Chestermere votes in favour of being city

Chestermere councillors have voted in favour of changing from a town to a city on Jan. 1, 2015.

The vote, which passed 6-1, took place in the community just east of Calgary Monday nightin a packed council chambers.

The province still has to approvethe status change.

"The biggest downside is the emotional aspect," MayorPatriciaMatthews said whilerespondingto a questionabout the negatives ofbecoming a city.

She said in 2004 she investigated whether the community should have capped its population.

The population is now more than 17,000 people.

A town can change its status to city once it hits 10,000 residents, andChestermere surpassed that in 2007.

Currently there are 17 cities in Alberta, and there areroughly 10towns that have enoughpopulation to be eligible for city status.