Following Council direction on December 8, the Town of Okotoks will submit its feedback to the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission regarding the proposed provincial boundary changes. Okotoks’ submission will reference a regionally developed boundary concept prepared in collaboration with Foothills County and the Town of Diamond Valley, recognizing shared service networks and community connections across the Foothills.
The Commission’s initial maps introduced several challenges, most notably a configuration that grouped Okotoks with a large portion of southwest Calgary—blending communities with fundamentally different populations, service networks, budgets, and provincial priorities. The Commission also presented an alternate option that keeps Okotoks and Diamond Valley together but divides Foothills County across multiple constituencies, creating representation challenges for the region.
“Our communities have decades of shared relationships, shared services, and shared advocacy, and that matters when shaping how representation works at the provincial level,” said Mayor Tanya Thorn. “Residents across our region rely on one another for water systems, recreation facilities, transportation networks, and community programs every day.”
A Boundary That Reflects How Okotoks and the Region Actually Function
Okotoks will recommend a configuration that keeps the Town aligned with neighbouring communities where strong service, infrastructure, and daily-life connections already exist. The regional concept creates two coherent electoral divisions that keep Okotoks, Diamond Valley, and portions of Foothills County intact.
“The Commission has already acknowledged that its initial boundary for Okotoks is controversial, which opened the door for thoughtful alternatives,” said CAO Elaine Vincent. “Our locally informed recommendation reflects how the region functions; however, if the Commission is unable to accept a third option, their alternate configuration most closely aligns with the communities-of-interest criteria. Our goal is to ensure residents receive fair and effective representation regardless of the final map adopted.”
Regional Coordination and Next Steps
Okotoks will submit its feedback before the Commission’s December 19 deadline and will present at the Calgary public hearing on January 12, 2026. The Town remains committed to advocating for boundaries that reflect real community relationships, support regional collaboration, and strengthen effective provincial representation.
Existing Highwood Provincial Electoral Division Boundaries