SUNDRE – The Sundre Rodeo Grounds are going to be rockin’ later this summer with the return of the Adam’s Army Charitable Foundation Music Festival.
The municipal council approved a request during a recent meeting to relax the noise section of the town’s community standards bylaw.
Presenting some background information on the item, Chris Albert, director of corporate services and acting CAO for the meeting, said that while 2024 marks the event’s 11th anniversary, it’s only the second year the music festival has been held in Sundre.
The organizers have plans to host live music on Friday, Aug. 16 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and then on Saturday, Aug. 17 from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m.
As per the municipality’s community standards bylaw, the chief administrative officer in many instances has the authority to grant permission but must refer to council any applications involving requests to temporarily suspend noise provisions for a festival or event that extends beyond midnight on any day of the week.
Administration recommended approving the request to relax the section of the bylaw pertaining to noise for a period not to exceed the outlined scheduled of events, but the decision ultimately was left up to council’s discretion.
“After last year’s event, did administration receive any formal complaints about noise?” asked Coun. Owen Petersen, which Albert confirmed.
“There was a delegation that came in of a resident … that was not in favour,” said Albert, adding the resident had expressed opposition to any excessive noise pretty well any time past 10 p.m.
Recalling that resident’s presentation to council, Coun. Connie Anderson added they were also against pretty well any events that created excessive noise well past midnight, including the Sundre Pro Rodeo’s cowboy cabaret.
Petersen, who moved the approve the request, said the festival is a big event and added the municipality has “worked hard to bring big cultural events to town.”
“This is a great music event and I know that it can be a little bit much for those residents that are close by but as a town as a whole, these (events) are really important for us.”
Coun. Chris Vardas spoke in favour of his colleague’s motion.
“Any opportunity our community has to promote what we have here and to create an economic drive for all of our businesses, I think is a bonus,” said Vardas.
The mayor agreed that events like music festivals play an important role in putting a spotlight on the community to showcase what the town has to offer.
“We have to represent Sundre as a whole, and that doesn’t mean that we don’t hear what our residents have to say – we know that they can be affected,” said Richard Warnock.
“But we have to promote Sundre. It’s in the benefit of our entire community.”
The motion carried unanimously.
