Dear Editor:
With the Rimbey municipal election coming up, we are hearing rumblings about the mayor and town council that are pretty negative. I am surprised by this, and would just like to add some positive perspective.
I am not a friend of the mayor, but as a person who grew up and raised a family in Rimbey, I have to say that since Mayor Dale Barr has been on council, the growth and development we have observed in Rimbey is unprecedented, to say the least. It used to be rare to hear people talk much about Rimbey, or even know where it is. Now it is quite normal to find all sorts of people from out of town heading there for events, sports, hospital visits, lunch or shopping. I think it is fair to say that Barr and council have helped to put this town on the map.
I don’t pay a lot of attention to politics, but have definitely noticed that since Barr has been mayor, what a great place Rimbey has become. It has grown, been beautified and become very business friendly. We live near Sylvan Lake, which is a premiere place to be, but we often find many reasons to come to Rimbey. We see it as a great place for business, and a wonderful place just to spend the day.
Some of the things that draw people now, as never before are the racetrack, the 100 foot shoot out and mud bogs, which attract enormous crowds. Also the swimming pool, rodeo, new hotels, restaurants, pubs, parades, car show, a fantastic hospital, farmers market, recreation facilities, Pas-ka-poo Park and the truck museum are all magnets for visitors. Perhaps citizens living in Rimbey don’t realize it, but this town is a destination now, where people from all over Alberta want to visit. Very often, we talk to individuals who are heading out to Rimbey (of all places), for the day to have some fun.
This is good for business, and great for the growth of the town. All citizens, who call Rimbey home, should be very proud of what it has become in the last ten years. To the rest of the world, you are a great place to come to. Due to foresight, ingenuity, hard work and pride, Rimbey is a place that will continue to attract people and business.
From an outside perspective, it appears the mayor and council has done a great job ensuring the town grows and thrives. Because of the wonderful people in this town, Rimbey has become a place to stop and visit, not just one to drive by. There will always be negatives, but the positive impact of the current mayor and council on your town is undeniable.
Kim Purdy,
Sylvan Lake