VILLAGE NEWS

October 26, 2018 By-election – Official By-election Results

Bryan Gallacher – 52
Linda Ruth Maciocha – 18
Chris Skidmore – 30
Results of the Oct. 22nd By-election became official on Friday, October 26, 2018 @ noon.

Congratulations to Bryan Gallacher on being elected to Village Council and to Linda and Chris for putting their names forward.

October 2, 2018 – Council Meeting Notes

• Land Use Bylaw Amendment 08-2018 was given 2nd and 3rd readings

September 25, 2018 – By-election Nomination Results

• Issued at 12 noon, Tuesday, September 25, 2018 by Returning Officer Loreen Bourguignon
• Four valid nomination forms were received for one Council position by the Returning Officer during the nomination period on Monday, September 24 between 10am and 12 noon. After the close of nominations, and within the 24 hour withdrawal period, one candidate provided the Returning Officer with a formal written notice of withdrawal of their candidacy. As a result, there are three candidates to fill the one vacant seat on Village Council. Voting will take place on Monday, October 22, 2018, from 10am – 8pm at the Village Office at 5217 – 52 St., Wabamun, AB. with an advanced poll being held from 10am – 2pm on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at the Village Office at 5217 – 52 St., Wabamun, AB.

September 18, 2018 – Council Meeting Notes

• Public hearing held on Land Use Bylaw Amendment 08-2018
• Public hearing held on Cannabis Consumption Bylaw 09-2018
• Cannabis Consumption Bylaw 09-2018 was given 2nd and 3rd readings

August 21, 2018 – Council Meeting Notes

• Public Hearing held on Advertising Bylaw 07-2018
• Advertising Bylaw 07-2018 received 2nd & 3rd readings
• Municipal Emergency Management Bylaw 05-2018 received 3rd reading
• Cannabis Consumption Bylaw 09-2018 was given first reading
• Land Use Bylaw Amendment 08-2018 was given first reading
• Amended Capital Budget was approved
• All members of Council who are not serving as Mayor or Deputy Mayor to serve on the Emergency Management Advisory Committee
• Appointed the CAO as the Director of Emergency Management
• Resolution for the following were approved: No parking in the north south alley between 51 and 52 street between 51 and 52 avenue.
  Install a handicap parking stall on the north side of 51 avenue immediately west of the lane entrance between 51 and 52 street.
  No parking in any laneway within the Village of Wabamun
• Councillor Jason Wittmeier resigned his seat on Village Council

August 2, 2018

• Military Motorcycle Ride visited Waterfront Park

July 17, 2018 – Council Meeting Notes

• Council Code of Conduct Bylaw 06-2018 received 3 readings and was approved
• Public Participation Policy L:17 was approved
• Advertising Bylaw 07-2018 received first reading
• Municipal Emergency Management Bylaw 05-2018 received first and second reading

June 22 – 24, 2018

• Dragonfly Festival, Art Walk, Ball Tournament and Upfest were held.

June 19, 2018 – Council Meeting Notes

• Operating Budget amended and approved
• Tax Bylaw 04-2018 approved
• Waterfront Park Master Rates Schedule amendment – Seasonal and replacement passes reduced to $150.00 from $300.00; day use parking reduced to $2.00 per hour from $5.00 per hour and day use day pass reduced to $10.00 per day from $20.00 per day
• Cannabis Survey results are available on the website or at the front counter in the Village office

June 5, 2018 – Council Meeting Notes

• Capital and operating budget approved

May 15, 2018 – Council Meeting Notes

• Atco Gas Franchise Bylaw 05-2017 received 2^nd & 3^rd readings and was approved
• Enhanced policing through RCMP for 2018 approved
• Waste collection contract extended for 2 additional years to May 31, 2020

April 17, 2018 – Council Meeting Notes

• Utility Bylaw 02-2018 received 3 readings: Changes to update the definition for multi-tenant commercial and every new building constructed shall have a backwater valve installed to protect the building from possible sewer backups
• Diane Purdy appointed to the Library Board
• Landscaping quote approved for the Waterfront Park
• Waterfront Park day use fees waived until construct is complete
• 2017 Financial Statement was presented and approved

