Didsbury Civic Literacy Network

04/23/2026

One has to wonder about the integrity of Didsbury Town Council and the manner and process through which they approved the hosting and financing of the Station 5 Roundup community event.

They:

1. made a resolution to hire an event manager for $2500 with no advertising or tendering opportunity (res 107-26)

2. made a resolution to receive a detailed proposal from the event manager (res 107-26)

3. made a resolution to form an Ad Hoc committee charged with facilitating the planning of the event (res 108-26)

4. discussed the event manager’s detailed proposal behind closed doors after publicly resolving to receive the detailed proposal (March 10 RCM Agenda)

5. made a resolution to commit an additional $60,460 of public funds with the prospect of recovering only $36,000 (res 124-26)

For Councilors who ran on a platform of transparency and accountability, the manner and process through which this event was initiated and approved is anything but flattering.

04/14/2026

We know that Council Meetings can be intimidating to those that haven't paid attention to municipal government before, part of our goal is to make being involved and aware more user friendly. So we asked AI to summarize the council package and to pick out things to pay attention to. Here is that summary, if you have any questions comment below.

Synopsis of the Council Meeting
✅ 1. Delegations / Presentations (Early in the Meeting)
Why this matters: These are the only times non council voices speak at length.
🔹 MNP LLP (external accounting firm) – 2025 Audit Report
• Independent auditors explain the Town’s financial health
• This is your clearest view of:
o how public money is handled
o whether there were concerns or risks flagged
📌 Pay attention if you care about taxes, reserves, or financial transparency.
________________________________________
🔹 Didsbury Golf Club Presentation
• Covers operations, finances, capital needs, and future challenges
• Lease with the Town expires in 2027
• Council may direct next steps informally through discussion
📌 Pay attention if you care about recreation, Town owned land, or future costs.
________________________________________
✅ 2. Bylaws & Policies Section
This is where real decisions happen.
Even if discussion is short, votes here are binding.
• Land Use Bylaw amendments
• Any motions that change rules affecting:
o development
o businesses
o neighbourhoods
📌 This is one of the most important sections to watch—even when it feels technical.
________________________________________
✅ 3. Business / Requests for Decision
These items create immediate direction or commitments.
Tonight includes decisions on:
• approval of 2025 Audited Financial Statements (legal requirement)
• formal agreements (e.g., school division joint use)
• committee appointments (e.g., policing)
📌 Pay attention to see what council is actually approving—not just hearing about.
________________________________________
✅ 4. Correspondence & Information
This section includes:
• resident letters and emails
• reactions to past council decisions
Council usually does not debate correspondence, but:
• it becomes part of the official public record
• councillors may comment briefly
📌 Pay attention if you want to see whether council acknowledges public concern—or moves quickly past it.
________________________________________
✅ 5. Question Period (Near the End of Open Session)
This is the only time residents can ask questions live.
Important limits:
• questions only (not speeches or debate)
• answers may be brief
📌 Stay if you want to hear what council is willing—or not willing—to answer publicly.

A reminder that a Regular Council Meeting will be held tonight at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Town Office (1606 14 Street).
- For an agenda and link to view on YouTube, visit: https://www.didsbury.ca/p/council-meetings
- For more information about how decisions are made and the processes followed by Town Council, visit: https://www.didsbury.ca/p/your-government

03/31/2026

To our beautiful community,

Today is yours. All of it. Every bit of it. 
We see you and celebrate you wherever & however you exist.

We also want to name something important: being out and openly visible isn't accessible for all of us. It takes safety, support, and circumstances beyond our control that the world doesn't give equally. That is not a reflection of who you are, but only that you haven't yet been given what you deserve.

So, a reminder that visibility looks like a lot of things.
It looks like pride flags and public celebration. It also looks like getting through the day, and like finding the quiet moments of joy in our lives. Like just existing fully, stubbornly, beautifully in a world that makes that harder than it should be.

And all of it counts. And all of it is enough. 
And all of it is worth celebrating.

Happy Trans Day of Visibility. 
We are so honoured and so glad you're here.

You are, in fact, everything.

03/24/2026

03/23/2026

FINAL CALL: Didsbury deserves better than manufactured division.

The deadline is almost here. Council has been told that the opposition to Bylaw 2026-08 is just a "small minority." It’s time to prove them wrong. Oppressors are the real special interest group here, and they are trying to use our town infrastructure to send a message of exclusion. Alberta is about live and let live, not imposing the will of others on the rest of us.

Why we are saying NO:

It wastes our tax dollars on a problem that doesn't exist.
It distracts from real issues like housing and growth.
It risks Didsbury’s reputation in a competitive province.
Albertans are not hateful. We are a community that values respect and common sense. We need every common-sense voice to flood the Council’s inbox before the final vote on Tuesday.

EMAIL COUNCIL NOW: [email protected]
DEADLINE: March 24

Short Script:
"To Mayor Little and Council, I oppose Bylaw 2026-08. It is unnecessary and risks our town's economic future. Please focus on real priorities like housing and growth. Vote NO."

Please share this one last time. Let’s keep Didsbury welcoming and focused on the future.

03/21/2026

'Neutral' Isn't Neutral.

Don't be fooled by the name. Bylaw 2026-08 isn't about administrative fairness. It’s a political dog whistle that manufactures conflict where none exists. We demand integrity from our Council, not pandering to special interest groups.

The Reality Check:

Subjective Rules: "Neutrality" is impossible to define and invites endless legal disputes and community division.

A Choice to Exclude: Preventing inclusion is still a choice. This bylaw sends a message that some neighbours don't belong, damaging our town's reputation.

Political Posturing: Passing a symbolic ban is a political choice that distracts from the core services we pay for.

Don't let a vocal group dictate the reputation of our town. Please take 60 seconds to send a respectful email to Council today.

Email by March 24th: [email protected]
Subject: Vote NO on Bylaw 2026-08

03/20/2026

This is an important statement.

03/20/2026

Let’s get Didsbury back to real priorities.

Town Council is currently pushing a "Public Space Neutrality" bylaw that is a textbook example of political overreach. While our neighbours in the Calgary–Red Deer corridor are competing for growth, housing, and investment, our Council is wasting tax dollars and staff time on a manufactured culture war.

The Facts:

No Local Need: We have no rainbow crosswalks or Pride flags on town poles. Why legislate against things that aren't even here?

Economic Risk: Film and TV productions bring millions to Alberta, but they avoid "high-maintenance" towns. This bylaw makes Didsbury look closed for business.

Wasted Resources: Every hour spent policing "neutrality" is an hour NOT spent on the roads, infrastructure, and housing we actually need.

Let’s show Council that the majority of us want them focused on growth, not performative bans.

📧 Email: [email protected]
✅ Subject: Opposition to Bylaw 2026-08
⏳ Deadline: March 24