The Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce president recently spoke to council about the past year and also outlined plans for the year ahead.
"We're getting so busy with some of the projects we're working on, I would like to come twice a year and meet with you, or when there's a need," said Mike Beukeboom during the Dec. 14 meeting.
Before getting into the chamber's plans, he expressed appreciation for several successfully completed projects made possible by the town and Mountain View County officials, the first of which was the work on 10th Street SW.
"It looks fantastic."
The chamber president said he'd heard nothing but good reports and that people were really glad to see that project done.
"I know that was a headache for everyone involved for quite a while, and it looks great. So great job there."
Further to that, the relocation of the former recycling centre and the removal of the former county shop were good to see, he said.
"It's nice to see that ugly old building out of the way. I recently met with Mountain View County council as well, and they are working hard to come up with some ideas for what to do with that space."
Also, the recycling centre's new setup and location ó on 6th Street SE near the soccer fields ó is fantastic, he added.
Beukeboom then acknowledged council's support in making a reality the new sign at the Visitor Information Centre, as well as hosting the Alberta Transportation presentations regarding the Main Avenue pilot project. A public consultation takes place in February, he said. See page XX for related story.
Next, the chamber president told council about Sundown in Sundre, which changed venue to the community centre from the Elks Hall and the area near the Sundre Pioneer Museum.
"We were kind of forced to. It was really growing and getting bigger and busier in that space, so it worked out really well at the community centre."
Another noteworthy development was the number of visitors who came to Sundre in 2015, he said.
"We set a new record. We blew an old record out of the water."
The old record was set in 2006 with about 3,500 visitors. The chamber was excited to reach just more than 3,000 visitors in 2014, he said.
"Well, we have surpassed 4,000 visitors" in 2015, said Beukeboom.
"We're really pleased with that. They seem to get busier and busier there all the time."
Thanks to some donations from a couple of local businesses, the chamber was able to construct a new deck at the Visitor Information Centre, he told council.
"It makes it a more usable space than ever before and we do have some plans for that space in the future."
Looking to the year ahead, the chamber is also looking forward to an educational boardwalk. Starting at or near the Visitor Information Centre, the boardwalk would run into the natural area between the centre and the Red Deer River. The goal is to create a roughly 500-metre barrier-free boardwalk that would be accessible to everyone, regardless of whether they use a walker, wheelchair or stroller for children, he said.
"This boardwalk would be an incredible opportunity as an educational resource. Every 100 metres or so ó maybe 75 metres or so ó stations would provide information on the area's flora and fauna."
While one station might highlight the area's wildlife such as moose, deer and elk, as well as their habitat and sources of food, other stations would provide information about fish, birds, predators and so on, he said.
"Along the entire boardwalk, you would find signage identifying the trees and shrubs and plant species in this area."
The boardwalk would provide a wonderful experience ó not only for tourists but also for the community, he said.
"We are hoping to build something that would be at provincial or national parks quality level. We're looking forward to building this."
The best part of the boardwalk for town officials is that the project will be corporately funded, he said.
"We're not asking for any municipal dollars at all, including the province ó I mean there is no money right now."
All that the chamber would ask from the province is the use of the space and also for any scientific or technical support that provincial officials would require, he said.
"So we would ask for their support at that point to basically steer us and make sure it's done properly."
The chamber is also working on plans for a new trade fair for Sundre and district, he said.
"The concept would be the Sundre Acreage and Recreation Show ó we're looking at doing this in May."
The chamber decided to break away from the Sundre Petroleum Operators Group's annual Neighbours' Day to allow room to grow, diversify and evolve into something new and bigger, said Beukeboom, adding the timing was right.
More details are coming for the new trade fair, which is scheduled to take place in May before the long weekend, he said, adding that date was picked simply "because that's when people start coming out to this area."
The chamber is for the most part really pleased with what's happening in Sundre, and its members look forward to continue working with both the town and county councils, as well as the province where the need may be, he said.
The chamber president went on to express a concern over sidewalks and the issue of snow removal over the past couple of winters. While snow removal along the main corridor is an Alberta Transportation issue as well, Beukeboom said he hoped a creative solution to better service sidewalks could be found.
And now that improvements will hopefully be happening sooner rather than later to Main Avenue, it's going to be even more important to maintain a better standard for sidewalk and road cleanup, he said.
Lastly, the chamber would also like to be part of a discussion to introduce an incentive program to entice and attract new business, specifically new industry, to this area, said Beukeboom, before thanking council for its time.
Mayor Terry Leslie expressed his appreciation for Beukeboom's report, and said council representatives who attend chamber meetings would gladly discuss ideas for improved snow removal efforts.
Coun. Chris Vardas was curious to know why the chamber had decided to move away from Neighbours' Day.
"The chamber, over the years, has had a wonderful partnership with the folks at SPOG in piggybacking on that event," said Beukeboom.
But the people who come to that day tend to be there mainly to enjoy a free lunch, shake a hand and perhaps say hello to someone they haven't seen in a while. Neighbours' Day is not necessarily the ideal venue for businesses selling goods or services, he said, adding the long-running event is still an excellent opportunity for new enterprises to introduce themselves to the area.
Over the last few years, more than 50 per cent of the tables booked on the chamber's side at the curling rink during Neighbours' Day are not-for-profit groups, he said.
"And that number gets larger every year."
By contrast, the spring trade fair is planned to be strictly for business owners, he said.
However, Neighbours' Day remains "a great place for the not-for-profit societies to do their thing."
