Reviewing Flag Policy - City Council will be reviewing an updated Flag Half-Masting Policy to align with federal rules and current City practice. The changes would clarify that the Canadian flag is always lowered last, extend half-masting to include the death of a Privy Councillor, High Commissioner, or Ambassador, expand national days of mourning to cover Vimy Ridge Day, the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, Firefighters’ National Memorial Day, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and specify that only the Canadian, Alberta, and City of Brooks flags will be flown on City flagpoles.

Request to Restore Park Name - City Council is reviewing their policy on naming and renaming City parks and assets, following a resident's request to restore the original name of West Side Park to Petrick Memorial Park. A recent Larkspur article prompted her to reflect on the park’s history. It was originally named in memory of Mitch and Lori Petrick, siblings who both passed away tragically in 1977 and 1978. “The entire park was built by many dedicated citizens for all children to enjoy, and many of those individuals still reside in Brooks today,” she wrote. The policy will guide future naming requests and ensure donations tied to naming rights are handled fairly.

Residential New Build Incentive - City Council will be reviewing the Bylaw to formally authorize the Residential New Build Incentive Program, which provides staged municipal tax reductions for new homes (100% in Year 1, 75% in Year 2, 50% in Year 3, and 25% in Year 4). The program, approved in 2023, saw its first qualifying properties in 2025. Five properties received Year 1 relief totalling $11,908, with nine properties approved overall and up to 15 more applications expected by year-end.

September is busy with the shift from summer into fall . . .

You deserve a break!

Pick a person, Pick a time, Enjoy a break!
Thursday 2-6PM in Veteran’s Park

And a Day You Won’t Want to Miss!
The Family FUNfair is Saturday, September 13, 11–3 PM at the Brooks & District MUSEUM. Enjoy children’s entertainment, live music, face painting, food trucks, and the Farmers’ Market—all in one place for a fun-filled day the whole family will remember.

Family FUNfair
Saturday, September 13, 11-3PM
at the Brooks & District MUSEUM

BrooksNET Update - the fibre optic backbone network is now complete and operational, with about 700 subscribers connected through Galaxy Fibre. A recent inspection identified areas where conduit was missing or deficient; remediation is underway, and holdbacks will not be released until corrections are complete. To date, the City has invested $5.5M of the $6.3M budget. Under the contract, the City earns $10 per subscriber and retains ownership of the backbone network.

Why This Matters: My Take: When fibre internet was first pitched in Brooks, all I heard was faster downloads and gaming—that didn’t resonate with me. But after digging, I’ve learned: virtual health care already happening in Alberta means you can connect with specialists by video and securely share photos or images for diagnosis, instead of driving hours for a short appointment. Colleges are also exploring VR so trades students can practice skills virtually—SAIT has tested VR welding simulators, and Lethbridge College runs VR/AR projects for construction and equipment training—saving families thousands on housing and travel. And with homes expected to jump from 13 connected devices in 2020 to more than 40 by 2030—everything from TVs and laptops to doorbell cameras, smart fridges, and vacuums—fibre ensures we can keep up. Even if you’re not a gamer, BrooksNET can cut medical trips, make learning more affordable, and keep our homes running smoothly.

Municipal Election will be held on October 20. The following individuals have officially submitted nomination papers and are now confirmed candidates in the upcoming municipal election:

Mayor

• Joel Goodnough

• Norm Gerestein

Councillor

• Paul Post

• Mike Regner

• Mohammed Idriss

• Jackie Johnson

• Carly Bryant

• Mara Nesbitt

The following individuals have submitted a Notice of Intent to Run, but have not yet filed official nomination papers:

• Justin Cox

• Marissa Wardrop

Voters will be choosing one mayor and six councillors.

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