Admission rates at Genesis Place, transit fares, and several facility rentals will increase Sept. 1 following a 1.7 per cent Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment approved by Airdrie city council on April 15.
The increase is authorized under the User Fees and Charges Policy (P-COM-65-C), which states that "in years two through four, a CPI factor will be applied to User Fees and Charges that are not dependent on cost recovery." Airdrie is currently in year four of the council term.
According to a May 8 city news release, the adjustment affects a targeted group of services: Genesis Place, Airdrie Transit, Bert Church LIVE Theatre, and the Town and Country Centre. These categories are governed by the User Fees and Charges Bylaw No. B-41/2023 and are explicitly marked "Effective Sept. 1, 2025" in Schedule A.
"Fee adjustments for community facilities and services like Genesis Place take place in September to align with major user group contracts," said Brad Anderson, the city’s manager of recreation services. "Where other City user fees and charges for 2026 become effective in January of that year, for recreation and transit, the rate adjustments that come into effect Sept. 1, are the approved 2026 fees."
The CPI rate is based on projections from the Calgary and Region Economic Outlook report. The policy guiding the increase was amended by council on March 4.
Genesis Place
This marks the second increase at Genesis Place in 2025. The first took effect on May 1, implementing a previously delayed fee adjustment that had originally been scheduled for September 2024.
A statement on the Genesis Place website reads: "A scheduled fee adjustment for Sept. 1, 2024, was tabled for policy review before its approval as part of the 2025 budget deliberations last November. This delayed the scheduled fee adjustment for recreation, which typically takes effect in September."
The Sept. 1 increase is a separate change tied to the CPI indexing provision under council policy. According to the facility website, the following continuous monthly pass rates will apply:
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Adult (18–64): $77.50 to $78.81
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Student (18–25): $67.75 to $68.89
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Youth: $41.25 to $41.96
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Family (one adult): $109.25 to $110.10
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Family (two adults): $145.25 to $147.73
Genesis Place monthly passes include full facility access, discounted child care, preferred wellness consultation access, and program discounts. A $20 activation fee continues to apply to monthly pass activations and reactivations.
Transit fares increasing under same CPI provision
Transit fares across Airdrie local and regional routes will also increase Sept. 1, as outlined in Schedule A of Bylaw B-41/2023. Transit categories are marked with the same effective date as recreation fees and are included in the CPI-linked adjustment.
According to the bylaw, the following fare changes will take effect Sept. 1:
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Local adult monthly pass: $69.00 to $70.15
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Youth/student monthly pass: $48.75 to $49.60
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ICE 901/902 downtown commuter (adult): $131.50 to $133.75
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Route 900 regional cash fare: $5.35 to $5.45
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Local single fare (cash): $2.90 to $2.95
Bert Church, Town and Country Centre rates to increase
Rental rates for the Bert Church LIVE Theatre and Town and Country Centre will also rise Sept. 1 under the same CPI policy.
According to Schedule A, Bert Church rental fees for performances, rehearsals, the auditorium and lobby spaces are scheduled to increase. Similarly, kitchen and hall rental rates at the Town and Country Centre will rise under the same provision.
All rental fee increases for these two facilities fall under Group A of Schedule A and are marked with the September 1 effective date.
January 1 fee changes apply to all other service areas
While the CPI-based increases apply only to recreation, transit and a select group of facility rentals, all other user fee categories are scheduled to change on January 1, 2026.
These include service areas such as:
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Development permits and subdivision applications
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Building inspections
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Business licences and enforcement permits
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Cemetery services and fire administration
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RCMP services and document requests
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Engineering review fees and road permits
Rates in these categories are reviewed and updated annually and are not tied to CPI indexing. Each item is listed under Group B or Group C of Schedule A and marked "Effective Jan. 1, 2026."
The policy does not apply to taxes, levies, fines, penalties or utility service rates for sewer, waste, recycling or water.
Fair Access subsidies remain available
The Airdrie Fair Access (AFA) program continues to provide income-based subsidies for low-income residents. According to current program thresholds, subsidies of 25, 50 or 75 per cent are available depending on household size and income.
A family of four with a household income under $70,049 is eligible for the maximum 75 per cent discount. The AFA program applies to Genesis Place, Airdrie Transit, Bert Church LIVE Theatre and selected police service fees.
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