Safe Communities Initiatives - Free Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessments are available for residents and businesses, with Safe Communities Facilitator Kelly Sanford and an RCMP officer providing property walkthroughs and practical recommendations to deter theft and vandalism. The CAPTURE camera registry also invites community members to voluntarily register their security cameras, giving RCMP a quick reference to potential footage near a crime scene (without granting direct access to the cameras). safecommunitiesbrooks@gmail.com

City of Brooks Special Council Meeting - Council approved new terms of reference for the Intermunicipal Affairs Committee, set to replace the Joint Shared Services Committee after the 2025 election. The decision came after discussion about closing meetings to the media and giving the committee authority to approve the regional economic development work plan. CAO Doug Lor concluded, “What this agreement does is provide a terms of reference for the five municipalities to discuss issues of common concern openly, with any final decision coming back to individual councils.”

Regional Orientation Training - During the discussion of the Intermunicipal Affairs Committee, CAO Doug Lor emphasized the value of continuing cost-shared council orientation sessions, noting that smaller municipalities cannot afford to bring in outside experts on their own. He said this regional approach, which he has encouraged, allows all five municipalities to participate together at no cost. Lor added that consultant George Cuff, who has led trainings, called it “the best he has ever heard of” for demonstrating regional cooperation and starting each new council term with collaboration in mind.

Family FUNfair:
Where Fun Becomes Funds

Last year, local groups ran carnival games as fundraisers…and it was a hit! Kids laughed, families played, and organizations raised real dollars for their cause.

This year, it’s back and even bigger. With live children’s entertainment, music, facepainting, Farmers’ Market, food trucks and a festival crowd ready to play, your group wouldn’t just be raising support—you’re giving families a day to remember.

Together, we will turn community fun into community support. 🙌

Apply today to run a game at the Family FUNfair.

Saturday, September 13, 11-3PM
at the Brooks and District Museum

Brooks-Newell Regional Economic Development Agreement - Council approved a new regional economic development services agreement, effective January 1, 2026. The key change is that the three smaller municipalities—Duchess, Rosemary, and Bassano—will now contribute 2% of their Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGF) operating funds, or about $2,000 each, whereas in the past they made no financial contribution. The LGF is provincial funding provided to municipalities to support local services. The City and County will continue their annual commitments of up to $180,000 each, plus their 2% share (about $36,000 from the City and slightly less from the County). Moving oversight from the Joint Shared Services Committee to staff will allow economic development to be managed like any other department.

Anti-Scam Awareness for Seniors - Gift card scams continue to surge, particularly targeting seniors. In 2023, the Canadian Anti‑Fraud Centre (CAFC) reported nearly 40,000 victims. Typically, the scam begins with an urgent call, text, or email from someone posing as a trusted authority—like a government official or utility worker—demanding immediate payment via gift cards. Victims are told to buy a card and share the number and PIN, at which point the money vanishes. To help prevent such losses, Safe Communities has introduced an Anti-Scam Stop Sign for retailers to display at gift card racks. This simple but eye-catching warning encourages shoppers, especially seniors, to pause and think twice before purchasing gift cards under suspicious pressure. Anyone who suspects a scam should report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or on their website.

Municipal Election - The Municipal General Election will be held on October 20, 2025. Nomination period for the 2025 General Election will run until noon on nomination day, September 22, 2025.

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