What Council's Role Really Means for Us - Municipal governance expert George Cuff recently led orientation sessions for newly elected officials from the City of Brooks, the County of Newell, Bassano, Duchess and Rosemary. Cuff is widely respected across Canada for helping councils understand a critical shift: campaigning is about promises, but governing is about policy.

Council's authority lies in deciding "what do we want to become?"—not managing daily operations or individual complaints.

While each councillor represents you, they cannot act alone. Decisions are made by Council as a group. So when you give feedback, your voice needs to reach the whole Council, not just one person. And differences of opinion are both expected and valuable. Here's something that might surprise you, Cuff says, when Council disagrees, that's not dysfunction, it creates healthy debate that leads to better decisions. Yet most of us have been conditioned to think disagreement means something's broken. (Source: George Cuff, municipalworld.com)

Share this with three neighbours and discuss: When council disagrees, do you think that is a problem or a sign they're doing their job? Let's spur each other on.

30’ Christmas Tree in Veterans Park - The Brooks Filipino Community applied to install a 30-foot metal Christmas tree in Veterans Park, requiring a height variance under the Land Use Bylaw. The Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) reviewed the application and staff report.
Concerns were raised about the safety and anchoring method, noting that the plan to stabilize the base with sandbags and attach tension wires to nearby trees seemed unreliable. Staff confirmed that engineered structural plans stamped by a professional engineer are required, showing how the structure will be supported, anchored, and stabilized.

Public Works and Parks conditions include:

• All tension wires must be suspended above ground to prevent tripping hazards.

• No heavy equipment is permitted in Veterans Park.

• A servicing plan showing cord locations and power connections must be approved by the City.

Installation may begin after November 12, 2025, and must be removed by January 10, 2026. The MPC added a condition requiring a fence around the base of the tree.

Renovating the pool changerooms at the JBS Canada Centre. Starting November 3, they will be updating lockers, bathroom partitions, and benches. During this time, there may be temporary interruptions or reduced service levels related to changes at the facility.

New Pet Licensing - Program launches October 29. The City of Brooks has partnered with DocuPet to bring a smarter, safer way to license pets. Every licence includes a free tag linked to a secure online pet profile, a lost pet service with live support and community alerts, and a central location to report found pets. With these features, lost pets can be identified quickly and reunited with their families faster. All cats and dogs in Brooks must be licensed annually (system does not auto-renew, but reminders will be sent). Discounted rates available with proof of spay/neuter.

Welcoming & Inclusive Committee wants to hear from you. They are asking residents to share their thoughts on how Brooks is doing as an inclusive and welcoming community, and where they can improve. Your feedback helps guide future initiatives. Let’s build a better Brooks, together. Community Engagement Survey Survey closes Oct. 30.

Prairie Patchers Quilt Guild is holding a Quilt show on November 1 at the Trinity Lutheran Church 1:00-4:00. They will be displaying the beautiful quilts made by their talented members. There will also be a draw for a quilt (ticket included with price of admission), some items for sale, a couple sewing related vendors, and refreshments served. $10 admission

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