March 2016

It’s been five years since Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) had an increase in funding from the Provincial government.    Now an increase last fall has allowed the Okotoks FCSS to provide more than $225,000 other service providers and organizations in the Okotoks area.

In all, 15 organizations and groups took turns presenting their case in front of the FCSS Advisory Committee.  After deliberation, it was Okotoks town council that took the committee’s recommendations and approved dispersal of the funds.  All organizations contribute to the health and wellness of children, adults and seniors in Okotoks within the social services framework.  As Okotoks continues to grow, the demand for services does too so the increase funding was welcome

It’s the envy of Southern Alberta and it’s located just south of the Town of Okotoks.  It’s the Crescent Point Regional Field House and even though it’s only been open for a year it’s already operating at near capacity.

Operated by Nustadia Recreation in cooperation with the Foothills-Okotoks Recreation Society, this field house with indoor lacrosse floors, soccer pitches, running track and meetings rooms is used by everyone, even groups from Calgary who drive anywhere from 20 to an hour to the facility.

The Society recently reported its year-end activity for its first 12 months of operation to municipal councils in the Town of Okotoks and the Municipal District of Foothills.  The field house was operating at 82% capacity during its peak hours

In the next 20 years, nearby DeWinton might be absorbed into the City of Calgary if an upcoming annexation proposal is approved.  Since DeWinton is to the immediate north east of Okotoks, the sprawling suburbs are inching every closer to the Town of Okotoks.

The City revealed a proposed plan for future growth recently at an open house at DeWinton’s community Hall.  The draft showed the proposed boundary changes, which could extend southward past Highway 552X reaching to 290 Avenue SW which is very close to the overpass to Okotoks at Highway 2 to 64 Street East.

This draft proposal was put together after the City of Calgary garnered feedback from local residents following several public meetings conducted in the Fall 2015.  At that time, four

Residents of the Okotoks neighbourhood of Cimarron have traffic woes just like many other Canadian communities.  Vehicles speeding through otherwise quiet streets; too much vehicular traffic and impatient drivers taking short cuts through the neighbourhood enroute to urgent matters elsewhere in town.

Some streets in Cimarron, such as Cimarron Blvd, are so busy at peak times that some residents can’t get out of their driveways in a timely manner.  At a recent meeting organized by the Town of Cochrane, Cimarron home owners shared their experiences with wild traffic.

Short cuts through the neighbourhood were experienced more by residents of Cimarron Estates. This is because motorists use Cimarron Estates Drive as a shorter way to get from Southridge