Frequently Asked Questions

It is possible to transfer immediately into another program with a $10 administration charge (subject to program availability). 

All transfers must be completed one week prior to the start of the lesson session. After that time transfers will no longer be accepted.

Yes. Wait lists will be in effect for all programs. If the demand is sufficient and appropriate time, space and instructors are available, extra classes may be added.

Full refunds will be given on courses cancelled by the Aquatic Centre. A $10 administration fee will be charged for all withdrawals not supported by a medical certification. Cancellations made less than one week prior to the start of the session will not be granted a refund.

Program/course fees must be paid in full at the time of registration. Participants are not considered registered until payment has been received.

Fee payments may be made by:

• Cash
• Cheques (must be made to the City of Lacombe. Post-dated cheques will not be accepted.)
• Debit Card
• MasterCard
• Personal Cheque
• VISA

Registrations can be made online, in person at the Aquatic Centre or by calling 403-782-1278.

Registrations are accepted on a first come, fist served basis and are subject to a availability.

Programs, events, lessons, and activities may be cancelled by the Aquatic Centre based on the following circumstances:

• Facility and/or equipment problems
• Instructor of facilitator illness or unavailability
• Insufficient registration

In the event that the Aquatic Centre must cancel a program, staff will notify participants prior to the program start date. 

After a Cancellation

• Refunds are not issued for classes missed during a session.
• Make-up classes are not available.
• Non-attendance in a class does not constitute a withdrawal.
• Late registrations are accepted when space is available in the class.

Our lockers take a token and cost $1.00. Tokens can be purchased from the front desk and are not returned once the locker is re-opened.

Yes, all of our change rooms have lockers that you can use your own lock on instead of purchasing a token.

Yes, the new software and payment processor are fully encrypted and compliant to ensure your personal information is secure. Password protocols that help this include:

• Be at least 10 characters long
• Contain one number
• Contain one uppercase letter
• Not contain a sequence (i.e. 123456 or abc123)

We encourage our users to exceed the minimum necessary for password strength, and to be diligent in protecting their personal information and account details.

Call or visit the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre in the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex (403-782-1278). However, we hope the new system makes calling to register a thing of the past, and to do that we’ve chosen a system that is online, fast, secure, and easy to use.

The Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation requires the City of Lacombe to obtain user consent to receive emails and other notifications. You will be offered the option to agree to two different email features and you can unsubscribe easily, at any time:

1. Transaction emails - These are notifications resulting from your purchase. The system wants to send you emails with:
   • Membership agreements
   • Membership pass expiry alerts
   • Receipts
   • Registration confirmations
   • Rental agreements
   • Scheduled payment agreements and payment reminders
   • Suspension or transfer confirmations
   • Waitlist updates
   • Withdrawal
2. General communication emails - This is your inside track to new programs, service opportunities, and special events as soon as they are posted! We can also notify you of any service disruptions or situations that may affect your experience. Again, unsubscribing is easy.

To login to your account, launch PerfectMind, and click on "Login” or “Create Account".

No. You can navigate through the system without having an account and also without being logged in. You will only be prompted to log-in or create an account when you register for a program.

Search for an activity in two ways:

1. Use the Search function on the Schedule page. You can search by entering a keyword in the search field.
2. Navigate through categories:
   1. Advanced Courses
   2. Re-certification
   3. Swim Lessons
   4. Specialized Programs
   5. Special Events and Facility Bookings
3. You can refine this search using the filters, age, day of week, and date range.

1. Find and select a program
2. Login or Create Account
3. Attendees Screen: Select family member(s) to register and select “Next”
4. Review Screen: Review your Cart Summary and select “Checkout”
5. Payment Screen: Enter payment information and “Complete” the transaction

You will not be able to register for a course that is full, but you can add yourself to a waiting list. If a space opens for that activity or additional sessions are added, you will be contacted by phone. If we are unable to reach you, your space will be given to the next person on the waiting list. Placement on a waiting list does not guarantee a spot.

