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By Ian Gustafson

Not finalized yet

Sylvan Lake town council provides suggestions to RCMP for 2026-27 policing priorities

Mar 12, 2026 | 2:03 PM

Sylvan Lake town council provided feedback for the RCMP to consider as they form the 2026-27 RCMP community priorities plan.

On Tuesday’s regular council meeting, councillors suggested the RCMP add youth and maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere as potential priorities.

As a result, council unanimously approved a motion for the RCMP to consider these suggestions ahead of their discussion on Thursday between town officials, the mayor, and the RCMP.

This is in addition to the priorities listed in the 2025-26 municipal policing report, including crime reduction, enhancing road safety, municipal break and enters, and accountability and transparency.

Next up, the finalized plan will be brought back to council for final approval.

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Councillor Ian Oostindie had a pair of suggestions, including policing of Lakeshore Drive. He said many years ago, he saw a shift in the culture change along the lakeshore from a party area to a family-friendly place.

He hopes for that to continue.

“It shifted from a great place to drink beer to this is a great place to be as a family… A lot of it was RCMP work,” he said. “I’m not suggesting we make it as a priority, but if we don’t once in a while say it out loud, we might lose traction on the lakeshore, just as we’ve been talking about litter and all of those sorts of things about the lakeshore keeping it sharp.”

The other suggestion was focused on helping youth become healthy adults. More specifically, police having more of a presence at schools and around youth in general.

Councillor Jas Payne shared similar thoughts in terms of youth.

“One of the things this RCMP detachment does very well is connect very well with the high school,” Payne said. “Sergeant Sexsmith is very good at making those relationships, and I think that it shows through in that accountability and transparency priority. I think it’s really important we echo that.”