Edson will establish a Municipal Policing Committee this fall, as mandated by the province of Alberta.
Edson town council passed three readings of Bylaw 2322 on July 15, which establishes the committee’s structure and purpose. Officials say the objective is to support community policing priorities by improving collaboration between enforcement services and the public.
The committee comes as mandated in Alberta’s Police Amendment Act, enacted in December 2022. Changes made afterward introduced a requirement for RCMP-policed communities to establish a regional or municipal policing committee. These committees are intended to provide communities with a formal mechanism to influence policing outcomes and address local concerns.
While regional policing committees are an option, Edson has opted to create its own municipal committee to accommodate its partnership with Yellowhead County, the municipality reports. This way, Edson can include the county in a non-voting advisory role and take an approach more aligned with the community’s priorities and long-term goals.
The town says an example of this is the implementation of foot patrols in the downtown core, which are tailored to Edson’s specific needs.
“This structure gives Edson greater control over public safety initiatives, ensuring they are responsive to the expectations of our residents rather than shaped by a broader, less customized regional framework,” commented Doug Wagstaff, general manager of community and protective services.
The committee will consist of five members, including a maximum of two council members. No remuneration will be provided for members and training will be delivered online.
The town does note that it’s too early to determine whether the introduction of policing committees will alter the current Detachment Commander Selection process, but future provincial or ministerial input may impact this.
About $6,000 annually may be required in future operating budgets to support the committee’s membership training, materials, conferences, meeting incidentals, and potential costs for security checks.
Recruitment is expected to occur soon, and the committee will officially form after the municipal election in October.
