Press Release – COVID-19 Update – Province Announces State of Public Health Emergency and Increased Measures

November 25, 2020 - For Immediate Release – Yesterday, the Province announced a State of Public Health Emergency and increased measures as a result of the rising COVID-19 cases in our province.

The following measures apply to the entire province, and therefore are now in effect in the Crowsnest Pass.

Effective immediately, all indoor social gatherings are prohibited.  This includes social gatherings in your homes with others that do not live in your home.

Outdoor gatherings, and wedding and funeral services are limited to a maximum of 10 people and no receptions are permitted.

All events and festivals will be canceled.

Effective November 30, all students in Grades 7-12 will move to at-home learning.  Grades K-6 will continue in-school learning until Christmas Break on December 18 and will not return to in-school learning until January 11.

Where possible, employers should allow workers to work from home.

We are currently looking more closely into the details to see how these new measures affect specific programs in the Crowsnest Pass.  We will release further information once we have received clarification.

There are further increased measures in place for the Enhanced Areas and for Calgary and Edmonton and Areas. 

If there is a change in the status of the Municipality, we will notify residents as quickly as possible.  You can also sign up for the COVID-19 status notification subscription to receive an alert if our community were to cross the 50 per 100,000 population threshold at https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-status-notification.aspx.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Alberta including the State of Public Emergency and the new enhanced restrictions in place, please visit the Government of Alberta’s website at https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx

Please continue to follow the measures we can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are to:

• Practice physical distancing by staying at least 2 meters away from others outside your home/cohort family
• If you can’t maintain physical distancing, wear a mask
• If you are ill, please stay home and call 811 or contact your doctor
• Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after entering a building or using a facility and every time you go back home
• Avoid touching your face
• Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow
• Keep your cohort group to a maximum of 15 people

Stay safe, stay healthy! We are all in this together!

Press Release – COVID-19 Update – Province’s Announcement of Enhanced Measures

November 12, 2020 - For Immediate Release – The additional restrictions just announced by the province today, once again apply only to the communities that have reached over 50 cases per 100,000 people (previously called “Watch Status”).  As the Crowsnest Pass currently is back down to zero cases, these additional restrictions do not yet apply to the Crowsnest Pass. 50 cases per 100,000 population would equal four (4) active cases in the Crowsnest Pass.

We encourage all residents to continue to follow the appropriate precautions and safety measures in place, especially when travelling to other communities.  Please be aware that there are several communities in Southern Alberta that are now under the additional restrictions; make sure you know what measures are in place before you go.

If there is a change in the status of the Municipality, we will notify residents as quickly as possible.  You can also sign up for the COVID-19 status notification subscription to receive an alert if our community were to cross the 50 per 100,000 population threshold at https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-status-notification.aspx.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Alberta including the new enhanced restrictions in place for some communities and metropolitan areas, please visit Government of Alberta’s website at www.alberta.ca/coronavirus

The following measures remain in place for the Crowsnest Pass:

• Gathering restrictions:

• 200 people max for outdoor audience-type community events
• 100 people max for outdoor social gatherings and indoor seated audience events
• 50 people max for indoor social gatherings
• No cap for worship gatherings, restaurant, cafes, lounges and bars, casinos and bingo halls, trade shows and exhibits (with public health measures in place)
• Activities Not Permitted:
• gatherings larger than permitted
• major festivals and concerts, large conferences and events
• major sporting events and tournaments with attendees in audience
• amusement parks
• nightclubs
• High-risk Activities:  Activities that carry this risk are not recommended, even with physical distancing in place, including:

• sharing food, drinks or utensils
• sharing equipment
• close-range conversations
• direct physical contact or touch with people outside of your household

The most powerful measures we can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are to:

• Practice physical distancing by staying at least 2 meters away from others outside your home/cohort family
• If you can’t maintain physical distancing, wear a mask
• If you are ill, please stay home and call 811 or contact your doctor
• Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after entering a building or using a facility and every time you go back home
• Avoid touching your face
• Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow
• Keep your cohort group to a maximum of 15 people
• Get tested, even if you are asymptomatic

Stay safe, stay healthy! We are all in this together!

Press Release – COVID-19 Update – Provincial Announcement

November 6, 2020 - For Immediate Release – In light of the additional restrictions just announced by the province, we would like to remind Crowsnest Pass residents that it is important to continue to use caution and follow all provincial measures but, please don’t panic.

