Town to review Provincial health orders at special Emergency Advisory Committee meeting 

The Town thanks residents for all inquiries on the Provincial announcement regarding required public health actions and the impacts to Okotoks.

Please be aware that a special Emergency Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21 at 12 noon to review the Provincial public health orders and determine the Town’s direction. The meeting is being live-streamed, link below. Information following this meeting will be communicated as soon as possible along with any Provincial updates we may receive; current information is available at okotoks.ca. Your patience and cooperation is appreciated.

Watch the livestream

Okotoks On-Demand Transit receives award for municipal excellence

The Okotoks On-Demand Transit program has been awarded the prestigious Minister’s Award for Municipal Excellence in the Service Delivery Innovation category. Since 2002, the Minister’s Awards for Municipal Excellence program recognizes accomplishments in the provision of municipal services in Alberta.

The Okotoks Transit service aligns with Council’s commitment to provide residents with sustainable, flexible transportation options, and increases the opportunity to reduce carbon emissions. The program provides a customer-first service, increasing the ability for residents to move more freely around town and has significantly improved the everyday lives of residents Okotoks.

Find out more

D’Arcy Affordable Housing project officially launches

The Town and its partners, Westwinds Communities (WC) and the Brenda Stafford Society for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (BSS), are pleased to announce that September 8, 2021 marked the official launch of the D’Arcy Affordable Housing project.

The Town has contributed the land and WC and BSS will assume all costs for site development, permitting and construction costs for their portions of the site. Site development is expected to be completed in 2021, with construction beginning in fall, 2022.

More about the project

New beach volleyball courts complete and open to the public

The Town is pleased to announce the completion of several outdoor recreation facility improvements, including four beach volleyball courts and parking lot upgrades at Riverside Community Park, 1400 North Railway Street.

The courts are open to the public during normal park hours (5 a.m. to 11 p.m.); and for the remainder of 2021, will be open for drop-in, on a first-come basis. Courts will be open until mid-October, depending on weather.

Beach volleyball courts were identified as a community priority in the Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Master Plan and will also support the beach volleyball competitions for the recently announced 2023 Alberta Summer Games. Recreation services will be establishing public drop-in opportunities as well as establishing rates and fees for booking the courts in 2022.

More info

Mark your calendar for the Municipal Election

The next municipal election is being held on Monday, October 18. Advanced voting is being offered on six various days at the Okotoks Recreation Centre starting Friday, October 8. The Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce is hosting candidate forums on October 5 and 6. Find all the information you need to know about voting, candidates, forums, free transit on voting day, and more online. 

More info

Town of Okotoks’ 2020 Annual Report available

The Town’s Annual Report provides an overview of the Town’s financial position and activities for 2020, as well as highlights many accomplishments from the strategic priorities established in the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan. The 2019 report won the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting Program (CAnFR), and the Town has written the 2020 report to the same standards. Limited copies available at the Municipal Centre or Public Library, or read it online.

Read the report

Join in the Alberta Culture Days celebrations 

Every Tuesday in September: join Museum and Archives Specialist Kathy Coutts for Tuesday Tours at 10 a.m. Each tour covers a different part of Okotoks.

Sat, Sept. 25: the Station (the Okotoks Art Gallery building) celebrates its 40th anniversary with festivities including button making, cupcakes, and the opening of two new exhibits: Kimberly Ohman’s This Seat’s Taken and Wanru Kemp’s Moon Gate. The building will also receive a municipal heritage designation.

Thu, Sept. 30: the Okotoks Museum and Archives will honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. The museum will feature the documentary Little Moccasins, the history of Dunbow Residential School and the shoes that are preserved from the 215 memorial held in Okotoks in June 2021.

Find out more

Celebrate International Day of Older Persons 

International Day of Older Persons on October 1 is an opportunity to recognize, celebrate and support seniors, especially during the ongoing pandemic. Keep connected and support older adults in your life:

• Check in with a call, email, or video chat
• Host a virtual family dinner or games night
• Send a letter, card, drawing or photos
• Offer to assist with groceries or purchases
• Volunteer your time

Older people are founts of wisdom, experience, and storytelling. In time for October 1, the communities of Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, High River, Foothills County and Longview will be releasing the printed collection of stories from Project SOS: Share Our Stories in limited quantities at libraries in the participating communities, and online. Consider asking the older adults in your life for their stories!

About Project SOS

Youth programs

Drop in to a free Pre-teen Hangout, Youth Hangout or Friday Youth Night:

Friday Youth Night: every Friday night. 
The Youth Centre is open from 6 to 10 p.m.
Gym time and swimming starts at 8 p.m.
Ages 12-18 Free.

Youth Hangout: Gymnasium Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m., Youth Centre Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Ages 12-18. Free.

Pre-Teen Hangout: every Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Ages 9, 10 and 11. Free.

Saturday Drop-in: from 1 to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, the Youth Centre will be open to ages 12-18. Join in the fun with computers, air hockey, billiards, ping pong, and a big screen TV. For more info, send an email to youth@okotoks.ca. 

More info