Nestled in the heart of downtown, Civic Square is home to Coaldale’s new Town Office and Council Chambers.
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On June 17, 2023, Coaldale residents, local elected officials, community faith leaders, and several dignitaries from the Indigenous community, came together to celebrate the grand opening of the Town’s new Civic Square building.
Nestled in the heart of downtown, Civic Square is home to Coaldale’s new Town Office and Council Chambers, and is a testament to functionality, efficiency, and inclusivity. The Town Office boasts spacious and modern workspaces for the Town's administrative staff, allowing them to better serve the needs of Coaldale's residents. The Council Chambers, with its cutting-edge audiovisual technology and comfortable seating arrangements, will ensure a seamless and engaging experience for council meetings and public hearings. Finally, the large atrium (thoughtfully designed to host community events and gatherings) offers a welcoming atmosphere with a living wall that contains over 2000 living plants and several large black-and-white photos depicting historic scenes from Coaldale’s past.
During the grand opening, Mayor Jack Van Rijn gave a heartfelt speech in which he not only expressed his delight in seeing this long-awaited project come to fruition, but also, spoke passionately about the vision behind the building and what it means for the community, moving forward. “In the process of making Civic Square become a reality, we have seen our community come together, hand in hand, united in a common goal”, he said. “We have witnessed the strength that emerges when people set aside personal agendas and work towards a greater good”. He went on to state that in this new Town Office and Council Chambers, “we will come together to address the challenges we face as a community. We will engage in thoughtful dialogue, recognizing that every voice matters, and that by working together, we can find innovative solutions to the issues that affect us all. We will forge partnerships with our neighbouring municipalities, with businesses, with our educational institutions, and with community organizations, understanding that by uniting our efforts, we can create a future that is brighter for every citizen of Coaldale.”
Now that the building is officially open for business, Coaldale Town Council will move into its new Chambers and begin holding all its regular and special Council meetings in them. “As a Council, we couldn’t more excited to start holding our meetings in the new Chambers and hope that Town residents make a habit of coming or tuning in to watch”, said Van Rijn.