A partnership between a service group and local municipalities is driving a much-needed expansion of the Foothills Cemetery.
The Royal Canadian Legion #78 in Turner Valley is leading a partnership including the towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley and the MD of Foothills to expand and beautify the cemetery located west of Black Diamond in the MD.
Black Diamond Coun. Michel Jackson said the cemetery needs to be expanded soon.
“They don’t have enough space,” said Jackson. “Right now they are running out of lots.”
Jackson said the cemetery only has enough space to last one or two years at its current size. There are 25 available plots left in the cemetery and there is an average 25 interments each year.
The cemetery will also be getting a facelift including upgraded access roads, removing stones that might impede digging new graves and moving deciduous trees to a new location within the cemetery grounds.
The total cost for the upgrades is expected to be $299,577 with $125,000 coming from provincial grant funding.
The Legion will be applying for grant funding to cover the cost of the cemetery upgrades.
“It means that our facility will get a little more modern,” said Jackson.
Once the upgrades are completed the cemetery will be a nice place for residents to go and reflect said Jackson.
A partnership between a service group and local municipalities is driving a much-needed expansion of the Foothills Cemetery.
Coun. Michel Jackson stands before the Foothills Cemetery which will be receiving some much needed upgrades in the near future, including expanding the number of plots.
The Royal Canadian Legion #78 in Turner Valley is leading a partnership including the towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley and the MD of Foothills to expand and beautify the cemetery located west of Black Diamond in the MD.
Black Diamond Coun. Michel Jackson said the cemetery needs to be expanded soon.
“They don’t have enough space,” said Jackson. “Right now they are running out of lots.”
Jackson said the cemetery only has enough space to last one or two years at its current size. There are 25 available plots left in the cemetery and there is an average 25 interments each year.
The cemetery will also be getting a facelift including upgraded access roads, removing stones that might impede digging new graves and moving deciduous trees to a new location within the cemetery grounds.
The total cost for the upgrades is expected to be $299,577 with $125,000 coming from provincial grant funding.
The Legion will be applying for grant funding to cover the cost of the cemetery upgrades.
“It means that our facility will get a little more modern,” said Jackson.
Once the upgrades are completed the cemetery will be a nice place for residents to go and reflect said Jackson.
Jackson estimated the timeline for construction could be three to six months depending on the weather.
Before construction can begin grant funding must be secured through the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP), run by the Alberta Lotteries Foundation.
A meeting between all parties to finalize the details of the grant application is scheduled for August.
“We are going to have a meeting to discuss the terms so that everybody knows exactly what is going on,” said Jackson.
The Legion will apply for the grant funding because of a change in CFEP guidelines that states municipalities cannot apply for grant funding for facilities which are municipal responsibilities.
Jackson said the Legion also decided to get involved in part because they have an existing relationship with the cemetery.
The Royal Canadian Legion #78 has a field of honour where local veterans are interred.
“Because of our association with the cemetery, I thought it would be a good thing for us to pitch in and help,” said Jackson.
The Foothills Cemetery is located north of Highway 22 west of Black Diamond.
Land buy
Black Diamond town council also passed a bylaw to purchase a parcel of land next to the town office.
Total cost to purchase the parcel is $163,756 and the bylaw allows for the Town to borrow $98,518 from Alberta Capital Finance Authority to be paid back over five years.
The remaining cost, $65,238, will come from Town reserves.
The vacant lot is to be used for future expansion of the town office.
rnorthrop@okotoks.greatwest.caJackson estimated the timeline for construction could be three to six months depending on the weather.
Before construction can begin grant funding must be secured through the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP), run by the Alberta Lotteries Foundation.
A meeting between all parties to finalize the details of the grant application is scheduled for August.
“We are going to have a meeting to discuss the terms so that everybody knows exactly what is going on,” said Jackson.
The Legion will apply for the grant funding because of a change in CFEP guidelines that states municipalities cannot apply for grant funding for facilities which are municipal responsibilities.
Jackson said the Legion also decided to get involved in part because they have an existing relationship with the cemetery.
The Royal Canadian Legion #78 has a field of honour where local veterans are interred.
“Because of our association with the cemetery, I thought it would be a good thing for us to pitch in and help,” said Jackson.
The Foothills Cemetery is located north of Highway 22 west of Black Diamond.
Land buy
Black Diamond town council also passed a bylaw to purchase a parcel of land next to the town office.
Total cost to purchase the parcel is $163,756 and the bylaw allows for the Town to borrow $98,518 from Alberta Capital Finance Authority to be paid back over five years.
The remaining cost, $65,238, will come from Town reserves.
The vacant lot is to be used for future expansion of the town office.
rnorthrop@okotoks.greatwest.ca
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