Notes from Council, June 2026
Dear Residents & Ratepayers,
At the June 3rd Regular Meeting of Council, the Privacy Management Program of Vulcan County was brought forward for decision. This program is mandatory under new provincial legislation regarding access to information and protection of privacy. All public bodies in Alberta must have one and privacy impact assessments are required prior to disclosure of information.
On June 10th, 2026, a Public Hearing was held in the Champion Community Hall to receive information on a proposed Land Use Bylaw Amendment (Bylaw 2026-007). This bylaw proposed redesignating approximately 865 acres from Rural General to Rural Industrial, being located northeast of Travers Reservoir and on the north side of HWY 529. The hearing was well attended with overflow seating being used in the lower level of the hall, a facility that has enough seating for 400 people. At the hearing, apart from the applicant for the redesignation, the manager for the Bow River Irrigation District spoke about the impacts on the irrigation system of the proposed project. Over the course of the hearing, excluding those two speakers, twenty-six people spoke in opposition while two spoke in favour.
A decision was made on this bylaw amendment at the June 17th regular meeting with a majority of council members supporting an amended redesignation bylaw, reducing the area to approximately 595 acres. While two members of council voted against this action and I was one, the debate has occurred and the decision has been made; applications for rural industrial development permits can now be submitted. A written statement that I delivered in this debate is available on my website, providing the rationale for how I voted. We now move forward with fresh eyes in consideration of any forthcoming development permit application for a data processing centre, should it be submitted.
Also, on June 17th we heard from two delegations, the Chinook Arch Regional Library System and the Calgary Region Airshed Zone (CRAZ). Chinook Arch serves 40 municipalities and 35 library locations, each with a self-governing board and community-specific programs and services. CRAZ, on the other hand, is one of ten airshed zones in the province. It monitors air quality with four continuous monitoring stations and an array of “Purple Air Sensors” across the zone. While managing dust and odour are obvious considerations in our area, coping with wildfire smoke is a problem from time to time. CRAZ exists to facilitate collaborative solutions in air quality management in our communities.
Council gave First Reading to another Land Use Bylaw Redesignation for approximately 15.5 acres north of Brant, along HWY 804 and south of HWY 23. A public hearing will be held at 11:05 AM on July 15, 2026, in Council Chambers.
I will be in the 115th Anniversary Parade for Champion on July 4th. Vulcan County is also celebrating 75 years of municipal incorporation in 2026. Given this milestone, I have donated three mugs to the Champion, Milo and Vulcan libraries respectively. These libraries will find a unique way to give away the mugs, be it by a draw or some other contest; please visit your local library. For those interested, Administration is selling a variety of 75th Anniversary items from the front counter in the County’s administration building.
Sincerely,
Christopher Northcott