Council passed second and third reading to re-designate a lot in Blairmore to a “Cannabis Retail Commerical (C-4)”, permitting a retail space that would be selling cannabis products.

A public hearing was held prior to Council’s vote. In total, one person spoke against the bylaw and three spoke for.

The resident who spoke against the bylaw said that she moved to the community for its healthy lifestyle and does not believe that permitting a cannabis store promotes that. She added that she does not want to catch the scent of cannabis from her backyard.

"I don’t want this store in Blairmore. I just think it's the wrong message that we're sending to our children, it’s a strain on municipal finances, and of course there are all the health issues,” she said.

A resident who spoke for the bylaw said that she would rather people purchase cannabis products from a government-regulated dispensary than off the street and questioned how the retail store would put a strain on municipal finances.

The owner of the retail property noted that their security system would be “exceeding” the provincial and federal requirements.

Another application appeared on Council’s agenda for a cannabis retail store at 2706 227 Street in Bellevue, utilizing a vacant structure which used to be used as a gas station. Council passed first reading to redesignate the lot to a Cannabis Retail Commercial (C-4) District.

Council also discussed public consumption of cannabis and passed a motion directing Administration to contact legal counsel and look at the possibility of instating a bylaw that prohibits smoking cannabis in public places.

Energy Futures Roadshow

Council passed a motion to include The Natural Step as a stakeholder in Council’s strategic planning session in the environment section.

Three councillors attended the two-day Energy Futures Roadshow workshop on October 18 and 19.

Councillor Dean Ward, who was one of the attendees, called The Natural Step, one of the organizations that facilitated the workshop, “an extremely professional group.”

“From what I saw from those two days, I think that these guys would be excellent to involve in that process. I’m not a big fan of ‘green’, you guys know that, but this is not just about my opinions, it’s about everybody’s opinions, and these guys are doing some good stuff,” he said.

Five students from Crowsnest Consolidated High School also attended the workshop.

“What was really impressive about this group is that they had people involved in every walk of life, from 16 to 80. It was a good mix of people and a good mix of different opinions,” said Councillor Ward.

To learn more about The Energy Futures Roadshow, see the September 26 issue of The Pass Herald.

Coleman Sport Complex

The rink on the hockey/skating side of the Coleman Sports Complex is officially open, with the season’s first skaters hitting the ice on Monday afternoon. The municipality says they are now working “diligently” on the curling rink.

By yesterday afternoon, they had 10 spray coats and three hose floods completed on the curling rink. Overall, it takes approximately 20 floods and two weeks to prepare the ice.

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