April 7, 2018 – Local Business receives regional award

On Saturday, April 7, 2018, prior to the unveiling of their latest exhibit,  Charlene Smylie, Mayor of Wabamun & Growth Alberta Board Member, presented Lois & Len Hannam of Gossamer Treasures with the 2017 GROWTH Alberta Business Excellence Award. As ATB is a proud sponsor of this award she was joined by Marianne Wolosyzn from our local ATB branch for the presentation. Every year the members of Growth receive nominations for exceptional businesses within our communities and we were proud to see one of our own businesses recognized. The Mayor explained that Gossamer Treasures has been instrumental in building the Wabamun and region Arts Community and have built a beautiful venue for local and Albertan artists to display and sell their wares. Not only have they increased visitor traffic in our community, but in the entire region. She explained that Gossamer also sponsors Paint nights, Art shows and have built the Wabamun Art Walk at the Dragonfly Festival which is bigger than some in cities. Lois and Len are strong Chamber of Commerce members and have led that group through strategic planning. They have added vibrancy to our downtown core and have contributed to several Chamber and community initiatives and events. They commissioned Wabamun’s first outdoor mural on their building and assisted the village in designing its first public art policy designed to bring public art to the community to be enjoyed by residents and visitors and to instill a stronger sense of community pride. They are one of the anchors for Wabamun’s development as an arts, culture and recreational destination.

GROWTH is a regional economic development alliance which includes Lac Ste. Anne, Woodlands and Barrhead Counties along with the towns of Mayerthorpe, Swan Hills, Westlock and the Villages of Clyde and Wabamun. The alliance works to promote growth along with business expansion and retention in the member areas.

April 3, 2018 – Rates changed for assessment appeals

• Residential – 3 or fewer dwellings – $50.00 (required with each application)
• Residential – 4 or more dwellings – $200.00 (required with each application)
• Non-residential – $200.00 (required with each application)

March 15, 2018 – Coal Community Transition Grant Announced

Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous was in Wabamun today along with M.L.A. Erin Babcock to announce the funding allocations under the Coal Community Transition Grant program. The Village had made application in late November 2017 after meeting with the Chamber President who had brought forward a number of recommendations from the business community for inclusion in the application. The grant program was developed to assist communities impacted by the transition away from coal fired power generation. The application by the Village was made to address three keys issues, Community Transition Planning to Achieve Long Term Sustainability, Strategies to Improve Local Business Retention and Investment Attraction. The application addressed objectives, timelines, costs, benefits, performance measurements and sustainability attributes of each of the three key areas. The total for all Village requests under the program was $352,000. Minister Bilous today announced that the Village of Wabamun would be receiving $347,000 to assist in the transition and to address the needs identified in the application. The requests included, among others, support for community strategic planning, revision of the community’s legislated development plans, business promotion, website upgrades, business training, marketing and examination of new revenue stream options for the Community. The full press release can be found here: COAL COMMUNITY TRANSITION FUND NEWS RELEASE MARCH 15, 2018

March 12, 2018 – Cannabis Information Session

The Village Council held a Committee of the Whole meeting in Council chambers to share information with the public regarding upcoming changes to federal and provincial laws which will legalize the growing, sales and use of cannabis. In addition to Council and staff, fifteen members of the public were in attendance to see slide presentations outlining provincial regulations and Alberta Health recommendations. Sgt. Ian Gillan of the Stony Plain detachment of the RCMP was also on hand and gave a verbal presentation on enforcement of the new regulations. The sergeant, Council and administration answered a number of questions from the audience regarding growing in private residences, retail sales, licensing issues, use in multi-residential settings among other topics. This was the first step in the consultation process Village Council is undertaking in advance of amending municipal Land Use bylaws, creating public use bylaws, creating development regulations and aligning them with enforcement criteria. Council is currently developing a survey which will be released in early April to gauge the public’s input into a number of important questions regarding the new bylaws and policies.

