Sundre’s businesses are struggling to survive through the winter and can no longer depend on a few peak season spring and summer months to get by, council heard last week.
Chris Vardas, a local business owner as well as a Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce board director, was accompanied by Jean Jones, the chamber’s secretary-treasurer, during a presentation at the May 27 meeting.
“Years ago, as I sat on council, we always said we wanted the town of Sundre to be pedestrian friendly,” said Vardas.
While the roundabouts have created a space buffer between vehicles and pedestrians to enhance safety and comfort, he said, “We’re kind of at a standstill with parking.”
Referring to a proposed parking development that was already on council’s agenda for discussion later that meeting, he said that initiative is a good start, “But this town needs a lot more parking than that.”
Additionally, with the economy yet to recover anywhere near pre-oil crash levels, he said the number of tourists has tapered off and that local businesses cannot survive on just a few months of peak activity every year.
“The taxpayer can’t take it anymore, so we got to figure out a way to balance it out where we can also help other organizations,” he said.
Acknowledging that administration has done a great job and also made obtaining permits much easier, he said more must be done to encourage growth.
Because even with new developments such as the Candre Cannabis facility that is expected to generate significant job growth, local businesses and the community are not likely to benefit if workers end up living out of town. Employees might eat lunch at local businesses, but if they have nowhere to live, they’ll end up commuting from somewhere else, he said.
Recognizing that a couple of residential developments are anticipated, Vardas said it would be too late by the time those projects are completed.
“We’re not doing anything to attract younger families to our community,” he said, adding the town remains without broadband service.
From a business perspective, a stagnant population means winters are becoming harder to survive, he said.
“We’re starting to see our town turn into a ghost town.”
Furthermore, the municipality has not taken sufficient action to further expand water and sewer services to the east side of the Red Deer River to make that part of Sundre more appealing to developers, he said, expressing the opinion that such an endeavour is the town’s responsibility.
As a chamber director, Vardas also extended an invitation to collaborate more with the municipality towards coming up with affordable, achievable plans.
“Taxes are going up, but our business are not,” he said.
“We got to do something.”
Mayor Terry Leslie expressed gratitude for Vardas’s suggestions, and agreed that a meeting with council, administration and the chamber of commerce is an excellent idea.
“We would love to see that happen right away,” said Leslie.
Vardas said the chamber had a meeting scheduled for the evening of Thursday, June 13 at the Visitor Information Centre.
“Those of us that can will certainly be there,” the mayor said.
“We will figure out something to do to begin the conversation.”
Coun. Todd Dalke also recommended arranging a meeting between the chamber and Sundre’s Downtown Revitalization Committee, which Vardas seemed receptive to.
Council carried Dalke’s motion to receive Vardas’s presentation for information.
