With cannabis legalization on the horizon at the council meeting on Wednesday, September 19 bylaw 18-08 was passed. This bylaw will focus exclusively on the operation of retail stores as well as there locations.

The bylaw reviews the operating areas in the central business district ( downtown ), light industrial district and the highway commercial district, as well as the hours the stores can operate. Also it will state mandatory separation distances from schools and parks.

During the council meeting, it was asked if anyone in attendance had any comments, none were made and that portion was closed.

Councillor Bob Sobol asked for an amendment to the bylaw regarding the 125-meter "buffer" zone to schools only being applied to schools that were not in the downtown area. The buffer zone for those schools nearer to or within downtown would only have a zone of 50 meters.

Sobol said, "I feel that we have to treat all our schools the same I think it's a disservice to any one school if we do not treat them the same way, and I think it's a disservice to this bylaw if we start making exceptions based simply on the fact it will negatively influence a business opeining." Sobol would like to see consistency and feels that it is important to have consistency within the bylaw,  either have the zone preferably all set at 125 meters, or at 50 meters which he would not be in favour of.

Councillor Denise Peterson expressed in her experience as a former principal of the Storefront School during her time the students were in close proximetity to alcohol and tabacco outlets being located close to and now in downtown and they are not experincing undue concern.  Although it is unusual to have schools in your downtown core she does think they can co exist. Peterson hopes to avoid over legislation at this point in the bylaw. She feels that there is a need for education not so much legislation to help with this transition.

Councillor Jason Montgomery also feels that as the schools that will be within the 50 meters are Bow Valley College and Storefront School, which have adult students the expectations will be higher for those individuals.

The matter did go to a vote, and was passed with Councillor Sobol and Councillor Lorraine Bauer opposed to the 125-meter zone, not including downtown schools. They were outvoted as the remaining coucillors feel that the bylaw will be effective and fair with the current 50 and 125-meter zones in place.