Could these southern Alberta towns soon become one?
Posted August 21, 2020 12:33 pm.
Last Updated August 21, 2020 12:38 pm.
BLACK DIAMOND (660 NEWS) – Two southern Alberta towns are once again looking to join together and form one municipality.
The towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley have sent proposals to the Minister of Municipal Affairs to allow them to amalgamate.
The two communities have been linked by the Friendship Agreement since 2012. That commitment allowed the towns to work together in an effort to share services and improve communication.
“This is a natural progression of the many collaborative initiatives that our towns have undertaken, especially in the last 10 years or so,” said Black Diamond Mayor Ruth Goodwin.
“We recognize that this is just the beginning of the formal process but look forward to the productive and positive steps towards formally amalgamating the two towns.”
Turner Valley Mayor Barry Crane agreed with Goodwin, saying Town Council is looking forward to the next steps.
“This is the first step in a deliberate process that will help us iron out the details of what a new single municipality will look like.”
The idea of merging the two towns isn’t new–attempts to amalgamate have been made several times in the past few decades.
The most recent attempt was in 2007 which failed after residents voted against it in a plebiscite.
Both town offices said they will continue to engage with residents as the process goes on.
Right now, there’s no word on what the town would be called if the merger is successful.
