Camrose City Council is looking to put a price on public brawls, after reviewing changes to the city’s rulebook that would fine anyone caught fighting on streets, in parks, or anywhere else in the community. Council members examined the proposed updates on June 8, 2026, but sent them back for a clearer definition of what exactly counts as a fight, meaning the rules won’t come into effect until a future meeting.
The changes would be added to the city’s Community Standards Bylaw, which currently covers things like graffiti, panhandling, and public disturbances, but says nothing about physical altercations. According to the City of Camrose, the proposed amendments would “add a definition of ‘fighting,’ prohibit fighting and other physical confrontations in public spaces, and establish fines for violations.”
Right now, the bylaw allows the Camrose Police Service and Community Peace Officers to ticket people for things like public urination or causing a disturbance, with fines ranging from $150 to $2,000. Adding a specific fighting prohibition would give officers a direct tool to address scuffles that might not fit neatly under existing rules. The exact fines for fighting haven’t been set, but similar rules in Calgary carry penalties between $50 and $300.
Mayor PJ Stasko and most councillors were at the table for the review, though Councillor DJ Ilg was absent and Councillor Wayne Throndson arrived late. Council didn’t say what kind of definition they want, only that it needs to be more precise before they’ll vote on it. The amended bylaw is expected to return to council for final approval in the coming months.
If it passes, the change would mean anyone who throws a punch in a Camrose public space could walk away with a ticket, not just a warning. That would give police and bylaw officers a new option for keeping the peace in a city of about 20,000 people, 90 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.