February 28, 2018 – Pink Shirt Day 

February 28th is pink shirt day and the Village Council and Staff are showing their support. Bullying is a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, on social media and over the internet. On Wednesday, February 28th, 2018, schools from across Canada will wear pink to support bully prevention awareness, education and programs. This year’s Pink Shirt Day Alberta 2018 theme is centered around “STANDING TOGETHER” to raise awareness against bullying in schools. In today’s digital world, it can be impossible to escape online bullying, whether it takes the shape of harassment, spreading rumors, sharing embarrassing information or threats. Pink Shirt Day is encouraging others to combat cyberbullying by thinking twice before posting something negative, and instead using the internet to spread kindness – because we know that Nice Needs No Filter!

February 17, 2018 – Kids Can Catch

February 17, 2018 saw another hugely successful Wabamun Lake Kids Can Catch! Many thanks to the 60 volunteers who made it possible for 847 kids and adults to give ice fishing a try. Photos from the day are posted in an album on ACA Facebook (Alberta Conversation Association), and also check out the tweets @ConserveAlberta and #kidscancatch.

Help us improve the event by sharing your thoughts at   https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WabKCC.

A huge thank you goes out to:

• Cabela’s for donating rods, prepping the rods for the event, and being on the ice getting families geared up to fish.
• Servus Credit Union for handing out bait donated by Walleye Master.
• TransAlta for welcoming anglers at the registration tent and serving up hot dogs alongside Chamber volunteers.
• Wabamun Chamber for cooking 950 hotdogs for hungry anglers!
• ATB for handing out chips, granola bars and water.
• Parkland County for warming everyone with delicious hot chocolate.
• JosSite Workwear for donating 20 more event vests and hundreds of hand warmers.
• Village of Wabamun for everything from tables and pylons to the skating rink and the new indoor washrooms.
• Night Owls Citizens on Patrol for directing traffic and managing parking.
• CN Police Service for railway and public safety and event sponsorship.
• Parkland County Emergency Services for providing first responder services.

And a very special thank you to the fishing mentors who shared your passion for fishing and conservation with families on the ice:

• Alberta Fish and Wildlife Officers
• Alberta Fish and Game Association
• Stony Plain Fish and Game Club
• Willingdon Fish and Game Club
• Edmonton Trout Fishing Club
• Edmonton Old Timers’ Fishing Club
• Cabela’s Edmonton north and south stores
• Alberta Conservation Association
• Dow for sponsoring the province-wide Kids Can Catch Program
• AltaLink for supporting events across Alberta with fishing rods

Mark your calendars for next year. Wabamun Lake Kids Can Catch will be on Saturday, February 16, 2019 from 10 am to 3 pm. Thanks and hope to see you back out on the ice in 2019!

February 8, 2018 – CN Freight train derails in Wabamun

At app. 3pm on February 8, 2018 an east bound CN freight train collided with a semi-trailer at CN’s private crossing at the south end of 53^rd St.. The collision caused two engines and nine cars to leave the tracks. Two of the cars carrying steel rails tipped but the remainder stayed on the side of the tracks almost 5 blocks east of the site of the accident. Only minor injuries were sustained and there was no immediate danger to public safety. CN crews, along with Parkland County emergency services, ambulance and police responded quickly to the incident. Access to Waterfront Park and Point Alison were blocked while the tracks were cleared. Village officials were in close contact with the crews and will be meeting with CN officials to ensure there are no similar incidents in the future and that the village is reimbursed for damages to the roads, sidewalks and crossings as well as ensuring that the accident and clean up don’t have any negative impact on the storm drainage systems in the village.

January 16, 2018 – Procedural Bylaw 04-2017

Having given first and second readings previously, Council gave third and final reading to Procedural Bylaw 04-2017. PROCEDURAL BYLAW 04-2017  This bylaw dictates the process governing Council meetings, Organizational Meetings, Public Hearings, selection of Mayor and Deputy Mayors along with form of agendas, order of Council, role and philosophy, conduct guidelines and Council appointments.

