Move Up ~ Issue 7

AVENGE ENERGY

ONE TRUCK INTO A HUGE COMPANY

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

PROPOSED CONNECTOR ROAD TO FORT MCMURRAY

MOTOCROSS

FUNDRAISING IN FAIRVIEW, AB

A NEW

BEGINNING

NATE HILMAN BUYS NORTHERN AIR

TAKE ONE

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M OVE U P

S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 | www.moveupmag.com

Why In Move UP? Should I Advertise

Magazines are an active medium.

Reading a magazine is an intimate and personal experience. Because it’s personal, we’re more likely to share our experiences with others and trust the message more than other media.

Engage with your Target audience, meaningfully.

National audiences are for national brands. Luckily, for you, there is a local magazine that reaches your local customers with local content.

Build your brand & Grow your brand awareness.

Now that you’re reaching the right people and you have their trust, it’s time to let them know who you are, and why they should remember you, especially when making purchasing decisions. It’s easy; advertise year-round (4 times/year).

They’ll see your company in Move Up and you’ll stay on their mind.

Increase sales & Make More Money Every successful business person knows that “word of mouth” will only bring you so far. That’s when good media brings you to the next level. The trick is to reach the right audience in the right way with the right message. We have all the right ingredients, and we’re here to help.

Look Good Doing it.

Have you noticed we have the sharpest, most professional advertisements of all the local magazines? That’s no accident. We want our magazine to be the best, so we offer top quality ad design and its included in your price. You’re welcome.

Get into the hands and minds of your customers (Before your competition does).

www.moveupmag.com 780-624-1985 #Li fesBetterUpHere | SUMME R 2 0 1 5 M OV E U P

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DMI’s Million Minutes to Win It

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SUMMER EDITION 2015

►

Contents >> VOLUME VII

PUBLISHERS

Tormaigh Van Slyke //tormaigh@pcpublishing.ca Jenelle Lizotte EDITOR

Jenelle Lizotte ADVERTISING SALES

Tormaigh Van Slyke //tormaigh@pcpublishing.ca LAYOUT DESIGN

A new beginning for Northern Air

28

Aimie Williams Tormaigh Van Slyke Jenelle Lizotte AD DESIGN

Aimie Williams PHOTOGRAPHY

Paul Lavoie Images, Tormaigh Van Slyke, Jenelle Lizotte, Wendy Patterson, Drew Rogers WRITERS

Fairview Motocross Association

56

Zelda Behuniak, Melanie Bekevich-Joos, Chris Black, Community Futures Staff, Dan Dibbelt, Amanda Furlong, Chance Gerk, Tony Nickonchuk, Wendy Patterson, Drew Rogers, Brian Siddle, Tormaigh Van Slyke, Lydia Zilahy Move Up is published by Plato’s Cave Publishing. No content herein can be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.

12,000 copies are printed and distributed throughout the Mighty Peace Region, Alberta and beyond.

Move Up is 100 per cent funded by advertising dollars.

Connecting Northern Communities

Also >>

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M OVE U P

23

A Mom-trepreneur Story

26

The Ties that Bind

34

Avenge Energy Services

61

The Road into Zama City

62

Head Du North for Inspiration

The resurgence of rail reliance in the North

How one truck turned into a huge company

A Community challenged by a rocky road

S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 | www.moveupmag.com

FIND MOVE UP IN ALL 14 FRESON BROS. LOCATIONS

PREDA

PEACE REGION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE

MOVE UP IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE PEACE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL LAVOIE

he Fairview Municipal Airport will be getting a new terminal this summer thanks to a collaboration between the Municipal District of Fairview #136, the Town of Fairview and Clear Hills County.

On March 24, 2015, tender for the design, construction and delivery of a pre-manufactured building to be used for an airport terminal was awarded to Triple M Housing Ltd., from Lethbridge, AB, for a total cost of $419,186.

A site visit took place on April 15, 2015, at which time administration and Reeve Ernie Newman met with the contractors to view the site location, determine a project timeline and finalize design and construction details.

Along with the typical

design requirements of an airfield lighting/electrical room, a mechanical room, washrooms and janitorial rooms, the design includes one office, a pilot’s lounge, a shipping receiving area, a 10-passenger waiting lounge and a 12 to 15 person conference room available for meeting and training needs.

and Pilots Association Fairview Chapter (COPA) make up the Fairview Regional Airport Advisory Committee, which oversees the operations of the airport and makes recommendations to the Council of the MD of Fairview #136, which is the government body that owns the airport.

According to Sandra Fox, Chief Administrative Officer for the MD of Fairview #136, the building was on the manufacturer’s assembly line by late May and was scheduled to be delivered

by July 2015 when the site preparation in complete. Plans are to have the new terminal fully operational by late August or September.

“We are very pleased to have these municipal partners and COPA involved as representatives of the users of our airport,” said Fox.

Elected officials of each municipality as well as representation from the Canadian Owners

Located approximately 5 km west of the Town of Fairview on Alberta Highway 6A and known as one of the best small airports in Northern Alberta, Fairview Municipal Airport is equipped with eight private hangers and plans are in place to build one more in 2015 or 2016.

NEWS

Fairview Municipal Airport to Get new Terminal T

The paved runway is 1,065m x 22.86 m and receives regular summer and winter maintenance.

The airport is also equipped with a weather reporting system as well as GPS instrument landing capabilities. Both Aviation fuel and Jet B fuel are for sale onsite. An aircraft mechanic can be reached onsite on a part time basis.

In addition, according to Fox, Fairview has a very active aircraft restoration group, the Fairview Aircraft Restoration Society (FARS), that plans to park and later build a hangar onsite for a WWIIera Canso plane they are currently restoring.

“We are very proud of our little airport which sees a lot of activity by pleasure aircraft as well as Air MediVac services,” said Fox.

#Li fesBetterUpHere | SUMME R 2 0 1 5 M OV E U P

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PREVIOUSLY IN THE PEACE

High Level turns 50!

T

he Town of High Level celebrated its 50th anniversary in style June 13, with a weekend of special events for families and businesses alike. The High Level 50th Anniversary Homecoming lived up to its name, bringing in former residents and new visitors from across the country.

The Saturday afternoon festivities included a family block party in downtown High Level, a classic car show, a free family swim at the aquatic centre and historical “Town Tours” by bus or horse-drawn stagecoach. Later that

evening, the Town hosted a free community concert featuring classic Canadian rock group Chilliwack and local country band Overflow. The celebrations also incorporated the annual rodeo held on Friday night and a family kite-flying activity on Sunday.

Bailey Kunz, Community Development Tourism Coordinator for the Town, said June 13 was only part of High Level’s anniversary bash, which has been in the works for over a year.

“We’ve been planning this since last May,” said Kunz.

“Not just tonight, but the

whole year of celebrations.”

Kunz added that the homecoming weekend was a huge draw to former residents of the area.

“We’ve had a lot of people contacting us saying, ‘Hey, we’re coming back to High Level.’ The Seniors Centre actually did a registry, so if you were a past resident you could go over there and provide your name and number and tell people how to get in contact with you. It’s just a great way for old friends to be able to connect again,” said Kunz.

Darlene Anderson, who works at the Mackenzie

Crossroads Museum and Visitors Centre in High Level, added that for newcomers to the area the celebrations were an opportunity to find out about the history of the town.

“I went on the horse and wagon tour with some of the people that lived here in the ‘60s and knew where things used to be,” said Anderson. “It was great to learn from them.”

Anderson explained that things have changed a lot in High Level in the last 50 years.

The community started

Far Left: Canadian rock band Chilliwack performs live at the High Level arena as part of a free community concert June 13. Top Left: A community volunteer decorates a downtown parking area with cheerful sidewalk chalk designs in preparation for the High Level’s family block party June 13. Bottom Left: Alyssa Veidt and Jaelyn Belcourt sell kettle corn in downtown High Level during the family block party June 13, which celebrated the town’s 50th anniversary.

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Words and photography by wendy patterson

out as a stash for fuel barrels during the Second World War, but swiftly developed as roads, rail lines and businesses were built. “When High Level became a town in 1965, it’s just amazing how quickly it grew,” she said.

Cecil and Carroll Fischer, who have lived in High Level since the early 1960s and operated the town’s first welding shop, also commented on how much the community has changed since they first saw it.

“It wasn’t even a road.

It was just a trail, really, coming up to this area,”

said Cecil.

But the celebration wasn’t just about the past.

“One of the reasons we wanted to hold our event downtown is because we’re really interested in doing downtown revitalization,” said Kunz. “We’re always looking for outside investors. I think we have a very open policy for economic development and we’d like to see more businesses.”

Sherry Matthews, who owns Traditions Garden Café with her husband, Harvey, said the celebration was a great chance to

interact with present and future customers and give back to the community.

Kunz explained they wanted the weekend to be very focused on families, as well as businesses.

“It’s going to be the beginning of new things, I think,” said Matthews.

Local entrepreneur Sylvana Kulscar, owner of Sweetlegs in High Level, agreed.

“It gets your name out there,” said Kulscar.

“People actually see you out and about.” Kulskar added that her young daughter really enjoyed the Saturday celebrations, especially having her face painted to look like a panda.

PREVIOUSLY IN THE PEACE

“

HIGH LEVEL IS A REALLY GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. IT’S A GREAT PLACE FULL OF OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.

“We wanted all of our events to be free,” said Kunz. “High Level is a really great place to live.

It’s a great place full of opportunity, especially for young professionals. And a great place to raise your family too.”

The anniversary celebrations began January 3rd with winter carnival celebrations and is scheduled to conclude Dec. 5 with an ice- and snowcarving event.

Top Right: Town of High Level volunteer Gary Peterson shows off a bright bundle of helium balloons, decorated with the town logo. Peterson and other town employees and volunteers handed out the balloons to local children (and some adults) as part of High Level’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Bottom Right: High Level firefighter Steve Norton serves snow cones to local kids as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Far Right: Passengers atop a double-decker horse-drawn stagecoach smile for the camera during one of the historic town tours which were offered as part of High Level’s 50th anniversary homecoming celebrations. Tour guides pointed out historically significant areas around the community on the tours, which were offered on both stagecoach and bus. #Li fesBetterUpHere | SUMME R 2 0 1 5 M OV E U P

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PREVIOUSLY IN THE PEACE

students from holy family school division at reading celebration May 28, 2015

Students supporting students

Teen leadership group instrumental in rewarding young readers

W

hile reading will always be fun for some kids, Daishowa Marubeni International (DMI) Peace River Pulp Division wants to do everything it can to encourage the burgeoning bookworms of the Peace.

