Connect Downtown: A New Vision for our Town Centre
We officially have a new plan to guide the evolution of our downtown as a community-centric space. Following a multi-year engagement process that heard from thousands of voices from our community, council adopted the Town Centre Area Redevelopment Plan Bylaw 2025-05 (Connect Downtown). We are so grateful for everyone who was a part of this process to ensure our downtown is a place where residents and visitors alike want to live, work, play, and connect. But change won’t happen overnight. The ARP guides future development downtown over the next 25 years and is dependent on securing funding for larger capital projects. You can learn more about the proposed timeline in the full plan at mycanmore.ca/connectdowntown

Housing Action Updates
Moustache Lands Affordable Housing Project
In a significant step toward addressing the housing crisis and supporting those in greatest need, Town Council has approved the YMCA as the official developer and operator of the Moustache Lands Affordable Housing Project. This collaborative effort marks a continued commitment to making housing more attainable for our community for those who want to want to call Canmore home.

To move this project forward, the Town will enter into a 99-year land lease agreement with the YMCA, empowering them to lead the fundraising, design, and construction efforts. The development is expected to feature a vibrant mix of commercial retail space and a minimum of 270 purpose-built rental units, providing much-needed housing options for residents.

Vital Homes Amendments
Council updated the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) related to Vital Homes and approved an amended Vital Homes policy. The updates were structured to:

1. Put policy in the policy (i.e. not in the LUB)
2. Give authority to the most suitable decision maker
3. Ensure reasonable benefit and flexibility for the Vital Homes program
4. Ensure reasonable bonusing pricing structure for Canmore Community Housing (CCH) and industry
5. Develop standardized, clear/transparent process and agreements with CCH
6. Consider additional incentives for industry (not just bonusing)

Business Registry Bylaw Amendment - Visitor Accommodation
Council gave first reading to Business Registry Bylaw Amendment 2025-24 - Visitor Accommodation and scheduled a public hearing for September 2, 2025. This update proposes to align Visitor Accommodation business licencing requirements with Tourist Home business licencing requirements. Read more here: Bylaws Pending Approval: Town of Canmore

Bow Valley Community Fireguard Capital Project Updates
Council heard an update on the Bow Valley Community Fireguard Project Phase 1 (Stoneworks Creek/Harvie Heights/East Park Gates). Council also received an overview of the construction to be completed as part of Phase 2 (Canmore Nordic Centre East/West) and approved the two associated capital projects required to undertake the work. Construction of Phase 2 of the Bow Valley Community Fireguard is scheduled to begin mid-August and is funded by the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta. Read more on the Fireguard project here: Bow Valley Community Fireguard: Town of Canmore

Policy Updates
Council approved a number of policy amendments including the Debt Management Policy, Tangible Capital Assets Policy, Purchasing Policy and the Environmental Impact Statement Policy, as well as a new Community Event and Film Policy. Read more on each of these policies in today's agenda package here: Council Meetings: Town of Canmore

Council also:

1. Gave second and third readings to Revised Land Use Bylaw Amendment 2024-20 - Silvertip Block 9 Residential Development.
2. Postponed a decision on updates to the Land Use Bylaw that aim to clarify offences of operating illegal Tourist Homes until Aug. 19, after hearing from the community during today's public hearing.
3. Approved the sale of two properties on Grotto Road that were purchased after the 2013 floods. With the Cougar Creek debris flood retention structure substantially complete, and related changes to the MDP and LUB completed, the Town is now able to dispose of the two properties.
4. Approved revisions to the Engineering Design and Construction Guidelines, which focused on the landscape design section.
5. Approved a new capital project for the development of a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Roof Replacement Incentive program, which will be fully funded by a third-party grant. It is anticipated the incentive will be available starting in 2026.