Council backs arts event, renews contracts
Sparwood council approved funding support for a new arts and culture event, renewed key municipal service contracts and signalled support for discounted recreation fitness classes during its April 7 meeting.
One of the evening’s community focused decisions was council’s approval of a Category 2 funding request from Coralie Campbell for the new Coal to Creativity Arts and Culture Showcase.
Community Services Assistant Renee Myles said the event is intended to give residents a chance to share their talents during Coal Miner Days.
“This event is intended to give the community a chance to come together in a new way blending movement, music, and visual art,” Myles said. “And the event will be free and family friendly.”
Council approved up to $1,763 in in-kind support to cover facility rental fees for the June 11 event at the Sparwood Leisure Centre.
Myles told council that because it is a new local community event, staff recommended approval. If approved, she said $13,955 would remain in the funding category.
Councillor Jason Christensen asked whether the request would duplicate support al-ready going toward Coal Miner Days. Myles said it would not, describing the showcase as a separate new event.
Council also renewed several operational agreements.
A new janitorial and custodial contract was awarded to Terry’s Janitorial for a five year term beginning April 1 at a total value of $208,890 plus taxes. Director of Community Services Jenna Jensen said the district received 11 proposals through the request for proposals process.
“Based on the evaluation results, Terry’s Janitorial provides the best overall value to the district, including the lowest evaluated cost over the five year term,” Jensen said.
Councillor Steve Kallies said he supported the recommendation but would like to see more detailed comparisons between bids in future reports for added transparency.
Council also approved a three-year pavement marking contract with Aardvark Pavement Marking Services in the amount of $137,242.23 plus taxes.
Council further approved a lease agreement with the Ministry of Citizen Services for courtroom related space inside 136 Spruce Ave., the municipal office building. The three-year lease runs from Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2028 and has a total value of $65,803.05 excluding GST.
During Committee of the Whole, council also discussed the future of fitness class pricing under the Active Living Pass.
Myles said drop in fitness classes were once included in the pass but rising labour costs, instructor availability issues and competition in the recreation market have made that model difficult to sustain.
“As a result, classes are now fully paid, leading to decreased class attendance, instructor morale, and perceived value of the ALP,” she said.
Staff asked whether council supported a blended pricing approach where pass holders would pay only the difference between the class cost and the regular drop in admission value. Using one example, Myles said if a class costs $15 and the adult drop in rate is $7.14, the pass holder would pay $7.86.
Most members of council voiced support for that concept, saying it could preserve the value of the pass without forcing the district to absorb the full cost of programming.
The discussion did not involve a final vote that evening, but it gave staff a clear indication that council favours a discounted approach over maintaining full fees or handing programming off entirely to private providers.
Taken together, the decisions reflected a meeting focused on practical operations, recreation access and community programming as Sparwood moves deeper into the spring season.