Remfert enthusiastic about a second council term

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Taber Times

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

  Dan Remfert is all-in for a second term on Taber town council. In 2021, Remfert ran for council against 17 other nominees and came in eighth in the vote count for a council of seven.

  “A modest person would say, well, maybe I wasn’t ready for it yet – but it kept me hungry,” he said. He was planning on running again in 2025, however, when Alf Rudd took a position working for Taber Victim Services, he stepped down from council. That triggered a by-election in September 2023, and Remfert ran in it, won, and earned the spot on council he had been vying for in 2021.

  Remfert grew up in Taber and his dad has owned the Royal Hotel since 1976. Dan joined his father as a business partner in about 2002, and during a conversation in his office pointed over his shoulder and just down the hall, and said, “I lived here in the Royal for five years of my life. One of the windows that looks over to you (the Times building), the farthest window to the north, would have been my bedroom window from 1980 to ‘85,” he said.

  His dedication and interest in structured governance was a process. He worked as a partner at the hotel and eventually joined the police commission as a member-at-large. Next, he served as a board member and eventually became president of Taber Minor Hockey, which he still is. He thought that it was a natural step to run for municipal office and a role as councillor.

  He’s certain that he’ll be an even better counselor next term because of the things he’s learned. He said, “Lots of times in the past, I was the voice saying, ‘Hey, we should do this, we should do that.’ Becoming a counselor, I’ve really learned you’ve got to listen.”

  Now, as a two-year councillor seeking re-election, Remfert said he’s learned a lot about balance in the municipality: balance between youth and seniors’ initiatives; balance between large industrial business and small businesses; balance between large homes and affordable homes.

  He touched upon a range of priorities that he believes town council should focus on to ensure the continued growth and success of Taber. Those priorities included:

– Affordable housing – actively working with both private developers and government agencies to create more affordable housing options. Remfert is a part of Taber and District Housing Foundation and a partner in Canadian Mortgage and Housing Credit.

– Community collaboration – maintaining a strong collaboration with the Municipal District (MD) and local organizations. He said council recognizes that the town’s success is closely tied to its ability to work with neighbouring districts and community groups, especially for large events and infrastructure projects.

– Economic development – fostering an environment that supports both small and large businesses, encourages job creation, and attracts new industries.

– Infrastructure and essential services – maintaining and improving both of those to keep pace with the town’s growth.

– Community engagement and volunteerism – encouraging community involvement through volunteerism and approachable leadership. Remfert said council members see themselves as part of the community and strive to be involved and accessible to town residents.

– Public safety and local policing – continuing to support the municipal police force, which Remfert sees as a key factor in maintaining safety and community trust as Taber grows. He was highly complimentary of the police service that Chief Graham Abela has established.

– Events and recreation – bringing events like the Summer Games to town, which not only foster community spirit but also support local businesses. Remfert volunteered and competed in the games, winning eight medals (seven gold, one silver).

  So what motivates him? “It’s kind of a cookie answer to say ‘I’m passionate,’ but this town has growing expectations, right? And we’ve got to meet the needs of that. Got to make sure that we’re meeting people’s expectations, and not just by raising taxes.”

  His enthusiasm and energy for the discussion were evident. He said that as a resident he would view the municipality and see pieces of the pie, but now has a greater understanding of the whole pie and how it all comes together.

 “I love living here,” he said, and then referenced the Taber 120 anniversary video where he was asked what his one-word descriptor for Taber would be.

 “Mine,” was his answer to the question. “You can watch the video. That’s how I look at it. It’s mine. Being mine doesn’t mean it’s not yours. I hope it’s yours. I hope you feel the same as me, right?”

  “You know, if everybody lived like it’s theirs, then we all work together. If every councillor and every citizen says, ‘this is my town,’ – there’s no stopping us.”