At this time of year we reflect on what was and, more importantly, on what will be.
The wheels were put in motion in 2018 with the adoption of a Strategic Plan which provided us with a solid direction and focus on creating an even more livable and active community, as well as an attractive place to do business.
Over the last year, we have been busy working towards this by meeting and talking with local business and community groups to discuss their needs, and garnered insight into some of the opportunities and challenges – a business visitation program never seen before, and I am pleased to say it has been well received. I look forward to us continuing this initiative into 2019 and being a partner with the community as a whole.
We moved forward with our community beautification and accessibility efforts through the creation of a Trail & Pedestrian Master Plan, took extra care of our green spaces and parks, and we also installed new and attractive Wayfinding Signage to help visitors and residents better navigate our community.
As we move into 2019, the strategic plan will continue to guide us into an ambitious yet exciting year. It will be a year of new and anticipated projects, kicking off with the affordable seniors' housing project of Autumn Glen Lodge, the skatepark, which will include a family area, and the reconstruction of critical infrastructure on 45 Avenue, just to name a few.
However, we also recognize the importance of caring for our existing facilities and services. We will continue to upgrade and maintain our buildings and equipment in an effort to reduce delays and downtime.
This year is also a time of continued discovery as we look towards the future growth of our vibrant community. We will implement a multifaceted needs assessment and evaluation of the town that will focus on everything from recreation and culture to business and housing. This will provide us with invaluable information to support our efforts in further enhancing our community. Yogi Berra said it best: “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.”
As a member of the Innisfail community for over 40 years, I see a bright future ahead! I want to express how honoured I am to be of service to you and wish you and your families all the best in 2019.
Jim Romane is the mayor of Innisfail.