For three years running, DMI’s Public Relations Superintendent, Amber Armstrong, has championed an innovative kids reading program under the name “A Million Minutes to Win It.”

Each year students from six regional elementary schools (Dixonville, Kennedy Elementary, Écoles des Quartre-Vents, Nampa, Springfield and Good Shepherd) work together and collectively try to read for 1,000,000 minutes.

“If they read the cereal box for five minutes while they were having breakfast, we told them to record it. Any sort of reading is fantastic,” said Armstrong.

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Traditionally, Armstrong has thrown a party for the participating schools each year to celebrate. This year, however, Team Wolfpack—a youth leadership group of 35 students at TA Norris, a middle school in Peace River—took the reins and, under the tutelage of Armstrong, organized the celebration for the elementary school kids, calling it “Rave On.” Rave On was a three-day event that featured more than a dozen activity stations including bouncy castles, face-painting, cookie decorating, laser tag, bean bag toss, a balloon pit and, of course, rave music and dancing.

Team Wolfpack, and other junior high student volunteers, supervised each station while hundreds of elementary kids moved from activity to activity for a half day.

“It’s organized chaos. I love

S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 | www.moveupmag.com

it,” said Armstrong.

would need to address.

Organized is an understatement. Armstrong met with Team Wolfpack twice a week for two months to plan Rave On, during which time she took the opportunity to teach the kids professional-level planning concepts such as ROI, budgets, planning, logistics, safety and liability to ensure the event ran smoothly and efficiently.

She encouraged students to turn mistakes into opportunities. For example, the technology committee opted to make a projection screen for a little over $100 rather than purchasing a brand new $8,000 unit.

Armstrong modeled the organizational structure after that of DMI’s and appointed three superintendents— Communications, Technology and Logistics— and the students were eager to demonstrate their leadership, public speaking and organizational skills.

Her mentoring style was to challenge the kids to think critically and invent creative solutions for a laundry list of potential logistic or safety concerns she knew they

“That was their decision and it was based on opportunity cost,” said Armstrong.

The connection and impact Armstrong was making with the students was unmistakable. While this year’s Million Minutes to Win It program motivated many of our region’s children to embrace the important act of reading, it also challenged a group of young teens and pre-teens to take on professional (grownup) roles in a safe and fun environment. It was an experience they all are not likely to forget.

Photography submitted by holy family school division

Town of Peace River to

Renew Neighbourhoods

I

t will be a summer of renewal for Peace River’s neighbourhoods. More than just a cosmetic facelift though, the Town’s Neighbourhood Renewal Program is complete infrastructure rejuvenation.

Mayor Tom Tarpey said this is the first year the program has been implemented. “It’s all about renewing and improving the aging infrastructure in neighbourhoods in Peace River,” he said.

The first neighbourhood to go under the knife will be near 82 Street on the West Hill. The streets slated for renewal include 102 Avenue, 83 Street, 105 Avenue, 81 Street and 103 Avenue.

Tarpey said the streets were selected after a comprehensive review of the town’s infrastructure and budget by the Engineering Department. Projects include both preventive work to increase road longevity and safety on the sidewalks as well as reconstruction and rehabilitation. Which will address foundational issues such as, new sidewalks, sewer and water lines.

Trent McLaughlin, an engineer with

T&L Engineering Ltd., worked as a consultant on the project to perform a detailed assessment of the town’s infrastructure in 2014. “The road study consisted of driving and walking every road in Peace River and assessing the pavement condition,” he said. “We also added material type and age of all of the town’s water and sewer pipes.”

Maintenance information on the sewer and water lines was provided by the Town. McLaughlin then used the Geographic Information System (GIS) to build a comprehensive picture of the town’s infrastructure. From that data, a priority list of neighbourhoods emerged.

“The asphalt condition was the main driver for selecting projects,” he said.

By using that method, the Town will be able to limit the workload and cost of the project. Since pavement renewal requires digging into the asphalt, McLaughlin said it was prudent to use that opportunity to address any issues regarding sewers or water lines. “It prevents the Town, from paving an area and having to dig it back up to complete a repair,” he said. “This study was used to identify the projects for

a neighbourhood scheduled to be “renewed” in 2015

2015 and 2016.” Work in 2015 has been divided into three projects, a move that will help keep costs down.

The first project will include sewers and water lines, followed by new concrete sidewalks. That has been put out to tender, applications close on June 17, 2015. The final stage is the pavement overlay, which the Town hopes to be able to work with a contractor, already hired for three other overlay projects in town.

Costs will be finalized once tenders have been submitted and approved.

While the construction portion of the project may cause a temporary inconvenience to residents who live in the areas slated for renewal, Tarpey said it will be well worth it. “The renewal program will help to create first-class neighbourhoods in Peace River,” he said.

“Neighbourhoods are the foundation to building a top-notch, first-class town.”

Adam Dietrich Communications Coordinator Town of Peace River

ADVE RT ISE ME N T

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RELOCATION STORIES

The Nelson Family moved up from Halifax, Nova Scotia I have seen every kind of wildlife known to man.

The wolves howling in the winter while I tried to work alone at a camp was the most exciting. It certainly got the blood pumping!

L: I once saw a moose swimming across the river.

That was kind of cool. I guess I don’t get out as much as Travis.

What is your ideal Sunday in the Peace Region?

Leoal Nelson, 36, and Travis Nelson, 35, moved up from Halifax, NS.

Where are you originally from?

Leoal: I have lived all over. I was born in Saskatchewan.

Then, I spent about five years in Nova Scotia. Then, Peace River from age 9-21.

Then, Halifax, NS, until 2013. Then, back here again.

Travis: I’m an Alberta boy.

I grew up in Fairview and Peace River, AB. Then, I spent 13 years in Halifax in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Now, we’re back.

Where did you move to?

Grimshaw, AB. 10

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How long ago did you move?

We came back in the summer of 2013.

expect and looked forward to moving back.

What keeps you in the Peace Region?

Where do you work?

The people we love.

L: Can-Tech Electrical Services

What is your favourite thing about living in the Peace Region?

T: Fossil Communications What brought you to the Peace?

Our family and good friends are still in the area and as beautiful as the Maritimes are, it’s hard to raise kids far from any support.

How does the Peace Region differ from where you recently came from?

We got used to rocks, trees, and rain, but being from here we knew what to

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L: The scenery. I really didn’t appreciate it as a kid, but I have learned to appreciate it much more.

The river valley really is breathtaking. I often drive back to Grimshaw through Shaftsbury just to enjoy the view.

What is your favourite wildlife encounter since moving here?

T: On the road here and there for Fossil Communications, I think

We take the kids to the pool or the movies and then have supper with friends or family. Even after being back for nearly two years, we still appreciate having them around.

What is your ideal night out/date night in the Peace Region?

Any night with a babysitter! [Dining out at] Su Casa and a movie.

Walking on the riverbank brings back memories.

How many kilometers are on your vehicle?

We bought our van right before moving. We drove it out here and it was practically brand new.

From Halifax, NS, to Grimshaw, AB, was about 5,600km. There were less than 500 when we left. It’s now at about 37,000.

WELCOME TO

Lac Cardinal Country

call home

A place to raise a family, start a business and

#Li fesBetterUpHere | SUMMER 0 1 5ME MNOV ADVERT2ISE T E 1U1 P

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Lac Cardinal County

PAUL LAVOIE IMAGES

WHAT IS

?

Lac Cardinal Country

is a strategic regional collaboration between four municipalities, each offering industry and residents unique advantages, usually only found in larger centres.

T

he partnership between the Town of Grimshaw, the Town of Peace River, the Village of Berwyn and the Municipal District of Peace #135, all of which are located in Northwestern Alberta, forms an economically strong and diverse region. Together the region provides attractive opportunities for commercial and residential investment with a range of land prices and property types.

in the country with Telus’ fibre-optics network, making Peace River the choice for residents and industry that require seamless internet that allows you to communicate and operate at record speeds. With great housing options, great investment opportunities, downtown retail opportunities and amenities usually only found in larger centres, Peace River fits the bill.

Looking for small town life with spacious yards, tree-lined streets, affordable housing, serviced lots and quiet nights? The Village of Berwyn is your answer. Grimshaw offers a strategic location at the crossroads of two major highways. An affordable community with most of the amenities you need, Grimshaw offers a variety of affordable housing options and great opportunities for highway industrial development.

If you need a little more space, perhaps highway or rail access for your business, look no further than the MD of Peace.

The MD offers scenic acreages along the Shaftsbury trail, farming opportunities throughout the municipality and excellent opportunities for industry needing transportation solutions.

The Town of Peace River will soon be home to some of the fastest internet 12

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In Lac Cardinal Country we work together to ensure your needs are the priority. We want you to find exactly what you need and we work together to ensure that happens. By having four communities all within one half hour

of each other, collectively we can offer what many cities can’t.

Our communities have so much to offer including an indoor running track, indoor and outdoor pools, arenas, curling rinks, downhill ski hill, cross-country skiing, shooting range, golf courses, tennis courts, bowling, performing arts, post-secondary education, entertainment venues, conference facilities, parks, lakes, rivers and so much more.

Lac Cardinal Country is a destination.

It is a place to call home, raise a family and start a business. Lac Cardinal Country is affordable, friendly and waiting for you. For more information on Lac Cardinal Country visit our website laccardinal.com or contact us at edo@laccardinal.com. You can call us at 780-527-4033 and ask for Dan or Albert.

Lac Cardinal County

BRICKS HILL AT SUNSET

▲

We Offer •

Economic diversity in agriculture, forestry and petroleum

•

Competitive wage rates and skilled work force

•

Clean air and abundance of good quality water

•

A large market area strategically located in northwestern Alberta

•

Affordable land, available in both urban and rural settings

•

•

Well-developed infrastructure, including good paved network of roads, utilities, air service, health facilities and community/ educational facilities

•

Affordable and quality housing, daily assisted living building

A streamlined development process to accommodate investors/developers

•

•

Reasonable property taxes—no business tax

A community rich in tourism, culture and recreation

•

An amazing quality of life and community spirit

“Looking for small town life

with spacious yards, tree-lined streets, affordable housing...”

