Connect Downtown

Due to the wealth of public feedback and council considerations for the Area Redevelopment Plan, council postponed second and third readings to July 8, 2025 and directed Administration to revise the ARP to reflect a series of amendments, including:

1. Acknowledging areas where restrictive covenants apply and respecting them in the ARP.
2. Softening language around Main Street pedestrianization to "may" rather than "will" and continuing with permanent seasonal closure.
3. Supporting an expansion to Riverside Park, but removing references to commercial enhancements.
4. Designating Eklof Park as a park space.
5. Limiting building heights on Main Street to 2.5 storeys without variances.
6. Clarification that there will be no net decrease in public parking downtown due to development of surface parking lots.

For more information about this project to create a vibrant downtown, visit: mycanmore.ca/connectdowntown

Livability Tax Program Update

Council approved minor amendments to the Division of Class 1 Property Bylaw 2024-19 to align with a judicial review of the bylaw. In a victory for the Town of Canmore, the Court of King’s Bench upheld the Town’s authority to create subclasses of residential properties and allowed the Livability Tax Program to start in the 2026 tax year.

This bylaw was developed at the recommendation of the Livability Tax Force to help address Canmore’s housing crisis. The Livability Tax Program creates subclasses of property types. Moving forward, we will have a separate tax rate for dwellings that do not house a primary resident—someone who lives or has a renter living in their property for a minimum of 183 days of the year and at least 60 continuous days. 

Council also passed amendments to the 2025 Livability Budget since no municipal taxes for the program will be collected this year.

While there is a delay to the program start, over the long-term, the Livability Tax Program will help fund new affordable housing options while providing opportunities for those who want to put down roots and build a life in Canmore to make this place a hometown for generations to come. 

Property Tax Rates Set

Council set the property tax rates today. Your annual property tax notice will be mailed June 2 and taxes are due June 30. To account for the slightly later date of setting the property tax rates, the tax penalty bylaw was amended to have the first penalties for late payment pushed to the middle of July. For the 2025 taxation year only, properties classified under the “Residential” and “Residential – Primary” will be taxed at the same tax rates.

Your tax bill includes the municipal portion of tax (council approved a 3.9% increase for 2025), the provincial education tax (which Canmore collects on behalf of the Government of Alberta, Canmore's requisition went up by 18% this year) and the Bow Valley Regional Housing requisition. Read more on the monthly breakdown of your taxes here: Breaking Down Your Tax Bill: News - Town of Canmore

Silvertip Block 9 Residential Development

After hearing from the public on May 6, council gave second and third readings to both the Municipal Development Plan Bylaw Amendment 2024-39 and Silvertip Area Structure Plan Bylaw Amendment 2024-40.

However, council decided to postpone second and third reading to Revised Land Use Bylaw Amendment 2024-20 to the July 8, 2025 meeting.

Council also:

1. Approved a new employee compensation policy.
2. Approved an amended time away from work policy.
3. As part of reviewing every policy during each council's term, council approved a number of policies that either had no changes required or had minor housekeeping updates.
4. Approved an increase of $32,000 for replacement of the climbing gym floor at Elevation Place.