You have successfully registered for a program, class, or activity when you select the “Checkout” button on the payment screen and you receive a confirmation email back - check that the details in it are correct!  You can also find a registration or booking when you view your client info by clicking on the “My Profile” button found at the top left.

Our previous database accumulated thousands of client profiles many of which are obsolete or incomplete. To ensure that we only bring current, accurate and complete information into the new recreation software, most prior accounts will not be transferred.

To create a new account, log in to PerfectMind. If you have any questions or issues setting up your account, please email Bookings or call 403-782-1278.

It is possible to have multiple accounts if you have provided multiple email addresses. If you think this might be the case, please contact the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre front desk at 403-782-1278 to have them merge the accounts. In the case of a merge, City staff will send you new login information.

If you need to adjust or delete a credit card that is stored on your client page, you will need to contact the City of Lacombe Recreation Department at 403-782-1278 or visit us in person at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre in the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex, located at:

5210 54 Avenue
Lacombe, AB T4L 1H8

However, you can add multiple credit cards to your account, so if you have an error in one card number or want to use a different card for this registration, and you can’t contact us right away, simply add the correct information as a new card and contact us as soon as possible to remove the incorrect or outdated card information.

Please call City Hall at 403-782-1258, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. 

You may also email Cemetery@Lacombe.ca listing the full name and passing date of the person you are trying to locate.

Please book an appointment by phoning 403-782-1258 or email cemetery@lacombe.ca requesting an appointment.

Flowers placed in a vase that is a permanent part of the monument may be left at a gravesite. Any other items placed at the plot will be removed and disposed of, as they hinder ground maintenance.

Please refer to the Fairview Cemetery Services Policy (PDF) for specific details.

Plantings often become overgrown, hinder interments, and may heave and crack foundations. Therefore, plantings of any kind are not permitted. City staff will remove them to maintain the integrity of the plots and monuments.

Plots will be seeded after they have settled and been tamped. Typically, this happens the following spring or fall after the interment.

In the past, burials occurred without casket vaults to protect the casket. Over time, these caskets will break down, and the ground will settle and fill the void where the casket had been. Whenever significant settling becomes a hazard, new soil will be added, tamped, and seeded to level the ground surface.

Please refer to the Fairview Cemetery Services Policy (PDF) for specific details and instructions.

All foundations and monuments must be created and installed by professional licensed monument companies to ensure City standards are followed. This also ensures that liability insurance is in place should a neighbouring monument or plot be damaged during installation.

Fairview Cemetery has not been designed for green burials.

Currently, no scattering garden exists in Fairview Cemetery.

The one-time perpetual care fee covers the costs of maintaining the grass and removing snow around the columbarium each year.

It varies depending on the size of the plots. Please refer to the Fairview Cemetery Services Policy (PDF), or call 403-782-1258 to discuss your family’s needs.

If your family member was buried less than 15 years ago, it may be possible, but it is not encouraged because of the unknown condition of the casket and remains of the interred relative. Please refer to the Fairview Cemetery Services Policy (PDF) for specifics.

At present, benches may not be placed at grave sites. However, the City’s memorial bench program may allow one of the approved benches to be purchased and placed nearby.

Please refer to the Memorial Bench Program for more details.

Noise
“Heavy Equipment” means machinery such as backhoes, graders, dump trucks etc. used for snow clearing purposes; contractors using heavy equipment carrying on snow removal from commercial, industrial or institutional sites.

