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Learn about the Town's recent award from the Canadian Institute of Planners; Get ready for the official opening of the new Water Tower Park; Check out the third and final clues for the Heritage Hunt contest; Find out how to connect with the new Municipal Enforcement team....and more!
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Upcoming
Community Events
Visit our online events calendar to stay
up-to-date on everything that's going on
around town!
Submit your community events to communications@highriver.ca
Featured events:
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The Town of High River is a people-first community on the Highwood River and a great place to live, work and play. We strive to meet our values of being respectful, ethical, transparent and always acting in the best interest of the community.
As a member of our team you will have the opportunity to work on important projects that are helping to shape the future of the town - a vibrant and thriving community that offers an inclusive social environment and many locally-owned and dynamic businesses.
Current Opportunities:
Click here for full details
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Town invites public feedback on cannabis consumption
The Town of High River is asking the public for their feedback and opinions on the consumption of cannabis in public places within High River. The public can provide their input through an online survey available on
highriver.ca/cannabis.
"Feedback from High River residents, business owners, and even those who visit or use High River as their community hub, is important to help us understand how we should manage public consumption of cannabis in High River when it becomes legal on October 17," says Tom Maier, Town Manager. "We want as many people as possible to tell us what they think through our online survey and in-person events."
The information collected through public engagement will be compiled and used to develop a first draft of a new Cannabis Consumption Bylaw. The new bylaw will be presented to Council for their consideration on September 10.
The questions asked in the survey are designed to gather specific input on whether or not smoking cannabis should be allowed in public spaces, and if so, where it should be permitted, what set backs should be put into place, and if there should be an exemption for medical cannabis use.
The Town is conducting engagement on the public consumption of cannabis until September 7.
A list of in-person engagement opportunities will also be posted on the website once dates and venues are finalized.
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The Town's innovative Land Use Bylaw wins national award for Planning Excellence
L-R: Maire McNamee and Melissa Ayers from McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., Khalid Mohammed, manager of planning and development with the Town of High River, and CIP President Eleanor Mohammed.
The Town of High River received a national Award of Merit for planning excellence on July 20 at the Canadian Institute of Planners and Manitoba Professional Planners Institute National Conference in Winnipeg for the Town's creative and innovative 2017 Land Use Bylaw.
The award for Planning Excellence in the category of Rural/Small Town Planning was presented to Khalid Mohammed, manager of planning and development services for High River. The award also recognized the Town's partner for the development of the Land Use Bylaw, McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd.
"We are extremely honoured and excited to receive this award, as it illustrates that High River is developing exemplary resources that contribute to the community and to the planning profession," says Mohammed. "Over the last few years, High River has been recognized more and more as a place for innovation, and now that is being shown on a national stage."
The Town of High River adopted its new Land Use Bylaw in April 2017, replacing the former Bylaw that was adopted in 1980. This groundbreaking bylaw consolidated the Town's previous 41 land use districts into six and serves as the Town's rulebook to guide all future development in High River.
The new bylaw offers more flexibility and collaboration between the Town, developers and High River citizens and this will help the Town build communities that better serve the needs of its people.
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Countdown on for new Water Tower Park opening
Construction on the new park space at the former Water Tower site is underway!
"The new playground should be installed by the end of August," says Tannas Webb, parks supervisor with the Town.
An opening event to celebrate the new space with the community is scheduled for early to mid-September, depending on weather and construction progress. Watch highriver.ca or
follow the Town on Facebook for details!
The Town partnered with the Foothills Kinettes to make it all possible. "We couldn't have done it without the support and fund-raising efforts of the Kinettes," says Webb.
The new space was designed based on the thoughts and ideas High River residents provided during various community engagement sessions. Along with a brand new, accessible play structure, the new park space features a 71-ft. zip-line. Benches, tables and proper lighting will adorn the luscious open green space of the park to allow residents the option of having a family picnic or friendly football game with friends and neighbours.
"We're looking forward to seeing all of our hard work come to life as the playground site is redone and new equipment is installed," says Jenny Jones with the Foothills Kinettes. "This park is about giving something back to our community and we hope it will become a long-lasting legacy for our club and strong partnership with the Town of High River."
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New municipal enforcement complaint line now in effect
There's a new phone number for High River residents to use to reach local municipal enforcement services. It's 403-603-6300.
Please note, that this line is a customer service/complaint line only; emergencies should continue to be directed to 9-1-1.
The new number will direct residents to the MD of Foothills municipal office, which is located in High River. As of June 4, 2018, the MD began providing municipal enforcement services for the Town as part of a new agreement between the two municipalities. The agreement utilizes Community Peace Officers within the MD to provide enforcement services within the town.
Please note that although the former phone number for Town bylaw services will be forwarded, residents with a bylaw complaint or concern are asked to begin using the new phone number to reach the Town's municipal enforcement service.
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Pool will be closed for maintenance and capital upgrades Sept. 1-Oct. 9
The pool at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex will be closed starting Saturday, September 1 so that several capital upgrades can be completed along with the regular seasonal maintenance of the facility.
"This closure will allow us to finish grout and tile work for the pool basin and deck that we started last year as well as complete some lifecycle maintenance to the air handling unit and roof areas," says Lisa Reinders, Director of Community Services for the Town. "These improvements will not only extend the life of the facility but will also increase safety for our patrons and complement the quality of services we're providing."
While there is typically a scheduled month-long closure of the pool each year, Reinders adds that extending the closure for an additional week will provide the time for more upgrades. These will include a new sound/public announcement system, new sinks and toilets for the change rooms and some general plumbing, boiler and lighting upgrades.
The capital work was approved by Town Council as part of the 2017 and 2018 capital budget process that also included upgrades to the large and small arenas, curling rink, common areas and the mechanical systems of the facility.
