Left to Right: Foothills Division 5 Councillor Alan Alger, Okotoks Councillor Gord Lang, Deputy Foothills Reeve Don Waldorf, Okotoks Councillor Oliver Hallmark, Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn, Foothills County Reeve Delilah Miller, Okotoks Councillor Brent Robinson, Foothills Division 4 Councillor Suzanne Oel, and Okotoks Councillor Rachel Swendseid.
The long-awaited Foothills Okotoks Regional Water Project is now underway.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday (Oct. 22) for the project, which was established to provide a new water source to the Town of Okotoks and Foothills County in order to accommodate growth in the area.
The water pipeline will pump raw water from the confluence of the Bow River and the Highwood River to the town and county.
Representatives from the town and county, including members of both councils, gathered at the project's intake near the Nature's Hideaway campground for the ceremony.
"As work begins in this project, it is our intention to respect this site, as it holds significance for our ancestors and Indigenous travellers who used the confluence as a special gathering place," said Foothills County Reeve Delilah Miller at the ceremony. "May our municipalities continue to work together in the spirit of partnership and use these resources wisely and thoughtfully."
Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn shared the sentiment, highlighting the collaborative effort that led to shovels finally hitting the ground.
"This project is a shining example of what happens when communities work together. Instead of duplicating infrastructure, we've taken a smart, coordinated approach, maximizing our investments and ensuring long-term benefits for both communities."
"It's about being good stewards of both our resources and taxpayer dollars. By working as one, we're not only preparing for the growth that our beautiful region continues to attract but also making sure we do so responsibly. Water is a finite and precious resource, especially here in Southern Alberta," said Thorn at the groundbreaking event.
A supplemental water source has been a priority for the Town of Okotoks for some time now, with Thorn recalling it as a topic of discussion when she first joined town council 11 years prior.
The project has made major strides in recent years, including the announcement of a total of $30 million in provincial funding in 2022 and 2023.
It's expected to be fully operational in 2026.