DIDSBURY – Town council has voted to authorize two letters of support for grant applications being made by the Wild Rose Humane Society. The move came during the June 26 council meeting.
“The society recently applied for a CIP (community initiatives program) grant for a full-time manager and a CFEP (community facility enhancement program) grant for some capital asset items, such as a cement pad for an outdoor dog run and a shed,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
The society runs the animal shelter in Didsbury.
Although the request for the letters came before council on June 12, the matter was deferred until June 26 for decision. The motion passed unanimously.
“A letter of support will greatly help us with our grant applications and help us serve others in the community as we open our shelter in late June and continue to provide adoption, foster and animal safety education services in the community,” society volunteer president Dean Orlando said in a letter to council.
During the June 26 council meeting, Mayor Rhonda Hunter said council supports and encourages the efforts of the society.
In other council news, the Didsbury and District Chamber of Commerce currently has a healthy surplus, which could be used for a number of initiatives and projects, says Mayor Hunter.
In her report to council presented at the June 25 council meeting, Hunter reported on her attendance at the recent chamber meeting.
“The chamber has a healthy surplus at this point and will be allocating the surplus in the future as approved by the board,” said Hunter. “This surplus could be allocated to staffing, increasing hours of the office being open, equipment required to operate the chamber successfully, Chamber Bucks program, mentorship initiatives, speakers who deliver information that is relevant to topics that Didsbury members would be interested in.”
Hunter and Coun. Erhard Poggemiller attended the June 20 chamber meeting along with chamber members at the Didsbury Museum.
The chamber membership report was provided by Laurie Klassen, said Hunter.
“She was exploring ways to recruit new members as well as businesses that have dropped their memberships over the years,” she said. “She is seeking input and feedback on business needs and interests as well as the value of the chamber to businesses.
“The chamber is looking for programs that will help new and existing businesses, and is finding ways to encourage home businesses to join the chamber.”
Work is also underway to bring workers to town, Hunter said.
“The chamber has been provided with information from a representative of the Ministry of Labour about tools and resources to attract people into our community to work here,” she said.
Hunter also gave council a report on her activities at the recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Nova Scotia.
One of the workshops she attended dealt with the legalization of recreational cannabis.
“The legalization of non-medical cannabis has significant implications for communities across the country,” she said. “Cannabis will be sold and consumed in our municipalities, which will require municipalities to be prepared.
“This workshop panel discussed some of the common challenges communities are facing and the policies and regulatory tools they have implemented.”
Meanwhile, Coun. John Baswick gave a report on the recent Mountain View County tour, which included visits to businesses across the municipality.
“These two days (June 5-6) were enlightening to say the least,” said Baswick. “It is most important that we all get to know and experience the diversified cottage industries that employ many of our county and town residents. I am sure there are many more small, but important businesses that enhance the fabric of our neighbouring communities.
“Collectively they offer diversity and enrich our part of Alberta. It’s the smaller entrepreneurs and businesses that provide many necessary services that are sometimes taken for granted in the shadow of the larger major corporations and we are remiss if we don’t give them the support and recognition they deserve.”
Council passed a motion accepting both reports as information.
