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The following briefs were taken from the Oct. 13 regular meeting of Taber town council.
Lethbridge Pioneers Lacrosse donation
Council received a delegation from the Lethbridge Pioneers Lacrosse Club and accepted a donation of $1,800 in support of the arena rebuilding project. Representatives Tegan Rogal and Jon Zook were in attendance to formally present the donation.
“The Pioneers are a senior lacrosse team based in the Lethbridge and Coaldale area and regularly support charitable initiatives through community fundraising activities,” the agenda read. “The donation was raised through the Club’s annual Cindy Grant Memorial Game, an event held in memory of Cindy Grant, who was described by the organization as a significant supporter of lacrosse and who passed away from cancer.”
Over the past several years, funds raised through the memorial game were donated to cancer-related causes. This year, the organization chose to direct the proceeds toward the Taber arena as a local community initiative.
New auditor for fiscal year-ends 2026-2028
From 2005 to 2025, KPMG LLP provided financial auditing services for the Town of Taber. The agenda said the town’s administration built a positive relationship with the firm and was pleased with its service and professionalism. However, in late-August KPMG notified the Town that due to staffing challenges it would no longer be able to deliver its services. Council appointed Metrix Group LLP as the Town’s new financial auditor pursuant to Section 281 of the Municipal Government Act effective the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.
Cybersecurity insurance costs
Council approved the acquisition of new cybersecurity liability insurance to help protect the Town from costs linked to cyberattacks, data breaches, and service disruptions. Coverage will cost about $4,000 for the rest of 2026, with an estimated annual cost of $16,000 in future years.
The agenda said, “Cyber liability insurance is justified as a prudent operating measure to transfer high-severity cyber risk and ensure rapid access to specialized incident response resources when incidents occur. This coverage provides predictable financial protection against catastrophic cyberrelated losses while supporting faster recovery and continuity of municipal operations.”
“Cyber insurance complements—not replaces—the Town’s cybersecurity program by strengthening governance, reinforcing required baseline controls, and ensuring the Town remains prepared, insurable, and resilient in an increasingly complex digital risk landscape.”
According to an IBM 2025 ‘cost of a data breach’ report, the average cost of a cybersecurity breach in Canada has increased to $6.98 million, up 10.4 per cent from the previous year. As cyber threats continue to escalate, the Town’s reliance on digital systems to deliver municipal services exposes it to cyber threats like ransomware, data breaches, and operational disruption.
New food truck bylaw gets second reading
Council gave a second reading to a business license bylaw, which changes and clarifies rules for food trucks and certain other occupations regulated by the Province.
In the new bylaw, all trucks require a business license and a development permit –the permit is applicable for residents but not non-residents. In addition, operators require an AHS food safety certification and a Taber fire inspection. Parking is to be on commercial and industrial land if invited by landowner, town-owned land and parks, and a residential district only if invited to a non-advertised private event for 45 minutes at a time
Council asked administration to make further changes and bring the bylaw back for third and final reading at a future meeting.
Highway 3 twinning contribution increases
The Highway 3 Twinning Development Association notified council of an increase in the annual support for the continued twinning of Highway 3. Council approved an increase in its annual contribution to the Highway 3 Twinning Development Association, from $4,214 to $7,631.25 starting in 2027.
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