December 20, 2017 – Christmas Display Judging

December 6, 2017 – Christmas in the Village

Mayor Charlene Smylie along with members of the Light Up campaign, Village Council and the public officially light the Village Christmas Tree in the public square at the new Wabamun Common. A large crowd of over 60 turned out to help celebrate Christmas in the Village and enjoy wagon rides sponsored by the Wabamun and District FCSS.

November 29, 2017 – Village makes Coal Community Transition Grant Application

The Village of Wabamun was one of 19 communities singled out to make application to the 3.5 million dollar transition fund. The Chamber of Commerce put forward a number of requests to the Council for inclusion in the application and after meeting with the Chamber President, evaluating permissible expenditures and upcoming capital requirements the Council approved the formal application for $352,000 to fund community transition planning, business retention and investment attraction projects. Amendment of strategic plans, signage, business promotion and training along with marketing plans and feasibility studies highlight the application. Funding announcements are expected early in 2018.

November 7, 2017 – Water Act Application for Discovery Wharf submitted

The Water Act Application for Discovery Wharf was submitted on Nov.7, 2017. The purpose of the Water Act application is to gain government approval for a mixed use development (commercial, residential, recreational) within the boundaries of Wabamun on land purchased from Trans Alta. This land lies between the CN right of way and the shore of Lake Wabamun. The application included several appendices: Latest Village of Wabamun MDP,  Water Act Application Form, Storm Water Management Plan, Wetland Assessment and Impact Report, and Information on “In Progress” lease requests under the Public Lands Act.

 November 3, 2017 – Wabamun Common Officially Opened

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 to officially open Wabamun Common on 51st. Ave.. Ron Hanrahan from Kinder Morgan, Jack Latham representing the Wabamun and District Seniors Society and M.L.A. Erin Babcock joined Mayor Charlene Smylie for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Mr. Hanrahan presented Mayor Smylie a cheque for $125,000 as part of the Transmountain Pipeline’s legacy project. The Wabamun Seniors also presented a cheque as part of their $28,000 commitment to the project and the remaining project costs of app. $167,000 are being funded by a grant through the province’s Municipal Sustainability  Initiative. “Wabamun Common Project is a very exciting project for our community. It will tie our downtown core together and will improve the look and feel of the heart of Wabamun. It will be a welcome addition to our fabulous visitor amenities and it meets many of the goals put forward in the Municipal Development Plan (2010),” said Charlene Smylie, Mayor of the Village of Wabamun. Along with the removal of a number of overhead power lines and addition of trees and greenery, the Common will improve public parking and pedestrian access into our busy Senior Center. The most exciting part is the addition of the public square which can host street musicians, artists and local events such as our Christmas Light Up. We greatly appreciate the funding support of Trans Mountain, the Wabamun Seniors Society and the Province of Alberta.”

October 23, 2017 – Waterline Flushing

The Village is undertaking flushing of the water mains between Monday, October 23, 2017 through to Wednesday, October 25, 2017. Residents may temporarily experience some slight discoloration of their water during the flushing.

October 17, 2017 – New Posting for Council Members

At the Organizational Meeting of Council on October 17, 2017 Council members received new committee postings, the list can be found here  2017-2018 Committee Appointments

October 17, 2017 – Charlene Smylie returned as Mayor

At the Organizational Meeting of Council on October 17, 2017 Council voted to appoint Charlene Smylie as Mayor of the Village of Wabamun. Mayor Smylie has served in that position for the past two years. Along with the Mayor selection the Deputy Mayor rotations were set.

Mayor – Charlene Smylie – October 17, 2017 up to the Organizational Meeting in 2018. Deputy Mayor October 17, 2017 up to and including April 17, 2018 – Councillor Griffiths and Deputy Mayor April 18, 2018 through to Organizational Meeting in 2018 – Councillor Purdy

October 17 – New Council Sworn in

At the Organizational Meeting of Council on October 17, 2017 the new Village Council was sworn in by M.L.A. Erin Babcock.

October 7, 2017 – Construction Notices

Wabamun Common (the parking lot across from the hotel) will be under construction until app. the 27th of October, 2017. There will be no access into that area until completion.

