Black Diamond, Turner Valley consider becoming single municipality
Residents voted against amalgamation in 2007
"Welcome to Black Valley", or perhaps, "Welcome to Turner Diamond?"
Though the name may still need a bit of work, the small southern Alberta towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley are once again considering amalgamation.
The two communities have applied for a $150,000 Alberta Community Partnership grant for a feasibility study on whether the towns could merge.
- Alberta's first single malt whisky being distilled in Turner Valley
- Black Diamond thriving again 1 year after flood disaster
"I think we need to figure out what we need to do that makes sense for both of our communities to move forward and to position ourselves for the future," said Black Diamond Mayor Sharlene Brown.
In 2007, the communities held a vote on whether to amalgamate, but the vote failed. Since then, however, Brown says the partnerships between Black Diamond and Turner Valley have strengthened. The two share a water treatment plant and a sewage system, and in 2012 signed a "friendship agreement" that formalizes commitment to collaboration.
"Major infrastructure is already shared. We have a new way of communicating with each other," said Brown.
She acknowledged that some resentment remains between the towns as services like the library and high school have moved between Turner Valley and Black Diamond in the past.
"When you start losing those pieces of major infrastructure and support pieces that support community members, your heart's attached to that, and that I totally get," she said.
"I would say there was quite a bit of resentment."
Brown says tourism is the only industry in Turner Valley and Black Diamond.
"We haven't had any industry in the Diamond valley realistically since the closure of the gas plant in the 1980s."
Brown said the towns may be able to attract more economic development together.
"We realize, going into the future, the amount of resources that we're going to be able to access is going to be less. Even though everybody says there's going to be a lot of money coming in for infrastructure, we don't know what that looks like."
"So is bigger better? We're going to have that conversation," Brown added.