I love the month of March for its longer days, for the scent of spring in the air despite the snow, and, of course, for my favourite women’s holiday, which we celebrated on March 8th. Celebrating International Women’s Day at the beginning of spring is very symbolic. At this time, nature awakens, is reborn, and comes to life. So does feminine nature, which creates, decorates, and protects our world, making it brighter and undeniably better.

When a large group of municipal employees show up at a council meeting together, the public should pay attention.

In more than 26 years of covering council for the Pass Herald, I have never seen anything like what unfolded at the most recent Crowsnest Pass council meeting.

Crowsnest Pass council gave first reading to a rewritten procedure bylaw March 10, but only after a prolonged debate over how the document had been drafted and whether it went beyond what council originally asked administration to do.

Crowsnest Pass council has approved second and third reading of a borrowing bylaw authorizing up to $2.5 million for office upgrades tied to the municipality’s future move into its new administrative space at Crowsnest Commons.

Crowsnest Pass council heard March 10 that the community has been identified by Alberta as one of nine communities needing additional harvest planning and consultation under the province’s Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction program.

Union president says staff came to chambers over concerns that comments from council are being directed at employees instead of the CAO

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) has been supporting a provincial travelling exhibit program (TREX) for over 45 years now.  It provides every Albertan with the opportunity to enjoy visual art exhibitions in their community.  

On Monday evening I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion with fourth year journalism students at SAIT, many of whom are about to graduate and step into the workforce. The event, titled Next Steps: Moving from School to the Workplace, brought together students who are preparing to begin their final practicum placements and thinking seriously about where their careers might lead.

Crowsnest Pass Fire Rescue is bringing a successful cross border fundraiser home this weekend, with the Fire and Ice Charity Classic set for March 14 at the Coleman Sports Complex in support of STARS.

Sparwood residents will start receiving their new curbside recycling bins next week, with the community wide programme set to officially begin the week of April 6.

Sparwood council has authorised an application for $400,000 in Community Resiliency Investment funding to support the community’s 2026 to 2027 FireSmart program.

Sparwood council accepted the district’s 2026 to 2030 draft financial plan on March 3 and approved the capital plan for spending, keeping in place a proposed 9.75 per cent municipal tax increase excluding the mine tax pool.

Sparwood council has approved a six-month lease allowing Elk Valley Resources to use part of 2600 Middletown Place for temporary parking as staff continue settling into the company’s new building.

Alberta’s latest budget signalled a clear shift toward deficit backed investment in schools and health care as population growth strains public systems. Lisa argues the bigger challenge now is clarity, especially as the provincial education property tax requisition rises and municipalities collect it without setting the rate.

A former member of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Agricultural Service Board urged council Feb. 24 to reinstate a full time, year-round agricultural fieldman position and pursue provincial grant funding they said could bring $160,000 annually into the municipality.

Crowsnest Pass council passed a land use bylaw amendment Feb. 24 allowing secondary suites in duplex or semi-detached dwellings and in multi-unit residential buildings.

Crowsnest Pass council heard an RCMP quarterly update on Feb. 24 that pointed to steady service demands, a staffing shortage at the local detachment and a notable in-crease in reported assaults compared with previous years.

The following is a reprinting of a profoundly interesting submittal to the now defunct Elk Valley Miner in 2011.  The introduction below the title of the article says. 

“Compiled and written by Harold Travis (S.S.M . CP).”

Crowsnest Pass council voted Feb. 24 to defer a $2.5 million borrowing bylaw tied to municipal office upgrades after councillors raised concerns about costs, process and the level of detail available before committing to long term financing.

Crowsnest Pass council did not proceed with a planned discussion about developing a municipal media policy at its Feb. 24 meeting, despite a written request that laid out what such a policy could include and why it was being considered.