Osprey Estates (the former Trans Alta housing site) is under construction. Utility services are being installed so there is no unauthorized entry into the site until construction is complete. Utility construction is expected to be ongoing for several weeks. We will notify the public when the site is once again safe to enter. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation during the construction and once again reiterate that for everyone’s safety please stay out of the site. The path from the ball diamonds south to Osprey is also closed to public access until work is complete. The public can also be of assistance by reporting anyone removing construction signs, fencing, danger tape or barricades to the Village Office.

October 6, 2017 – New Addition to the Cemetery

New to the Cemetery as of October 2017 in a 48 Niche granite Columbarium. The Columbarium has 48 Niches which can hold one or two urns maximum. The north and south ends of the Columbarium can hold 24 memorial plaques on each end where you can place a plaque to commemorate loved ones who may have had their ashes scattered elsewhere or to remember a loved one who may be interned in another cemetery. Details can be found at  https://wabamun.ca/wabamun-cemetery/  .

October 3, 2017 – New Fee Schedules Approved

At their regular meeting of Council on October 3, 2017 Council voted to amend three fee schedules. These include Office Fees, Equipment and Service Fees and Utility Service Fees.                         Office Fees      Utility Service Consumer Fees  

October 3, 2017 – Change of Meeting times for Council Meetings

At their regular meeting of Council on October 3, 2017 Council voted to change the meeting times for regular Council meetings. As of October 17, 2017 Council meetings will held at 6pm in Council chambers. The meetings will still be held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

September 27, 2017 – Councillor Resignation

Councillor Art Erickson was regrettably forced to tender his resignation from Council just in front of the turnover to a new Council as a result of his relocating outside the Village. As per the MGA the resignation was mandatory. The Council will run with the remaining three members until the organizational meeting on October 17, 2017 at which time the new Council will be sworn in. Councillor Erickson served as a Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor during his term and he made a significant contribution during his time on Council. We all wish him and his wife Cheryl all the best in their new adventure.

September 27, 2017 – Bear in Area

Some bear scat has been found near Osprey Estates (the old housing site on the west end of the Village) suggesting there may be a bear in the area. Please use caution when out walking and ensure your pets are on a leash. If anyone sees a bear do not approach it and please report it to the Village Office at 780-892-2699 or to Fish and Wildlife at 780-960-8190.

September 19, 2017 – MLA Visits Council

M.L.A. Erin Babcock paid a visit to Council during their September 19, 2017 meeting and discussed the governments support for communities affected by the coal phase out and the Coal Community Transition Fund. The Alberta government has allocated funding under the Community and Regional Economic Support (CARES) program to assist Alberta communities impacted by the coal-phase out through the Coal Community Transition Fund (CCTF). Municipalities and First Nations impacted by the phase-out of coal in Alberta’s electricity system can apply for grant funding through the CCTF to support economic development initiatives that enable the transition away from economic reliance on coal-fired electricity generation.

September 19, 2017 – OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION NOMINATION RESULTS

Issued at 12 noon, Tuesday, September 19, 2017 by Returning Officer Lindsay Goebel

Six valid nomination forms were received for five Council positions by the Returning Officer during the nomination period on Monday, September 18 between 10am and 12 noon. After the close of nominations, and within the 24 hour withdrawal period, one candidate provided the returning Officer with a formal written notice of withdrawal of their candidacy.  As a result all five remaining nominees are considered to be acclaimed as Wabamun’s next Village Council and will sworn in at the organizational meeting in October.

Wabamun’s new Council will consist of the following members: Chelsea Griffiths, Denise Purdy, Charlene Smylie (I), Jocelyn Wiggins (I) and Jason Wittmeier

September 6, 2017 – Street Light Conversion

August 29, 2017 – Free-cycle Weekend

Wabamun’s ‘free-cycle’ weekend will be held September 16th & 17th. Simply put unwanted items out front on your property to allow others to pick up. Anything that is not picked up will be the resident’s responsibility to remove by the following Monday. Items such as basketball/hockey nets/bikes/garden items etc. that are commonly left outside should not be taken unless there is a sign posted on them that they are for pick-up

