The Town of Okotoks and the MD of Foothills have appointed two mediators, Bill Diepeveen of Bill Diepeveen Mediation Associates and Karla Reesor of Moving Forward Ltd., to assist with mediation discussions related to the proposed annexation. The Town and the MD of Foothills have also agreed on a mediation schedule which includes six meetings to occur over the next three months.
The annexation process began in September 2013 when the Town of Okotoks issued its notice of intent to annex approximately 33 quarter sections from the MD of Foothills.
Negotiations between the two municipalities began in early 2014 and it was announced in October 2014 that a third party would be called in to assist with discussions regarding the proposed annexation.