Whitecourt Town Council Update - February 28, 2025

Whitecourt will be applying to the Province for a Ministerial Order to continue the Whitecourt Protective Services Committee.  Changes made by the Government of Alberta to the Police Act have mandated mechanisms for municipal input into policing.  The Whitecourt Protective Services Committee, which includes Town of Whitecourt, Woodlands County and Public Members, has been established for several years and meets the intent of the Provincial changes.

The Community Services Department presented its 2024 annual report to Council at the February 24 Council meeting.  A complete copy of the report is available online.

• There were over 197,622 scanned visits at the Allan & Jean Millar Centre in 2024.
• 2,099 participants registered in swimming lessons and aquatic courses in 2024.
• Whitecourt Transit provided service to 33,644 passengers in 2024.
• The Whitecourt Food Bank served 2,626 people with regular food bank fills in 2024.
• The Dial-A-Bus Program provided transportation to over 3,493 passengers in 2024.

Whitecourt has secured $2,364,587 in funding through the rural Transit Solutions Fund for the replacement of the Dial-A-Bus, purchase of one transit bus, addition/replacement of bus stops and shelters, replacement of traffic signals, and replacement of sidewalks/pathways leading to stops. The Canada Public Transit Fund also awarded Whitecourt with $697,030 in funding for transit capital projects which will be provided in annual allocations for the next 10 years.  The funding for both programs will assist with capital costs related to offering Transit service in Whitecourt.

Council was provided an update on the Culture & Events Centre.  The project is on schedule and on budget.  A press release was distributed on February 25, 2025 with further details and is available to view on our website.

Whitecourt Town Council has passed a Land Use Bylaw amendment that has changed the zoning of land in the hilltop residential area from “Municipal Reserve” to “Future Urban Development”.  The land, located within the Southland Estates Area Structure Plan, was held as Urban Reserve for school development; however, local school divisions indicated recently that they do not require this land.  The zoning change will allow a developer the opportunity to purchase the land and propose a designation they feel is compatible with the built-our area in accordance with the Area Structure Plan.

Land Use Bylaw 1577-4 has been adopted.  The amendment has changed the definitions for “Professional Office Services” and “Health Services”, and “Health Services” are now permitted in Hilltop Commercial and Urban Services districts.

Council has scheduled a Special Meeting for April 2, 2025 at 4pm to discuss the 2025 Budget.

Street closures have been approved for the Whitecourt & District Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Carnival.  The Carnival is scheduled for May 2-4, 2025 in downtown Whitecourt.