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E-billing for utilities launching
Peace Hills Utilities Inc. is happy to share that beginning this autumn, local users with Peace Hills Utilities Inc. can receive their utility bills via electronic billing.
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City of Wetaskiwin official byelection results
The results of the City of Wetaskiwin’s recent byelection are now official. According to the Local Authorities Election Act (Section 97.2), the byelection results become official four days after the date of election.
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Six candidates to run in municipal byelection
The official deadline for candidate nominations — and withdrawals — in the upcoming municipal byelection has passed as of 12 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19. Six Wetaskiwinites have put their names forward as candidates for councillor.
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Update: Wetaskiwin to hold summer byelection
Advanced Polling for Wetaskiwin’s 2023 byelection is scheduled to take place
on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at the Memorial Arts Centre (5206 – 50 Street) from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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Council approves Amending Traffic Bylaw
During its regular meeting on Monday, June 12, City Council approved Amending Traffic Bylaw 2036-23, changing approval processes for special events that require roadway closure, parade, and/or procession.
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Council approves 2023 Tax Rate Bylaw
Ahead of tax notices being issued, City Council approved the 2023 Tax Rate Bylaw 2031-23 during its regular Tuesday, May 23 meeting. Council also approved tax rebates for certain airport properties.
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Council approves social media policy
Social media has become a powerful tool for public engagement and the sharing of information. With this in mind, the Council Social Media Policy was developed
to provide guidance and offer practical recommendations for councillors who choose to engage on social media.
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City archives readies for reopening
Under the management and administration of the Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre, the soft opening for the archives will be Tuesday, May 16.
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Council approves donation of land
City Council approved the rezoning of the parcel of land at 5800 and 5900 37A Avenue to Direct Control and approved the donation of three acres from that parcel to Hope Mission for the purpose of building a combined emergency shelter and transitional housing facility.
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Council approves changes to fees and charges bylaw
City Council approved the Fees and Charges Bylaw 2028-23 during its February 27, 2023 regular council meeting. The changes were made to ensure any service provided accurately reflects the costs incurred, accounting for increased inflation rates.
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Recreation facility reimagined as Co-op Place
One of the city’s busiest hubs of activity will be heading into the new year with a new name. The Civic Centre: Twin Arenas & Drill Hall will now be named Co-op Place following a sponsorship agreement between the City of Wetaskiwin and Wetaskiwin Co-op.
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Fitness classes to be run independently in 2023
In an effort to cut costs from next year’s municipal budget, the City will no longer be facilitating contracted fitness classes. Instead, independent fitness instructors will be able to organize and run their own programming, as well as charge their own fees.
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The Cost of Garbage
With the increase of activity that always comes in the fall, Wetaskiwin’s Recreation Grounds is seeing an increase in the amount of garbage littering the grounds.
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Recycling Centre to stop accepting glass
Starting on Thursday, September 29, glass will no longer be accepted at the Wetaskiwin Recycling Centre (5707 51 Street). The bin for glass collection will be removed from the site.
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City facilities to remain open on National Day of Mourning
While City of Wetaskiwin has been respecting the period of national mourning — which began immediately following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday and will last until her funeral — the City will not be observing a holiday on Monday, September 19.
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Corporate Business Plan presented to council
The newly developed Corporate Business Plan 2023–2026 was presented to city council during its regular August 22 meeting, aligning with council’s strategic plan as well as the 50-Year Community Vision.
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Approval process for outdoor patios updated
Wetaskiwin restaurant owners interested in developing an outdoor restaurant patio or sidewalk patio can now reference the City’s recently updated Land Use Bylaw for approval process specifications.
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City streamlines mobile vendor application process
With an eye toward streamlining the application process for those seeking vendor licences, city council approved Bylaw 2018-22 to amend Business Licence Bylaw 1507-01 during its regular July 11 meeting.
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Tennis courts closed due to surface paving
Wetaskiwin’s tennis courts are getting a facelift this summer, with repaving beginning on Monday, June 6, 2022. Currently closed to the public, the courts are expected to re-open at the end of August once the work has been completed (weather permitting).
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Council approves 10-Year strategic plan
The 10-year strategic plan—inspired by community feedback—serves as a decision-making framework to assist Council in making purposeful and strategic decisions in line with the community’s goals.
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“The City We Share” wins national marketing award
The City of Wetaskiwin’s Economic Development
and Communications Departments have received national recognition as the recipient of a highly
esteemed award from the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC).
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City of Wetaskiwin utility fees return to 2020 rates
The cost of City utilities has returned to the rate structure originally approved in 2020, following a year of utility ratepayers benefitting from temporary utility rate discounts approved by Wetaskiwin City Council.
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City to divest of Civic Building following Facility Utilization Review
Following the presentation of a Facility Utilization Review report to Wetaskiwin City Council at their regular November 22, 2021 meeting, Council voted to divest of the Civic Building—with the caveat that the sale be contingent on any future owner allowing the Wetaskiwin Archives to remain within the building as leased space.
