Residents and merchants in Black Diamond and Turner Valley have until Monday to select a new name for their community in the event the two towns merge.
Sheep River, Black Valley and Diamond Valley are the top three suggestions among 65 made by residents and merchants in an online name suggestion contest this month for the potentially new amalgamated municipality.
Other suggestions had included Mountain Valley, Diamond Falls, Friendship Valley and Herronville.
Black Diamond Mayor Ruth Goodwin said a name has been on the forefront of many people’s minds in Black Diamond and Turner Valley the past several months.
“It’s the one thing that, when we announced last June, beginning of July, that we were moving ahead with the amalgamation application process on social media, what I heard on the street was people were concerned about the new name of the town,” she said. “That was the most highly discussed topic last summer.”
Black Diamond and Turner Valley began negotiations in the amalgamation process after submitting a letter to then Minister of Municipal Affairs Tracy Allard last fall, informing her of their intent to formally enter into amalgamation negotiations.
The Towns, which are just three kilometres apart and now share many of the same services including garbage collection and water, had explored amalgamation twice in the past 35 years, but the idea was voted down in a plebiscite both times - most recently in 2007.
Goodwin said more than 200 people participated in this month’s name-suggestion process and she hopes to see even more vote for their favourite up until the June 20 deadline.
“A lot of thought was put into a lot of these submissions, which is really great,” she said. “Diamond Valley is the one that everyone has been using for years. Even those that visit the area have referred to it as Diamond Valley. Diamond Valley also reflects both communities and the historic value in the names that were given.”
Once a name is selected, Goodwin said little will change for residents, including their mailing address.
“We don’t need to make huge drastic changes, just as long as we identify the areas as whatever the new name is,” she said. “The Crowsnest Pass is a really good example, but it’s a specialized municipality and we’re not considered a specialized municipality.”
Turner Valley Mayor Barry Crane reiterated that the new name will have little impact on residents and businesses. Some minor changes, he said, is drivers requiring it on their renewed licences.
“The history doesn’t change,” he said. “We’re still from the same place our parents and grandparents grew up. The stories of our area, the First Nations connections to it and the oil and gas history still remain the same.”
When it comes to a new name, Crane has already made his choice.
“I think there is one name that is far superior to the others 100 per cent,” he said. “Diamond Valley is my choice. A lot of businesses in the area developed that name and I think that will be the clear winner for sure.”
Black Diamond and Turner Valley are currently undergoing the negotiation process for amalgamation at the monthly Friendship Agreement Committee meetings the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. Meetings are livestreamed on Turner Valley’s website.
If the Towns decide to proceed, a report and application for amalgamation will be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs in September.
For more information on the proposed amalgamation click here.
To vote for the name you prefer, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NPCTXRC
