Stable growth in Lacombe
The City of Lacombe’s total population is 12,728, according to the 2014 Municipal Census, which was conducted between April 7th and June 30th.
“We are thrilled with the level of participation and cooperation from our residents in this year’s census,” said Mayor Steve Christie. “The results indicate that Lacombe is experiencing stable growth and the data collected will allow us to plan for the future more effectively.”
Residents were able to participate in the 2014 census in three ways; online, over the phone, or in person.
The City of Lacombe receives annual grant funding from the provincial and federal governments based on population numbers and an accurate count allows the municipality to maximize on grant dollars received. In addition to grants from other levels of government, municipal decisions regarding future infrastructure needs and facilities are based in part on population growth statistics collected in the municipal census.
“I am pleased with the great response from residents –especially online – as this was the inaugural year for this method of data collection,” said Chief Administrative Officer Norma MacQuarrie. “I also would like to thank our enumerators for their commitment to an accurate and complete census.”
Public art honours Lacombe-Rikubetsu twinning
As part of the City of Lacombe’s Percent for Art public art policy, the Lacombe Art Collection Committee has commissioned artist Larry Hunter to create a Japanese-themed sculptural installation for the Bruns Park Pond – a Bonsai waterfall floating island.
“The Lacombe Art Collection Committee received a number of submissions to review and unanimously chose this aesthetically pleasing fountain for Bruns Park, to help beautify our City and to recognize our twinned municipality of Rikubetsu, Japan,” said Recreation and Culture Manager Sandi Stewart.
The Japanese theme has already been established in the park by the existing torii.
Hunter’s winning design pays tribute to the close relationship between the two cities and to Bonsai, a popular Japanese art form.
The sculpture is an active solar-powered water feature representing a dramatic, stylized Bonsai tree.
The water feature will introduce sound and visual interest to the pond and park as well. It will stand approximately five feet above the water line on a flotation platform. Solar panels will be mounted to be as inconspicuous as possible.
The hollow concrete base will be sculpted and coloured to resemble a jagged rock island and will house a water pump and filter.
The ‘tree’ will be cut from heavy half-inch plate steel and left to oxidize naturally to a dark rust-red colour. The ‘leaf’ forms and spillways will be cut from plate aluminum and will maintain a natural silver gray patina.
Water will be pumped via a steel tube running up the back of the trunk to the two highest leaf spillways and allowed to pour down onto the lower leaves and back into the pond.
The randomness of the splashing will be a part of the design.
“Public art is a key component to the attractiveness, identity, and the livability of our City,” said Chief Administrative Officer Norma MacQuarrie. “We are eager to beautify our civic amenities, and this project is a fine example of achieving this goal.”
The public sculpture will be installed in Bruns Park Pond by Oct. 15th.