Strathcona County Sign Bylaw Saga

It is well known that I voted against the controversial sign bylaw. As councillor, I listened to numerous business owners and business owner-residents complain about the sign bylaw, about its’ lack of common sense, about the need to revisit it and review it attentively. I heard you and promised that once Mayor, I would continue to work hard to ensure this bylaw would be reviewed and amended.  I promised to ”revisit the sign bylaw to ensure fairness and business sense in the County."

On November 30, 2011, with Council in agreement, we directed Strathcona County Administration to report back to Council in January regarding amendments to Section 10, Sign Regulations of the Land Use Bylaw 8-2001.  We requested that they specifically address Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce and the Alberta Portable Sign Association’s concerns relating to Portable Signs, Inflatable Signs, Window Signage, and Third Party Advertising.

Strathcona County Administration reported back to Council on January 11, 2011 with a detailed report based on the feedback they received.  (For more information visit: http://www.strathcona.ca/files/Files/att-lls-arm-110111-report12-1.pdf )

It is with great pleasure that I inform you that Council has decided to schedule a Public Hearing on February 8, 2011 for Bylaw 1-2011.

After having fought hard to get this bylaw reviewed, I am overjoyed to have been able, with the help of Council and a common sense approach, to finally reach this goal.

Even though I, personally, will not be present at the public hearing, you can rest assured of my 100% support of the revised bylaw.

Linda

Strathcona County First Mayor's Levée

Strathcona County’s very first Mayor's Levee was a success! About 350 - 400 people braved cold temperatures and snow to see our new center, watch great dance entertainment, and talk with several councillors and myself.

What wonderful talent we have in Strathcona County!  Thank you to Marianne Kuebler and Dance Fusion, Barbara Dodds and the Sherwood Park School of Dance, Mitch Metrunec the Ardrossan Yatran Ukrainian Dancers, and Piper Jeff Allen.

The residents’ enthusiasm could be felt from 12:15 p.m. when people were waiting at the Agora’s doors, looking forward to an enjoyable afternoon of family entertainment and refreshments.

The feedback that we have been receiving is very positive. Many residents reflected on what a nice way this was to spend a snowy Sunday afternoon in the middle of January when it is much too cold to be outside.

Others were happy to get a chance to visit the Agora as this was the first time for many residents to attend an event here.

Families, friends and neighbours sipped on coffee and hot chocolate prepared by Vicky’s Coffee Bar and nibbled on delicious cookies baked by Bev Facey High School students.

A big thank you to our sponsors Save-On-Foods and Sobey’s who provided the beautiful and tasty cakes, and to Safeway who prepared those lovely balloon bouquets! The Sherwood Park Crusaders also added to the fun by donating 100 tickets to any Cru game.  The first 300 residents had the choice of a ticket to a Crusaders game or a day pass to Millennium Place.
.

And let us not forget Sparky, the Strathcona County Firefighters’ fun loving mascot who danced along to the music and gave out lots of hugs to everyone, young and old. Thank you for joining us!

I truly enjoyed the opportunity to visit with many residents, share their stories, some with family historical links with the first original Levees in Canada!

Thank you to all who helped make the first Mayor’s Levee a successful and wonderful community event. 

Linda

Successful Strathcona County First Mayor's Levée

Strathcona County’s very first Mayor's Levee was a success! About 350 - 400 people braved cold temperatures and snow to see our new center, watch great dance entertainment, and talk with several councillors and myself.

What wonderful talent we have in Strathcona County!  Thank you to Marianne Kuebler and Dance Fusion, Barbara Dodds and the Sherwood Park School of Dance, Mitch Metrunec the Ardrossan Yatran Ukrainian Dancers, and Piper Jeff Allen.

The residents’ enthusiasm could be felt from 12:15 p.m. when people were waiting at the Agora’s doors, looking forward to an enjoyable afternoon of family entertainment and refreshments.

The feedback that we have been receiving is very positive. Many residents reflected on what a nice way this was to spend a snowy Sunday afternoon in the middle of January when it is much too cold to be outside.

Others were happy to get a chance to visit the Agora as this was the first time for many residents to attend an event here.

Families, friends and neighbours sipped on coffee and hot chocolate prepared by Vicky’s Coffee Bar and nibbled on delicious cookies baked by Bev Facey High School students.

A big thank you to our sponsors Save-On-Foods and Sobey’s who provided the beautiful and tasty cakes, and to Safeway who prepared those lovely balloon bouquets! The Sherwood Park Crusaders also added to the fun by donating 100 tickets to any Cru game.  The first 300 residents had the choice of a ticket to a Crusaders game or a day pass to

Millennium Place

.

And let us not forget Sparky, the Strathcona County Firefighters’ fun loving mascot who danced along to the music and gave out lots of hugs to everyone, young and old. Thank you for joining us!

I truly enjoyed the opportunity to visit with many residents, share their stories, some with family historical links with the first original Levees in Canada!

Thank you to all who helped make the first Mayor’s Levee a successful and wonderful community event. 

Linda

It’s been a busy eight weeks...

Over the last six - eight weeks Council and I have worked hard and accomplished a great deal and I believe this will continue throughout 2011. With record snow falls, sign by-law revisions, a new governance policy in the works, the budget approved unanimously, transmission line hearings in the spring, we have been very busy with much more on the horizon.

We have gathered together as a community for Remembrance Day ceremonies, the Community Center Opening, Festival of Trees, the art unveiling at the new Library, Heartland Hall’s light up, the CP Holiday train and our New Year’s Eve celebrations. 

It is my hope that you will join Council for the upcoming New Year's Levée on Sunday, January 16th, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. in the Agora of the Community Centre – another chance for us to celebrate the future and spirit of this community.

I am excited about this Council and our ability to work together with the County staff for the residents - with your input.  We want to leave a great legacy for the future of Strathcona County, our children and grandchildren to inherit.

Please join us on Sunday at the Levée – it is another wonderful opportunity for us to connect!

Linda

Malanka - Ukrainian New Year's Celebration

Saint Sophia's Parish presents:

MALANKA!

Come and join us in celebrating Malanka on Saturday January 15th, 2011.

5:30 Cocktails
6:30 Dinner
8:00 Ukrainian Dancers
9:00 Dance to 'Millenia'

Tickets are $50.00 per person.

Contact Roger @ 780 - 464-3989 for tickets or for more information,

Hope to see you there!"