Don Kochan – Division 2
RVC Division 2 news items for your information:
Division 2 Open House – Thank you to everyone who joined Rocky View County staff and me for Division 2’s Open House on March 26th. With approximately 75 residents in attendance, the evening was a wonderful example of what makes our community strong: people showing up, asking thoughtful questions, and sharing practical ideas rooted in day-to-day experience.
I truly appreciated the collaborative discussions on a wide range of topics affecting Springbank and the surrounding area. Transportation and road safety were clear priorities, with many comments focused on intersections and traffic operations, including RR 32/Twp 250 and RR 33/Springbank Road. We discussed access and congestion around key routes, as well as ideas to improve safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, such as extending pathways, widening shoulders, and exploring safer options at busy crossings. Residents also raised important infrastructure concerns, like ensuring culvert replacements are backfilled to prevent road dips over time.
There was also strong interest in community-building priorities, including outdoor recreation amenities and natural green spaces, as well as in conversation around housing options for seniors, from downsizing to independent living. I want to extend my gratitude for the positive feedback directed towards our staff; it means a lot to see such a respectful tone and shared commitment to finding solutions.
If you couldn’t attend, I invite you to stay involved through conversation with me or through broader County engagements. Please visit engage.rockyview.ca to learn about upcoming public engagement opportunities and share your input on key County initiatives. Your perspective helps shape better decisions, and I am genuinely thankful for your continued involvement and support.
Alberta Heritage Fund – At the March Rural Municipalities of Alberta conference, I had a conversation with the Minister of Treasury Board and Finance Nate Horner regarding the Heritage Fund. The Minister provided the following information:
The Heritage Fund serves as the province’s long-term savings account, designed to collect and invest a portion of Alberta’s non- renewable resource revenues. As of December 31, 2025, the Heritage Fund reached a record fair value of $31.9 billion and delivered a strong five-year annualized return of 8.8 per cent, net of fees.
These results, as detailed in the 2025-26 Third Quarter Report, place the Heritage Fund on track to reach $35 billion by 2027. This growth is further accelerated by current legislation that allows for 100 per cent of the fund’s net annual income to be reinvested, which effectively inflation-proofs the assets and maximizes compound growth.
To ensure professional stewardship, the Heritage Fund operates under a sophisticated asset-owner model led by the Heritage Fund Opportunities Corporation (HFOC). The HFOC board provides independent oversight and strategic direction, while a separate investment management function is responsible for portfolio construction and individual securities transactions.
All Heritage Fund investment decisions are subject to a formal Statement of Investment Policy and Goals, which defines asset mix requirements, risk parameters, and return expectations. To ensure all investment risk is deliberate and measured, the Heritage Fund is managed at a total portfolio level with rigorous stress-testing, continuous monitoring, and strategic diversification.
The long-term strategy for the Heritage Fund is presented in government’s ambitious, but achievable, roadmap to
grow the fund to $250 billion by 2050. By transforming resource wealth into lasting financial security, Alberta can secure a stable and sustainable revenue source that will eventually offset volatile earnings from non renewables. Once the Heritage Fund reaches its $250 billion target, its investment income will be used to support public programs, build vital infrastructure, and maintain Alberta’s position as one of the lowest tax environments in Canada. Achieving this scale ensures a permanent economic legacy that future generations of Albertans can both rely upon and benefit from.
Property tax assessments – Rocky View County (RVC) have sent out the property tax assessments. This is not your tax bill.
“Assessment and taxation are connected but different: assessment estimates your property’s value as of July 1, 2025, and taxation applies the tax rate to that value to fund local services and provincial costs like education.”
Tax rates will be set by Council in April and then your tax notices will be mailed out.
Assessors conduct site inspections every year. Inspections begin early in the year and take the entire year. These inspections may include measuring buildings, photographing exteriors and gathering details regarding interior components and the use of the property.
Assessors may also inspect your property if: there has been a recent building permit issued, or physical change or if your property has recently been purchased or sold. If you have any questions about your assessment, please contact Assessment Services.
Spring road bans – Seasonal Road bans are implemented to help protect County roads during periods when they are most vulnerable to damage, particularly during the spring thaw when moisture weakens the road structure. Limiting heavy vehicle loads during this time helps preserve road conditions, reduce maintenance costs, and improve safety for all motorists. Road bans have been in place since March 23.
Don Kochan
Division 2 Councillor
kochandiv2@gmail.com
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