The Town will make every effort to re-open the pool by Tuesday, October 9. Updates will be posted on the Town's website, highriver.ca.
Users of the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex are also encouraged to stay informed by subscribing to the
Parks and Recreation Newsletter. Users can subscribe to the facility updates and closures list and the bi-weekly happenings list.
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Summer 'Heritage Hunt' contest part three now open
The Town's Heritage Advisory Board has developed a 'Heritage Hunt' contest that will end on Sept. 13.
"The contest has been a fun way for us to educate and raise awareness about the town's heritage properties," says Jim Dokken, Heritage Advisory Board member. "There have been three separate opportunities throughout the summer to enter and win."
Each of the clues describes one of the Town's Heritage properties and residents can participate by submitting their guesses via email to KUnger@highriver.ca or by writing their guess on paper ballots that will be available at the Town Office, the High River Library and the Museum of the Highwood.
The contest is limited to one entry per person per contest and the winner of each contest will be awarded with a $100 gift certificate to a High River business.
Part one and two of the contest are now complete. Part three of the contest begins August 17 and the deadline for guesses will be September 13.
"A reminder that the properties are not homes or schools so there's no need to access the interior of buildings to confirm your guess," adds Dokken.
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The Town is one step closer to offering high speed internet to the High River community
On Monday, July 16, Council announced a new name and visual identity for the broadband initiative coming to High River in 2019. High River Connect will be the name of the Town's new broadband service.
So, what does this mean for the High River community?
"Internet has one purpose and that is connecting people to information and to each other, everywhere," says Jodi Dawson, manager of economic development with the Town.
"For our community, it means businesses can remain in town yet connect with their customers, employees and partners from wherever they are in the world. In turn, customers can more easily connect with these businesses," adds Dawson.
The new broadband service will provide businesses and residents with speeds of 100 times what is currently available.
At first, broadband will only be available to businesses located within the identified business districts and surrounding residential dwellings. It will be provided to these businesses and residents under the Town's utilities as a fee-for-service model.
"Depending on the demand, there may be opportunity to expand broadband to the rest of High River," says Dawson. "But first, we need the community's help to stimulate this model."
The Town is looking for businesses in the downtown business district as well as the south east industrial district that are interested in receiving broadband service.
Final pricing and structure details will be shared on highriver.ca in the fall, and will be based on competitive short-term contracts. The service will be ready and available in 2019.
To express interest in the service or to learn more, please contact the Economic Development office by calling 403-652-2110 or by visiting the town website
highriver.ca/broadband.
About the name, High River Connect
Area resident, Ian Penhalagan, submitted the name and logo as part of the broadband contest the Town launched in May. Penhalgan explains that, "The C in the logo doubles not only as the letter but also part of the internet 'wifi' bars which then turns into a river. The tree from the Town's logo represents the rural aspect of the community."
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Town starting work to complete last section of 12 Ave pathway
The Town of High River is starting work to complete the last section of the pathway along the south side of 12 Avenue S.E. When completed, the pathway will provide residents with a walkable and cycle-friendly alternative for traveling along 12 Avenue.
"This marks an important milestone in our community for moving High River forward as a walkable community," says Alexa Levair, engineering inspector with the Town. "With the completion of this section, residents will be able to walk, bike, in-line skate - whatever alternate mode of transportation they prefer - to the stores, businesses, parks, school and homes located on the south side of 12 Avenue."
In total, about 460 metres of pathway will be added, connecting 10 Street S.E. to 5 Street S.E. In terms of landmarks, the Highwood High School will now be connected via a pathway to the Canadian Tire.
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Town secures permanent water diversion license for Emerson Lake
The Town of High River has secured a permanent diversion license from Alberta Environment to divert water from the Little Bow into Emerson Lake. The license will allow the Town to bring fresh water into the lake on an as-needed basis to continue supporting recreational use and fish habitat.
"It was important to the Town to keep Emerson Lake functional for High River residents, and worked as quickly as possible to get a permanent license in place," says Jason Craigie, treatment facilities supervisor for the Town. "We are happy to say that High River residents can continue to enjoy Emerson Lake this summer, and for many more summers to come."
Last year, Alberta Environment discontinued the Town's temporary diversion license to reroute water from the Little Bow into Emerson Lake. On June 18, the Town began monitoring the water level and quality, including angling or using a gill net to collect fish specimen.
Emerson Lake's maximum depth is 30 feet and provides ample conditions to support fish habitat. It was created by the Town, in partnership with Alberta Environment, in the early 1980s to provide angling opportunities for High River residents and other Albertans.
Every year, Alberta Environment stocks the Lake with rainbow trout. Anglers may choose to keep or release the trout they catch.
The Town would like to remind residents that due to the unpredictable water quality, swimming and wading in the lake is prohibited. Use of the lake is also done at your own risk. The area is not supervised nor monitored at any time of the year.
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New sponsorship opportunity will better serve residents
Since 2012, the Town and High River District Health Care Foundation have been providing residents with free opportunities to keep an active and healthy lifestyle. Most recently, the Foundation sponsored Saturday afternoon open swim times.
Together, the Town and Foundation have decided to look for new opportunities to support and keep High Riverites active and healthy. All sponsored swim times will be coming to an end on August 31.
"The Town's recreation division offers many programs for all ages, young to young at heart, that keep our community involved, active and healthy," says Lisa Reinders, director of community services with the Town. "We're working closely with the Foundation to identify new opportunities that align with their values but also continue meeting the changing needs of the community."
The Town of High River would like to thank the High River District Health Care Foundation for their generosity in sponsoring open swims for the past six years and look forward to exploring new sponsorship opportunities with them in 2019.
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High River Town Crier | 403.652.2110 |
communications@highriver.ca |
www.highriver.ca
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