As these restrictions have been put in place for communities that are on Watch status on the province’s COVID-19 status map, these restrictions do not currently apply to the Crowsnest Pass. We currently have one (1) active case which equals 15.8 cases per 100,000 people.  Watch status is applied when a community reaches 50 cases per 100,000 people, which in our case would mean 4 active cases.

We encourage all residents to continue to follow the appropriate precautions and safety measures in place, especially when travelling to other communities.  Please be aware that there are several communities in Southern Alberta that are now under the additional restrictions; make sure you know what measures are in place before you go.

If there is a change in the status of the Municipality, we will notify residents as quickly as possible.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Alberta including the new restrictions in place for some communities, please visit Government of Alberta’s website at www.alberta.ca/coronavirus

The most powerful measures we can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are to:

• Practice physical distancing by staying at least 2 meters away from others outside your home/cohort family
• If you can’t maintain physical distancing, wear a mask
• If you are ill, please stay home and call 811
• Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after entering a building or using a facility and every time you go back home
• Avoid touching your face
• Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow
• Keep your cohort group to a maximum of 15 people
• Get tested, even if you are asymptomatic

Stay safe, stay healthy! We are all in this together!

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.

Press Release – 2020 Official Candidates – Office of Councillor

September 15, 2020

2020 Official Candidates – Office of Councillor

Girhiny, Glen
Strickland, Oliver

Voters will elect one (1) Councillor in the 2020 Municipal By-Election.  Please visit https://www.crowsnestpass.com/municipal-government/municipal-elections/2020-by-election for polling station locations and Institutional Vote details.

Election Day is Monday, October 26, 2020 from 10:00am to 8:00pm. 

Advanced Poll is Wednesday, October 21, 2020 from 10:00am to 8:00pm.

Press Release – Municipal By-Election 2020

August 19, 2020 - For Immediate Release – At the August 18, 2020 Council meeting, the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Council passed a motion to hold a by-election on Monday, October 26, 2020. 

This by-election is being held in accordance with Section 162 of the Municipal Government Act to fill the vacancy created on February 28, 2020.

Appointment of Returning Officer

Natalie Dzioba was appointed to the Returning Officer position for the upcoming Municipal By-Election.  Natalie joins us once again after presiding as our Returning Officer for the 2017 Municipal Election.  Welcome back Natalie!

Nomination Day – Monday, September 14, 2020

Natalie’s first order of business was to provide official notice that Nomination Day is Monday, September 14, 2020. 

Candidates seeking to run for the vacant Councillor position must complete a Nomination Paper and Candidates Acceptance Form and a Candidate Information Form (for candidates accepting campaign contributions) and bring them to the Municipal Office (8502 – 19 Avenue, Coleman, AB), between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm beginning August 19, 2020 until 12:00pm on September 14, 2020.

The required forms, candidate eligibility and responsibility information, and municipal election details are available from the Crowsnest Pass website at https://www.crowsnestpass.com/municipal-government/municipal-elections/2020-by-election or by visiting the municipal office.

Candidate Information Session

Interested in running in the upcoming municipal by-election or want to get involved in municipal government through board and committee opportunities? We are working on plans for a candidate information session and will announce dates once a format and process is planned.

Candidates and voters are encouraged to contact the Returning Officer with any Municipal Election questions:

Natalie Dzioba, Returning Officer
natalie.dzioba@crowsnestpass.com
(403) 562-8833

Pass Powderkeg Press Release - June 11, 2020

Press Release – Municipal Council to defer penalties on Utility and Property Tax Payments

April 1, 2020 - For Immediate Release – To assist residents in the Crowsnest Pass who are financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Municipal Council made a motion at the March 31 Council Meeting to defer the penalties for Utility and Property Tax payments as follows:

• 2020 tax penalties will start accruing September 1, 2020 instead of July 1, 2020
• Utility penalties will be suspended April 1, 2020 and resume July 1, 2020

The Municipality still encourages anyone who can pay their bills to continue to do so to help the Municipality maintain their cash flow for operations.  Please note that this is a deferral for penalties, the regular charges for utilities and property taxes will still be levied as per usual.

