A town in southern Alberta says it is halting the exploration of gaining city status, with many of its residents saying they would like it to remain a town.
The Town of Taber says that after listening to public feedback, the council has decided to discontinue the exploration of city status, which if successful, would have been Alberta’s 20th city.
“Our residents’ voices were clear,” said Mayor Andrew Prokop in a news release. “While the idea of city status sparked valuable discussions about our future, the feedback showed that Taberites take great pride in being a town. Council heard you, and we respect that.”
This decision came after a preliminary exploration designed to understand how residents felt about the possibility of becoming a city. Through a survey and in-person meetings, many residents expressed a strong preference to remain a town, reflecting pride in Taber’s small-town character and strong sense of community.
“To those who saw city status as an exciting opportunity for progress, we want you to know that Taber’s energy and momentum remain strong,” added Prokop. “We will keep building on our strengths to ensure Taber continues to be a vibrant and influential voice in Southern Alberta, whether we’re called a town or a city.”
The town says although there were plans for further public engagement in 2025, the council determined that the preliminary feedback “clearly indicated a preference to focus time and resources on other areas of improvement identified by the community.”
It isn’t saying it will keep a town status forever though, adding that the topic “may be revisited in future decades as Taber grows and evolves — perhaps with larger population changes or new opportunities.”
“We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts,” added Prokop. “Whether you are happy or disappointed with the decision, your feedback will still guide us as we plan a future that honours our heritage while embracing opportunities to grow.”
In case you were curious, the Government of Alberta says there are a total of 105 towns in Alberta.