DOWNTOWN PEACE RIVER

► ADVERT ISE ME N T

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M.D. of Peace No. 135

VITERRA GRIMSHAWâ–˛ GRAIN AND OILSEEDS MARKETER AND HANDLER

T

he Municipal District of Peace No. 135 is an agricultural based municipality located along the north bank of the Peace River, approximately 500km northwest of Edmonton, and approximately 150km northeast of Grande Prairie.

The municipal district has an area of 92,610 hectares and encompasses the Village of Berwyn and the Town of Grimshaw. The municipality extends from the west boundary of the Town of Peace River to four miles west of the Hamlet of Brownvale.

The strong agricultural economy in the MD has led commodity giant Glencore 14

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Xstrata to build a 30,000-tonne capacity concrete high-throughput elevator with a 104-car rail spot to boost its grain handling in the region.

Regina-based Viterra already operates a 4,760-tonne capacity elevator on the Canadian National Railway (CN) track in Grimshaw.

Viterra is just one of many new developments in the MD. The MD benefits from its proximity to the Peace Region oilsands and the numerous developments happening around them.

A strong forest industry gives the MD a trifecta when it comes to economic viability.

The considerable activity happening in the region makes the MD an ideal location for businesses servicing any of the three primary industries to relocate or set up a new business. Located in the MD are prime industrial lots, many with excellent road and rail access.

The MD is also a Mecca for tourists, with Lac Cardinal Recreation Area, Queen Elisabeth Provincial Park, Strong Creek Park and Elk Island Campground—there are plenty of opportunities for families and wilderness lovers alike.

“The MD is also a Mecca for tourists

M.D. of Peace No. 135

with Lac Cardinal Recreational Area, Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park, Strong Creek Park and Elk Island Campground, there are plenty of opportunities”

Features: Mackenzie Cairn is located along Shaftesbury Trail. This rock cairn was built in 1929 to honor explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie.

Also along Shaftsbury Trail is St. Augustine Mission. This Catholic Mission originated in 1888 when the missionaries first came to the Peace. Alongside the mission is an old cemetery. This site is located on Provincial Correctional Centre land and requires permission to enter onto the site.

Brownvale Agricultural Museum is located on the south edge of the Hamlet of Brownvale. This museum displays many agricultural artifacts and machinery from the early pioneering days in this area, as well as a mechanical bull and cowboy, originally commissioned for Expo ‘86.

Lac Cardinal Recreation Area is located two miles north and three miles west of Grimshaw, along the eastern shore of Lac Cardinal. There are fire pits, a playground area, a camp kitchen, outhouses, and 16 camping sites (no reservations taken), which cost $10.00/night. There are, however, no power hookups or showers. The North Peace Stampede takes place here every year. The area also boasts a large hall with basic amenities, which can be rented from the municipality. The Lac Cardinal Provincial Park is located beside this Recreation Area and is also equipped with camp sites and a boat launch.

Town of Peace River. There is a large day use area, playground, fire pits, 18 free camping sites (no power hookups or showers), outhouses and drinking water available.

Brownvale Ball Diamonds are located one mile west and a 1/2 mile north of the Hamlet of Brownvale. In addition to ball diamonds, there are also fire pits, ten basic camping sites (no charge), day use area, outhouses and two horseshoe pits.

The Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum is located near the entrance to Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park.

This museum represents life in from the 1920s to 1940s. Four homes, a hall, municipal office, school, barn, pole sheds, church, blacksmith shop, railway station, barbershop, general store and bakery—all furnished, depict pioneering life in this area. Open daily (except Wednesday) from late-May to mid-September from 11 am to 5 pm.

No admissions fees, but donations are gladly accepted.

Experience an outdoor adventure on the Mighty Peace at the Peace Valley

Guest Ranch. River Cruise, trail riding, hiking, mini golf and bird watching are some the relaxing activities you can enjoy. Call Barb or Dean at 780 332-7444 for more information. To book your adventure, e-mail them at pvguestranch@yahoo.com or visit their website at www.mightypeace.com/ pvgranch.

The Elk Island Campsite is located next to the Peace River, approximately four miles west and 15 miles south of the Hamlet of Brownvale on a “good weather” road. There are 12 basic camping sites (no power hookups or showers), fire pits, outhouses and a playground.

The Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park is located adjacent to the Lac Cardinal Recreation Area and managed by the Government of Alberta. This park has day-use areas, overnight camping areas, a bird watching area, cross country ski trail, walking trail, boat dock and beach areas. Visit http://www.albertaparks. ca/queen-elizabeth.aspx for more information on this park, including booking information.

While on the Shaftesbury Trail be sure to cross the Peace River on the Shaftesbury Ferry and ride across the river. The ferry operates during daylight hours (7 am to 11 pm) and there is no charge to cross the river on it.

Strong Creek Park is located next to the Peace River, along Shaftesbury Trail approximately eight miles south of the LAC CARDINAL RECREATION AREA

►

PAUL LAVOIE IMAGES

ADVERT ISE ME N T

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Town of Peace River

“A friendly and supportive community with a long list of activities and services...”

P

eace River is a progressive and vibrant town of 7,000 people. Peace River is regional urban centre in northwest Alberta that serves a region of 100,000 people. The community is situated within the Peace River Valley and straddles the banks of the mighty Peace River. The town is within a five hours drive north of Edmonton and just two hours northeast of Grande Prairie. The community offers air, rail and bus services.

Peace River, along with the surrounding communities of Nampa, Berwyn and Grimshaw, provides many vital and quality of life amenities to people living in the region and to travelers heading north to the territories or south to Grande Prairie and Edmonton.

Peace River provides a wide range of services for its residents and surrounding areas. Among these is an impressive combination of businesses including locally-owned downtown stores and restaurants, as well as national and international retailers.

Peace River also has a strong support system through a wide range of social services agencies, a variety of cultural sites, various bike trails, a ski hill, an indoor pool, as well as a number of annual events and cultural festivals.

If you are looking for a friendly and supportive community with a long list of activities and services, Peace River fits the bill.

Peace River’s strategic location, size and servicing capacity help to make the town an important centre of services for northwest Alberta.

Peace River is on or near highways to Alaska, British Columbia, southern Alberta and Canada’s northern territories making it an important ground link to these destinations.

A significant amount of traffic is generated through the Town using Highway 2 to reach the rich resource base of northern Alberta. Alternate access to the town is provided by secondary Highways 684, 986, 743, and 744, which connect such facilities

as the Peace River Pulp Mill and the Shell In-Situ Plant to the town and provide access to the rich oil and gas fields and forests.

The Peace Oil Sands are located in the neighboring municipality of Northern Sunrise County. Home to the third largest oil sands deposit in the country, the region is vibrant with oil activity which is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.

Peace River’s low tax rates, industrious chamber of commerce and excellent transportation routes, including an expanding airport offering commercial flights, make Peace River and the Lac Cardinal Region the ideal place to call home and locate your business.

Peace River and has commenced a downtown revitalization and riverfront beautification program to improve the quality of life for its residents and to enhance its appeal for tourism and inward investment.

“ ” Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...Behold.

PAUL LAVOIE IMAGES

16

ADVERTISEMENT



Town of Peace River

RIVER FRONT PARK ▲

PEACE RIVER MUSEUM ▲ PEACE RIVER MUNICIPAL LIBRARY PEACE RIVER PROVINCIAL BUILDING

W

elcome to the Town of Peace River; home of “speed-of-light” fibre optics networking. In Peace River you will soon experience internet speeds that make operating your business more efficient by offering internet connectivity found in few other municipalities.

Our fibre optic connectivity promises your business an efficient solution to internet challenges faced by many businesses. The fibre optics are currently being installed and, by September, virtually every business and home in the town will have the opportunity to be connected.

The TELUS Fibre Optic Network is a new, gigabit capable, fibre to the premises (FTTP) network built from flexible, transparent fibres of glass that are slightly thicker than a human hair. The fibres transmit data as pulses of light, allowing large volumes of information to be sent to your home or business at close to the speed of light.

By having 100 per cent fibre infrastructure connected directly, homes and businesses will have the best and most reliable communications products and services to date and will be ready for the future. Fibre networks can be “scaled up” to meet bandwidth demands as consumption of data increases.

In addition to increased bandwidth capacity, additional benefits of FTTP include increased network reliability, flexibility, security and increased durability as compared to a traditional telecom network.

If your business is dependent on internet connectivity consider Peace River—your connectivity solution.

You’re Connected

With the Town of Peace River ADVERT ISE ME N T

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The Village of Berwyn

If you are looking for a place to raise a family or retire,

Berwyn is the place for you!

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elcome to the Village of Berwyn—the little town with the tower. Berwyn was one of the last communities in Alberta with a wooden water tower. The tower was a local landmark until it was taken down in 1982.

Berwyn is nestled within the Peace River Region of northwestern Alberta.

Situated on Highway 2, the Village of Berwyn is only 37 km from the Town of Peace River. Berwyn is a picturesque,

quiet community with a population of 526. Berwyn’s proximity to essential services and quality of life desires, long summer days and friendly residents allow the community to maintain a steady population.

Berwyn has an excellent selection of industrial land available as well as residential lots for development.

Berwyn’s tax rate is competitive and its property prices are very affordable, making Berwyn an excellent and

affordable choice to relocate your home or business.

In the M.D. of Peace, bordering on the village limits is Autumn Lodge—a senior’s facility that provides excellent care giving in a small and friendly environment.

Tower Park Recreational Area offers a natural environment, cross country ski trails, picnic areas, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, bird watching and a new walking trail.

“An excellent and affordable

place to relocate your home or business...”

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andel Homes has developed 13 new home lots in the Village of Berwyn that are now available to home buyers in the Peace Region.

Berwyn is just 11 kilometres southwest of Grimshaw on Highway 2 and approximately 20 minutes to Peace River.