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Potable water reserves increasing following repairs to equipment at water treatment plant
Repairs to the malfunctioning equipment at the Wetaskiwin water treatment plant have been completed, and treated water levels are slowly rising again. The City’s tap water remains safe for human consumption. The Stage 4 water restriction will remain in place until the City’s treated water reservoirs are fully replenished, which is anticipated to occur by Sunday night (November 28).
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Unofficial 2021 Election Results
On Monday, October 18, 2021, approximately thirty-six percent of eligible City of Wetaskiwin voters elected the following candidates into municipal office.
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City entity remains neutral during municipal elections
The City of Wetaskiwin seeks to address an inaccurate statement made by a municipal general election candidate that the candidate’s campaign information would be disseminated through the City’s communications department rather than the candidate’s own media channels.
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City Reveals New Community-Inspired Visual Identity
The City of Wetaskiwin launched its new, community-inspired visual identity. This new visual approach will anchor how the City of Wetaskiwin promotes the city as a mechanism for encouraging growth, prosperity, and long-term sustainability.
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Wetaskiwin’s newest street sweeper gets a name
An online naming contest was recently hosted on the [what if wetaskiwin] portal to find a name for the City’s new Public Works street sweeper. The winning entry of Sweep Caroline was submitted by Wetaskiwin local Joshua Chamberlain!
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Urban Food Forest to be planted in Montgomery Park
Following a presentation last spring by Councillor Gabrielle Blatz, the City began researching urban food forests and how we could implement one in Wetaskiwin.
As a result, the Public Works department has purchased—and will be planting—41 fruit-bearing trees and shrubs in Montgomery Park (53 St. & Centennial Dr.).
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HUB Taskforce created to address safety concerns
A taskforce has been created—involving City administration, Council, and other local agencies—to address the safety concerns that have been brought forward by the community. The HUB Taskforce will be meeting weekly for meaningful discussions and to develop steps going forward to ensure solutions are found sooner rather than later.
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City to resume enforcement of Plastic Bag Ban Bylaw
The City of Wetaskiwin will resume enforcement of Plastic Bag Ban Bylaw 1913-18 starting May 5th, 2021. This means Wetaskiwin-based retailers will no longer be able to provide single-use plastic checkout bags to customers from May 5th onward.
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Study recommends redistricting and selling Centennial Park
The recently completed Business Mix & Gap Analysis for Wetaskiwin provides a number of strategic recommendations on how the City can help facilitate local economic success. One of these recommended actions is redistricting Centennial Park and declaring it as surplus land in order to sell it for business development.
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City-led events to be held virtually until September 2021
In light of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, City Administration made the decision to host its annual City-led events online until September 2021—while also cancelling those which cannot be held virtually. This timeline will be re-evaluated every two (2) months going forward.
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Have Your Say Wetaskiwin has a new look
The City’s Have Your Say Wetaskiwin community engagement platform got a facelift today. Originally launched in February 2020, the new homepage appearance of the engagement site aims to streamline featured projects and provide better functionality for site users.
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2021 Community Safety & Policing Priorities survey now available
The annual Wetaskiwin & Area Community Safety and Policing Priorities Survey is now available online until March 18, 2021. An RCMP Virtual Town Hall is also being held on March 4, 2021 at 7 pm local time, giving community members an opportunity to ask questions and hear about the RCMPs priorities for the year. The zoom link and more information about the town hall can be found on the City’s website.
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Small business grant program to provide COVID relief
In partnership with the Leduc & Wetaskiwin Regional Chamber of Commerce, the City of Wetaskiwin has introduced a COVID Recovery Grant Program.
The new program will connect locally based businesses to legal, human resource, or accounting service providers for up to five (5) hours of consultation—or a maximum of $500—to assist with, understand and prepare documentation to apply for the current Government COVID-19 financial assistance support programs.
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Municipal budget deliberations to be held first quarter of 2021
Wetaskiwin City Council’s 2021 municipal budget deliberations have been postponed until early 2021. Originally slated to take place in the last quarter of 2020, the City’s budget deliberations were rescheduled for early 2021 to allow the 2019 year-end financial process to be completed.
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City seeks Diversity and Inclusion Task Force members
The City is seeking interested community members to join the newly-formed Diversity and Inclusion Task Force—made up of a maximum of fifteen (15) members representing a broad range of under-served and equity-seeking groups.
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Residential waste collection changes coming to Wetaskiwin in 2021
Wetaskiwin City Council approved an amendment to Waste Management Bylaw 1940-20 following a presentation by the City’s Waste & Recycle department. As a result, solid waste collection will be moving to a 5-day schedule (Monday to Friday) by the second quarter of 2021.
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City selected as pilot site for Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
The City of Wetaskiwin has been selected as a pilot site for a Rural Crime Prevention Project through the Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention (CMNCP). The scope of this project is to develop a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan to create and implement a model to reduce crime and build capacity among service providers within the community.