Grass and Weeds
Cut the grass and weeds before it exceeds eight (8) inches in length;

Overhanging Trees and Shrubs
Prune any overhanging trees in alleyways to the height of 4 meters (13 ft) from the ground. Prune any trees overhanging sidewalks to a height of 2.4 meters (8 ft) from the ground. All shrubs or bushes adjacent to public sidewalks must be trimmed to be a minimum of 15 cm (6 inches) away from a public sidewalk so as to not impede pedestrian traffic. Prune any trees or shrubs that, in any way, interfere with or endanger visibility to street signage or roadways, or interfere with sidewalk or roadway clearance or any lines, poles, conduits, pipes, sewer, fire hydrants or any other works of the City or any other public utility;

No Parking on Front Yards
No owner or occupant of a premise shall park any motor vehicle, recreation vehicle, or trailer on the Front Yard, as defined by the Land Use Bylaw, as of their property except where there is a properly constructed and surfaced driveway.

Residents are responsible for taking care of their property, if you notice a property that is not abiding by the following standards, please let our Bylaw Officers know. Our officers operate on a complaint-based system but will proactively follow up with egregiously unsightly properties.

• Grass is to be cut before it exceeds eight (8) inches in length;
• Destroy, control, and prevent the spread or scattering of Prohibited Noxious Weeds;
• Accumulations of rubbish or garbage are not permitted;
• Residents are allowed one dilapidated vehicle on their property as long as that vehicle is in the process of being salvaged as a hobby;
• Trees or shrubs that interfere with street signage, roadways, sidewalks, fire hydrants, or public utilities are to be pruned.

The Bylaw Officers are responsible for reviewing taxi business applications and driver’s license applications; the officers must collect the following information on a yearly basis for license renewals:

Licensing of Taxi Businesses, applicants must provide:

• A valid livery license issued by the Government of the Province of Alberta;
• A Mechanical Fitness Report for all taxis;
• A valid City of Lacombe Business License;
• A valid Brokerage License;
• Valid insurance documents.

Licensing of Taxi Drivers, applicants must provide:

• A criminal record check;
• Driver’s abstract;
• Commercial driver’s license.

Licensed Taxi Companies in the City of Lacombe:

• Good Guy Cab Co.

Lacombe City Council has passed Traffic Bylaw 506 to restrict the parking of recreational vehicles (motor homes, holiday trailers, campers, tent trailers or any buses or trucks converted for use as recreation vehicles) on city streets and highways to 72 hours. According to Traffic Bylaw 506:

• No person shall park any trailer upon any highway or street within the City of Lacombe unless the trailer is attached to a vehicle. An exception is that Construction Trailers may be parked unattached from a vehicle adjacent to a property where construction is being completed from the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. After 5:00 pm, the trailer must be reattached to a motorized vehicle, and parked in compliance with the Traffic Bylaw 506. Unattached trailers designed for recreation and occupancy are not allowed under this exception.
• Pursuant to City of Lacombe Traffic Bylaw 506 and the Provincial Traffic Safety Act, all vehicles must be moved every 72 hours. A Recreational Vehicle shall be removed from city street or highway to an off-Highway location (private property) for at least 72 consecutive hours before the Recreational Vehicle may be parked on a city street or highway again.
• A recreational vehicle may not be permitted to park on a street if a Peace Officer determines that the vehicle is a traffic or public safety hazard.
• Recreational vehicles and trailers parked on a property must be fully contained within the property. No portion of a recreational vehicle or trailer is permitted to protrude into a street, laneway or sidewalk.

Electrical extension cords must not be placed across public sidewalks or driveways because they create a dangerous trip hazard.

If you need to plug in your vehicles or trailers, please ensure that the extension cord is suspended 8 feet (2.4 metres) above the sidewalk. This requirement is in effect year-round.

It is the responsibility of all residents, whether they own or rent their home, to keep public sidewalks adjoining their property clear of ice, snow, sand, or other debris.

You are required to clear away snow and ice within 48 hours of the time when the material was formed or deposited.

Snow, ice, sand, and other debris should not be shoveled into a nearby gutter or onto any other portion of a public roadway.

Water dripping from an awning, eavestrough, or another part of a building onto a public roadway or sidewalk must be removed by the owner or occupier to prevent the formation of ice.

