We here at RMO share the concern of some on Canmore council with respect to the municipality’s Vision Keepers Group (see story on page 32).
The group, established in 2007, is made up of eight community members and one town councillor with a mandate to uphold the values of sustainability, diversity and connectedness laid out in the Mining the Future Vision document.
The group stated in its recent report to council that without objective outcomes or measures in Mining the Future it is difficult to measure progress towards outcomes in the vision statement.
“The analysis is therefore subjective, but conducted with an overall sense of what the intent of the Mining the Future Vision is,” the report stated.
It is our opinion that council, the elected representatives of the community, are the ones in fact tasked with the job of ensuring municipal decisions, projects and programs represent the future vision of the community.
This Vision Keepers Group is nothing more than a shadow council, unelected and unaccountable, providing what it has acknowledged is subjective advice on a wide range of issues.
It goes against the principles of democracy to have such a supra-democratic body making what sounds a lot like recommendations to council, whether that is the intent or not.
Canmore town council should be considered the real Vision Keepers Group because that is their job and why they were elected. Any other group tasked with that responsibility dilutes accountability to taxpayers and voters and is nothing more than a wishy-washy feel good exercise in ineffectiveness.
Hats off to our citizens
Heading into what will surely be a season of fundraising activities to support worthwhile causes of all kinds locally, we’d like to thank valley citizens who are already putting their money where their mouth is.
In recent weeks, monetary support (as well as volunteer efforts) has been filling the coffers of KidSport, cancer foundations, CAUSE Canada, the YWCA, school lunch programs, back to school students and local health foundations, among many, many others.
The largesse shown by our citizens goes far beyond generosity, it shows a real commitment to causes outside one’s own circle. It’s a recognition that life is good here in the Bow Valley, that we know it, and that we want to help others improve their social and living conditions.
In the upcoming months, our food banks and Christmas Spirit campaign, for example, will need assistance in stocking their shelves with food staples and childrens’ items to ensure everyone enjoys the holiday season.
Again, due to the diligence and hard work of so many organizations and their tireless volunteers, we know these campaigns will be as successful as those in recent times.
Support efforts, generosity and a willingness to roll up sleeves and pitch in are all reasons why this Bow Valley is a special place to live.
