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Council says no to city status

Sylvan Lake to remain a town for the foreseeable future

Apr 8, 2026 | 9:37 AM

The Town of Sylvan Lake will remain a town, at least for now.

At Sylvan Lake town council’s governance and priorities meeting held on Tuesday, they decided not to pursue city status at this time.

The town administration presented council with a 21-page report that outlined all the details including the pros and cons of making the move. It also included city obligations around highways, changes to grant programs if Sylvan were to become a city, taxation comparison, and more.

Council reviewed the report and decided to shelve the conversation about becoming a city. However, they’re not shutting down the possibility of becoming a city sometime down the road.

Mayor Megan Hanson said the topic was informative and worthwhile, given Sylvan Lake’s steady growth.

According to council documents, the towns population increased from 15,995 in 2021 to 16,275 in 2024. According to estimations, the population reached 17,897 by the end of 2025. The next federal census is scheduled for May 2026

Hanson added that they decided after considering both the benefits and risks. As a result, council expressed no desire to move forward with the change.

“The discussion confirmed that becoming a city would offer little practical benefit, while introducing potential risks — including risks of infrastructure responsibilities and the loss of certain grant funding opportunities,” Hanson said in a media release.

“Council also emphasized that municipal status alone does not change service levels, taxation, or community identity. We’re proud of Sylvan Lake’s strong sense of place and we’re confident that continuing as the Town of Sylvan Lake best serves residents’ interests for the foreseeable future. Exploring ideas like this is part of good governance, and council remains committed to transparency, careful planning, and decisions that reflect our community’s values and long‑term wellbeing.”

Read more: Sylvan Lake to prepare exploratory report on becoming a city

The full report can be found here.