“With the extreme shortage of entry-level housing options for new home buyers in the Peace River region, we felt that Berwyn offered an exceptional opportunity to offer that product,” said Mark Huchulak, President of Jandel Homes. “The current new housing options available to buyers within 100 mile radius of Peace River are truly limited. In Berwyn, the land was much more affordable than elsewhere in the region. That enabled us to develop the lots and offer new homes for what equates to mortgage payments of $1,200 per month. That’s a win for every stakeholder.”

Jandel Homes is offering both modular and manufactured homes

The Village of Berwyn in this development, installed on pilings. Prices will include the house, serviced lot, landscaping, deck, steps, driveway and parging. Sizes will range from 1200 - 1650 square feet and garages will be an option for home buyers.

The Lac Cardinal Economic Development Board (LCEDB) was very instrumental in assisting this project and helping it get off the ground.

“We were very interested in the region but we hit a couple of brick walls in the beginning. LCEDB opened some doors for us, introduced us to the appropriate people, assisted with the compilation of raw data and even put together a community BBQ for us to share our vision with the local residents,” said Jennifer Hillmer, Business Development Manager for Jandel Homes. “Their support has been invaluable.”

New show homes are available for viewing.

Berwyn, Ab

About Jandel Homes Established in Edmonton in 1974, Jandel Homes has been retailing modular homes for over 40 years. Today, they are one of Western Canada’s largest modular home retailers, with large Sales Centres in Edmonton and Grande Prairie.

ADVERT ISE ME N T

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Town of Grimshaw

MILE ZERO REGIONAL MULTIPLEX ▲

Grimshaw is a friendly, progressive community

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with a long history of innovation in the agricultural and oil industries. Grimshaw is an economic driver for the region offering ideal downtown business opportunities as well as industrial lots for industry development.

hile traditionally a bedroom community for Peace River, Grimshaw’s proximity to the oilsands, affordable land values and low property tax rates are quickly turning Grimshaw into a community of choice. More than 2,500 people call Grimshaw home and developers are scoping the community out for new potential developments.

In Grimshaw the neighborhoods are friendly and close knit. The variety of housing options allow for first time buyers, established home-owners and those entering their retirement years.

Two new schools are projected to be built in Grimshaw serving kindergarten to grade 12. Grimshaw also has a health complex, a medical clinic and a variety of quality of life amenities to make

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living and working in Grimshaw an exciting opportunity.

Grimshaw offers excellent recreational facilities seldom found in communities this size. The Mile Zero Regional Multiplex has activities for all ages.

Walk, jog or run your way to a healthier, more active lifestyle. The 175.3 metre elevated running track is ideal for getting in shape whether you’re young or old. The Field House is perfect for special events like weddings and weekend shows. There is a complete weight room and the arena always has something going on, whether it’s old-timers hockey or open family skating.

When you need to escape the summer heat the Grimshaw Aquatic Centre will

keep the whole family entertained for hours. One of the few outdoor pools left in the region, this pool is the ideal place for the family on the long, hot summer nights in the Lac Cardinal region.

Grimshaw also boasts an active Chamber of Commerce, the Lac Cardinal Regional Performing Arts Society, Minor Hockey, Minor Ball and the Peace River District Music Teachers’ Association.

Downtown Grimshaw offers a variety of shopping needs and, with Peace River just a short 15 minute drive away, you’ll have ready access to Walmart, Canadian Tire and a number of other major retailers.

Town of Grimshaw

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mployment opportunities range from the oil industry to agriculture and from retail to government positions. Postsecondary is available at Northern Lakes College, located in Peace River, but with many on-line programs available.

hogs, poultry products, honey, straw, sand and gravel, fish, furs, lumber, oil, and gas.

Grimshaw offers excellent rail and road access. The Peace River Airport, which offers commercial flights, is just a 15 minute drive away.

Grimshaw is strategically located as a distribution point for the entire north.

The vast array of local resources include wheat and coarse grains, forage crops and seeds (mostly alfalfa and grass), cattle,

Grimshaw’s location at the cross roads of highways 35 and 2 make it an excellent location for businesses catering to through traffic to points north, south and east.

GRIMSHAW SWIMMING POOL

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YELLOWKNIFE HAY RIVER W HIGH LEVEL T MANNING

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GRIMSHAW

632 381 180 52

MILE ZERO MACKENZIE HIGHWAY

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▲

HISTORICAL MACKENZIE MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

“Employment opportunities

range from oil industry to agriculture and from retail to government positions.”

ADVERT ISE ME N T

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Contact:

Lac Cardinal Country: ask for Dan or Albert edo@laccardinal.com | 780-527-4033

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FRONT AND BACK COVER BY PAUL LAVOIE IMAGES

Head Du North for Inspiration A Mom-trepreneur Story

By Lydia Zilahy

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eet Krystina Dubrule, a social worker by trade.

When Krystina Dubrule was laid off, as an educated woman, wife and mother of three, she had to face some tough decisions.

As it turns out, many women are rather glad circumstances led Dubrule to develop her fashion sense into a new career.

These women all have something in common: they have fallen in love with Dubrule’s brand, Du North Designs Ltd. The brand began when Dubrule started selling leggings out of a Rubbermaid container; the brand now has 150 distributors across Canada (with the exception of Quebec). Her warehouse moved out of a container and into the Archdiocese building in the Town of McLennan where she has roughly 10,000 pairs of leggings, 6,000 tops and 1,000 skirts and dresses in stock.

Dubrule’s vision for the company started out simply as “selling leggings,” but as a mother herself, Dubrule’s concept became about “a fun, affordable line that everyone can wear. I wanted Du North to be something even moms in their thirties with kids can wear,” said Dubrule.

The transition from doing home parties was rapid for Dubrule. She began selling in private homes by request in July 2014 and by September that year, she had her first distributor. One swiftly snowballed into fifty. For Dubrule, the distributors are the brand’s main

separate things, Dubrule regards them as partners— each as responsible for her success as the other. Her husband is a valued member of her team and she credits him with her social media marketing. Dubrule uses little other means of promotion thanks to her husband’s devotion. ambassadors.

their daughters.

“Our biggest focus are the distributors. They count for about 90 per cent of the business with about eight per cent in e-commerce and two per cent in walk-ins,” said Dubrule.

“It is so much fun! My daughter just glows when we wear the matching outfits. As a mom, I find it becomes something to bond over,” said Dubrule.

The company developed as it grew with more and more distributors signing on, ever evolving with the demand as it grew. Two elements have greatly influenced the Du North Designs Ltd. brand as it is known today: fashion and family.

Dubrule’s work environment sets her apart as much as her brand does: hers is a kid-friendly workplace, permitting parents to bring their children to work. For her, it is a better business practice.

Dubrule isn’t like every other commercial buyer out there.

She takes a personal interest in the designs and infuses them with her style.

“We want to work on exclusive items. I want that to set us apart. I would like to bring my ideas to life,” said Dubrule. She accomplished this by becoming a wholesaler, buying directly from the manufacturer and working with them on the product.

As for family, it too is evident in her work. Dubrule is very proud of her new Mommy and Me line of maxi dresses.

She knows first-hand what the appeal is for mothers and

“The business evolved this way because I wanted to bring my kids to work. I find that women are almost more efficient with their kids at the workplace, instead of checking their phones or having the difficulty of finding childcare. In addition, it is hard to offset the cost of childcare in order to go back to work. So many moms live with this guilt because their children spend more waking hours with a care provider and I think this eliminates the notion that you have be super-mom and do everything,” said Dubrule.

Rather than believing work and family life must be

“He was often awake until 2am, working on Facebook, while still holding his full-time job. Facebook is an intricate tool and he pioneered our page, did a lot of research and through trial and error earned the following we have today,” said Dubrule, of Du North’s impressive 42,000+ Facebook fans.

In the near future, Dubrule plans to expand even further and will be venturing to Las Vegas to enrich her contacts to take her brand to the next level.

Her advice to other entrepreneurs is simple.

“Do what makes you happy.

It is so much easier to go home and be with your family when your day has been a happy one,” said Dubrule.

Why should anyone listen to her? Well, as a self-made fashion maven, creator of a mom-friendly fashion brand and a kid-friendly work environment as well as the provider of 150 careers across Canada, she might have learned a thing or two.

One needn’t look much further than Du North to find great inspiration. move up

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We’re Going

Places

Transportation in the Mighty Peace Region

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The Ties

That Bind

By Dan Dibbelt

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t was almost 150 years ago when Canadian Confederation became a reality, and we can thank, in part, our railways.

During the 1850s and 1860s, local government had all but emptied their treasuries building railways, and so a new and more stable method of financing them was required. It was believed that a federal union would help provide the needed construction of railroads linking British North America. The Maritimes joined largely because of promises to build the Intercolonial Railway, and British Columbia joined largely because of a promise to build the Transcontinental Railway.

The railway to the Pacific, aptly named the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), was financed by private funds and massive land grants in the Canadian prairies. Though the CPR would be a guaranteed monopoly, it came with a price tag of $25 million (approximately $625 million in modern currency) and the investment would have little value until the railway was finished. The CPR, an engineering marvel that was then the longest in the world, was completed to great fanfare in 1885.

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since the day when rail was the primary mode of transportation. Highways and roads crisscross the continent and road transport is now the primary mode of transport. Air transport has equally grown to service much of the country both for passengers and goods.

Rail, however, has since seen a resurgence for transporting goods. Canadian National Railway’s (CN) freight volumes have jumped more than 50 per cent in Western Canada over the past five years amid a boom in oil by rail shipments. Despite this increase, northwest Alberta rail remains challenged with rail movement.

Though northwest Alberta is serviced by CN, many municipalities have lost direct service to their communities or to other northern communities. CN rails come to the Mighty Peace Region west from Slave Lake. They turn north at Donnelly and continue north through Peace River, Manning, High Level and end in Hay River, NWT. Likewise, our region’s CN rails come north from Swan Landing, near Hinton, to Grande Prairie. From there they go further north to Rycroft and Spirit River or head west to Hythe, AB. Most northern commodities

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are routed to Edmonton before making their way internationally. Surprisingly, the east part of our region’s railway does not connect to the west. The Watino/ Wanham line (starting approx. 50km southwest of Peace River), which led east from Falher to Girouxville and west toward Wanham and Rycroft, was removed more than 30 years ago. To this day, municipalities in the Mighty Peace Region push for the reinstatement of this line.

