Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
National

Banff residents vote against downtown pedestrian zone in plebiscite

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Aug, 2024 11:19 AM
  • Banff residents vote against downtown pedestrian zone in plebiscite

Banff residents have given a thumbs down to a pedestrian zone in the community's downtown, rejecting the idea in a plebiscite Monday.

The Town of Banff posted unofficial results of the vote on its website, saying 1,328 votes were cast against the town council's decision to have a pedestrian zone on Banff Avenue every summer, from the May long weekend to Thanksgiving long weekend.

It says 1,194 voted in favour of the pedestrian zone.

Begun as a pandemic response in the summer of 2020, the mountain town has closed a section of the avenue to vehicles so people could safely enjoy the street full of shops and restaurants.

It's been popular with visitors but some residents expressed concern about cars and trucks clogging up side streets.

The municipality says according to provincial law, council must pass a bylaw to rescind their original decision to have an annual summer pedestrian zone, and the next meeting where they can do that is Aug. 26.

It says on its website that pedestrian zone public amenities will be dismantled starting in the days immediately after the bylaw is passed, including removal of extra public seating, bicycle parking and flower planters.

Large planter barricades at each end of the pedestrian zone will also be removed once the bylaw passes, the website says, and the road will be reopened to all vehicles.

The decision to hold a vote was triggered by a petition.

The town says official results will be confirmed on Tuesday.

MORE National ARTICLES

Irish prime minister 'appalled' by Canadian tourist's death after alleged assault

Irish prime minister 'appalled' by Canadian tourist's death after alleged assault
Ireland's prime minister says he's "absolutely appalled" by an assault in the country's capital that resulted in the death of a tourist from Montreal. Simon Harris today described Neno Dolmajian's death in Dublin as "reprehensible" and "horrific" and told parliament the death is now being investigated as a murder.

Irish prime minister 'appalled' by Canadian tourist's death after alleged assault

B.C. municipalities get $1.6 billion in federal infrastructure funds over five years

B.C. municipalities get $1.6 billion in federal infrastructure funds over five years
Under the new Canada Community-Building Fund deal, local governments in B.C. will receive $300 million in federal infrastructure funding in 2024-2025. A statement announcing the deal says more than $825 million, representing about half of the five-year total, will go to TransLink, the Metro Vancouver transport network.

B.C. municipalities get $1.6 billion in federal infrastructure funds over five years

B.C. ranch-owning pilot dead, two passengers injured in private helicopter crash

B.C. ranch-owning pilot dead, two passengers injured in private helicopter crash
Police in southeastern British Columbia say a ranch owner is dead after the helicopter they were piloting crashed on Tuesday evening. Columbia Valley RCMP say they got the call at about 7 p.m.

B.C. ranch-owning pilot dead, two passengers injured in private helicopter crash

More rental housing development needed despite recent rise: RBC economist

More rental housing development needed despite recent rise: RBC economist
Even though rental housing construction in Canada has picked up significantly, more is needed to fill the demand backlog, according to a new RBC report. RBC economist Rachel Battaglia said rental housing starts reached their highest levels in decades in 2022 and 2023, with more than 80,000 new units started each year.

More rental housing development needed despite recent rise: RBC economist

Seven-year-old girl drowns in lake in northern Manitoba: Mounties

Seven-year-old girl drowns in lake in northern Manitoba: Mounties
Mounties say a seven-year-old girl has drowned while swimming in a lake in northeastern Manitoba. Police say the girl was with a group of other children on Gods Lake on Sunday, when she went under the water.

Seven-year-old girl drowns in lake in northern Manitoba: Mounties

Suspect's pants catch fire in arson attempt gone wrong: B.C. RCMP

Suspect's pants catch fire in arson attempt gone wrong: B.C. RCMP
Police in Metro Vancouver say they're looking for a man whose pants caught fire in an alleged arson attempt that went wrong. Richmond RCMP shared a photo showing two men, one on the ground with a pained facial expression as he reaches for his blazing pants, while the other man apparently tries to put out the flames.

Suspect's pants catch fire in arson attempt gone wrong: B.C. RCMP