Garage sale signs are unsightly and often create litter. Besides your own property, the only place garage sale signs permitted to be posted within Lacombe are on the garage sale notice boards located at the Lacombe Memorial Centre and the Recreation Complex.

Anyone who places such signage on City boulevards, sidewalks, streetlights, etc. may be ticketed and fined. Any such signs found will be removed and destroyed.

Please view the How to Borrow a Cat Trap (PDF) for more information.

Pet licenses can be obtained at City Hall, located at:
5432 56 Avenue
Lacombe, AB T4L 1E9

Please refer to the Pet License Fees page for further details. Lifetime licenses are available for purchase.

Pet owners are respected to adhere to the following responsibilities:

• All pets MUST be leashed within the boundaries of the City of Lacombe, except in the off-leash area located on Len Thompson Drive and on animal owner’s private property. Pets are not allowed in areas containing playground equipment.
• All dogs and cats within city boundaries must be licensed.
• Cats must remain on the property of their owner. Pet owners who allow their cat to roam can receive fines starting at $150.
• Pick up after your pet. The City receives many complaints from park and trail system users regarding people not ’scooping poop’ after their pets defecate. Failure to pickup after your pet will result in a fine of $100.

During regular business hours please contact Enforcement Services at 403-782-1269, ext. 1.

Outside of business hours, to report a missing dog or cat as lost or found, please contact Animal Control Services (Klassic Kennels) at 403-506-9380.

Yes! Quiet hours are from 10 P.M. to 7 A.M., during these hours residents should not operate snow or leaf blowers, tools, machinery, or equipment so as to create noise or disturbance. However, this does not apply to work carried out by the City.

1. Contact the City of Lacombe by phone at 403-782-6666 or in person at least two business days prior to either the possession date or the date that you are responsible for the services.
2. Fill out the printable Utilities Service Agreement Form (PDF) for water, sewer, and garbage.
3. Pay the $39.25 connection fee for your new account. The $39.25 connection fee is charged on the first bill.
4. As of April 1, 2023 all new utility accounts for water, wastewater and solid waste must be in the property owner’s name.  The property owner will be responsible for the payment of the utility accounts.  Owners may sign up using the Pre-Authorized Withdrawl Form (PDF).

Fill and submit the Utilities Service Cancellation Form (PDF) 10 days prior to the utilities cancellation date.

1. First, you need to complete the Utilities Service Cancellation Form (PDF).
2. Next, you need to complete the Utility Service Agreement Form (PDF).

Options include:

• City Hall via credit/debit card, cash or cheque
• Dropbox at City Hall
• Local bank
• Online banking
• Pre-authorized payment plan (see the Pre-Authorized Withdrawal Form (PDF))
• With a credit card through your City of Lacombe online utility account

Please note: For Local or Online Banking, to avoid Late payments and penalties, please allow at least 3 business days for your bank to process your payment before the due date.

Yes. Fill out the Utility Service Disconnect Form (PDF).

Register online for a bulk water "Flowpoint system" account. Follow the directions to access the bulk water station or pay with a credit card at the station.

The City of Lacombe gets their water from the Red Deer Treatment Plant via a regional water line connecting Blackfalds, Lacombe and Ponoka.

Yes. The water that leaves the City of Red Deer Treatment Plant meets and exceeds all of the standards contained in the "Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality." The City of Lacombe frequently tests the water for quality and follows all provincial guidelines to ensure the water is safe.

The City of Red Deer uses a surface water supply (Red Deer River), as a source of drinking water for its residents. All surface water supplies such as Red Deer’s are susceptible to high turbidity and high organic loading during the annual spring snow melt and runoff. These conditions can give the raw water a disagreeable odor and taste.

The treatment process removes most of these tastes and odors, however enough may remain after treatment to be noticeable to the consumer. The treated water at the tap is still safe to drink.

Each spring is different, but on average, run-off conditions will last for between three and six weeks. Mountain run-off in late June and early July, can also cause water to smell, if accompanied by heavy rainfall in the watershed.

