Airdrie Minute: Issue 65

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

📅 This Week In Airdrie: 📅

• On Tuesday, at 9:00 am, the Community and Corporate Services Standing Committee will meet. On the agenda is a review of the Community Facility Needs Assessment Report. The report discusses two aging facilities - the Town and Country Centre and Nose Creek Valley Museum - and identifies three options for each facility: minor renovation, major renovation, or replacement with a new facility. For the Town and Country Centre, the report recommends a major renovation, estimated at $8.68 million, to expand event capacity and modernize the space, extending its useful life by 10 to 15 years. For the Museum, further technical studies and community engagement are recommended before deciding on renovation or a new facility. The Committee is asked to recommend that Council approve the major renovation for the Town and Country Centre and direct Administration to conduct a detailed condition assessment and Museum and Interpretive Centre Study in 2026. Council’s decision will guide updates to the City’s 10-year capital plan and future consultation with facility users. Meanwhile, preventive maintenance will continue to manage aging infrastructure until major work begins.
  
  
• Council unanimously approved updates to the Infrastructure Off-Site Levy Bylaw, with new levy rates now in effect. The updated rates include $448,500 per hectare for residential development and between $108,000 and $310,000 per hectare for non-residential areas, depending on location. These levies are charged to developers to fund essential infrastructure - transportation, water, wastewater, and stormwater. This marks the completion of Phase Two in the City’s levy framework update, which involved extensive consultation with industry stakeholders and public engagement. Concerns raised included impacts on housing affordability, development viability, and competitiveness with Calgary.
  
  
• Council has approved an expanded gymnasium project in partnership with Conseil scolaire FrancoSud, located within a planned high school in the Reunion area. The project will provide much-needed indoor recreational space for the northwest quadrant of Airdrie. The City will contribute up to $5.5 million toward the gymnasium’s design and construction, while FrancoSud will own the facility and cover any cost overruns. A 30-year joint use agreement grants the City 50% of prime-time usage, allowing public access for sports, fitness classes, and rentals. The new high school, funded by the Government of Alberta at $26.8 million, is scheduled to open in fall 2027 and will serve approximately 435 students in Grades 7 through 12.
  
  
• Mayor Peter Brown addressed recent allegations in a livestream after an Investigative Journalism Foundation article accused him of extensive behind-the-scenes involvement in developing the OneHealth Associate Medical Centre. Brown defended his long-standing advocacy for healthcare and other community needs, explaining his involvement with the Airdrie Health Foundation and the Airdrie Health Benefits Cooperative. He criticized the article for selectively using 257 pages of his emails to create a misleading narrative and emphasized that the OneHealth facility is not private healthcare as claimed. Brown noted the urgent need for improved healthcare infrastructure in Airdrie. He stated the City had limited involvement in the project and expressed frustration over the article’s portrayal of his and his staff’s efforts. Brown concluded by reaffirming his commitment to advocating for the community despite criticism.
  
  
• The City of Airdrie has launched the Building Belonging Microgrant initiative to support individuals and community groups with projects that foster inclusion and connection. This pilot program aims to fund initiatives that bring people together, reduce barriers to participation, and promote awareness around Truth and Reconciliation, anti-racism, and allyship through learning and dialogue. Mayor Peter Brown highlighted the initiative as a chance to celebrate diversity and strengthen community bonds. Applications are open now and will be accepted on a rolling basis until November 15th, 2025, or until funds run out. All projects must be completed by December 31st, 2025, with a final report submitted within 60 days after completion. Interested applicants can apply online at the City’s website.
   

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Have you ever struggled with red tape in Airdrie?

Maybe it was a frustrating battle to set up a business, a long wait to get a permit, or a confusing experience trying to pay a parking ticket. 

Your stories help shed light on where the system is failing and where it needs to improve.

Send us your experiences - the good, the bad, and the downright frustrating - by replying to this email.

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