Crossfield Deputy Mayor Jo Tennant and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Ken Bosman appeared before Airdrie City council on May 19 to ask it to consider implementing a commuter bus service between the two municipalities.
Bosman said Crossfield had three reasons for making the request.
“We’ve identified three pretty large groups of citizens who go between our community and your community who we feel will utilize it,” he said. “An awful lot of our citizens who may or may not have full-time access to a vehicle obviously do need to get to Airdrie because you are our primary supplier of medical services, business services.
“There are according to Statistics Canada at least 500 citizens of Airdrie who work in Crossfield. I went and surveyed a number of employers in Crossfield and those numbers hold up.”
The final group is Crossfield commuters who ultimately want to make their way to Calgary, according to Bosman.
Tennant said Crossfield Town council had approved the proposal she and Bosman were presenting to Airdrie City council.
Airdrie Transit Co-ordinator Chris MacIsaac said he met with the Crossfield group and provided them with information about how such a trial project might work.
The cost to Crossfield for the sixmonth trial would be $27,000. Bosman said the Town had applied to the federal Small Communities Grant to purchase a bus.
MacIsaac said until Crossfield is able to provide their own bus, Airdrie Transit could supply a bus before it goes into or after it goes out of service within the City for Crossfield’s use.
Council unanimously approved a motion to ask City staff to prepare a business case for approval at a future date.
Reduced Fees
Council received a letter from a citizen asking it to consider reducing the income threshold for subsidized passes at Genesis Place Recreation Centre because her family cannot afford yearly passes on their income but do not qualify for the subsidy.
Council unanimously passed a motion directing staff to review the existing policy and return with a recommendation within two months.
“I fully support staff re-evaluating where (that threshold) sits at all our facilities,” said Mayor Peter Brown.
Seniors’ Week
Council unanimously approved a request from North Rocky View Community Links and the Seniors’ Week Planning Committee to proclaim June 1 to 7 Seniors’ Week in Airdrie.
Seniors’ Week is celebrated each year in Alberta and is a chance for residents to recognize the seniors in their community.
The Airdrie Seniors Week Planning Committee did apply for a grant to host a launch celebration but was unsuccessful.
Health and Fitness Day
Council also unanimously approved proclaiming June 6 as National Health and Fitness Day in Airdrie.
MPs voted unanimously in December 2014 to pass Bill S-211, an Act to establish the first Saturday of every June as National Health and Fitness Day.
The Government of Canada encourages communities across the country to celebrate this day by getting out and taking part in activities that improve overall fitness and health.
