June 2016

There’s only so much land on which to build in the Town of Okotoks.  With unprecedented growth and future projections looking somewhat overwhelming, the Town and Foothills County have finally pieced together an understanding regarding annexation. 

The understanding in principle between the two municipalities means that as much as 2,000 acres of prime building land is within reach, as approved by Town Council.  The annexation concept and proposal was presented and passed at Council’s final meeting in June.

Land will be expropriated to Okotoks communities on the south west and north east side of town. In the final proposal, land south east of town, south of the Sheep River, was removed from the proposal.

Council and the annexation committee has

Whether it’s tyke or junior hockey, the search for more ice time can be an exhaustive one.  Which is why the news of expansion at the local arena is always exciting.

Town council recently gave the nod for a $15 million expansion for Okotoks’ Pason Centennial Arena on Community Way, with construction planned to begin as early as this fall.   Funding for the construction project is coming from a $12 million grant for municipal initiatives and the balance will come from the Town of Okotoks savings accounts.  $2.2 million is in reserve for recreational facilities with the balance in a reserve fund for public facilities of any kind.

While Town Council has planned for this, the price tag for expansion is now $1 million above the quote from last year which

Okotoks is already one of Southern Alberta’s most attractive communities in which to live but the town isn’t stopping there.

Town council recently upped the ante by approving a fresh new brand and a snappy new slogan to promote the municipality south of Calgary as a place where innovation is part of the town’s philosophy.  The approved jargon for the new slogan is “Join the Innovation”.  A development committee prepared the report to council over the winter in partnership with Roger Brooks International.  Roger Brooks is known as the “Dr. Phil” of tourism.

The decision came with careful consideration and a long debate in council chambers, as the project scope is likely going to cost $500,000 which is not in the current fiscal year’s budget according