payments online using a credit or debit card, and Colucci says tax and utility billing services are expected to resume early next week.

Investigation continues

The municipality has not said what caused the breach, which systems were initially affected or when the investigation will conclude.

“If we determine that personal information was affected, we will share that update and let residents know how to get more information,” Colucci says in the July 30 release.

Officials say they will continue to share updates as the investigation progresses. Residents with questions or concerns can call 403-562-8833.

Cyberattacks, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy

A camper trailer under a permanent roof structure

Town votes down plan to allow RVs as permanent homes

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government.

Can recreational vehicles designed for temporary use also serve as permanent homes? The Town of Pincher Creek has decided no — at least not under current land-use rules.

At its July 27 meeting, council voted 6-0 to defeat Land Use Bylaw Amendment 1639-25-C, which would have allowed RVs to be used as permanent homes in the town’s manufactured and mobile home parks through discretionary approvals. Coun. Sahra Nodge was absent.

Under current rules, RVs are a prohibited use in those parks and cannot legally serve as full-time residences. The bylaw process now ends and that prohibition stands.

The request

The change was requested by Ok Hee Kim, a mobile home park owner, who asked council to allow RV residential use under discretionary approval.

In her application, Kim said many people cannot afford traditional housing or the cost of relocating an older mobile home, and allowing RVs as dwellings could expand options in an area with limited affordable housing.

She also said it would formalize existing non-compliant RV occupancy.

The case for

At a July 27 public hearing, several residents backed the change, citing the region’s housing affordability pressures.

One woman said she moved to an RV after being priced out of rentals, and described her lot as clean, affordable and well maintained. Restricting RV living, she said, would harm vulnerable, low-income residents, particularly as affordability pressures grow and aging infrastructure limits other housing options.

Another resident shared personal experience and said RV living is an option for people struggling with rising housing costs.

A written submission supported letting council consider RV occupancy through discretionary approval and suggested conditions such as ownership rules, seasonal limits, parking and screening, to regulate it.

The case against

Senior planner Steve Harty recommended council defeat the amendment, and several residents who spoke against it echoed his concerns.

Harty said RVs are legally classified only for travel and recreation, are not recognized as permanent housing under provincial rules, and fail national building code standards for insulation and fire safety. Also, RVs are not generally designed for year-round living in Alberta’s climate.

Residents who opposed the amendment raised the same fire-safety concern, noting RVs are built to different standards than permanent homes.

Harty also flagged a gap in tenant protections, noting Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act may not clearly cover RV rental arrangements.

Both the planner and a number of residents warned the change could set a precedent. Harty cautioned that approving RV use in one district could invite similar requests elsewhere and that adding it to the R2 land-use district would open the possibility across all five of the town’s manufactured and mobile home parks.

Residents echoed that a bylaw change could have wider effects, including RVs appearing in unexpected public spaces.

Some opponents also raised concerns about neighbourhood impacts, infrastructure, enforcement and pressures they associated with more transient populations.

The vote

The land-use amendment received first reading June 22 and the town mailed notices to 175 nearby property owners June 30, ahead of the July 27 public hearing.

After hearing all submissions, Mayor Wayne Oliver asked whether anyone had new points to raise. None were offered and council voted unanimously to defeat second reading.

With that, the bylaw process ends and RVs remain prohibited as permanent homes under the town’s current land-use bylaw.

Administration noted the decision is final and cannot be challenged.

Affordable Housing, Fire Safety, Housing Affordability, Land Use Bylaws, Manufactured Home Parks, Mobile Home Parks, Public Hearings, Recreational Vehicles, RV Living, Tenant Protections

Gavel rests on sounding block on a table.

Water Not Coal asks court to overturn petition ruling

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

The fight over coal mining near the headwaters of the Oldman River is headed to court. Corb Lund‘s Water Not Coal campaign has asked a judge to overturn Elections Alberta‘s decision that its petition, signed by more than 200,000 Albertans, fell just short of forcing a referendum.

One of the two projects the petition targeted is Northback Holdings’ Grassy Mountain, near the Oldman headwaters in the Crowsnest Pass. The other is Valory Resources’ Blackstone project in Clearwater County, near the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River.

The campaign filed its application for judicial review July 29 in the Alberta Court of King’s Bench, on behalf of initiative proponent Lund. It argues Elections Alberta applied verification standards stricter than the Citizen Initiative Act requires, wrongly excluding thousands of valid signatures.

The application asks the court to declare the initiative successful or, failing that, send it back to Elections Alberta for reconsideration.

“More than 200,000 Albertans signed this petition in good faith, and they deserve a fair and reasonable process,” Lund said in a statement.

“Thousands of Albertans were effectively shut out by verification processes that don’t make sense. This judicial review is about ensuring that citizens’ voices weren’t lost in technicalities.”

How the count fell short

Water Not Coal submitted 207,435 signatures to Elections Alberta on June 10. An initial count validated 196,088 — well above the 177,732 needed to force a referendum.

A second-stage verification, conducted from June 11 to July 2, dropped that number to 172,088, leaving the campaign 5,644 signatures short. It was the first citizen initiative petition verified with scrutineers present, a change introduced through Bill 23, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026.

