Airdrie Minute: Population Growth, Outdoor Rinks, and Iron Horse Park

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

This Week In Airdrie:

• There will be a Council Meeting on Tuesday at 10:30 am. The meeting begins with a closed session wherein Council will discuss a land purchase, a land update, and a budget amendment. At 1:00 pm, there will be a Public Hearing to address updates to the land use bylaw that governs supportive housing. After the Public Hearing concludes, Council will address a request from Habitat for Humanity for additional funding of $275,000 in support of their Bayview project.
  
  
• Nominations are now open to run for Councillor or Mayor in the 2025 municipal election, scheduled for October 20th. Candidates must be eligible voters and have lived in the local jurisdiction for at least six months before Nomination Day, with nominations closing on September 22nd at noon. Applicants must submit specific forms, provide a $100 deposit, and meet eligibility criteria outlined by the City. Restrictions include being free from tax defaults, legal convictions, and conflicts of interest such as employment with the City of Airdrie. Campaign expenses or donations require a prior notice of intent submission. More details are available online.
  
  
• Airdrie's outdoor rinks are bustling this winter as residents take advantage of the facilities for skating and recreation. The City's Parks Department shared that rink maintenance has been steady, with water added during cold spells to keep ice conditions optimal. The new skating loop at the northeast regional park has been particularly well-received, offering nearly a kilometre of skating space for families to enjoy. Despite temperature fluctuations, the Parks Department says rinks remain in good condition for all to enjoy.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• Rocky View Schools (RVS) is introducing a new real-time bus tracking app called WheresTheBus, designed to keep families informed about bus locations and arrival times. The app uses GPS and tablets on buses to provide real-time updates, replacing the current Bus Status app, which will be discontinued on March 6th. Families can download the new app and create an account using their PowerSchool number before the transition date. The app is free, offers peace of mind for parents, and allows them to track buses easily. More details and support are available on the RVS website.
  
  
• Airdrie's Iron Horse Park was among the recipients of Alberta's $11.7 million grant funding for non-profits aimed at enhancing community spaces and services. The park will receive $11,951 through the Alberta Culture Grant for facility upgrades, awarded to the Alberta Model Engineering Society. This funding is part of a broader initiative supporting 226 non-profits across the province, focusing on projects like parks, arts programming, and cultural festivals. Nearly half of the grants issued this fiscal year have gone to rural communities, including Airdrie.
  
  
• The Calgary Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), of which Airdrie is a part, recently recorded the fastest population growth in Canada since 2001, according to Statistics Canada. From July 2023 to July 2024, the Calgary CMA grew by 5.8%, largely driven by interprovincial migration, with Alberta gaining over 43,000 new residents from other provinces. Airdrie's proximity to Calgary, combined with its affordability and access to urban amenities, has made it a popular choice for newcomers. The city is among Alberta’s fastest-growing communities, with its population projected to exceed 118,000 by 2032.