BOWDEN — Mayor Robb Stuart and Coun. Paul Webb will be representing the Town of Bowden during the annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference and trade show in Quebec City this spring.
This year's edition runs from Thursday, May 30 through Sunday, June 2.
More than 2,000 delegates are expected to attend from across the country.
During its Jan. 28 meeting, council passed a motion allowing two representatives to attend the conference after determining the town's budget could support that.
Stuart estimated rooms will cost at least $200 a day per delegate and he said airfare could range from $600 to $1,000 each, depending on the deal available on any given day. Early bird registration (to April 12) is $869 per municipal member.
"And then the study tours. You get two study tours free," Stuart said during discussion on the matter.
He said delegates will be busy.
"It's pretty well from 8 to 5 every day, with a few evening functions that your companions are welcome to go to if you buy a ticket for them," he said.
Initially, Stuart said he planned to go and opened up the possibility of another councillor going as well. Councillors agreed that if more than one person goes, then they can split up attendance at various seminars and get more value for taxpayers.
"I would put in the argument that it is nice to have a committee that goes to these kind of events so that you can split up. You can take in a lot more and represent the town as well," Coun. Carol Pion said.
Councillors also agreed that several of them -- if not all -- should attend annual the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association convention and trade show for the same reason. The next one takes place Sept. 25-27 this year in Edmonton.
"I think that's the main thing, is we need to get our name out there, get our faces out there and promote Bowden, right?"
Stuart agreed.
