November 15, 2021

Light Up Okotoks!

Friday, November 19 | 4:30-9 p.m.
Join us for the kick-off to the holiday season. For all your Light Up questions, head to the link below. This page will be updated as information becomes available.

Spirit of Christmas
The Okotoks Art Gallery is transformed into the Spirit of Christmas starting on the night of Light Up, and is your best choice for holiday gift shopping, all crafted by local artisans during the holiday season. Find one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments, jewelry, cards, and original, local artwork for sale. And all priced under $250!
 

Light Up details

QR code proof of vaccination at Town recreation facilities

Beginning today, as part of the provincial Restrictions Exemption Program (REP), showing a digital or printed QR code for proof of full vaccination, plus personal identification (e.g. driver’s license), is required to enter the Okotoks Recreation Centre and Pason Centennial Arenas for anyone 18 and over. Note: proof of negative test & medical exemption are also options. 

Learn more

Public invited: 2022-2025 Budget presentations

Learn more about the process for determining the Town’s annual budget. The budget agenda will be available to review by Thursday, November 18 at okotoks.ca. Join us online November 23-25, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The budget discussions will be live-streamed, visit the link below to watch.

Watch the live stream

Mayor Tanya Thorn Re-Elected VP, Towns on AUMA Executive Committee

Mayor Tanya Thorn has won her re-election bid to remain Vice President, Towns on the Board of Directors of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA). Mayor Thorn was elected by acclamation for Vice President and also continues to hold the position of Director, Towns South.

Mayor Thorn's re-election will enable Okotoks to continue to have a strong voice within Alberta municipalities.

Read more

Where to give this holiday season

Are you looking for ways to support those in need over the holidays? Local agencies are working together to ensure the needs of everyone in our community are met over the holiday season. Find different ways you can give, where to donate, or to request assistance at the link below.

Holiday supports

Caring neighbours make 
#OkotoksStrongerTogether

Everyone can play a role in making their neighbourhood a connected and caring community, so why not become a Community Champion in time for Kindness Day on November 19?  The #OkotoksStrongerTogether team will arm you with a FREE toolkit filled with all you need to succeed:

  • a thank you gift to keep for yourself,
  • five reusable bags filled with fun items to hand out to your neighbours, and
  • freebies like toques and hot chocolate to keep you warm as you chat with your neighbours!

This Kindness Day, take action to inspire kindness in those around us and show that Okotoks is CARING!

Get to know your neighbours

Bee Home for the Holidays webinar

Wed, November 17 | 7 p.m. | Online
Join us for a presentation from Alexandria Farmer, Biologist from Mount Royal University, for a family-friendly evening to learn about our native pollinators and how you can help them flourish. The presentation is free, plus there is an option to build a bee nest-box for $15 (for supplies) after the main presentation. 

Event details

Still time to apply for water rebate items!

The Water Conservation Rebate Program has funds left, and there is an eligible indoor item that qualifies for the rebate program. There’s still time to get up to $200 back on a Watersavor Controller for your home’s flow-through humidifier system, which can reduce your humidifier’s use by anywhere from 50 to 95%!

And if you purchase other eligible rebate items earlier in the year, like drought-tolerant trees or shrubs you can still submit them for a rebate. All items purchased as of January 1, 2021 are eligible.

Details & apply

Maintenance routes

Have you noticed the maintenance route signs around Town on Priority 1 (arterial and downtown) and Priority 2 (collector) roads?

A parking ban is a temporary parking restriction on roads designated as maintenance routes. Parking bans allow crews to work on the roadways more efficiently when they don’t have to operate around parked cars. When maintenance is necessary, the Town will declare a parking ban along the impacted roadways and will try to provide 48 hours notice, using a variety of channels to keep you up to date. 

Learn more

Community Access Program (subsidized taxi) card renewal

Are you a current Community Access Program (subsidized taxi) cardholder? Cards are being renewed for 2022 and will be mailed out in December, and we want to make sure your client information is up to date. Please call 403.995.2773 or email FCSS@okotoks.ca to confirm or update your contact information. If you have already confirmed your info, no action is required.