What the application alleges

The judicial review application raises several concerns about how Elections Alberta carried out its verification.

On the legal standard, it points to sections 4 and 6 of the Citizen Initiative Act, arguing the chief electoral officer demanded more than the legislation sets out and undermined its purpose of encouraging public participation in direct democracy.

On the verification calls, the application says the process required electors to recall precise details from a petition they may have signed months earlier, with limited opportunity to clarify their answers.

It also says the calls did not display “Elections Alberta” in caller ID as previously indicated and questions whether the agency considered the recent electors-list data breach and its possible effect on response rates.

On the statistical side, the application challenges the five per cent margin of error and the sampling method, arguing the process failed to account for uncertainty in small sample sizes, applied the mid-point of a formula rather than its low-point, and replaced non-responding electors too quickly.

Together, the campaign says, those practices rejected too many signatures and accepted too few.

The petition and how it got here

The petition, formally titled No New Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, sought to prohibit new coal exploration and mining in the region, exempting mines already in active production as of Jan. 1, 2026.

The campaign began after Elections Alberta issued a notice of initiative petition Feb. 10. Signature collection ran until June 10, when Lund and supporters delivered 18 bins of petition sheets to Elections Alberta’s Edmonton office in a horse trailer.

Elections Alberta’s response

As of publication, Elections Alberta had not publicly responded to the judicial review application. In an earlier written response to Shootin’ the Breeze on the caller-ID concerns, however, the agency said caller ID displaying “Elections AB” was active during verification, and that testing confirmed it worked as intended.

Some recipients may not have seen the identification, the agency said. Individual telephone companies may not include caller ID in their registries and some recipients may have had spam-blocking or caller ID settings that hid it.

Electors selected for verification received a text message before a verification phone call, if they had provided a phone number, the agency said. If a call went unanswered, staff left a voice mail explaining its purpose, a callback number and the verification questions.

Electors who provided an email instead received a message asking them to verify their petition information.

“No signatures were deemed invalid or failed verification because an elector did not answer a phone call or respond to an email or voice mail,” the agency said.

Citizen Initiative Act, Citizen Initiative Petitions, Coal Mining, Eastern Slopes, Elections | Referendums, Judicial Review, Petition Verification, Water Protection

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News briefs from July 27 Town of Pincher Creek council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government.

Pincher Creek town council approved a new child-care lease, set budget guidelines for the coming years and prepared for two fall conferences at its July 27 meeting.

Child-care lease approved after revision

Council unanimously approved a revised lease with KP Squared Innovative Child Care, which will take over operations at two town-owned child-care facilities providing services for local families.

The lease covers the Canyon Creek Early Learning Centre and the Sage Early Learning Centre. KP Squared will continue under the existing lease until the new agreement takes effect. The start date was moved from July 1 to Sept. 1.

Council first reviewed a draft at its June 22 meeting, where members raised concerns about several clauses, including a $500 late-payment charge and insurance requirements, and questioned who would be responsible for major building repairs.

Mayor Wayne Oliver asked whether some insurance provisions, including automobile liability and business-interruption coverage, went beyond standard municipal leasing practice. Administration was directed to amend the draft.

The updated lease removes the late-payment charge and additional rent provisions that could have required the tenant to cover taxes, insurance, utilities and other expenses. It also replaces a clause requiring $5 million in tenant insurance coverage with a requirement that KP Squared provide proof of contents-and liability coverage.

A new clause confirms KP Squared is a not-for-profit entity exempt from property taxes. The revised agreement also makes the town, as landlord, responsible for major structural repairs, such as foundation, roof, exterior walls and mechanical systems such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical.

KP Squared will not be responsible for deferred maintenance or pre-existing conditions, with a building condition report serving as the baseline for future assessments.

Budget guidelines set for 2027 and 2028

Council approved guidelines to help administration prepare an incremental two-year operating budget for 2027 and 2028, with property tax and utility rate increases each capped at three per cent per year. It also called for a review process to account for external changes before 2028.

The guidelines include preparing a capital budget with proposed funding sources and recommended changes to the town’s fees-and-charges bylaw. Changes would be based on market comparisons, cost of service and community benefit.

Council also approved developing an additional three-year capital plan and two-year operating plan for the years beyond 2028, again with property tax and utility rate increases capped at three per cent annually.

In other business

The July 27 meeting was the first to include written council reports in the agenda package.

Council unanimously supported Coun. Valerie Wynder attending the Family and Community Support Services conference in Edmonton from Nov. 25 to 27. Oliver said the conference falls outside the normal council pay structure and suggested council formally support her participation.

CAO Konrad Dunbar presented a new motion tracker that will replace the previous spreadsheet system, sorting council motions into completed, in-progress and not-started categories. Completed items will be removed from future lists once council has reviewed them, keeping the focus on current work. The system is currently in draft form.

Couns. Gordon McMullen, Bernice Cyr, Wynder and Mark Barber confirmed they will attend the Alberta Municipalities convention and trade show in Edmonton, Sept. 23 to 25.

Child Care, Municipal Budgets, Municipal Conferences, Municipal Government, Property Taxes, Town Council, Utility Rates