Airdrie Minute: School Safety, Airdrie Day, and Municipal Election Preparations

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

This Week In Airdrie:

• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. The new year of meetings will begin at City Hall on January 14th.
  
  
• The nomination period for Airdrie's 2025 municipal election is now open, allowing eligible candidates to declare their intent to run for Mayor or Councillor positions. For more information, or to fill out the Notice of Intent paperwork, prospective candidates can visit the City’s website.
  
  
• The City is preparing for changes to the municipal election process. Changes include later opening times for voting stations, beginning at 9:00 am. A significant change under the new Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act requires all ballots to be hand-counted. The City also plans to expand voting stations to increase voter turnout and is budgeting $500,000 for the election, up from $168,000 in 2021. Additionally, the City will not require criminal record checks from prospective candidates.

Last Week In Airdrie:

• Speaking of municipal elections, Council has introduced a new 2025-2029 Council Information Package (CIP) to better prepare future candidates for the demands of the role. A review revealed gaps in the 2021 CIP, including underestimated time commitments and a lack of clarity on optional activities, such as preparation for meetings and events. Councillors dedicate an average of 138 hours per month to the role, with first-time Councillors often facing a steep learning curve. The updated CIP addresses these issues and includes data from a compensation review that compares Airdrie's salaries to those of similar municipalities. The Mayor's salary is slightly below national benchmarks, while the Councillor salary is higher than some but still lower than national and provincial peers.
  
  
• The Airdrie RCMP was kept busy in 2024, responding to approximately 1,600 calls related to school safety across nearly 30 local schools. One notable incident in September involved a firearms complaint at George McDougall High School, where a 17-year-old student brought a foam dart replica gun and a box cutter. No charges were filed, and the case was closed. RCMP officers regularly patrol the schools, offering a visible presence during key times like school start and end hours.
  
  
• Airdrie Day on January 1st successfully raised around $10,000 for nine local organizations. The event, centered around a Calgary Wranglers hockey game, saw the Wranglers beat the Abbotsford Canucks 4-2 in a thrilling third-period comeback. Local organizations like Airdrie Minor Hockey and Volunteer Airdrie raised funds through ticket sales, with $5 from each ticket sold going to a chosen non-profit. Despite challenges with rising costs and lower ticket sales since the pandemic, the event still provided valuable support and raised awareness for Airdrie’s local groups. This annual event has built strong community connections over the years, allowing groups from various sectors to participate in fundraising.