August 15, 2017 – Wabamun Common Tender Awarded

Village Council voted to accept the bid of $263,379.46 from Aspen Asphalt and Dirt Works for construction of Wabamun Common. The public square and parking area will extend from the Senior Centre west to 52nd St. on the south side of 51st Ave. and will involve paving, landscaping, lighting and removal of overhead power lines. The project has been presented at multiple open houses along with other major capital works projects being undertaken by the village, most of which are still on display in the village office. The Wabamun and District Seniors Society is contributing $28,000 with the remainder of the project costs being funded by Provincial Municipal Sustainability grants and a $125,000 contribution from Transmountain Pipelines. Construction is slated to be complete by October 15, 2017, weather permitting. The final design can be seen by clicking this link wabamun common final design

July 28, 2017 – Waterfront Washrooms opens to the public

The Village held a ribbon cutting for the new Waterfront Park Washroom on Friday, July 28 at 2pm. The facility was officially opened to the public. The new facility is part of the overall upgrade of Waterfront Park which also includes pier lighting, new benches, picnic tables and gazeebos along with an additional launch lane, expansion of the beach, landscaping, pier repairs and new underground utility lines. Mayor Charlene Smylie, along with Deputy Mayor Erickson and CAO Shawn Patience, officially cut the bathroom tissue ribbon to mark the occasion. The facility boasts modern features including baby change tables in each of the men’s and lady’s rooms, hand dryers to reduce the paper towel footprint, security system, heating system, automatic faucets, LED lighting and a barrier free washroom for use by parents with children and those with physical imparments. The facility is a key component in the upgrade of Waterfront Park and is designed, along with the rest of the upgrades to the park, to improve the overall user experience.

June 28, 2017 – Village Update

Now that the village is well into construction season (finally) we wanted to provide our residents with an update on ongoing projects

Sidewalks – a number of sidewalk repairs are already underway or complete, including at the library and in various locations around the village. Pararamps have also been  installed on some major corners that lacked them and other ramps are being repaired. The sidewalk into Waterfront Park is now almost complete, this is being funded 80% by a grant from Transport Canada and should dramatically improve pedestrian safety into the park. The paved path on the north side of 56^th Ave. (Dragonfly Road) have been hard serviced all that remains is barriers between the path and drive lanes. This project will get pedestrians off the road and into a safer walking environment, especially school children.

Roads – a number of road and alley repairs are underway or will be soon including east of the school, on52^nd Ave, a number of manhole repairs and in a number of areas that have been excavated or suffered major frost damage.

Waterfront Park – this major upgrade is well underway and will continue throughout the summer and fall of 2017. To date the pier has undergone major repairs and a new sewer line to the park has been installed to replace the line that collapsed last year. New services have been run to the marina and village washrooms and a new lift station has been installed. The steady rain hampered our early efforts to some degree but the new bathroom facility is expected to be completed by mid-July. A new vendor area is also being constructed. With the festival complete we will be doing a significant re-landscaping of the grass area to improve drainage and permanently repair damage caused by the construction. A major project like the one being undertaken cannot happen without a bit of a mess, it would be unrealistic to think otherwise. We believe strongly that the short term pain will be well worth the long term gain. Later this summer we will also be installing new picnic tables, benches and gazeebos in the park, adding a third boat launch lane, expanding the beach area and adding benches and lighting to the pier.

Lift Station – a number of major upgrades have been underway in the sewage lift station, many being carried out as part of an insurance claim when frozen pipes due to mechanical failure caused significant damage. Upgrades of our water/waste water systems have been ongoing for 3 years in order to protect our major infrastructure systems.

Osprey Subdivision – We are very close to going to market with Osprey (old Trans Alta housing site). Overhead wires and power poles will be removed in late August along with the installation of new underground power, telecom and gas lines. Some minor work is still to be done on the water and sewer services to 6 properties and work on the sidewalks will commence shortly. Lastly we will be bringing the lift station up to standard. Subdivision and rezoning is complete and marketing is well under way. This exciting new development will see 76 new dwelling units, including townhouse condos, duplexes, manufactured housing and single family dwellings. When complete this development will represent a 25% increase to the residential tax base for the village.