The most common leaks are running toilets. You can not always hear the water. Try putting some food colouring in the toilet tank, do not flush, wait a while, and check if it shows in the toilet bowl.

As well, dripping faucets waste more water than you think. You may schedule an e-code readout from your meter of the past 90 days. Contact the Utility Department to schedule an appointment.

Call the Infrastructure Services department at 403-782-1261 to arrange a convenient time for our repairman to fix or replace the meter.

Older meters tend to run slower rather than faster. You may request a meter accuracy test from Public Works. There is a cost of $200 to have a meter checked. If it is a faulty meter the city pays if it is not the tenant pays this cost.

If there is a sewer smell in your basement, but your sewer appears to be fine and not backing up, simply try flushing the toilet regularly. You should also check your "P" trap (basement floor drain) and make sure it has water in it. If not, add water to the trap. 

If you notice a smell during the winter months, check your roof vent to make sure it is not plugged with snow or ice. Once the vent is cleared the smell should dissipate.

If a blockage occurs, the owner or occupant should first contact a plumber to clear the line. If the plumber cannot clear the blockage, the owner may then contact the City of Lacombe Infrastructure Services department at 403-782-1261.

Please view the schedule.

Utility bills are calculated monthly and mailed no later than the 10^th of the following month.

Notice must be given two working days prior to the date of shut off. You are responsible for payment of services until notice is received or the water is turned off.

Your account number is found near the top of your bill. The 13 digits refer to the location of the property and the resident.

Meter reads are done at the end of each month and calculated to ensure accurate billing. Non-radio read meters are read manually bi-monthly (every other month). The meter reads are estimated based on the past 12 months of consumption every 2^nd month.

If you have a higher than normal bill you may have a leak. The City of Lacombe supplies color tablets that allow you to check for leaks in toilettes. We can also do an e-code read off your meter of the past 90 days to see when water has gone through the meter and determine if you have a leak. Contact the Utility Department to schedule an e-code or make payment arrangements.

Deposits are held for the duration of your utility services agreement. When your account is canceled your deposit is applied to your final bill and a check for the credit amount will be mailed to the forwarding address you provide on your cancellation form.

If the City of Lacombe owes you money, you will receive a cheque approximately one month after the bills are produced.

View the Volunteer Canada website for answers to this question.

Check out the following Do-it-Yourself Committee Guide resources for the answers to this question:

• Chairperson Role Description
• Characteristics of a Good Chairperson

Visit the Do-It-Yourself Committee Guide website for information about this role.

The difference between Board of Directors and Executive Committee members is detailed on the Career Trend website.

The difference between charitable and other not-for-profit organizations is detailed in the Registered Charity versus Non-Profit Organization (PDF).

View a guidebook for running effective meetings (PDF) for the answers to this question.

Get information about chairing meetings on the Do-It-Yourself Committee Guide website.

Read an article about the helpfulness of business plans on the Balance of Small Business website.

Learn about how to write a strategic plan with the following resources:

• Create a Strategic Plan for Your Nonprofit
• Framework for a Basic Strategic Plan Document for a Nonprofit

Learn how to write a proposal by reviewing the following resource:

• WikiHow - How to Write a Proposal

Read about 7 Ways to improve leadership skills.

Read an article about volunteer resignation letters for information about properly and professionally leaving your position

View the Top 15 Non-profit Board Governance Mistakes from Charity Lawyer.

Get a general know-all of board governance from Imagine Canada - Sector Source.

Learn about risk management by visiting Imagine Canada - Sector Source.

The following resources provide tactics for recruiting volunteers:

• Energize - Recruitment
• The Balance Small Business - 3 Ways to Recruit Volunteers for Your Nonprofit

Please visit the Charity Village website for some information on how to achieve effective volunteer support.

Volunteer Alberta offers information on screening your volunteers.

