St. Albert Minute: New School, Neighbourhood Renaming, and the Housing Accelerator Fund

St. Albert Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of St. Albert politics

This Week In St. Albert:

• The Community Services Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday at 6:30 pm. The agenda includes a Community Vision and Pillars of Sustainability Policy Review.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 6:00 pm, the Arts Development Advisory Committee will meet. The Committee will discuss the Young Artist Legacy Award Program and 2025 Public Art Project Updates.
  
  
• St. Albert will receive $11.8 million in federal funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund to support new housing initiatives. The funding aims to help the City add 302 housing units beyond its usual annual development over the next three years. Mayor Cathy Heron expressed gratitude for the support, emphasizing its role in driving transformational change. The City plans to implement seven initiatives, including zoning changes, intensification strategies, and an electronic building permit system.

Last Week In St. Albert:

• Council voted 5-2 to remove the Grandin name from all municipal assets, with Councillors Sheena Hughes and Shelley Biermanski opposed. A separate vote to rename the neighbourhood to The Gardens passed 6-1, with Hughes as the sole opponent. Supporters of the change, including Councillors Mike Killick and Wes Brodhead, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the harm caused by residential schools. Biermanski and Hughes criticized the renaming process, questioning its transparency and potential divisiveness. The name change will take effect on September 1st, 2025, with the City allocating funds to assist affected residents with address updates. Mayor Cathy Heron apologized for the lengthy and contentious process but supported the final decision.
  
  
• Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced funding for 14 new school projects in the Edmonton region, including planning funds for a 900-student K-9 school in the growing Chérot neighbourhood. St. Albert Public Board Chair John Allen welcomed the funding, emphasizing the need for a new school due to rapid population growth and full existing schools. The Board will work with Council to change the designated site from a “high school site” to a “school site” to proceed with construction. While planning begins, the Board continues to push for funding for a new high school in the future.
  
  
• Hudson’s Bay, one of the oldest companies in North America and a historic presence in St. Albert Centre, announced it would enter liquidation, potentially closing all 80 of its outlets, including the St. Albert location. The company, which filed for creditor protection on March 7th, cited reduced customer demand due to the pandemic, online sales, and the Canada-US trade war. This move could lead to the loss of nearly 9,400 jobs, including over 1,200 in Alberta. Hudson’s Bay has been a significant part of St. Albert's history, and many residents fondly remember its impact on the community.

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