Strathmore residents had their voices heard in a recent report on culture and recreation needs.
The 2024 Recreation and Cultural Needs Assessment was presented by RC Strategies during a town council meeting on Wednesday, March 19.
Rob Parks with the group told council that the purpose of the assessment was to gauge the community’s interest.
A community forum was held with 15 participants, a household survey generated 358 responses, a group survey received 26 responses, and 11 group conversation sessions with 32 organizations were hosted.
Coun. Brent Wiley asked if the household survey responses were typically lower compared to the town’s population, which, according to the Alberta government, stands at 16,189 in 2024.
“When I first started, we might have participation rates bumping up to 20 per cent, and now it’s fairly common to see 3-5 per cent,” said Parks.
The report stated that Strathmore’s population grew by 4.2 per cent in the last census period, with overall growth across most age groups, except for a decrease in children under five and young adults aged 20 to 29.
“The Family Centre Arenas are highly utilized, operating near full capacity during prime hours, with 93 per cent and 97 per cent usage rates,” the report added.
“At the Aquatic Centre, public and family swims remain the most popular activities. Annual swim visits have grown substantially since 2022. There has also been an increase in swim lessons. However, the Aquatic Centre has the capacity to accommodate additional swim visits.”
The report went on to note that the Aquatic Centre has received about $1 million in investments over the past six years. The Curling Club has secured approximately $470,000 for improvements, and $1.7 million has been allocated to the Family Centre.
However, the resident survey found that more than half of respondents believe there are not enough facilities in the town.
In the group survey, more than half of respondents said they use facilities outside of town to meet their needs. In the group meetings, organizations expressed challenges in accessing indoor and outdoor facilities. Groups involved in arts and culture noted difficulties in recruiting volunteers.
The report concluded that additional town staffing support, increased funding, and a review of staffing, hours of operation, and allocation processes are necessary.
The Family Centre can collaborate with other municipalities to secure more ice time, and the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre can continue to monitor its use and highlight the positive impacts of culture on the town.
The full report can be viewed here.