Reinstatement of the Watino/Wanham line would benefit producers greatly by decreasing their shipping expenses and allowing for shorter transit times to west coast ports and international markets. Furthermore, increasing our producers’ bottom line strengthens our local economy and increases the opportunity for valueadded projects in northwest Alberta.

The argument is enhanced with the development of oil on rail. And, with the County of Grande Prairie’s new intermodal facility (a place where product can be shipped using multiple

modes of transportation such as rail and truck) more efficient rail routes would further increase efficiency and profitability.

While the Watino/Wanham rail line is not in CN’s sights, their new multi-year program is allocating about $100 million for branch lines in Northern Alberta in 2015 alone.

The infrastructure upgrades, which includes heavier rail and new ties, focuses on feeder lines, which are often built using lighter rail than main routes but still able to carry heavy traffic especially as crude moves out of Alberta’s oil sands.

The recent decline in the price of oil has affected the movement of oil; however, the new NDP government of Alberta’s opposition to pipelines may increase the demand for oil movement on rail in the coming years.

Add to that the growing international demand for Alberta agriculture from countries such as China and India, and we could see a further need for improved rail service in northwest Alberta. move up

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First Officer Marlow Nicol and Captain Zach Berlis

Written By Tormaigh Van Slyke Photography by Paul lavoie

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A New Beginning

ate Hilman, 41, is back in the Peace Region and he’s wheels up and ready. Earlier this year, he purchased the only airline company based in the Peace Region, Northern Air (Est. 1984), from Rob and Sandy King, whose reputations for quality service and philanthropy precede them.

growing up in Tangent, AB (a little over an hour’s drive southwest of Peace River), and going to school in nearby Eaglesham, AB.

Though Hilman was born in Yellowknife, NWT, he spent years

The rest of Hilman’s adolescence was spent in Okanagan Valley. Aviation

“I grew up in a family-run company and my father taught us the value of hard work and entrepreneurship,” said Hilman.

was a rising passion at an early age. By 17, he increased altitude and bought his own plane, a Piper Cub. After graduating from University, where he studied Aviation Management, Hilman spent time flying medevacs in Northern Saskatchewan and bush flying in the Yukon. He also spent many years in Latin America managing an aviation program and flying world-wide, #Li fesBetterUpHere | SUMMER 2 0 1 5 M OV E U P

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accumulating over 6,000 hours. Now married with an eight-year old son, Hilman was ready to make the next big leap.

“I was looking for an opportunity that had the right fit and feel. Northern Air already had a strong foundation from which to build from and that compelled me to investigate further,” said Hilman.

Northern Air’s office and air hangar are located next to the Peace River Airport, which is in the MD of the Peace and only 11 km from downtown Peace River. Last year Northern Air provided scheduled and chartered flights, as well as a 24/7 Air Ambulance service, to more than 10,000 passengers.

To better understand the business, Hilman worked within the company for a period of time before ultimately making the decision to acquire it. He says there really wasn’t a singular moment that led him to the decision but rather a focused process of due diligence that ultimately confirmed it as the right choice.

“Our daily scheduled flights to Edmonton and Calgary offer timely departures that allow the business traveler to catch that meeting in the city and be back home the same day. And they can do that without the long checkins and security screening that typically accompany air travel in today’s world,” said Hilman.

According to Hilman, Northern Air’s amazing support infrastructure makes Krista Zschögner, Northern Air’s Purchasing Manager 30

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it all happen.

“We have close to 50 truly great people here at Northern Air. From the professional flight crews to the aircraft maintenance engineers to the ground services personnel to the customer service representatives, office staff and management team, we all strive to make the customer’s experience excellent,” said Hilman.

With due diligence out of the way, Hilman proceeded, onwards and upwards.

“A lot of work went into getting the acquisition done. I approached a friend of mine and asked if he would be interested in being a minority partner and he came onboard. There were a lot of components that had to fall into place, and Rob and Sandy were very accommodating and supportive through the transition. I must say it was exciting when it all came together,” said Hilman.

With Hilman at the helm, Northern Air is well poised for what’s ahead. Plans are to maintain a course of scheduled and charter flights to their clients as well as serve the region with medevac aircraft through the Air Ambulance program, but there may be more on the horizon.

“I am engaging with our clients and seeking feedback so that we can provide the quality service they expect. It’s all about relationships—building trust and confidence. It is always delivering on a

Nate Hilman, Northern Air’s New Owner

promise. And, we are looking for new opportunities and ways to serve needs that are not being met,” said Hilman. “My door is always open so come on by.”

Hilman believes the best culture is one where we serve each other. He says he’s always looking for ways to support a colleague, a business unit and/or a client—creating synergies through communication and teamwork. For Hilman, it’s about going home feeling satisfied after a full day’s work.

“The strategy is hard work and more hard work. We must be diligent and focused on making decisions that create value for our customers,” said Hilman.

Hilman admits that low oil prices have an impact on Northern Air, but he prefers to see it as an opportunity.

With Hilman at the helm, Northern Air is well poised for what’s ahead.

“It is true that the economy looks much different today than a year ago. While we all look forward to things improving, I think this gives us opportunities to operate more

efficiently. We can take a breath and focus on internal processes and systems,” said Hilman.

Hilman looks forward to making a significant investment in their IT infrastructure, which he believes will substantially improve their capabilities.

Hilman says he has been humbled by the support that his employees and the people in the community have shown him since taking over, and he looks forward to what the future holds.

“Peace River and the Peace Region represented a special place for me so to be able to serve these communities as their air carrier is a remarkable blessing,” said Hilman. move up

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Creating Connections

Working Together to Build Our Workforce

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rowing up in Northern Alberta allowed me to enjoy and visit the diverse communities in the Peace Region. From Dunvegan Valley to the open areas of farm fields to the boreal forests, I have enjoyed some of the diversity nature has to offer.

As a Workforce Consultant with the Government of Alberta, I enjoy other diverse opportunities— connecting business and industry with the resources and labour market information they need to make the best workforce decisions for their business.

For Employers The Canada-Alberta Job Grant (CAJG) is an employer-driven training program where employers decide on who gets training, what type of training may be needed for new and existing employees and who delivers the training.

Employers gain the skilled employees they need to increase productivity,

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By Zelda Behuniak other employees’ skills and retention. For more information on the CAJG and other employer resources, visit: AlbertaCanada.com.

Good recruitment begins with good planning. To assist you with writing a job description, you can access Alberta’s database of occupational profiles that provides generic descriptions of occupations as a place to start.

Visit: www.alis.gov.ab.ca/ occinfo Planning who you hire can include researching the labour market and knowing there is a population of the workforce who face barriers to employment but can offer a lot to your organization.

Target your hiring to include visible minorities, persons with disabilities, older workers, immigrants or aboriginal people.

Become an employer of choice by providing:  training and

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development opportunities  a safe and healthy work environment  responsive scheduling  positive employeesupervisor relationships

support, share information and create opportunities in Alberta.

Contact your local Government of Alberta consultant for help with your workforce challenges.

Employer Hotline

 reasonable job demands

In Edmonton 780-4224266

 competitive pay and benefits

Toll-free 1-800-661-3753

 employee communication and influence  rewarding work  job security  thoughtful job design Access free publications, tip sheets and workplace resources at: www.alis. alberta.ca Workforce Consultants across the province are available to partner with business, industry, community and other government ministries to

Email: ABWorkforce@gov.ab.ca In 2014, The GoA formed the ministry of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour with the mandate of working in close collaboration with training and labour stakeholders and other orders of government to help ensure the Alberta workforce has the right skills and resiliency to fully participate in Alberta’s economy.

In business, what if nobody asked what if?

If you’re an entrepreneur, let’s talk.

We provide: AFFORDABLE & FLEXIBLE FINANCING TRAINING SUPPORT

to help you start, expand, buy or move a small business.

Peace Country 780-624-1161 | 1-877-851-9996 | www.cfpeacecountry.com

Growing communities one idea at a time.

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AVENGE ENERGY SERVICES

How Jeremy Hand turned one truck into a huge company in just five years It starts with one truck.

A mere five years ago, Avenge Energy Services was a one-truck company.

Now, it’s a powerhouse, providing the Peace Region with the largest privatelyowned fleet of vac, water and steam trucks. How did this happen? Meet Avenge company founder Jeremy Hand, 32.

“I’m actually a Journeyman Instrumentation Tech. I owned an instrumentation company at one point in Grande Prairie, and then I went to work overseas for almost four years,” said Hand. “I worked in Yemen, Iraq, Dubai, Uganda and the Philippines.”

Born and raised in Peace River, Hand bought his first big truck in his early twenties.

“I was about 21 or 22, and I heard that a steamer [truck] made lots of money, so I

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bought one. I had a partner at the time, and we ended up getting about three trucks,” said Hand. “Then when things slowed down, I went down to one truck and I bought him out. This was all on the side while I was working overseas.”

When Hand returned to Canada in the fall of 2010, he was ready to step things up. He started by buying three more trucks.

“The bank was pretty hesitant to lend me the money. I did a projection for them, and the guy looked at it and looked at my history. He wasn’t that confident, nor were his peers, but he knew the drive I had and he wanted to push for it, but the loan department said, ‘No way.

There’s no way this guy is going to make these projections,’” said Hand.

The odds were stacked against him. At $300,000

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in revenue the year before, Hand’s new projections were nearly six times that.

In the end, Hand had to opt for a government-insured loan. He bought the trucks and kicked his company up into high gear.

Fast forward through a year of long days and barrels of elbow grease and it was finally time for Hand to go back into the bank and show them the fruits of his labour.

“I was actually able to beat my projections by $200,000. My banker took my yearend, went down to the risk department and threw the papers across their desk,” said Hand.

While most people would have been happy if revenues just plateaued at that point, Hand wasn’t out of steam, not even close.

“The year after that, we tripled in revenue and then

we doubled in revenue the following year. Last year, we grew again by another quarter in revenue,” said Hand.

Today, things are much different than they were five years ago. Avenge manages approximately 120 employees and has more than 50 trucks, leasing as many as 20 more during busy periods. They specialize in tank cleaning, spill cleanup and turnaround management.

Because Avenge’s business is driven by the needs of the heavy oil industry, Hand has had to grow and modify his fleet to meet the demand in a fluctuating market.

