Moment of reflection
Before getting started with the agenda, Mayor Terry Leslie first requested a moment of reflection, thoughts and prayers in honour of the lives lost during the Toronto van attack.
National Day of Mourning
Following a brief conversation, council unanimously carried a motion to proclaim April 28 a National Day of Mourning in recognition of workers who have died, been injured or disabled in the workplace and to fly flags at half-mast for a 24-hour period.
“In 2017, we lost 166 men and women to workplace injury or illness in Alberta,” wrote Dayna Therien, director of corporate communications for the Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta in correspondence that council had received for information during the April 16 meeting.
The day of remembrance is a tribute to workers who have been killed or injured on the job as well as a reminder that Albertans must work together to make workplaces safer, wrote Therien.
Municipal Area Partnership update
Mayor Terry Leslie inquired whether any members of council had questions, comments or concerns about the Municipal Area Partnership’s updated terms of reference. Barring any opposition, additions or recommended changes, he sought a motion to accept the terms so the municipality could express its support to the partnership.
Coun. Cheri Funke said her feelings about the Municipal Area Partnership remain unchanged.
“I would like to see something come out of it. I’m still waiting. I haven’t seen a point. It’s just another committee,” said Funke, acknowledging that getting together with regional municipalities is great.
“But nothing really comes out of the committee that couldn’t be put in a report and sent to the other municipalities.”
The mayor said the partnership has evolved over the span of four years since he has been involved.
“I see it moving forward,” said Leslie, adding he has also seen changes in the surrounding area.
“We have to look more regionally at what’s taking place.”
The partnership provides a forum that offers an opportunity to do precisely that, he said.
“The more we start understanding regionally about what’s going on in some of our neighbouring municipalities, the better opportunity we have for economic development” as well as for collaboration on possible shared funding that could potentially benefit the community, he said.
“I support the continuation of looking to improve that organization and giving them our council’s support.”
Coun. Rob Wolfe moved to direct administration to write a letter to the partnership indicating Sundre council’s support of the group’s updated terms of reference. That motion carried.
