Summer Village of Silver Sands
Mailing Address
Box 8, Alberta Beach, Alberta T0E 0A0
New Office/Courier Location
2317 Township Road 545, Lac Ste. Anne County, AB T0E 1V0
Contact Information
p: 587-873-5765 f: 780-967-0431
STATUS CHANGE
SUMMER VILLAGE VS. VILLAGE
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
CHANGING STATUS – SUMMER VILLAGE TO VILLAGE (May 2024 Annual Newsletter)
COULD THIS BENEFIT SILVER SANDS?
Alberta is one of the few remaining provincial jurisdictions in Canada to provide for a “Summer Village” as part of its catalogue of authorized local authorities (municipalities). The Municipal Government Act (MGA), which regulates the formation, operation and oversight of local authorities in Alberta, has evolved in regard to Summer Villages over the past several decades. Recent changes to the regulations, as well as core funding framework formulas, such as the new Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF), have reignited the perennial debate on what it means to be a Summer Village in Alberta, and indeed whether it remains a viable option to keep this special designation.
While Alberta continues to protect the status of existing Summer Villages under the Act, and Summer Villages remain a strong and vibrant class of local authority in the province, several significant shifts in the status quo require local Councils to reflect on the best path forward for the communities they represent, and the Summer Village of Silver Sands is in this same boat. In considering the options before them, Councils need to balance the pros of retaining the “Summer Village” status – including special protections in the legislation, especially those under the Municipal Government Act and Local Authorities Election Act – with the very real drawbacks – chiefly the new LGFF formula which is seen to be unduly discriminatory to the disadvantage of Summer Villages.
In the coming months, residents will be provided with more detailed information on what it could mean to change status from a Summer Village to a Village and will be asked to provide feedback. Please watch closely for this and endeavor to get involved and have your voice heard as your feedback will be very important to the decision making of determining whether to move forward with this process or not.
(Note: the deadline for this survey is
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.)
Survey Background Information
Survey Presentation from November 20, 2024 Open House
Public Drop-In Open House - In-Person and Virtual
Date: Wednesday, November 20th, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Fallis Hall (Corner of Hwy 16 & RR52)
Virtual Participation: Zoom Link (this open house has now taken place)