INNISFAIL – The Town of Innisfail is ready to take a hard look at its current Flag Policy that could lead to amendments to allow user groups to fly flags at their events.
“In light of the recent situation we’re going to conduct an administrative review of the Flag Policy and see if there's any advice we can advance to council for consideration,” said Todd Becker, the chief administrative officer for the Town of Innisfail. “It's not directed by council to evaluate or review, but we'll take that review and see if there's some opportunity to make adjustments to the current policy.”
He said it’s hoped the review will be ready for council consideration by early fall.
Becker gave his comments to the Albertan following an emotional presentation by Myrna Kissick, co-president of the Innisfail and District Horseshoe Club, at town council’s Agenda & Priorities meeting on July 17.
Since last month, Kissick has been embroiled in a clash with the town over raising the Alberta flag alone during the club’s recent annual Innisfail Open tournament.
Last week, Kissick was asked for a reaction to Becker’s comments. She said it was “about time” the town showed a willingness to take a hard look at the issue.
“It's about time they treated us like we're supposed to be treated,” Kissick told the Albertan. “It’s good they will do that.
“Maybe with us getting up there (council) and explaining to them the error of their ways they are finally listening.”
As for the town’s Flag Policy, it was passed by town council on Jan. 24, 2022.
It states the chief administrative officer (Becker) or his designate is responsible for managing and administering the policy.
Becker is responsible for maintaining any detailed guidelines to support the policy, including flag requests and ensuring the guidelines are available to the public.
The policy also states it’s the responsibility of the requesting organization to submit a request to the town for a flag to be flown, as well as supply the flag to represent the organization or event.
In the case of this month’s Innisfail Open, no official request to the town was made by tournament organizers to fly the Alberta flag.
The Alberta flag was ultimately flown by the club at the tournament but without the town’s consent.
The outspoken 86-year-old Kissick told council on July 17 the club was “very unhappy” with the town for saying it could not fly the Alberta flag and wanted the club’s flag pole taken down, which the club has now done.
“The people that pay taxes in this town own this town,” Kissick told council. “They own all sports facilities. They own this building that pay (town) wages. So yes, those courts do belong to us because we are also taxpayers.
“We are quite disappointed in you people for how we're treated,” added Kissick, who was joined at council by a small group of supporters. “We're treated like second-class citizens.”
The town’s horseshoe facility was relocated in 2019 and built 400 metres south of its longstanding 42nd Street and 51st Avenue location at a cost of about $94,000, which the town covered.
Kissick said she was also unhappy that Coun. Jason Heistad was not at council on July 17.
Last month Heistad raised objections to the planned raising of the Alberta flag at the Innisfail Open by stating at council, “This is Canada, not the State of Alberta. We should have both flags.”
Kissick said she “wished” Heistad was present to explain the reasoning behind his public comment.
“I wish the heck he was (there) but he's not,” said Kissick. “This is a province, beautiful province of Alberta. It's not a state and never will be.”
Heistad told the Albertan on July 19 his absence on July 17 was due to a six-month long commitment to have scheduled time off.
Following Kissick’s presentation, mayor Jean Barclay and Coun. Don Harrison responded the policy was never intended as a “slight” against the club and advanced an opportunity of coming forward next year to administration to have a flag flown at the annual tournament.
“Would there be a problem flying the Canadian flag over the Alberta flag? I think we can work through this,” said Harrison. “Maybe there’s an opportunity for next year.”