“Low oil prices are never a good thing. We changed our model a bit within the company. We’ve had to decrease spending in some areas, but we haven’t laid off one staff member,” said Hand.

Photography Submitted

The fact is Hand and his team have actually continued to grow the company.

“We’re really fortunate that we have key partnerships and a joint venture with Woodland Cree First Nation.

We have some very good clients in the area that are still keeping the wheels turning, and luckily Avenge is a key part of what they’re doing,” said Hand.

As can be expected, road transportation and safety are at the core of Avenge’s business.

“Our company culture is fixed around safety, cleanliness and public appearance. It’s a constant reinvestment in equipment, safety and management,” said Hand. “Road transportation is a key part of our business.

It’s something that gets more and more serious. It was serious from the start, but we’re definitely taking it far more seriously and investing

heavily in the safety of it.”

Hand recently hired a Road Transport Officer, Jarrett Fulcher, whose experience as a former police officer and Department of

customer satisfaction. It’s all about how we get our trucks safely to and from location, and secondly, obviously, is customer service and the job we deliver.”

transportation and safety are at the core of Avenge’s business Transportation employee will be a huge asset for Avenge. Most recently, Fulcher worked on the road transportation at Shell’s Carmon Creek Project.

“Jarrett’s primary focus will be to go over our driving habits and our company polices in compliance with the road transport acts,” said Hand. “That’s what we do for

Growing up in the Peace Region, it’s no surprise that community involvement is extremely important to Hand.

“We sponsor everything.

We are heavily involved with anything to do with children and things that benefit the community. It’s some volunteer hours and a lot of cash donations. We

pride ourselves in having our company displayed while sponsoring different events or different groups, teams, activities or charity functions,” said Hand.

Hand notes that, in addition to everything else, Avenge owes much of its success to a healthy company culture.

“We like to stop every three months and get the company either in a restaurant or in the shop for a barbeque to build a group atmosphere for our team and a happy work environment,” said Hand.

Avenge Energy Services’ growth and demonstrated sustainability is a testament to the strength of the entrepreneurial spirit and to the opportunities the Mighty Peace Region has to offer. A relentless drive to improve and a dedication to safety and community involvement no doubt make Avenge a great place to work and a great place to do business with. move up

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s a business owner, keeping pace with growth and expansion demands can seem overwhelming. If you are in the enviable position of having built your business to the point that growing pains are becoming an issue, there are a variety of effective steps you can take to mitigate the problems associated with rapid business growth.

Although there are many types of businesses, the challenges that growth brings to each of them is surprisingly consistent.

Knowing what the risks are, and facing them head on, can help ensure the ongoing success of your business.

Below are the core areas that should be addressed to ensure the health of your growing business: Time Management Whether your business is a startup, a relatively new enterprise or a veteran company, it is important for you and your team to clear your calendar of time-consuming tasks that can be easily outsourced or digitized. In doing so, you will free up your time to concentrate on finding scalable solutions to address your current business growth. You will also gain quality time to brainstorm creative, new ideas that can

Keep an Eye on Cash Flow

ignite even greater business expansion in the future.

exceed the organization’s mission.

Review Your Business Processes

The bottom line is that no one person can do everything once a business starts to blossom. Recognize that when your startup enterprise transitioned into successful growth mode, it became the “team’s” company, not just “your” company. Let your team do what they were hired to do and inspire them to ascend to even greater heights.

The processes your business uses to facilitate mandatory functions become more important as your business moves into expansion mode. By conducting regularly scheduled process audits, you can identify and document new procedural requirements and new technological enhancements to help ensure that your business is positioned to meet future growth projections on an ongoing basis.

Give Up Control The desire to control things is embedded in the genes of most entrepreneurs. And yet, as a business starts to expand, the entrepreneur must evolve from a multitasking jack-of-alltrades mindset into a bigpicture leader who inspires his or her managers and employees to meet and even

Hire Smart Talent Most entrepreneurs recognize the crucial role talent plays in the success of their enterprise. But, once a business encounters accelerated growth, entrepreneurs and managers often panic and go on ill-advised speed-hiring binges. Of course, the down side becomes evident when they quickly realize that they hired the wrong person for the job. The old adage “should have hired more slowly and fired more quickly” springs to mind.

Entrepreneurs often are so energized by the sheer excitement that occurs once a business goes into growth mode that they neglect to manage their cash flow on a daily basis assuming that everything will take care of itself. But, growth means expenditures for additional staff, technologies, office space, supplies and much more. A few tips that can improve your cash flow include: •

Projecting what your monthly sales and expenses will be

•

Setting up a cash reserve account in case of a shortfall

•

Learning how to read financial statements

•

Reconciling your monthly bank statements

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of a growing business

COMMUNITY FUTURES PEACE COUNTRY //

How to Meet the challenges

Business growing pains and challenges are notably consistent amongst all types of business categories.

Addressing and monitoring these challenges head on will ensure the health and productivity of your growing business for years to come.

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RELOCATION STORIES

The Mercer Family moved up from Shearstown, Newfoundland Name(s): David Mercer, 31, moved up with his family: wife Goldie, 32, and kids Alex, 7, and Amber, 5.

from the community came to our house and introduced themselves and welcomed us to town, which made the transition easier.

Where are you originally from?

Shearstown, NL, and then Wainwright, AB.

What is your favourite thing about living in the Peace Region?

The friendly people and the laid back atmosphere.

What is your favourite wildlife encounter since moving here?

In other places we lived bears were not a frequent animal to see. However, in the Peace Region it is a common occurrence. Frequent sightings of bears are pretty cool to see.

Where did you move to?

Manning, AB. How long ago did you move?

We moved to Manning on July 18, 2014.

Where do you work?

I work for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

What is your ideal Sunday in the Peace Region?

Our ideal Sunday would be relaxing with good friends while camping and enjoying the outdoors.

What brought you to the Peace?

Work. I was posted from Wainwright, AB, to Manning, AB. How does the Peace Region differ from where you were originally?

Actually, there are a lot of similarities between the Peace Region and Newfoundland. The beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife and very friendly people in the Peace Region remind me a lot of Newfoundland.

What keeps you in the Mighty Peace Region?

As a Police Officer with the RCMP, it’s in the job description to be moving every three-to-five years, but our family has really settled in Manning because of the friendliness of the people, so we wouldn’t mind extending our post for a couple of years.

Did you have any “culture shock” moments after moving here?

Yes and No. When a member of the RCMP is transferred, he or she and 38

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How many kilometers are on your vehicle?

The day before we moved to Manning we purchased a new truck and now we have a little over 24,000 km.

their families are entitled to a house hunting trip. This trip usually allows the family to look for a place to live and to check out the new community which could alleviate some, if any, of the culture shock.

There were several members transferring all at once at my last detachment so my family and I were not able to take that trip. So, we arrived to Manning not knowing much about the town. At first, driving through Manning the whole family thought, “Wow, what a small town,” but minutes after our arrival people

What is your favourite summer activity in the Peace?

Without a doubt, it would be camping.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Moving to Manning allowed me to accomplish a childhood dream.

I always wanted to open my own Taekwondo school, which I was able to do three months after our arrival.

My full family partakes in Taekwondo, so it enables us to give back to a community that has already given us so much.

I believe Manning is the hidden gem of the north and it was the best move we ever made.

GO Mighty Peace Signature Events Skate & Swim Road Trip Heritage Day

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

GO Mighty Peace

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elcome to “Go Mighty Peace,” the place to turn for exciting seasonal activities and events in Northwestern Alberta. Go Mighty Peace lays out the fun for everyone.

Go Mighty Peace is a collaborative supplement exclusive to Move Up. For more info and up-to-date information, go to www.mightypeace.com

632 381 180 52

MILE ZERO MACKENZIE HIGHWAY

Win cool stuff!

Stay tuned to facebook.com/mightypeacetourism For information on our next great contest!

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

Signature Events

Find more events like these at www.mightypeace.com/events

The Many Islands Music Festival is an annual Country Music Festival in Clear Hills County.

The festival is held right on the Mighty Peace River in the Many Islands Campground (South of Worsley off Hwy 64).

Compete for great prizes during karaoke on Friday night.

On Saturday, the music festival kicks off at noon. Enjoy wagon rides, activities for kids, a food booth, a dance at 9pm with music by Radio Junction and midnight fireworks!

The fun continues on Sunday with the music festival at noon.

Admission is $20/weekend pass, $10/senior pass and $50/family weekend pass. Additional camping fees apply. Free camping in the Overflow Area for seniors and families.

For more information call Tyson at 780-835-8780.

Many Islands Music Festival & Family Fun Days July 24 - 26th, 2015 | Many Islands Campground

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

Signature Events Find more events like these at www.mightypeace.com/events

Paddle the Peace

August 15th & 16th | In the Mighty Peace River

Paddle the Peace is an annual treasure of the Mighty Peace Region.

Adventure Options to Sunday’s Group Paddle Session there are activities to satisfy everyone.

A regional collaborative event, partners County of Northern Lights, Northern Sunrise County, MD of Peace, Town of Peace River and the Mighty Peace Tourist Association organize a weekend of river-related events geared to get you out on the open waters of the Mighty Peace River.

There are no on-site registrations on the day of the event, so be sure to pre-register. Children 12 and under are free, so bring the whole family. You won’t want to miss Paddle The Peace!

This year choose your adventure! From Saturday’s Instructional Day for Beginners and Overnight

For more information about Paddle the Peace visit:

PaddleThePeace.Eventbrite.ca Facebook.com/PaddleThePeace or call 1-888-525-3481

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

Signature Events

Find more events like these at www.mightypeace.com/events

Alberta Culture Days is a three-day celebration of art demonstrations, cultural activities, farmer’s everything arts and culture in Alberta. markets and so much more!

Now in its fifth year, Alberta Culture Days gives platform to the myriad of cultural delights that our fair region has to offer.

Alberta Culture Days helps to bring together our vast region to share and collaborate with on another, which helps to shape our cultural identity.

In past years the Mighty Peace Region has hosted arts shows, art walks, live music, live

Check your local media outlets to find out about Alberta Culture Days Celebrations in your area.

Peace Regional Harvest Fair August 21 - 23, 2015|Peace River Ag Grounds Join the Peace River Agricultural Society for their First Annual Peace Regional Harvest Fair.

