Thursday, November 13, 2014

Promoting your community-Crowsnest Pass and Sparwood

Was just sent a link to the new Sparwood Chamber of commerce video show casing their community,

 http://sparwoodchamber.bc.ca/wordpress/watch-our-video/


This made me think back to the video that Rocky Mountain properties made about the Crowsnest Pass a few years ago also very well done.  http://rockymountainproperties.ca/RMP_CrowsnestVideo.htm

They are both less than five minutes long well worth the time, please check them out.


Thanks to the comment I received, I checked out UROC at the following address  http://www.uroc.ca/  well worth the time.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Municipal spending in the Crowsnest Pass

Today's Pass Herald regarding municipal spending:

http://passherald.ca/archives/141112/index2.htm


Here is the article from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

Spending threatens fiscal sustainability of AB municipalities


http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/english/article/6726-spending-threatens-fiscal-sustainability-of-ab-municipalities.html

Crowsnest Pass ranks middle of the pack at 76 out of 181 municipalities (Page 21 of the report)

Monday, November 10, 2014

Tourism Investment Forum-Crownest Pass Opportunities

Attached is a very interesting read regarding investment opportunities in the Crowsnest Pass:
Featured on Page 26-27 is the Eckardt's Tecumseh Mountain Resort.
On page 30-31 the Sentinel RV resort development.
Lastly on page 35-35 the Crowsnest Pass Ski Resort Expansion.


Tourism Investment Forum


Building Alberta

Alberta's Tourism Framework recognizes the important role that access to capital plays in supporting the efforts of Alberta's communities to diversify their local economies through tourism.The Tourism Investment Forum (PDF - 6.8 MB) provides communities with a unique venue to showcase land-based, for profit tourism development opportunities to potential tourism investors, developers and lenders. 

The Forum will feature projects from across the province, and include opportunities such as four-season and RV resorts, lodge and cabin developments and many others. The Forum's business friendly format is sure to spark new ideas and connections to help grow Alberta's tourism industry.

Communities will gain valuable exposure among investors who are actively investing in Alberta's tourism industry. All opportunities meeting the submission guidelines will be compiled into an investment opportunities booklet (PDF - 10.4 MB) and sent out to investors prior to the event in order to generate investor interest. In addition, these projects will also be featured on a section of the Department's website dedicated to tourism investment opportunities. There is no cost to participate in the Tourism Investment Forum.


http://tpr.alberta.ca/tourism/events-and-conferences/tourism-investment-forum/pdf/Regional-Investment-Opportunities.pdf

Getting Close to home-Lundbreck Derailment

No injuries after 18 cars leave the tracks near Lundbreck



http://www.pinchercreekecho.com/2014/11/09/breaking-train-derailment-near-lundbreck



I think we all understand the importance of the railway to the economy of Canada in general.
But there are reasons why these things happen, I would expect that CP will do everything in it's power to ensure that this does not happen again.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Council Meeting Nov 4, Crowsnest Pass


Some important issues dealt with at council last night. First reading were done on both of the following bylaws. They will now come back to the next council meeting for second and third reading. At that meeting anybody from the public is more than welcome to provide input, there will be an opportunity at the start of the meeting for the public to participate.

Bylaw 897, 2014 – Animal Control Bylaw-the previous version of this bylaw in my opinion was very unpopular, it was very onerous, and unenforceable.  
 
Bylaw 900, 2014 - Council Procedural Bylaw-The previous bylaw I felt put too much decision making authority in the hands of the Mayor/CAO, this bylaw now returns the authority to council. Where in true democratic form decisions will be made by the majority of elected officials.

Fire department-Last week council met with the Fire chief, deputy fire chief and all of the captains and lieutenants from the Crowsnest Fire/Rescue Department at the Blairmore Fire Hall. It was a very blunt and open discussion with all sides agreeing that it was good that we had the meeting to open real lines of communications. The Fire dept members made it clear that training, structure, and working together were important issues. Council made it clear that our goal is to improve the fire service we provide to our residents where every possible. To increase the volunteer and expertise base where possible. The way the previous changes were handled was terrible but we has a community have to move forward. This leads to the following issue:  

Alberta Community Partnership Grant Application

Previously the Alberta government provided a regional collaboration grant which was used to fund the restructuring of the Fire Department back in 2012.
The government changed the regional collaboration grant to the Alberta Partnership Grant, due to our special status afforded us by the "Crowsnest Regulation" the municipality can apply as a regional entity we decided last night to proceed with a grant application. This grant will allow us the opportunity to further train our volunteers, and enhance the services we provide, without taking additional dollars from our tax levy.

Budget process, we have had a number of budget meeting with the next one scheduled for this Thursday 2pm in the council chambers, all meetings are open to the public. If you want to follow the process so far go to the following address pages 39 to 42.   http://www.crowsnestpass.com/public/download/documents/8825   

Survey on the logo/brand I have had a number of calls asking me how much it is costing us to do the survey? $175 the cost of the paper and the time of an employee to put the surveys in the utility bills and to post the information on our web site/facebook. Equivalent to the cost of one banner.





Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Great Crowsnest Pass Recreation opportunity

Photo: PASS POWDERKEG SKI SWAP


You can also buy season passes on line at the Rec Desk link available on the right hand side plus here: http://cnp.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/Home/tabid/5158/Default.aspx


Crowsnest Pass Logo/brand (Love it or hate it you decide)

Want to provide your input on the municipal logo go to the following address you can comment on the municipal website http://www.crowsnestpass.com/media-center/news-blog/post/municipal-brand-public-input-survey  or there will be a survey in your utility bill that can be filled out and dropped of at the locations listed.