Press Release – COVID-19 Update- Municipal office and playgrounds closed

March 24, 2020 - For Immediate Release – Effective immediately, the Municipal Office will be CLOSED to public access to help protect the health and safety of our employees and the public.  We will still be in the office to assist you via phone or email.  If you have documents or cheque payments to bring in, you can drop them off in our drop-box located at the front of the building.

Additionally, under the recommendations of AHS and ARMA, all playgrounds/play structures are CLOSED to the public.

Our community walking and hiking trails remain open at this time; however, it is important that you continue to maintain social distancing.  Stay at least 2 meters away from other users on the trail and do not use it as an opportunity to get together in a group. 

We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we work together to protect the health of our community.

We will be continuously monitoring the situation and providing updates as needed.

For up-to-date information, instructions, and resources about COVID-19, please visit a reliable source such as Government of Alberta (alberta.ca), Alberta Health (https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx), Health Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html) and the World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019).

If you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, stay home, self-isolate and call Health Link 811 if your symptoms worsen.

Press Release – Crowsnest Community Library Closed

March 18, 2020 - For Immediate Release – In response to the State of Public Health Emergency announced by the province, the Crowsnest Community Library is now closed to all public use.

The RCMP detachments are also closed to public access.  Please see this communication for details: RCMP Detachment Public Closure Info Sheet

We will be continuously monitoring the situation and providing updates as needed.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Alberta, please visit Government of Alberta’s website at https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=sem&utm_campaign=Covid19&utm_term=beinformed&utm_content=v3&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3qzzBRDnARIsAECmryp0JYkMjLOrA5y0RQ3aN3DIR3Mr97ZLWWfP_zf5Vrh4GqdwGZ1llCcaAnrTEALw_wcB

If you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions.

Press Release - Pass Powderkeg Closure and Crowsnest Community Library Access Restriction

To further reduce the potential spread of COVID-19, the Municipality has made the decision to close Pass Powderkeg Ski Area and restrict access to the Crowsnest Community Library effective immediately.

The Crowsnest Community Library will continue to accept returns and any members who have books ready for pick-up will be able to access them at the front desk, browsing will not be permitted, nor will there be any access to the computers.  No new holds/orders will be permitted as Chinook Arch Regional Library has suspended the delivery of books.

We will be continuously monitoring the situation and providing updates as needed.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Alberta, please visit Government of Alberta’s website at https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=sem&utm_campaign=Covid19&utm_term=beinformed&utm_content=v3&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3qzzBRDnARIsAECmryp0JYkMjLOrA5y0RQ3aN3DIR3Mr97ZLWWfP_zf5Vrh4GqdwGZ1llCcaAnrTEALw_wcB

If you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions.

Press Release - COVID-19 Update- Municipal Facilities

March 16, 2020 - For Immediate Release – Under the recommendations of the Province to help limit the potential spread of COVID-19, public access to the following Municipal facilities is suspended until further notice:

• MDM Community Centre
• Crowsnest Sports Complex
• Gymnastics Facility
• Elk’s Hall

We are evaluating all other Municipal facilities.

Community Registration Night and Volunteer Appreciation Night will be rescheduled to a later date.

We are working to contact all user groups affected by these closures. 

We will be continuously monitoring the situation and providing updates as needed.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19 is Alberta, please visit Government of Alberta’s website at https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=sem&utm_campaign=Covid19&utm_term=beinformed&utm_content=v3&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3qzzBRDnARIsAECmryp0JYkMjLOrA5y0RQ3aN3DIR3Mr97ZLWWfP_zf5Vrh4GqdwGZ1llCcaAnrTEALw_wcB

The current risk level in Alberta for contracting COVID-19 is still low.  However, If you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions.

Press Release – Councillor Resignation

March 4, 2020 - For Immediate Release – The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass regretfully announces the resignation of Mr. Gordon Lundy as municipal councillor effective February 28, 2020.  Councillor Lundy informed Council of his intention to resign from Council due to personal reasons. Council was advised of his resignation at the March 3, 2020 Council Meeting.

Municipal Administration and Council recognize Mr. Lundy for his valuable contributions to the Crowsnest Pass since his election to Council in October 2017 and wish him all the best. 

In accordance with Section 162 of the Municipal Government Act, a by-election to fill the vacancy will be held by June 27, 2020 or sooner, as determined by Council.  Administration will bring further information to Council on the logistics of the by-election so a date can be set.

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.