Press Release – Highway 3 Interim Improvements
March 5, 2021 – For Immediate Release – The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is pleased to announce that the Highway 3 Interim Improvements project is slated to begin on March 15, 2021. This project is a partnership with the Government of Alberta Ministry of Transportation and the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass and will see improvements at three locations along the highway throughout the community:
- Highway 3 & Highway 40 intersection improvements are anticipated to run from March 15, 2021 to June 30, 2021 and will include geometric roadway improvements and traffic signal installation.
- Highway 3 & 213 Street intersection improvements are anticipated to run from April 15, 2021 to June 30, 2021 and will include the installation of traffic signals.
- Highway 3 through Frank improvements are anticipated to run from May 15, 2021 to June 30, 2021 and will include paving and lane marking to allow for a center two-way left turn lane.
Traffic will be disrupted throughout the duration of the project; however, detours are not anticipated.
For your safety please obey all construction signage.
We thank you for your co-operation and assistance.
Press Release – Frank Wastewater Treatment Plant
October 27, 2020 - For Immediate Release – The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass is pleased to announce our Frank Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade that is being funded as part of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) which includes $7.8 million in funding from the Government of Canada’s Green Infrastructure Stream (GIS) and nearly $6.5 million in funding from the Province of Alberta’s Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP) that will compliment the $5.2 million capital investment from the Municipality.
This funding is for Phase 1 & 3, which will see the construction of a new clarifier, new headworks and screening, a bulk water fill station, sewage receiving station, and an RV sani-dump, along with some building upgrades.
We have also received additional funding through the Province of Alberta’s Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP) in the amount of up to $1.86 million for Phase 4 for the inclusion of tertiary treatment.
This is a very important project for the community and as such, while awaiting final funding announcements, design work was initiated in 2018, contractor pre-qualification was completed in 2019, and the tender for short listed contractors concluded on October 26, 2020. Construction is slated to begin late 2020/early 2021.
Phase 2, the rebuild of the existing clarifier, will occur at a later date once the new clarifier is fully commissioned. Funding for this phase has not be secured at this time.
Pass Powderkeg Press Release - June 11, 2020
June 11, 2020 – For Immediate Release - Pass Powderkeg Ski Area, located in Crowsnest Pass, is excited to announce the extension of the Lower T-Bar lift. This extension will allow guests the opportunity to ski or ride from a new off-load area approximately 50-80m above the current off-load, improving the skiing and riding experience. The t-bar, originally installed in 1980, replaced a homemade ropetow constructed in the early 1950’s.
Work to add the additional tower and length has begun with major construction to take place in August. This project will see an additional tower built to span the new length, a haul rope extension and extra spring boxes added.
“The extension of the Lower T-bar marks a major step to improve the ski and ride-ability of Pass Powderkeg Ski Area, and has been a long suggested project. I look forward to welcoming our guests back with this “new” lift!” said Katherine Seleski, Manager of Pass Powderkeg Ski Area.
This project is one of two major area enhancements in 2020, the second of which is the purchase of a 2020 Prinoth Bison X snowcat. The new snowcat will replace a 1991 Bombardier 400, with increased efficiency, added features and will provide improved terrain park and slope quality.
Any questions or comments regarding Pass Powderkeg Ski Area or relevant projects can be sent to: Katherine Seleski, Manager of Pass Powderkeg at manager@passpowderkeg.com
About Pass Powderkeg
Pass Powderkeg is a municipally owned, not for profit facility located in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. Heralding back to a time without fancy lifts or humongous lodges, Pass Powderkeg offers a family friendly, easy going ski or snowboarding experience right in the Canadian Rockies. Offering affordable recreation for families within the Crowsnest Pass and throughout Southern Alberta since 1938, have you come to explore PPK yet?
The Municipality considers the Pass Powderkeg one of its important assets and is proud to invest in this infrastructure to enhance the experience at the facility for many years to come.
Press Release – Strategic Plan 2019-2024
November 12, 2019 - For Immediate Release – The Municipality Strategic Plan 2019-2024 has been approved by Council. The plan identifies the vision, mission and values for the organization as well as seven goals where the Municipality will direct its energy and resources over the next several years.
