Airdrie Minute: Issue 106

Airdrie Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Airdrie politics

📅 This Week In Airdrie: 📅

• We’re hosting a Pints & Politics event with our friends at the Alberta Institute, and special guest Angela Pitt, the MLA for Airdrie-East. We’re planning to hold regular events throughout the rest of this year, and this first one will take place on Wednesday, April 8th. Attendance is free, but please RSVP due to limited capacity.
  
  
• On Tuesday, at 1:00 pm, there will be a City Council meeting. On the agenda is a new City Manager Performance Evaluation Policy to establish a formal framework for annual performance reviews, as required under the Municipal Government Act. Currently, no formal policy exists, which can lead to inconsistent evaluations, unclear expectations, and potential HR or legal risks. Council is being asked to also approve terms of reference and funding for a third-party consultant to administer the evaluation during the first year of a Council’s term. Once implemented, the policy will be publicly posted on the City’s website to ensure transparency.
  
  
• The Policing Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:00 am. On the agenda is the Community Priority Planning (CPP) overview for 2026/2027, along with a year-end review for 2025/2026. In 2025, crime statistics showed a steady rise in total incidents, with property crime, road safety issues, drugs, domestic violence, youth concerns, and mental health calls among the top public concerns identified through surveys and a Policing Town Hall. Based on feedback and data analysis, the RCMP and Policing Committee recommend three main priorities for 2026/2027: Crime Reduction, Community Engagement, and Road Safety. Strategies include intelligence-led policing, targeted patrols, the Crime Reduction Unit, and specialized units like the Police and Crisis Team (PACT) and Special Investigative Unit for domestic and sexual assaults. Community engagement initiatives involve youth liaison officers, school programs, community policing partnerships, bike patrols, and participation in local events. Road safety efforts focus on school zone enforcement, check stops, speeding and distracted driving enforcement, and extra patrols during community events. 
  
  
• An ammonia leak in the Genesis Place arena refrigeration system has forced the closure of both ice rinks until mid-August. The City of Airdrie determined that the system’s condenser must be replaced, with the timeline accounting for shipping, installation, and ice preparation. The leak was identified on March 16th in a controlled area, and safety protocols were followed immediately, but both ice surfaces were taken offline, leaving organizations like the Airdrie Minor Hockey Association scrambling for ice during playoff season. To help mitigate the impact, dry pad programs are being moved to Genesis Place and Plainsmen Arena is being prepped for ice sports. The City’s Rentals Department is coordinating with affected groups to explore alternate ice options and thanked the community for their patience.
  
  
• The City of Airdrie has launched its 2026 municipal census to collect vital information about population and demographics, helping Council and Administration plan services and allocate resources. Residents will receive a Secure Access Code (SAC) to complete the census online, and those who respond before April 17th will be entered to win $1,000 in gift cards. The census asks questions about age, gender, household size, and whether homes are owned, rented, or contain a separate suite. Mayor Heather Spearman emphasized that participation strengthens planning for transportation, recreation, emergency services, and access to provincial funding. Responses are confidential and used only for statistical purposes, with door-to-door collection beginning April 17th for households that do not respond online.
   

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Join us for Pints & Politics with special guest Angela Pitt, MLA for Airdrie-East. 

Where: Atlas Brewing (#100, 2000 Market Street SE)

When: Wednesday, April 8th, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Cost: Free (Snacks provided, meals and drinks available for purchase)

RSVP: Required due to limited capacity

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!