Beiseker is Open for Business

Beiseker's Main Street is looking a little empty lately.  The loss of a couple of businesses have really impacted the heart of our village's commercial district.

We need help!  I read often of other small communities reinventing themselves after similar losses and economic slumps.  There's the Manitoba community of Swan River, which now houses a gourmet mustard factory!  How about the New Brunswick village of Gagetown that's now making jams and jellies based on local recipes!  How about the Alberta town of Vulcan, who have used the popularity of Star Trek to advance their town!  There are many other such examples.

Beiseker has much to offer!
We have plenty of property to be bought or rented for residential, commercial or industrial endeavors.
We have a very active Chamber of Commerce.
We have excellent access to roads going in every direction on the compass!
We are on the main CN rail line between Calgary and Edmonton.
We have an airport!
We have good water.
We are on a major tourist route from Calgary to the Canadian Badlands!
We have an excellent workforce here of all skill levels, and a K to 12 school for their families!
And, we have a fascinating history. 

All we need are folks to recognize that there are plenty of opportunities here.

If you hear of someone or know someone who is thinking of starting a business, mention our village as a possible venue for their enterprise.

Here are a few ideas to think about;

• An aviator who wants to live close to his airplane
• A sausage maker wanting to make some locally inspired sausages.
• A baker wanting to open a small village bakery
• An aviation mechanic wanting to own and operate his or her FBO (fixed base operation)
• Someone wanting to open and operate a independent hardware store
• Someone wanting to promote Beiseker's connection to Sam McGee and Robert Service
• An entrepreneur wanting to make something of a local resource.

Just to mention a few!

Beiseker's First Stampede Breakfast a Huge Hit

Thursday morning on Main Street in Beiseker was the place to be!  The Beiseker Chamber of Commerce held its first annual Stampede Breakfast! 

More than 325 people came out to munch on pancakes, sausages, and eggs, while listening to live music from Verlin Rau and his group;

We were also treated to a square dancing demonstration.  What a fantastic morning! 

A huge shout goes out to our Chamber of Commerce and those members who worked so very hard that morning to give us an awesome Stampede Breakfast!  The support of businesses and businessmen and women like this is one reason why our village is a great place to live.  Well done!

Keeping Beiseker Open for Business

It is important that a community keep its businesses and industries vibrant and growing. 

Municipal government has a role in supporting projects which make local businesses attractive to residents and visitors.  And each of the recent promotional projects done in Beiseker over the past few years - like the Main Street beautification program, the new business signs, and the highway signs - have been supported by Village Council.

A strong commercial Main Street is one of the keys to success for smaller communities like Beiseker. The large box stores, just a few kilometers to the west of our village, are a strong pull for consumers.  All of us on Village Council have worked towards the promotion of our Main Street as a shopping destination, too. 

I will continue to support projects which keep Beiseker's commercial and industrial community strong and growing, and encourage residents to shop locally.  I will do this;

• by doing what I can to make building in Beiseker attractive.
• by informing others through the trade and commercial media what industries and commercial entities are needed here.
• by keeping commercial taxes as low as possible while ensuring that all services will not be compromised.
• by staying appraised of all developments in both existing and future industrial and commercial prospects.
• by working together with the commercial community (such as the Chamber of Commerce) to promote Beiseker.

Together, we can make Beiseker a shopping destination.

New Christmas Wreaths On Main Street

Next time you're downtown, check out the new Christmas wreaths on the Main Street lamp posts between First and Second Avenues.  They certainly look good on those new lamp posts. 

They were bought by the Village with contributions also coming from the businesses on Main Street. 

Don't forget to come to Light-Up-The-Night coming in a couple of weeks.  It will get you into the Christmas spirit, too!

Issue #7: Recreation Opportunities for All

For its size Beiseker has some of the best recreatioal opportunities around, yet there are still those in the Village who tell me, "there's nothin' to do here!".

If you live in Beiseker you can: play hockey, play baseball, attend beavers/cubs & scouts (in Irricana), take martial arts, skateboard, rollerblade or BMX, use the Library, play school sports, take part in summer fun, swim in Acme, learn to skydive, get your pilots' licence, join the Station Museum or the Centennial Railway Museum, join the Golden Years Town & Country Club, take part in Stage East Dinner Theatre, use an ATV, Quad, or snowmobile, skate, take part in Continuing Ed or Adult Ed, join a needle-craft club, go bowling (in Airdrie), join a service club, join the Chamber of Commerce, join the Royal Canadian Legion (in Acme), join the motorcycle club, join a 4H Club, become a part of Pioneer Acres in Irricana, Golf (in Acme, Driving Range here), join a church group (here or in Acme or Irricana), go bicycling, go jogging, curling (in Acme or Irricana), join a car club, volunteer at Beiseker Recycling, and others!

If re-elected I will help identify the concerns of those who feel there is nothing to do here. It may require a new facility or an existing facility upgrade, or maybe just a place where those with a like interest can meet and plan!

Issue #3: The Beiseker Airport

I am very pleased to announce that the Village of Beiseker has purchased the Beiseker Airport, a facility valued at more than 1.5 million dollars, from the Provincial Government for the sum of $1.00! Beiseker council insisted on two conditions before taking over ths airport;

1. That the facility be brought up to standard by the province and;
2. That the airport never become a burden to ratepayers here in the village.

Both conditions have been met!

The airport has the POTENTIAL of bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars of business into the Beiseker area and the village in particular!

It is my intention to work with economic development groups and the Chambers of Commerce to explore these potentials. It is the opinion of most aviation experts that Beiseker's airport has huge economic potential for the region. I intend to help realize that potential!

It is also my intention to recreate the Beiseker Airport Commission to advise council on the airport's operation. Rocky View County has already agreed to take part in such a commission and is now turning over the collected tax dollars to the operation of the airport!

 I would also like to see the Town of Irricana and the Village of Acme also rejoin the commission!