Council Highlights: June 22, 2026

Catch Council on June 22, 2026?

Here are some highlights:

• Council ratified the updated Peace Regional Mutual Aid Agreement for 2026, authorizing Interim CAO Kayla Parsons to sign the agreement on behalf of the Town of Peace River. The agreement defines the conditions, procedures, responsibilities, and fees applicable should one of the parties request mutual aid for assistance with a fire or emergency incident. The parties include the Town of Peace River, Town of Grimshaw, Northern Sunrise County, County of Northern Lights, Municipal District of Peace No. 135, Municipal District of Smoky River No. 130, and the Village of Berwyn.

• Council approved the Town's application to renew its designation under the Rural Renewal Stream Program. Since joining the program in 2023, 54 local businesses have participated and 248 endorsement letters were issued as of April 28, 2026. Renewing the designation means we continue to be a designated community under the program for 2027 into 2028, but it remains on pause for the rest of 2026.

• Roxane Guindon, interim Director of Corporate Services, informed Council about planning for the 2027 budget process. The Town is tentatively planning a 2027 budget schedule that would see the budget passed in December, all going well.

• Council approved the cancellation of 2026 property taxes for the portion of the property leased by Mighty Peace Barbell Club in the approximate amount of $4,767.51 (which was their assessed 2025 tax exemption amount, without 2026 proportional numbers calculated yet). The club had previously been granted a Community Organization Property Tax Exemption Regulation (COPTER) exemption. However, it was discovered in a review that the property should not be exempt. To give the club time to adjust its plans in light of having to pay property taxes going forward, Council chose to cancel its 2026 property taxes at the 2025 exemption amount.

• Council approved a request to grant property tax exemption in the amount of $5,319.11 to the Peace Region Dance Society. The organization previously had COPTER exemption, but during a change of the board and its location, had not notified the Town of its changes to maintain its COPTER status. As a result, its exemption status was revoked in 2025. As the society should fall under COPTER exemption, Council granted the exemption now, with the expectation the society will be applying for COPTER exemption this fall.

• Tanya Bell, Director of Community Services, informed Council that the Town was successful in renewing grant funding for the Peace Region Family Resource Network. The total grant amount is $589,368 and the agreement term is two years. The previous agreement's annual grant amount was $479,547. The Town will be responsible for managing the 'hub' and its programs. Current staffing includes one full-time coordinator and 5.2 program/facilitation staff. The new grant allows for the increase of a .8 FTE to deliver the new infant/child development program.

• Bell also sought Council's input on the level of service provided at the Baytex Energy Centre, following a request to install ice in mid-July, which would come with financial implications. Currently, ice installation begins during the first two weeks of August and stays until the end of March. After gathering feedback, Administration will present Council with a Level of Service Review Report at a future meeting.

• Council accepted a Joint Use Planning Agreement (JUPA) update for information, authorizing Administration to enter into the JUPA with school division partners. JUPAs are a formal partnership between a municipality and a school board to enable the integrated and long-term planning and use of school sites on municipal reserve, school reserve, and municipal and school reserve land.

• Council directed Administration to submit a Statement of Intent to Participate to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) regarding the Mihta Askiy Data Centre Project in Northern Sunrise County, allowing the Town to monitor the AUC review and provide input if regional or municipal interests are affected.