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Regional Roundup
March 11, 2026

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Sturgeon County open to sharing some services with Gibbons

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Sturgeon County says it is open to integrating fire services and Family and Community Support Services with Gibbons as the town undergoes a viability review. However, the county said it is not able to enter into a revenue-sharing model or to make transfer payments, citing provincial legislation, inter-municipal agreements, fiscal capacity, and overall transparency and fairness.

In a March 6 newsletter, the county outlined the support it has provided to Gibbons since the beginning of the year, when the financial crisis was brought to its attention, including the provision of about $415,000 through a cost-sharing agreement, which is part of a $2.1-million, five-year contract. The county is paying for a legal review to determine whether Gibbons can recoup some funds whose loss has severely affected its budget. The county also helped clear the town's roads after a recent snowfall.

County council learned more about the viability review at a meeting on March 10. The viability report is expected to be finished and presented in late May, and Gibbons residents will vote on dissolution as early as June, according to a presentation from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. The municipal affairs minister would then make a recommendation to cabinet on the town's fate. If Gibbons dissolves and becomes a hamlet within Sturgeon County, the county could receive $450,000 to integrate town governance, administration, and services. It could also receive up to $1.5 million to ensure critical infrastructure can continue operating during the transition. Gibbons will host a public information session about the viability review process at 7pm on March 11 at the Gibbons Cultural Centre.

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Economic development

Municipalities

  • Sturgeon County has reopened its Small Business Incentive program, which provides eligible businesses up to $5,000 in matching funds for education, marketing, and equipment upgrades, following a first year that saw 13 businesses approved and nearly $200,000 generated in private sector projects.
  • Beaumont has begun a comprehensive review of its Municipal Development Plan and land use bylaw . It was last updated in 2019 when the city's population was less than 20,000 — it has since soared to more than 26,000. The new documents are expected to be complete in 2028.
  • Fort Saskatchewan is seeking input on its new land use bylaw. A final draft is to be released on March 16, followed by a series of open houses until April 1. The deadline to provide feedback is April 10.
  • Stony Plain has launched a Business Retention and Expansion program, starting with a survey of local businesses to identify shared priorities and guide future support.
  • Stony Plain has introduced a year-round community cleanup program called Team Up to Clean Up, inviting residents, schools, and organizations to collect garbage and debris in parks and public spaces.
  • The City of Leduc published an update on its completed cultural development strategy and is working toward a new multi-year strategy to further strengthen the city's cultural life.
  • Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack called on the Alberta government to collect its own education property tax, saying municipalities should not act as intermediaries. Speaking during Edmonton city council's review of municipal operations on March 5, Knack said the current system leaves residents confused because a significant share of their property tax bill goes to the province rather than the city. The issue has drawn renewed attention as the province's 2026 budget includes an increase to the education property tax.

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Happenings

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Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

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