Discovery Wharf – work continues on gaining approvals from various branches of government and on full blown node and infrastructure design of this exciting new development. The next open house is Wednesday, June 28, 2017 from 5-7pm in the Village Office boardroom.

Water – work continues in our water plant to complete the last of the communication and treatment upgrades related to the regional system. Phase 1 of the WILD regional system is complete and phase 2 is in process. Later this year we will be decommissioning the wells that supported our previous treatment system and removing the filtration system. We hope to complete the last of our leak detectors later this year, as time allows, and we continue to replace curb stops and in street water valves as needed.

Playgrounds – Playgrounds were replaced in Horseshoe Park and in Lions Park late last year, including new borders and sand. Some minor work remains to complete the borders and Lions Park will see the installation of new benches, picnic tables and a new gazeebo.

Cemetery – we will be employing ground penetrating radar at the cemetery to ensure all our graves are marked and properly located, this can be an issue, especially with older grave sites. The biggest change will be the addition of a granite columbarium for cremated remains. The pad is in place and delivery is expected in August. It will house 48 nooks that can hold up to 2 urns and will have space on the ends for memorial plaques for those who have chosen to have their ashes spread.

June 6, 2017 – Fire Smart Grant

The village was successful in garnering a $10,500 grant to develop a Fire Smart Committee and develop a Wildfire mitigation strategy

June 6, 2017 – Arena Disposition

At their regular council meeting on June 6, 2017, based on the building condition, the major mechanical repairs required to open and the dissolution of Wabamun Minor Hockey (who was by far the largest user group), village council members present voted unanimously to cease operations of the arena for the 2017-18 season. Council will continue to work with their partners at Parkland County to determine an appropriate course of action regarding the arena. The arena assessment, completed by Stantech engineering, will form the basis for those discussions, which will include evaluating long term options, costs, usage, need and location among others. The village will be looking at other temporary options for utilizing the facility while its long term future is determined.

May 10, 2017 – Council Member Resignation

It was with regret that we accepted Councillor Pasko’s resignation, she resigned her seat May 10, 2017  as their family has recently relocated – as per the MGA there will be no bi-election and the seat will remain vacant until the October Municipal elections, Kristi was valued member of Council and we wish her all the best moving forward

March 15, 2017 – Edmonton Boat and Sportsman Show

Village Council members will be promoting the village at this week’s show at Northlands in Edmonton. This is a huge show and council hopes to be able to promote the community as a place to live, invest in and work from. The Boat show runs Thursday, March 16 from 12pm -9pm, Friday, March 17 from 12pm -9pm, Saturday, March 18 from 10am -8pm and Sunday, March 19 from 10am -5pm

March 13, 2017 – Capital works update

January 17, 2017 – Interim Budget Passed

As required by the MGA, Village Council approved an interim operating budget at their regular meeting of Council.

January 6, 2017 – 13 Ways to Kill Your Community

You are invited to attend

An inspiring presentation by Doug Griffiths

Wednesday, January, 18th 6 – 8:30 pm at the Jubilee Hall

Doug helps communities identify what is holding them back from finding success, and then helps them overcome it. When they aren’t looking he inspires, and often shocks them, with a presentation showing how they are destroying their own chance at success. Then he helps build them back up and get them on a better path. ‘’The 13 Ways Team is committed to helping communities build ambitious futures – no matter where they are. It’s our passion. It’s what drives us. We know that no matter what obstacles are getting in the way of your community’s success, there is always a way to overcome them, as long as you have the right attitude.’’

Doug is President and CEO of 13 Ways Inc.. He holds three degrees and has served in some significant leadership roles in government, including being a former Minister of Municipal Affairs. He also wrote the national bestselling book, 13 Ways to Kill Your Community.

This is a free event sponsored by the Wabamun & District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS). Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served. A question and answer session will follow Doug’s presentation.

Learn about the attitudes that sabotage a community’s success, and how to overcome those attitudes. Join us on a journey to help our community succeed.

2016 Village News Archive