Charity Village has an article about skills-based volunteering that can help answer this question.

There are several types of volunteers, as noted by the following resources:

• Volunteer Weekly - 5 Different Types of Volunteering Activities

Volunteer Canada has a resource for engaging youth in volunteer work.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Recruiting Volunteers by Thomas W. McKee details commons mishaps with recruiting volunteers.

Volunteers and the Law in Alberta details a variety of legalities involved with the volunteer process in Alberta.

The following resources note why volunteering a good thing for youth to do:

• Engaging Volunteers - 4 Reasons Every Teen Should Volunteer

You can visit Volunteer Connector for more information on how to post a request for volunteers.

Find local volunteer opportunities on Volunteer Connector.

Volunteer Alberta also provides local opportunities.

The Handbook for Newcomer Volunteers is quite helpful for new volunteers. Also you can view the How-to for a First-Time Volunteer: Ace it, Enjoy it article.

Help Guide’s "Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits" will help inform you of the benefits of volunteering.

Review 10 tips on volunteering wisely on Network for Goods website.

Review 8 reasons to volunteer in Canada, provided by the International Language Academy of Canada.

Read an article about the "Top 5 Reasons Why College Students Should Volunteer".

The KidsHealth website provides a great resource for families looking to volunteer.

Volunteer Canada has a resource informing young people of the benefits associated with volunteering.

Review 20 Important Questions to Ask When Volunteering.

Engaging Volunteer’s "4 Reasons Every Teen Should Volunteer" covers some benefits associated with volunteering.

Yes! Review the following resources about how this can happen: The Balance Careers - How to Turn a Volunteer Position into a Job

Visit Volunteer Canada’s website for ideas on recognizing the work your volunteers do.

National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate and thank Canada’s 12.7 million volunteers. Learn more about it from the following website:

• Volunteer Canada

Visit Engaging Volunteers for "6 Ways Nonprofits Can Prevent Volunteer Burnout".

Read about "What Your Volunteers Need to Be Happy" on The Balance - Small Business.

The Chron article "Performance Evaluation of Volunteers" is a great resource for evaluating volunteers.

Please read the "How Exit Interviews Can Help Charities Improve Conditions for Their Remaining Employees" article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy website for the answer to this question.

Absolutely not. Designation protects specific features listed in a site’s Statement of Significance, and these Character Defining Elements are generally exterior features. Interior work, such as bathroom or kitchen upgrades and renovations, will face no extra bureaucracy or red tape compared to a typical property. Sometimes interior elements, such as tin ceilings in a commercial property, are listed in the SOS, so that specific element would have to be preserved. Larger scale work, such as building additions, is also possible. If designated, any work requiring a City building permit would require HRC approval.

There are many factors that go into decision-making in purchasing a house. We have found that the owners of heritage properties almost always have great pride in their property and sought it out specifically for its heritage characteristics. People looking to buy a heritage site often are the same sort of individuals – they are looking for a heritage site to care for and take pride in. The added element of formal designation rarely affects the resale price. Heritage BC collected statistics from several reports and found 97.8% of heritage properties in Canada did as well or better than non-heritage properties in the real estate market. It is, however, important to retain a real estate agent who understands what designation means and does not make any false assumptions. 

The short answer is, no, it shouldn’t. That said, heritage groups across Canada have found that insurance providers have many misunderstandings about what designation means, particularly as different levels of designation (ie municipal vs provincial) involve different processes. Two large assumptions from insurers are that replacement must involve exact materials with which elements were originally built (often assuming high costs and specialty contractors) and that in the unfortunate case of destruction 100% replacement is required.  At this time, the insurance industry is undergoing surveys and research that are expected to streamline the understanding of insurance implications.    At the Municipal level, the HRC expects work of any kind to adhere to guidelines outlined in the Standards & guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. We encourage owners of designated properties to contact us about any concerns as our primary goal is to ensure the long life of Lacombe’s historic places.