Publisher: Fort Macleod local news, info and events

This is a very exciting time in our community. With the completion of the new service infrastructure lines on the east side we are certainly poised to take advantage of any and all expected opportunities, including industrial, commercial and residential. New waste water treatment facilities and a water treatment facility that we are in the midst of upgrading to support the highest standards for water production will ensure our ability to meet growth demands far into the future. Council is currently completing design of a new 320-acre industrial/business park adjacent to Highway 3 and a 35-acre residential/multi-residential and commercial subdivision behind Tim Hortons and we expect phase one of those developments to take place as soon as possible. There will not only be a huge variety of industrial land options available but the addition of new highway commercial properties adjacent to the Canamex freeway will complement our beautiful historic downtown core and facilitate the commercial opportunities that are now many and varied. Existing residential opportunities include a number beautiful large residential lots available in our east side subdivision adjacent to the river valley. Housing is still affordable here and low residential taxes have made our community a great option for everyone from retirees to young families. Together, these developments will all provide for a very strong market mix and ensure there is something here for everyone here moving forward. In a recent poll done by Venture Magazine of all Alberta communities, Fort Macleod was voted as having one of the highest qualities of life and as one of the most affordable communities in which to do business in the province. We’re within minutes of the breathtaking Rockies, Calgary or the U.S. border and the Oldman River valley provides a dramatic break from the prairie landscape. We pride ourselves on our town’s amenities, such as great schools and recreational facilities, a modern community hall, new seniors’ centre, expanded library and more park space per capita than any town in the province, including my favourite, the 200-acre River Valley Wilderness Park. We also have several new municipal projects in the works which will add even more to the fabric of Fort Macleod. The town is home to one of western Canada’s greatest arrays of historical visitor attractions. Among those are The Fort — Museum of the North West Mounted Police; historic Main Street, Alberta’s first provincial historic area; Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO world heritage site; the original island fort site, a national historic site; the Empress Theatre; the 1884 North West Mounted Police Barracks provincial historic site and the Town Office, also a national historic site. The Legacy Trail and its 40 interpretive sites also provide the visitors and residents alike a glimpse into Fort Macleod’s colourful past while strolling along our beautiful river valley. Fort Macleod is a place where you don’t have to read about the history, you can touch it, you can see it, it’s all around you, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a place that’s so unique it draws you to it and stays with you. Where the eastern prairies usher in brilliant orange dawns and the proud Rocky Mountains provide the backdrop for the most incredible sunsets you’ve ever seen. The long hours of summer sunshine and the warm chinook winds of winter provide a climate second to none in diversity. Even with all that, it’s truly the people who call it home that make Fort Macleod so special. It may take only a few minutes to pass from one end of the community to the other, but it takes a lifetime to enjoy and understand all that it has to offer. You’ll find Fort Macleod is truly a great place to visit, raise a family, start a business or spend your golden years. So whether you’re looking for a unique place to spend part of your vacation or looking for a great place to start a new future, give us a call at 403-553-4425 and we’ll do our best to make sure you won’t be disappointed. Mayor R. Shawn Patience