TAMRMS#: B06
10.2
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Downtown Remembrance Day Banners
Presented by: Tim Saunders, Director, Public Operations
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
That Council approve the implementation of a Memorial Banner Program in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 271 utilizing a permanent year-round installation on Veterans Way, in the amount of $12,500 to be funded from Stabilization Reserve.
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SUMMARY
On June 16, 2026, Council directed Administration, through CM-26-022, to explore options for the installation of veteran memorial banners in the downtown area in partnership with the St. Albert Legion Branch 271 and report back with associated costs and requirements.
Administration evaluated two implementation options: a permanent year-round installation on Veterans Way and a seasonal annual installation during the Remembrance period. Both options would recognize veterans through a partnership with the Legion and require banner infrastructure, ongoing maintenance, and program administration. Administration recommends a permanent year-round installation on Veterans Way as the option that best balances commemorative value, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. The recommended option reinforces the identity of Veterans Way while minimizing the introduction of a new recurring seasonal service level.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On June 16, 2026, Council passed the following motion:
CM-26-022 - That Administration be directed to explore options for the installation of banners in the downtown area in partnership with the St. Albert Legion (Branch 271) for Remembrance Day, and report back to Council with associated costs and requirements by July 14, 2026.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
On June 16, 2026, Council directed Administration to explore options for the installation of veteran memorial banners in partnership with the St. Albert Legion Branch 271 and report back with associated implementation requirements and costs.
Memorial banner programs are increasingly being implemented by municipalities and Royal Canadian Legion branches across Canada to honor veterans, celebrate military service, and preserve local military history. Council's direction followed a public presentation from representatives of the St. Albert Legion Branch 271 regarding the potential for a similar program in St. Albert.
Administration reviewed potential locations, operational requirements, maintenance considerations, partnership responsibilities, lifecycle costs, and long-term sustainability. Through this review, two viable implementation options were identified. Both options have been prepared under the assumption that contracted resources perform the installation. While there was consideration of economies of scale efficiencies related to other work in the area, such as Christmas light installations, in the area of Veterans Way, only trees have lights installed on them during the season not the light poles. As such the options have been prepared as pure incremental work in order to cover the full cost of the installations.
Option 1 - Permanent Veterans Way Memorial Banner Program (Recommended Motion)
This option would establish a year-round commemorative display utilizing decorative streetlight poles located along Veterans Way.
Veterans Way was established as a permanent tribute to military veterans and represents an opportunity to create a visible and meaningful commemorative corridor within the downtown. Installation of veteran memorial banners along the corridor would provide a physical expression of the intent behind the naming of Veterans Way and further strengthen public awareness of its significance.
The year-round approach creates continuous recognition of veterans while supporting downtown placemaking and community identity objectives. It also allows Administration to incorporate inspections, maintenance, replacement planning, and hardware reviews into existing downtown operational programs, including seasonal decorative lighting activities and corridor maintenance work.
Benefits of this option include:
Permanent recognition of veterans.
Reinforcement of the Veterans Way identity.
Enhanced community awareness and visibility year-round.
Reduced annual installation and removal requirements.
Improved operational efficiency through integration with existing maintenance programs.
This option includes the procurement of banner hangers that are affixed to the light poles in the vicinity of Veterans Way. There are 19 poles on Veterans Way and Tache that could be utilized for the banner installations. Additional poles exist in the vicinity of the St. Anne traffic circle as well as the parking lot between the St. Albert Curling Club and Red Willow Place, however these locations may not be suitable due to existing use by other groups that will need to be considered. The City estimates that under this option, a one-time Capital investment will be required of $12,500 in order to purchase and install the banner hangers that are affixed the poles as well as the initial installation of the banners supplied by the Legion. As the banners remain in place, year-round, ongoing operating costs is limited to banner assembly inspections and replacement/maintenance on an ongoing basis. It is estimated that an annual operating budget of $2,500 is required to sustain the installation on a permanent basis. This value creates an annual budget that will be utilized to perform inspections and annualizes replacement of bracket hardware as required.
Option 2 - Annual Remembrance Banner Program
This option reflects the concept originally contemplated through the Notice of Motion and would involve annual installation of memorial banners prior to Remembrance Day, followed by removal after the commemorative period. Consultation with representation from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 271 indicates the desire to have the banners installed annually after October 1 and before November 1, with removal no earlier than November 30 and before December 25.
The seasonal display would create a focused period of recognition and align banners with annual Remembrance activities. However, it would require the establishment of a recurring annual operational program involving installation, removal, storage, transportation, inspection, and scheduling activities.
Benefits and considerations include:
Concentrated recognition during the Remembrance period.
Alignment with annual remembrance activities.
Increased annual labour and equipment requirements.
Ongoing storage and handling obligations.
Introduction of a recurring seasonal service level.
Higher annual operating costs than a permanent installation approach.
Similar to Option 1, this includes the procurement of banner hangers that are affixed to the light poles in the vicinity of Veterans Way. The same one-time Capital investment of $15,500 will be initially required. This option includes $12,500 for banner installation and $3,000 for removal in year one. Going forward, an annual budget of $8,500 will be required to perform installation and removal, as well as ongoing maintenance of the banner hanging hardware.
