Actions Taken by the Town of Canmore in Response to Covid-19

All current memberships remain on hold until the Aquatics Centre re-opens, at which point all memberships will be reactivated. Members will be provided with notice prior to reactivation. Members have the option to reactivate their membership to enjoy priority access to Climbing and Fitness. Memberships will not be discounted due to reduced availability or limited services. No drop-in fee is required with a membership.To reactivate your membership, please fill out the online form or phone 403.678.8920. Please allow 48 hours for your membership reactivation to be completed. Memberships must be reactivated in advance, and are unable to be reactivated at the Customer Experience Desk.Splash members are able to reactivate their memberships and access the Fitness area only.

Limited drop-ins will be accommodated if capacity is available, and will be provided on a first come, first served basis. New members can also purchase a Go Beyond membership.

During the following times we are reducing capacity even further and while anyone is welcome to book during this time, we would encourage those who consider themselves more vulnerable to plan their recreation during this time (seniors, those with disabilities, and those with compromised immune systems)

Climbing Area: Tuesday/Thursday 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Fitness Area: Monday-Sunday 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Recreation facilities, like Elevation Place, were projected to be part of the Stage 3 relaunch that was not expected until late summer or early fall. Unexpectedly, the Province of Alberta moved the opening of these facilities from Stage 3 to Stage 2. Although this is a positive development, it was a sudden change that we are working to respond to.

In order to re-open safely, our decision-making needs to align with provincial health guidelines, while also being mindful of budgetary constraints due to revenue loss as a result of the closure of these facilities. In addition to rehiring our staff, we need to source personal protective equipment and train staff for the needs and challenges that COVID-19 has presented.

We reduced staffing and service levels, cut expenses, canceled several capital projects, and reduced reserve transfers in the 2020 Operating Budget to lower the overall municipal 2020 tax requirement to 2019 levels to achieve the following outcomes:

• Maintain essential services and business continuity, including budgeting $470,000 for new costs associated with the response to the pandemic
• Provide departmental expenditure reductions to help mitigate losses in revenue
• Allow for scalability of operations post-pandemic
• Provide increased social and economic development supports for those individuals and businesses most impacted by the pandemic
• Maintain a strong balance in the Tax Stabilization Reserve to provide the flexibility needed to address future uncertainties as well as known future cost increases.

The tax payment deadline has been extended from June 30 to September 30 without any late payment penalties. Council approved relief measures to allow residents and businesses to defer tax and utility payments in April, May and June without penalty or interest.

The following capital projects have been cancelled or reduced in scope, resulting in a reduced transfer to reserves of $1,225,000.  It’s important to note that ultimately all of these projects will be required to proceed at some point in the future to achieve Council’s priorities and objectives of the strategic plan.

• Street Rehab Railway Avenue
• Town Centre Enhancement Plan 
• Affordable Housing Land and Policies 
• Land Use Bylaw Update 
• Visitor Accommodation Review 
• Light Fleet Replacement
• Roundhouse Solar System

Almost half of the budget reductions came from staffing reductions. During building closures, we adjusted staffing levels, affecting approximately 146 people (more than 40% of the Town of Canmore's employees), including laying off 118 people. In closing some facilities, we have made staffing reductions in the recreation department: 93 casual and contract recreation staff were laid off effective March 23, which has reduced our payroll expenses by approximately $60K/month and 23 permanent recreation staff (both full and part-time), which has reduced our payroll expenses by approximately $110K/month. Most staff were recalled with the opening of the buildings in July and August. As well, we suspended hiring for five months and have rescinded offers to most seasonal staff.

We will keep grant-funded projects going – many of our infrastructure projects are grant funded by different levels of government.  Delaying these projects typically means losing the funding.  Proceeding has several benefits:  we keep the funding, we keep people in our community working, and we can take advantage of quiet time in town to complete disruptive projects. However, not all spending is being reduced; we are investing in the community by providing increased social and economic development supports for those individuals and businesses most impacted by the pandemic. Council directed administration to find additional ways to support individuals and businesses that will not be assisted by a reduction in taxes.  Since the Town of Canmore has been building our Tax Stabilization Reserve for many years, we are able to fund these unexpected initiatives.

Expense and Service Level Reductions​	$2.7 million​
Staff layoffs & hiring freezes​	$1.3 million​
Recreation and Facilities programs, services, expenses​	$300k​
Arts & Events programs, services, expenses​	$100k​
Bylaw programs, services, expenses​	$240k​
Streets & Parks programs, services, expenses​	$200k​
Carryover of projects from 2019, not being completed​	$320k​
Rest of the organization programs, service, expenses​	$240k​

Program Reductions
Cancelled World Cup
Cancelled National Indigenous Peoples Day to flag raising only
Cancelled parade and reduced Canada Day to virtual events 
Cancelled Alberta Culture Days
Cancelled First Thursdays
Cancelled Kids Art
Cancelled Mayors Spotlight
Cancelled firehall’s pancake breakfast
Cancelled Wild Festival
Reduced support at Three Sisters Gallery, and for visiting artist program
Delay of memorial bench/plaque program and related costs
Removed budget for Pride crosswalk 
Eliminated 211 service
Reduced neighborhood development opportunities
Removed common community metrics from Community Monitoring Report and analysis of Living Wage
Eliminated New Driver Rebate Program
Eliminated Law Enforcement Bursary
Community Grant funds redirected to social supports

Service Reductions Impacts:
No recreation services or programming from March – mid July
No summer seasonal Bylaw Services officers
No event support to community groups
No publication of community guide 
Eliminated the replacement of fitness supplies and the new holds for the climbing wall
No gravel removal from grass boulevards
No sports field or ball diamond line marking 
Less staining of wooden assets
No invasive plant education
No flower barrels, tree planting, trail repairs, less mulch and shrub bed maintenance
Mowing only at sports fields, ball diamonds, riverside park, cemetery, town buildings and gateway features 
No outdoor ice rink repairs
Reduced street line painting, and sidewalk repairs 
No magazine subscriptions for fitness area

Internal Expense Reductions 
Staff recruitment reduced
Suspended staff appreciation and long-service recognition
Delayed software upgrades
Suspended conference and travel expenses
Postponed professional development and training (including emergency management) 
Cancelled strategic planning work
Reduced fuel and energy consumption
Fewer uniforms and equipment
Suspended advertising, catering, administrative supplies, and services purchased locally
Lower bank service/credit card sales fees
Eliminated contracted cleaning in closed facilities
Negotiated lower rates for some contracts

The Emergency Management Act outlines the powers of a local authority when a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) is declared. You can read the whole act here. 

A summary of the powers that declaring a SOLE provide us as per the act is as follows:

1. cause any emergency plan or program to be put into operation;
2. acquire or utilize any real or personal property considered necessary to mitigate the emergency; (must pay compensation)
3. authorize or require any qualified person to render aid of a type the person is qualified to provide;
4. control or prohibit travel within the municipality; (not to the municipality)
5. provide for the restoration of essential facilities and the distribution of essential supplies and provide,
6. maintain and co-ordinate emergency medical, welfare and other essential services in any part of the municipality;
7. order the evacuation from any area within the municipality and make arrangements for the adequate care and protection of those persons evacuated
8. authorize the entry into any building or on any land, without a warrant, by any person in the course of implementing an emergency plan or program;
9. cause the demolition or removal of any trees, structures or crops if the demolition or removal is necessary or appropriate in order to reach the scene of a disaster, or to attempt to forestall its occurrence or to combat its progress; (must pay compensation for damages)
10. procure or fix prices for food, clothing, fuel, equipment, medical supplies, or other essential supplies and the use of any property, services, resources or equipment within the municipality for the duration of the state of local emergency;
11. authorize the conscription of persons needed to meet an emergency.

You can call 403.609.3743 for appointments for social or family supports, and 403.678.1500 for all other inquiries or appointments. You can also submit a request for an appointment by using our online form here.

As a precaution, we have decided to postpone all Town-led activities until the end of September 2020. 

Click here for more information