The Plan was developed through eight planning sessions with Council, engagement of 30 different stakeholders across 20 different sectors and a brainstorming session with staff. Now that the plan is finalized and approved, the Municipality will begin the implementation plan where initiatives and actions will be brought forward to support the strategies, which will then be assigned metrics for measuring their success. The Municipality’s immediate focus will be on the strategies that are placed in the ‘now’ category within the plan. The strategic plan will be used during the 2020 budget deliberations to ensure that new items brought forward are aligned.
Strategic Planning within a Municipality is an ongoing process, progress towards achieving the plan’s objectives will be assessed annually, and the plan will be continually reviewed to make sure it is meeting the shifting needs of our community.
View the Municipal Strategic Plan 2019-2024 here.
Press Release – Change in Governance with Pass Powderkeg Ski Society - October 23, 2019
October 23, 2019 - For Immediate Release – The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass owns the Pass Powderkeg Ski Hill in Blairmore. Currently, the Ski Hill is operated through an operating agreement with the Pass Powderkeg (PPK) Ski Society. The Society voted at their September 26, 2019 Society Meeting to change their governance structure, transitioning away from being an operating board. This change would take effect on November 1, 2019 in advance of the 2019/2020 Ski Season.
The Municipality and the Society have had ongoing dialogue on their structure and are both in agreement that this change would be mutually beneficial. The Municipality received correspondence from the Society on October 3, 2019 indicating that they wish to pursue an early termination of the operating agreement and move to a new structure where they will continue to provide service to the Ski Hill as an advisory board. The Society writes that:
the Society believes that the operating agreement no longer actually describes our actual working contribution to the ski hill given that the operation of the facility has significantly grown in complexity since the time the agreement was made. This discrepancy has resulted in role confusion and unclear organizational authority structure. We believe the facility will be better served by its formalized integration into the Municipality’s administration structure as a stand-alone recreational facility. The society doesn’t wish to sever its relationship to the ski hill or the Municipality, in fact, we wish to increase our contribution to the facility [in this new advisory role]
At the October 22, 2019 Council Meeting, Council discussed and agreed to the early termination request from the Society. Therefore, on November 1, 2019 the Municipality will assume operation of the ski hill in a similar manner as our other recreational facilities like the Crowsnest Complex and MDM Community Centre and the Society will be transiting into a new capacity to support the success of the hill. There will be no change to current and proposed 2019/2020 staffing levels or to the operational plans for the year. The Ski Hill Manager, seasonal and term employees that are in place will remain in their roles.
The Municipality wishes to thank the society for their dedicated service to the hill over the years, and we look forward to working with them in this new capacity.
Press Release – Disruption in Recycling Service - September 18, 2019
September 18, 2019 - For Immediate Release – The Municipality currently contracts out recycling to a third-party business who provides the collection bins and organizes the recycling of plastics, cardboards, metals, glass and newsprint.
Our recycling contractor advised the Municipality in a letter and in person at the August 21, 2019 Council Meeting that he was running out of storage space at the facility in Frank. One of Canada’s largest buyers of recycled material, China has stopped taking certain types of recyclables, which has caused widespread stockpiling of recycled products in many jurisdictions across North America. On August 21, 2019, Council passed a motion to allow our Contractor to use some Municipal land to store the recyclables in the hope the market will rebound. Since then, Council has actively been lobbying higher levels of government regarding our recycling crisis in the Crowsnest Pass.
Unfortunately, due to the poor market for recyclables, our contractor has served the Municipality notice that he will cease providing the recycling service to the Municipality effective October 6, 2019. The Municipality will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) and start the process of locating another contractor, however based on the widespread issues facing other communities it is not known when and if one can be located.
As such there will be a disruption in recycling service for an unknown length of time for cardboard, newsprint, plastic, metal and glass. The bottle depot will continue to operate as normal. During this disruption, the recycling fee on the Municipal Utility Bill will not be levied starting in October. The Crowsnest Pass/Pincher Creek Landfill will continue to accept recycled items.
Municipal Council will continue to look at possible solutions so we can bring this program back to our residents. We would like to thank Pass Beverages for their years of service providing recycling to the Crowsnest Pass.