This action-packed weekend is sure to satisfy everyone in the family! The weekend offerings include wagon rides, show ‘n’ shine, horse show, bench show, sheep herding demos,

lawn tractor racing, motocross demo, aboriginal dancers, pig races, a pieeating contest, a Saturday night concert by Dan Arnold and so much more.

kiddos. Kids 4 and under are free.

On August 21-23, grab the family and head over to the Peace River Ag Grounds to enjoy what is sure to be a fantastic weekend.

Tickets are $25 for the weekend or pragsociety.com $10 per day for the adults and $12 for the weekend or $5 per day for the

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

MIGHTY PEACE Twelve Foot Davis Gravesite A breathtaking lookout over the town of Peace River in honour of Henry Fuller Davis, a trader on the Peace River who struck gold on a 12 foot claim in the 1860s. The park features pathways, landscaping, interpretive panels, picnic benches and parking.

Pratt’s Landing Located on the shores of the Peace River, 26km upstream from Historic Dunvegan (about 4 hours of paddling), Pratt’s Landing provides an exceptional camping experience. If you’re driving, go west from the Town of Fairview on Hwy. 682 for approx. 32km. Pratt’s Landing is developed and maintained by community groups and the MD of Fairview No. 136.

Sagitawa Lookout Sagitawa Lookout is located south of the Town of Peace River on Hwy. 744 at the top of Judah Hill. It overlooks the confluence of the Heart, Peace and Smoky Rivers.

The Maples Day Use Area Located on the west side of the Dunvegan Bridge (approx. 26 km south and west of the Town of Fairview), visitors may investigate the fascinating history of this area by touring The Maples and Historic Dunvegan. Explore great camping and picnic facilities, commercial green houses and gardens, mini golf, a gift store and enjoy some ice cream!

Disk Golf at High Level Community Park Enjoy a round of North America’s fastest growing sport at our newly built 9 “hole” disk golf course.

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

ROAD TRIP Weberville Community Forest Trail Maintained by the Weberville Community Forest Assn. (WCFA), the Weberville Community Forest Trail is a 18km multi-use trail north of Peace River. While on the trail, enjoy a panoramic view of the Peace River.

Notikewin Provincial Park Walking Trail The Notikewin Provincial Park Walking Trail, located 37km north of Manning, is an interpretive walking trail home to hundred of species of birds and dozens of species of mammals. The Asawapowin Trail (1.75km or 40 minutes) takes you to a breathtaking viewpoint that overlooks the confluence of the Notikewin and Peace Rivers. While your there take advantage of the park’s day use area, campground, fishing and fossil collecting opportunities.

But First, Let me Take a Selfie...

Your tour of the Mighty Peace Region will be larger than life. Don’t forget to document it on camera!

No photo tour is complete without selfies with the many Peace Region wonders. From the 12 Foot Davis Statue in Peace River to the Manning Moose to the Largest Railroad Spike in Hines Creek to Mile Zero of the Mackenzie Highway in Grimshaw--you’ve got your work cut out for you. Get snapping!

Other Wonderful Road Trip Ideas There is no shortage of excellent ideas to keep you busy on your Mighty Peace Road trip. From Geocaching, hiking, cycling, wildlife viewing, golfing, mountain biking, paddling, going for nature walks, picnicing, enjoying our local eateries and shopping, there is literally something for everyone to enjoy in the Mighty Peace Region!

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

High Level Meet High Level’s Partners in Tourism This luxurious, resort-style property offers room amenities and configurations for leisure and business travelers alike. The 8,500-square foot water park is the largest hotel water amenity north of Edmonton. It features a water slide, water playground and a 15-person hot tub. The Mirage TasteHouse & Ultra Lounge has set a new standard in service and cuisine in the North, attracting locals, hotel guests, and residents from

surrounding communities to enjoy the impressive culinary presentation and a mouth watering experience. The Ultra Lounge serves an array of fresh fruit cocktails, discerning wines, and ultrapremium spirits. With multiple meeting rooms, a gorgeous Banquet room and a conference centre that can host events up to 400 people, you are sure to have an amazing experience at this majestic property.

Known for their warm hospitality and Vegas inspired sign, the Flamingo Inn High Level has all the comforts and amenities that travelers are looking for while on the road. Comfortable and stylish rooms at affordable rates make the Flamingo Inn your home away from home. While you are here, enjoy a meal at the Flamingo Inn Restaurant

where they feature daily lunch and dinner specials such as build your own pasta night and stir-fry night. At the Flamingo Lounge, you can sit back and relax with your favourite drink in hand either inside or out on the patio while taking in featured entertainment.

At the newly renovated Days Inn High Level, you can count on exceptional service, comfortable accommodations and first-class amenities. From cozy single rooms to luxurious Jacuzzi suites, we’re suited to all travelers and budgets—we’re even pet-friendly. In each of our newly renovated rooms, you’ll find genuine birch wood furniture,

a charming fireplace and a spa-like bathroom featuring granite countertops and massaging shower heads. Top it off with perks like a free airport shuttle, fitness centre, VLT gaming room, free movies, free internet and exceptional on-site dining, it becomes clear why we’re leading the way among hotels in High Level, AB.

On your way into town from the High Level Airport, the Quality Inn is the first hotel on the horizon and a great destination for entertainment and first-class accommodation. Lavish Jacuzzi rooms, spacious suites and comfortable beds await you here at the Quality Inn. Enjoy interior access to a wide variety of amenities and services at our hotel—with restaurant, dining lounge, VLT lounge, nightclub,

business centre, fitness facility, banquet hall and meeting room—all under one roof. Affordable rates and great features like complimentary daily breakfast make us the premier choice for your visit to High Level. It’s all part of our unwavering commitment to providing quality accommodations that live up to our name.

Recently opened in 2011, the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites offers reasonable rates for good clean rooms, equipped with modern amenities including 40” LCD TVs, fireplaces and deluxe bedding. A full service fitness centre, free Wi-Fi high speed internet access and free airport shuttle

are all benefits you can enjoy at an affordable price. Our suites are equipped with full kitchens, dining area, and separate bedrooms, which make us High Level’s most popular choice for long-term stays.

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

| Stay & Play Fox Haven Golf and Country club

Caesars Bowling Centre

High Level Centennial Park

Sports Complex Community Park

Golf Alberta’s most northern 18-hole golf course, where you can say “fore” late into the night with an 11pm tee time. foxhavengolf.ca 780-926-3005 Strike up a night of fun!

Caesars has everything you need for a great night out.

Enjoy bowling, billiards & snooker tables, an arcade and a licensed lounge.

780-926-2515 With two beach volleyball courts, three playgrounds, basketball courts and a tobogganing hill, Centennial Park is your year-round recreation destination. highlevel.ca With two baseball diamonds, an off-leash dog park and a fishing pond, the Sports Complex Community Park is a great place to spend the dog days of summer. highlevel.ca

Town of High Level Stay & Play Golf Package enjoy a 50% discount at the Fox Haven Golf & Country Club

when you book a reservation longer than two (2) nights* at one of our Partners in Tourism Properties *up to a limit of three (3) passes.

Offer valid for the 2015 golf season. see participating properties for more information.

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

UPCOMING EVENTS PEACE RIVER FARMER’S MARKETS

EVENING AT THE MUSEUM

10301 101 ST. PEACE RIVER 10-1PM ON SELECT SATURDAYS & WEEKENDS Local vendors, produce, artisan products, baked and canned goods and more!

PeaceRiverFarmersMarket.com

JULY 16, 2015 FROM 6-8PM MACKENZIE CROSSROADS MUSEUM HIGH LEVEL, AB Bring your family to make some old fashion ice cream.

MANNING FARMER’S MARKET ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION (121 2 AVE SW) 10AM-1PM ON FRIDAYS Markets run from May 8 - October 9th.

Facebook: Manning Farmers’ Market

HIGH LEVEL FARMER’S MARKET HIGH LEVEL CURLING ARENA EVERY FRIDAY FROM 2-7PM Markets run from July to September

AQUAFIT GRIMSHAW OUTDOOR POOL MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS 8-9PM (JUNE 1 TO AUGUST 19) Make aqua-fit part of your summer routine. $4 drop-in fee.

780-332-4788

PEACE RIVER HERITAGE TOURS JULY & AUGUST 2015 Organized by the Peace River Museum.

Scheduled tours at heritage sites. peacerivermuseum.blogspot.com

FREE ADMISSION TO THE PEACE RIVER MUSEUM JULY & AUGUST 2015 Enjoy free admission to the Peace River Museum from 5-8pm every Thurdsay.

Sponspred by the AUPE Local 001. peaceriver.ca

BATTLE RIVER RODEO JULY 16 - 19, 2015 BATTLE RIVER AG GROUNDS MANNING, AB Largest Amateur Rodeo north of Edmonton. Demo derby, slow pitch tournament, BBQ, parade & more!

BattleRiverAgSociety.ca

2015 WORLD JET BOAT CHAMPIONSHIP JULY 18 & 19, 2015 PEACE RIVER, AB Facebook: 2015 World Jet Boat Race

AMPITHEATRE AT HISTORIC DUNVEGAN JULY 18, 2015 Join us for skits and plays! historicdunvegan.org

SUNDAY FUNDAY AT HISTORIC DUNVEGAN PARK JULY 19, 2015 AT 2PM Join us for crafts! historicdunvegan.org

PARKS DAY JULY 19, 2015 12 FOOT DAVIS LOOKOUT FROM 2-4PM Bear smart and park awareness, fire smart, historic objects of the peace Country, family activities, live local entertainment, door prizes and sweet treats. Celebrate Parks Day with

Northern Sunrise County, Town of Peace River, Forestry and Agriculture and Alberta Parks and learn more about the environment and history of our hills.