Agreement Framework
Administration anticipates that implementation of either option would occur through a formal agreement with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 271. The banners will be purchased by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 271, and they will be responsible for replacement, as necessary. The City will perform installation and hanger maintenance activities, as well as provide replacement installations, as necessary.
Legion Responsibilities
Veteran nomination and selection.
Family engagement and consent.
Historical verification and accuracy.
Collection of photographs and biographical information.
Development and approval of banner content.
Procurement and supply of banners
City Responsibilities
Mounting hardware installation and maintenance.
Traffic safety and engineering review.
Asset management and lifecycle replacement.
Program administration and coordination.
Roles, responsibilities, ownership, liability, governance, and operational requirements would be formalized through an agreement.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
The City has had ongoing coordination and discussions with representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 271. Internally several departments including Recreation and Parks, Community Services, Public Operations, Communications and Public Affairs and Engineering have been engaged as required.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
If approved $12,500 will be committed within the Stabilization Reserve, which has sufficient funds. The ongoing $2,500 maintenance costs will be built into future operating budgets.
Compliance & Legal:
An agreement between the City and the St. Albert Legion Branch 271 will be required to establish program governance, ownership, liability, maintenance responsibilities, and risk allocation.
The installation of banners will require coordination and approval from Fortis in line with existing agreements for placement of banners.
All banner locations will be subject to traffic safety and engineering review to ensure compliance with applicable roadway and public safety requirements. These considerations were identified during the initial review contemplated in Administration's response to the Notice of Motion.
Program or Service:
The recommended option establishes a new commemorative recognition program within the downtown area.
This program can be integrated into existing downtown operations and maintenance activities, minimizing impacts to current service delivery while providing a new community recognition opportunity.
At this time, it is not recommended to create a new service level as this initiative is limited to a single user group.
Organizational:
Implementation will require staff resources for partnership administration, program coordination, banner lifecycle management, procurement, asset inspections, and maintenance planning.
Compared to a seasonal installation model, the recommended approach results in less ongoing operational demand and reduced annual workload associated with installation, removal, storage, and scheduling activities.
Risks
There is a risk that future demand for banner participation may exceed the number of available locations. This risk can be mitigated through transparent eligibility criteria, program guidelines, and governance processes developed with the Legion.
Other user groups may be interested in a similar program that would involve revisiting the program requirements for the creation of a new service level accordingly.
There is also a risk of banner deterioration due to weather exposure. This risk can be mitigated through routine inspections, lifecycle replacement planning, and established asset management practices.
The recommended option mitigates operational risks associated with repeated annual installations and removals by reducing the frequency of equipment deployment and work activities.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan:
None at this time
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
The installation of banners in the downtown area is not currently defined within the City of St. Albert’s External Service Levels. The options presented refer to a program for a single user group. In the event that this program was expanded to include other user groups, it is recommended that a service level creation be considered and a full review of operational and administrative requirements is undertaken.
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the proposed motion, Administration presents the following alternatives for Council’s consideration.
ALTERNATIVE 1:
That Council approve the implementation of a Memorial Banner Program in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 271 utilizing an annual installation on Veterans Way, with one-time funding in the amount of $15,500 to be funded from the Stabilization Reserve.
Financial:
If approved, $15,500 would be funded from the Stabilization Reserve, which has sufficient funds. The ongoing $8,500 installation costs will be built into future operating budgets.
Compliance & Legal:
An agreement between the City and the St. Albert Legion Branch 271 will be required to establish program governance, ownership, liability, maintenance responsibilities, and risk allocation.
All banner locations will be subject to traffic safety and engineering review to ensure compliance with applicable roadway and public safety requirements. These considerations were identified during the initial review contemplated in Administration's response to the Notice of Motion.
Program or Service:
The recommended option establishes a new commemorative recognition program within the downtown area.
This program can be integrated into existing downtown operations and maintenance activities, minimizing impacts to current service delivery while providing a new community recognition opportunity.
In the event the program expands to other user groups a full review of operational requirements must be undertaken to fully sustain the program as an added service level.
Organizational:
Implementation will require staff resources for partnership administration, program coordination, banner lifecycle management, procurement, asset inspections, and maintenance planning.
Compared to a seasonal installation model, the recommended approach results in less ongoing operational demand and reduced annual workload associated with installation, removal, storage, and scheduling activities.
Risks
There is a risk that future demand for banner participation may exceed the number of available locations. This risk can be mitigated through transparent eligibility criteria, program guidelines, and governance processes developed with the Legion.
Other user groups may be interested in a similar program that would involve revisiting the program requirements for the creation of a new service level accordingly.
There is also a risk of banner deterioration due to weather exposure. This risk can be mitigated through routine inspections, lifecycle replacement planning, and established asset management practices.
The recommended option mitigates operational risks associated with repeated annual installations and removals by reducing the frequency of equipment deployment and work activities.
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Report Date: July 14, 2026
Author(s): Tim Saunders
Department: Public Operations
Department Director: Tim Saunders
Managing Director: Dinu Alex
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher