It was a busy 2015 for the Town of Okotoks with plenty of projects in the works and waiting for start-up.

Mayor Bill Robertson looks back at some of the highlights for the year.

He says the Town is continuing its talks with the province, the City of Calgary and the M.D. of Foothills in bringing a potable water pipeline to help accommodate for the growing population.

"We've done extensive planning for a Calgary-Okotoks regional water pipeline, some great planning has gone on in conjunction with that and we're in negotiations we with our friends in the M.D. regarding the annexation of over 30 quarter-sections to bring into the town for future growth."

Robertson says the saga between the Foothills School Division and the Town on the proposal of a new K-9 school made headlines everywhere, but says he is excited to see the new school, that was once set to be built in Aldersyde, stay within town  limits.

"The purchase of 40 plus acres of the Wedderburn land just north of town for an education, recreation or cultural campus and having the Foothills School Division planning right now to locate a school on that site is very exciting."

Robertson adds with a growing town comes the demand for more recreational facilities to fill the need for more ice times, swimming lessons and any other sports in popular demand.

He says having two more arenas in the near future will help provide more accommodations to the sporting community.

"We're going to be twinning Pason Centennial Arena and adding another NHL-sized ice surface there along with some leisure skating and construction should begin next year and it would be ready for the following year."

Robertson commented on a building that has seen plenty of activity since it opened, the Crescent Point Regional Field House, which is used every day and provides facilities for all sports and all age group.

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