INNISFAIL – New businesses to the community are now being officially honoured by the Town of Innisfail.
That’s because the Town of Innisfail has recently overhauled its Citizen Milestones & Achievements Recognition Policy.
In fact, it has been split into two separate policies, with the old one repealed.
There is now the Citizen Recognition Policy (CRP) and Business Recognition Policy (BRP).
Both were passed by town council at its regular meeting on Jan. 23.
“The items that were in the older policy are still in the new two policies but then we just expanded on them and then we decided they needed to be separated,” said Erica Vickers, the town’s director of corporate services. “Through this new council’s term, they have been proactive on visiting businesses and trying to put a spotlight on businesses and especially new businesses that come into town.
“They (council) decided they wanted us to draft a policy regarding business recognition and what that would look like,” added Vickers. “Because there was a piece tied into this policy, we did decide to separate it just to make them clear.”
The old Citizen Milestones & Achievements Recognition Policy was created and adopted in 2016. The policy recognized both citizen and group achievements, as well as milestones for private businesses and registered non-profits.
However, the new combined policy has expanded the guidelines.
The old policy marked the 25th anniversary of a private business or registered non-profit, and every five years thereafter.
The new BRP will begin recognition with a congratulatory scroll for opening their business, and mark their success beginning at 10 years and then in increments of five years there after.
A business/organization milestone anniversary gift may now be presented for a 25th year anniversary, and then again at 40 and then in 10-year increments.
The old policy recognized individual or team champions who participated at provincial, national or international competitions. The new CRP policy will honour individual or team medal recipients at these competitions.
Vickers said the new CRP is also is recognizing individuals who have volunteered on town boards and committees.
“Someone who volunteers their time to be on a committee and when they're completed, we are able to recognize them with a scroll; a certificate of recognition is what it’s called,” said Vickers. “So, then at the discretion of the town we can recognize an individual's exceptional arts achievement, as well as their exceptional academic achievement, or an individual's exceptional service, or achievements that positively contribute to the community.”
There are some items from the old policy for citizen recognition that will remain the same.
The town will still recognize 85th birthdays and ones every five years thereafter, as well as 100th birthdays, 50th wedding anniversaries and every 10 years thereafter.
Both new policies say any citizen can make an application to the town to have someone recognized but he or she must do it in a minimum of two weeks in advance to enable planning and any coordination that's needed.