Learn about CAP

Please do not feed deer

We appreciate that many Okotokians enjoy the wildlife in the Town. However, did you know that feeding wildlife can cause them to be habituated and dependent on the food source that can result in conflicts with people? As recommended by the Urban Deer Task Force, Town Council approved the Deer and Wildlife Feeding and Attractants Bylaw (28-21) and the Deer Deterrent Pilot Fencing project.

We kindly want to remind residents that it is illegal to feed deer or other wildlife in Okotoks. Please do not feed, attempt to, or permit the feeding of deer or other wildlife, either directly or indirectly, by leaving or placing feed/attractants on or near their property. This bylaw combined with the pilot project approved by Town Council will help lessen the impact of urban deer in our community.

Urban Deer info

Dutch Elm Disease – preventative pruning

Pruning elms can only occur October 1 - March 3. Preventive pruning is essential to eliminate breeding material for the elm bark beetles and is the systematic removal of dead, damaged, or diseased branches from healthy elm trees. If a tree is dead or dying, it should be removed. All elm wood must be properly disposed; keeping elms well-maintained will aid in the control of Dutch Elm Disease (DED). To avoid spreading DED, all equipment must be sterilized before pruning a different elm tree. For more info contact the Horticulture Hotline at 403.995.6333, email horticulture@okotoks.ca or visit the link below.

Horticulture Hotline

Winter safety tips

Winter driving

Know when to go and when to say no!
The best advice for driving during or after a snow event, is to not drive at all, if you can avoid it. Don’t go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared, and that you know how to handle road conditions. Make sure that you clean ALL the snow and ice off your car. This includes the windshield, back window, headlights, and taillights!

Remove obstacles from roadways

Clear the road for Town crews!
Please remove all rubber driveway mats (curb ramps) and any other on-street obstructions, such as basketball and hockey nets from the roadway. This allows for Transportation and Waste Services crews to easily navigate the neighbourhoods and get the job done efficiently!

Learn more

Storm pond safety

Storm ponds are an essential part of Okotoks’ storm water collection system. These ponds collect storm water and runoff, trapping sediment and other materials that enter the storm water collection system. Over time, it returns cleaner water to our receiving rivers and streams. However, pond edges can be deep with mud that animals and people can get stuck in, so it is best to avoid these areas.

Storm ponds ARE NOT a recreational place: Storm ponds have an important job to do and are not for recreation. As part of the storm water collection system, they are susceptible to changing water levels, and, during the winter months the ice on storm ponds is very unstable and unpredictable, making them too dangerous for any kind of recreational use at any time of the year.

Steer clear of thin ice!

Fire Services and Municipal Enforcement would like to remind residents that there is a real danger of falling through the ice on storm retention ponds and the Sheep River, especially with fluctuating weather conditions at this time of year. For the safety of all residents, storm pond water/ice recreation use is prohibited in Okotoks. Additionally, due to runoff of road salts into the ponds, the saltwater has a lower freezing point than freshwater, which means ice is thinner and weaker. 

Stay safe this winter

Next Council meeting

3 p.m. Mon, November 29| Live-streamed

Agenda packages are available Thursday evenings prior to each meeting on the Town website.

Watch the live stream

Mayor’s Live with Mayor Tanya Thorn

Wednesday, December 1 | 10:00-10:30am

Join Mayor Tanya Thorn for Mayor's Live on the Town's Facebook and Instagram channels. Get involved and let us know your questions in advance by posting them in the discussion section of the event.

Event details

Reminders

Planning notices

Development permit approvals are posted on the Town’s website. For more information, call 403.995.2760.

See notices

Submit your events!

Did you know community members are welcome to post events on the Town’s online event calendar?! All events must be relevant to the Town of Okotoks and area and must support our local community initiatives. For full criteria and an easy online submission form visit the link below.

Event calendar

Council meetings
COVID-19 updates
Community Events

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