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City Council approves Advertising Bylaw 1976-20
Wetaskiwin City Council approved an amendment to the City’s Advertising Bylaw 1976-20 at their regular November 23, 2020 Council meeting. The approved amendment allows for electronic communication to be recognized as an alternate form of notification—as set out in Section 606 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
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City and County of Wetaskiwin enter into ICF agreement
The City of Wetaskiwin has been working diligently with the County of Wetaskiwin to create and adopt an Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) between the two municipalities, which is required by the provincial government.
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City Council passes temporary COVID-19 face coverings bylaw
Wetaskiwin City Council passed a temporary COVID-19 face coverings bylaw (1973-20) at their regular September 28, 2020 Council meeting. The bylaw does not come into effect until a threshold of 15 active COVID-19 cases in Wetaskiwin is reached, as reported by Alberta Health Services.
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City of Wetaskiwin Launches Long-Term Community Visioning Project
On Sept. 28, The City of Wetaskiwin announced the launch of a community visioning project, which will create a long-term, community-built vision for Wetaskiwin. The new community vision—called #Wetaskiwin2070—will help guide what the city will look like in 50 years and help us all better understand what it will take to get there.
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City awards Community Visioning tender
After an extensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, the City of Wetaskiwin has awarded the Community Visioning tender to Stormy Lake Consulting, based in Calgary, AB.
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City of Wetaskiwin builds local economic recovery plan
The City of Wetaskiwin’s economic development department—with support from the Leduc and Wetaskiwin Regional Chamber of Commerce—has initiated a strategy that focuses on building resiliency within the local economy.
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First Case of COVID-19 Confirmed in Wetaskiwin Region
We have become aware of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Wetaskiwin Region. As such, the City of Wetaskiwin and the County of Wetaskiwin are issuing a joint press release sharing what we know, and how we plan on protecting the health and safety of everyone in the region.
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Pipe and Smudge Ceremony to Precede Peace Cairn Relocation
First Nations elders will be conducting a pipe and smudging ceremony of the future resting place of the Peace Cairn—located east of the water tower at 50 Avenue and 55A Street—at 1 pm on Saturday, October 19, 2019 in order to consecrate and dedicate the land.
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City Offering Free Transit to Local Polling Stations on Election Day
The City of Wetaskiwin is offering free transportation to and from the federal election polling stations in Wetaskiwin on October 21, 2019. A handicap-accessible transit bus will be stopping at specific pick-up locations around the City of Wetaskiwin from 7:30 am until 7:20 pm on election day.
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City of Wetaskiwin Budget Engagement and Deliberation Dates Finalized
The City will be holding three budget open houses in different locations around Wetaskiwin early in November. Community members are invited to attend any of the open houses to provide their feedback on the 2020 proposed budget. The open houses will be interactive, kid-friendly, and snacks and beverages will be provided.
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City Council Pursues Intersection Improvements at Hwy 814 & 13
Wetaskiwin City Council chose a preferred safety improvement plan for the Highway 13 and Highway 814 (47 Street) intersection at their regular August 19, 2019 Council meeting. Permission to implement the improvements is still required from Alberta Transportation for this intersection.
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Wetaskiwin Becomes Second Alberta Municipality to Ban Plastic Bags
The City of Wetaskiwin’s Plastic Bag Ban Bylaw 1913-18 came into effect Tuesday, July 9, 2019, banning the local distribution of single use plastic bags. Wetaskiwin is the second community in Alberta to ban single-use plastic bags—the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo was the first, having had similar legislation in place since 2010.
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Pamela Ganske Resigns from Wetaskiwin City Council
Wetaskiwin City Council officially received notice at their regular June 24, 2019 Council meeting that Pamela Ganske resigned from her position as councillor—effective that morning—citing personal reasons.
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Results of Policing Priorities Survey Now Available
The City of Wetaskiwin partnered with the Wetaskiwin RCMP to produce a regional survey concerning RCMP policing priorities. Over 800 people completed the survey, with 485 responses coming from directly within the City of Wetaskiwin.
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Arbitration Concerning JEDI Agreement Nears Completion
With the arbitration process concerning the City of Wetaskiwin’s withdrawal from the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) nearing completion, City Administration is addressing the impending outcome due to some erroneous figures being recently reported.
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City of Wetaskiwin Wins National Marketing Award
The City of Wetaskiwin was nationally recognized for its Imagination Tourism
marketing ad at this year’s Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) Conference, held from September 8 to 11, 2018 in Fredericton, NB.
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Wetaskiwin Co-op Sponsors Competition Pool
The Wetaskiwin Cooperative Association has purchased the naming rights to the competition pool, located within the new Manluk Centre: Wetaskiwin Regional Aquatics & Fitness
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Budget Tabled until February 19
City Administration has arranged for an additional day of public budget deliberation meetings to take place Tuesday, February 19 at 9 AM.
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Unplug this Family Day
Disconnect yourself from technology this Family Day (Feb 18) and personally connect with your loved ones instead!
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Residents Heard at Public Budget Open House
Wetaskiwin City Council took all of the feedback shared at the February 4 Public Budget Open House very seriously and will be voting on the proposed budget at their February 11 council meeting.
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