Canmore

"We have been working with municipalities and hopefully soon we will have something available to provide some additional direction to those kinds of outdoor amenities like skating rinks, outdoor rinks that have a defined area, so that is underway," said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw on Friday (Dec. 11).

Canmore council has approved a direct control district for a handful of properties along Van Horne that back onto the Bow River

"We do want, as much as we can, to ensure that the business sector, particularly the downtown, is able to serve customers in a safe way," said Canmore Mayor John Borrowman during a special council meeting on Thursday (Dec. 10). "I would like to see this back to council fairly quickly."

"Supporting first reading at this time for me is entirely motivated by wanting to, as other councillors have said, do one last check-in with the community to make sure that we understand what are the preferences, particularly of the Teepee Town community," said Mayor John Borrowman.

Elected officials gave the green light to saying goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021 with a fireworks display from a "high level" location that will be visible from people's homes throughout the community

“It is important that we remember spread of the virus can and will occur any time if we don’t continue to limit our close contacts with each other … 96 per cent of our total case count has occurred since the last week of October.”

Municipal property taxes in Canmore this year were held at 2019 rates, but council has directed administration to prepare a 2021 budget based on the originally approved 2020 budget with a three per cent cap on increasing tax rates. However, the 2020 budget had a 4.8 per cent increase above 2019 rates, which means the 2021 budget being prepared includes the potential for a 7.8 per cent increase to municipal taxes.

There may still be a handful of gift tags on the giving tree at Rusticana Grocery for the community to choose from as part of the Bow Valley Elves gift-giving program – with the wrapped presents for local seniors due back on Thursday (Dec. 10)

"From my perspective, it does not make sense to miss an opportunity for a sizeable rebate if the vehicles are getting closer to their replacement date and it is moving us toward our climate action goals," said Mayor John Borrowman.

A group of experienced guides and a clinical psychologist in the Bow Valley are working together to create a peer support model – the Mountain Muskox mentorship program – to help those who experience trauma in the mountains