Council Meeting Highlights - October 14, 2026

Committee of the Whole

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026

In attendance: Mayor Fule, Councillor Brown, Councillor Chisholm, Councillor Hyde (virtual), Councillor Langmaid, Deputy Mayor Wegener, and Councillor Wiley (virtual)

Recognition of Achievement

Council opened the meeting by recognizing two local Olympians.

This past August, the 2026 Special Olympics – Canada Summer Games were held in Medicine Hat, AB.

• Strathmore resident and competitive swimmer Casey Kruse returned with five gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
• Strathmore resident and golfer Emma Bittorf is celebrating a silver-medal performance.

These women have positively represented the community on the national stage. To celebrate their successes, Council presented them each with a Certificate of Achievement from the Town of Strathmore.

BUSINESS

Project Introduction – Strathmore Fire Hall

• The Strathmore Fire Department has outgrown its current facility. As Strathmore’s sole fire hall, the facility is a critical component of the Town’s emergency response system.
• Council previously approved funding for design work associated with a future fire hall. That work remains on budget and has allowed the project team to further define the operational requirements, preliminary facility program, and anticipated project scope.
• Council was presented with preliminary details to assist in the evaluation of both the immediate capital requirement and the long-term financial implications of the project.
• Current projections indicate a construction cost in the range of $24 million to $26 million. A formal funding request will be brought forward for Council’s consideration as part of the 2027 capital budget process.
• The facility is being planned with a 20 to 30-year service horizon. The intent is to provide sufficient capacity and flexibility to meet foreseeable operational needs while avoiding unnecessary space or premature future expansion.
• The design approach for the station is grounded in operational flows and the input gathered through the functional program, with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines used throughout to inform layout, adjacencies, and life safety planning.
•  Administration and the project team will continue to advance the project in preparation for Council’s consideration during the 2027 capital budget process.

Next steps include:

• • Continuing land procurement activities.
  • Advancing project design and functional planning.
  • Refining the construction and total project cost estimates.
  • Reviewing opportunities for project efficiencies and shared municipal functions.
  • Developing a proposed funding strategy.
  • Identifying potential grant or external funding opportunities where available.
  • Providing Council with additional project information required for the 2027 budget deliberations.

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Grant Program Policy

• Administration presented Council with an amended FCSS Grant Funding policy for consideration.
• Changes are so that community group funding requests will be governed by either the Community Improvement Program Committee or the FCSS Advisory Board instead of at a Council Community Funding Night. The policy was also updated to ensure that it aligns with current practices.
• The updated policy will be brought to the October 21st Council meeting for consideration.

Community Improvement Program (CIP) Policy

• Administration presented Council with an amended FCSS Grant Funding policy for consideration.
• Changes are so that community group funding requests will be governed by either the Community Improvement Program Committee or the FCSS Advisory Board instead of at a Council Community Funding Night. The policy was also updated to ensure that it aligns with current practices.
• Council asked Administration to bring back a policy with additional changes to a future Council meeting for consideration.

Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre – Sport Court Feasibility

• Administration presented Council with engagement results and costs associated with the potential installation of specialized sport flooring, over the "concrete pad", at the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre. This would provide an additional gymnasium/court space that could be used for a variety of sports (badminton, basketball, pickleball, volleyball, etc.) and other multipurpose activities.
• As part of the feasibility assessment for exploring potentially developing the undeveloped concrete area into additional multi-use court space, Administration undertook three public engagement initiatives, including: a User Group Meeting, a community survey, and an Open House. The purpose of this engagement was to identify potential demand for additional court space, and determine the level of community support.
• Overall, the engagement results suggest general community support, and anticipated utilization, and a broad range of potential uses.
• If developed, the project would require an initial $442,000 capital investment and approximately $37,7000 in annual operating costs, excluding additional staffing requirements.
• Council asked Administration to bring these concepts to the 2027 Budget meetings for discussion.

Council Procedure Bylaw No. 26-17

• Council Procedure Bylaw No. 23-17 was identified as a bylaw requiring review. Council was asked to consider whether they wished to amend this Procedure Bylaw to align with both the Municipal Government Act and further recommendations provided by Legal Counsel. 
• To properly consolidate the previous amendments and add in new changes Administration recommended that Bylaw No. 23-17 be repealed and replaced with Council Procedure Bylaw No. 26-17.
•     The new changes to proposed bylaw No. 26-17 include:
  • The replacement of references to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act with the Access to Information Act.
  • The removal of 35.1, reference to the Code of Conduct, which was repealed in 2025.
  • Expansion of the requirements for Public Comments in regards to length of time permitted to speak, and clarification of purpose.
  • The Delegations section to have the CAO responsible for reviewing and allowing Delegations, and a new section that provides criteria for matters that will not be considered.
  • The removal of the schedules.
• Council provided additional feedback regarding time for public comments and delegations and asked Administration to return to a future meeting.

QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD

Celebration of Lights

Councillor Hyde shared that this year’s Celebration of Lights organizers are looking for volunteers, the meeting is on October 20, 2026 at the Ag grounds.

*Council Highlights provide a brief review of the information given and discussions had at Strathmore Town Council Meetings. Council Highlights are not presented as official minutes of the meeting and do not include items discussed in a closed meeting.

Official meeting minutes can be accessed here. 

Watch the full meeting: 

October 14, 2026 - Committee of the Whole

Watch all past streams on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TOStrathmore/streams