780-625-3287

CHRISTMAS IN JULY FREE PUBLIC SWIM JULY 23, 2015 FROM 2-5PM GRIMSHAW OUTDOOR POOL Donations of canned goods will be accepted for the Peace River Women’s Shelter. Everyone welcome! Sponsored by the Town of Grimshaw. www,grimshaw.ca

CLEAR HILLS COUNTY 12TH ANNUAL BBQ JULY 23, 2015 FROM 6-8PM MANY ISLANDS CAMPGROUND clearhillscounty.ab.ca

MANY ISLANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL JULY 24 - 26, 2015 MANY ISLANDS CAMPGROUND clearhillscounty.ab.ca

HARMON VALLEY AMATEUR RODEO JULY 25 - 26, 2015 HARMON VALLEY AG GROUNDS AT 2PM

Food booth, beer gardens & steak supper. Sat. Night concert with Kikbak,

Northern Aces & Duane Steele Facebook: Harmon Valley Agricultural Society

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

Summer/Fall 2015 BLACK GOLD MUSEUM EXHIBIT JULY 29 - AUGUST 26, 2015 MACKENZIE CROSSROADS MUSEUM HIGH LEVEL, AB This exhibit features the artwork of contemporary artists whose creative expressions have been stimulated by the development of the petroleum industry in Canada.

33RD ANNUAL HARMON VALLEY FALL FAIR AND BENCH SHOW AUGUST 15, 2015 NAMPA GOLDEN PIONEERS SENIOR’S CENTRE Open to the public at 1pm.

Facebook: Harmon Valley Agricultural Society

REDNECK RIDERS BARREL RACING AMPITHEATRE AT HISTORIC DUNVEGAN FINALS AUGUST 1, 2015 Join us for skits and plays! historicdunvegan.org

AUGUST 15 & 16, 2015 FAIRVIEW RODEO GROUNDS NorthernRedneckRiders.com

FRESH AIR MARKET

SUNDAY FUNDAY AT HISTORIC DUNVEGAN PARK

AUGUST 2, 2015 HISTORIC DUNVEGAN PARK 11-2PM historicdunvegan.org

FREE SWIMMING AUGUST 3, 2015 FROM 1-5PM GRIMSHAW OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL Everyone is welcome!

780-332-4010

NAMPA GOLDEN PIONEERS COMMUNITY SUPPER AUGUST 12, 2015 NAMPA GOLDEN PIONEERS SENIORS CENTRE Supper is served at 6pm. $12 for adults, $6 for ages 7-12 and children 6 and under eat free.

780-322-3721

PADDLE THE PEACE AUGUST 15 & 16, 2015 Overnight adventure option (Sat.) Canoe/Kayak Instructional Day (Sat.) Group Paddle (Sun.) 780-836-3348 facebook.com/PaddleThePeace

FREE CLOSING SWIM AUGUST 22, 2015 FROM 2-5PM GRIMSHAW OUTDOOR POOL Sponsored by the Town of Grimshaw www.grimshaw.ca

CADOTTE LAKE COMMUNITY APPRECIATION BBQ AUGUST 29, 2015 MAMOWINTOWIN HALL FROM 2-4PM CADOTTE LAKE Bannock burgers! Everyone welcome.

780-629-2476

GEORGE LAKE MUSIC FESTIVAL

AUGUST 16, 2015 AT 2PM Join us for crafts! historicdunvegan.org

LABOUR DAY LONG WEEKEND Diverse acts including rock, gospel and country music. Activities and games.

Food, fun and camping.

ELITE VOLLEY CAMP

DIXONVILLE SPORTS DAYS

AUGUST 17 - 21, 2015 MILE ZERO REGIONAL MULTIPLEX GRIMSHAW, AB Volleyball Camp for grades 7 to 12. elitevolleycamp@gmail.com EliteVolleyCamp.com

PEACE REGIONAL HARVEST FAIR AUG 21 - 23, 2015 PEACE RIVER AG GROUNDS Wagon rides, tractor races, horse show, agricultural demos, pie-eating contest, inflatables, Sat. night concert, children’s events, motocross demo, bench show, show ‘n’ shine & more. $10/day or $25/wknd pass. pragsociety.com 780-965-1783

LABOUR DAY LONG WEEKEND Ball tournament, pet parade, car show & more!

ALBERTA CULTURE DAYS SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 MAMOWINTOWIN HALL, CADOTTE LAKE Stew & Bannock and live entertainment. Time TBA. 780-629-2476

DEADWOOD FALL SUPPER AND SILENT AUCTION OCTOBER 25, 2015 FROM 5-7PM DEADWOOD HALL Continuous buffet. Auction items begin being pulled at 6:30pm sharp.

Craft area to keep the kids busy.

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

Swim & Skate Manning Centennial RCMP Pool

R.E. Walter Memorial Aquatic Centre

4th Ave SW, Manning, AB Open from May to Sept. Programs include Aqua tots, water polo, synchronized swimming and more! manning.ca 780-836-3218

10001 105 Ave This pool features a 4-lane 25 metre pool, tot pool, whirl pool, climbing wall and viewing area. highlevel.ca

Grimshaw Outdoor Pool

Manning, AB Outdoor concrete skatepark manning.ca

4615 50 St., Grimshaw, AB Open from May to August with a variety of programs for all ages.

780-332-4010

Hines Creek Spray Park 2nd Ave & 10th St., Hines Creek hinescreek.com

Peace Regional Pool 7201 98 St., Peace River Aqua aerobics, classes, courses, waterslide, hot tub, steam room and more. peaceriver.ca

Peace River Water Play Park 10109 101 St. Open May to August from 10am-8pm. Newly renovated washrooms and a variety of splash park features. peaceriver.ca

*NEW* Centennial Park Splash Park Downtown High Level highlevel.com

Three Battles Skatepark

Cadotte Lake Skatepark Cadotte Lake, AB Outdoor Concrete skatepark

High Level SkatePark 10511 103 St. Several features for skateboarders and cyclists alike including a 3 ft. half ramp, multiple rails and boxes to grind on. highlevel.ca

Peace River SkatePark Behind the Legion on 101 St. Outdoor modular skatepark. peaceriver.ca

Grimshaw Sk8 ‘N’ Bike Park Beside the Library on 47th Ave Outdoor modular skatepark open from spring to fall. grimshaw.ca

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

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Mile Zero regional Multiplex

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MILE ZERO MACKENZIE HIGHWAY

The Mile Zero Regional Multiplex has been a cherished resource in the Peace Region since it has opened its doors in 2011. In addition to the amazing amenities, the Multiplex has hosted a number of sports tournaments, concerts, training camps and fitness classes.

Be sure to check out this amazing local facility.

Les Shaw Fitness Centre

Get your full body workout by using our cardio equipment, strength machines and free weights. Also offered through the gym are “Spin” group exercise classes

Arena

The Multiplex boasts a 200’ x 85’ NHL regulation size ice surface. Seating in the bleachers accommodates 1,000 spectators.

Field House

The Multiplex also offers three full size gymnasium courts. Court markings on each include the following sports: basketball, volleyball, badminton and soccer.

The playing surface is made of pulastic flooring, which is a stable floor system featuring special recycled rubber shock pad for resiliency and ball rebound with superior strength.

Northern Air Walking Track

The Northern Air Indoor Walking Track is a three-lane, 175.3 metre track.

Don Stannard Meeting Room

The meeting room can accommodate 25 to 30 people comfortably. Everything from meetings to birthday parties are booked weekly in this space.

Pro Shop

The on-site pro shop is leased annually to OT Sports

Concession

The on-site concession is open year round and is leased to C-Ken’s Concession and features a variety of homemade treats.

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

Museums + Heritage BATTLE RIVER MUSEUM

Manning, AB | Open May - September 1km off Mackenzie Hwy #35 on Hwy #691 Agricultural equipment and taxidermy displays. Restored buildings with artifacts include Anglican Church, Blacksmith Shop & more!

780-836-3114 or 780-836-2180

DIXONVILLE MUSEUM Visit an authentic 20th Century Trading Post!

780-971-3750 or 780-971-3975

HISTORIC DUNVEGAN PROVINCIAL PARK Hwy 2 between Rycroft and Fairview Open May 15 - Labour day Four original authentically restored and furnished buildings with historic interpreters. Guided and selfguided tours available.

780-835-7150 | historicdunvegan.org

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LAC CARDINAL REGIONAL PIONEER VILLAGE MUSEUM

Hines Creek, AB | At Intersection of Hwy #64 & Hwy #685 Open May - September from 10am-6pm (1-6pm on Sunday) guided tours available. Taxidermy display. vintage vehicles and machines and a variety of restored heritage buildings.

780-835-7827 | endofsteelmuseum.weebly.com

Grimshaw, AB | 6km from Grimshaw via Hwy 2 or Hwy 685 Open May - September from 11-5pm 20 acres of land houses several original buildings with authentic artifacts. Visit the train station gift shop!

Admission by donation.

780-332-2197

Celebrate the Past Heritage Day in Manning | August 2, 2015 Battle River Pioneer Museum Join us for an antique tractor parade, pancake breakfast and more!

Pioneer Day at Lac Cardinal | August 2, 2015 Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village | Grimshaw, AB join us for a pancake breakfast, demonstrations, wagon rides, kids activities and more!

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

Day Celebrations MACKENZIE CROSSROADS MUSEUM AND VISITORS CENTRE High Level, AB | 10803 96 St. Open Mon-Fri from 9am-8pm and Sat & Sun from 10am-8pm Museum, gift shop and picnic area. Primary exhibit: “Northern Trading Post” with travelling exhibits that rotate throughout the year.

780-926-4811

MUSEE DE ST. ISIDORE (ST. ISIDORE MUSEUM) St. Isidore, AB | Mon - Fri: 9am to 4pm (Summer Hours) 780-624-8481

NAMPA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM Nampa, AB | On Hwy 2 Summer hours: Open Daily from 10am to 6pm designed in the shape of a railway station, featuring an oil & gas interactive display, old school room, taxidermy collection, fossil collection and more!

780-322-2777 | facebook.com/nampamuseum

Heritage Day in Hines Creek | August 3, 2015 End of Steel Museum Join us for music, food, wagon rides, a tractor parade and great demonstrations.

NAR STATION Peace River, AB | 9309 100 St. Stop by for a tour of the Northern Alberta Railway Station--Peace River’s Provincial Historical Site. Also the home of the Peace River Tourist Information Centre & Chamber of commerce.

780-624-4166

PEACE RIVER MUSEUM, ARCHIVES AND MACKENZIE CENTRE Peace River, AB | 10302 99 St. Open Mon - Sat from 10-5pm (Open Sundays in July & Aug) Permanent exhibit covers the fur trade area, aboriginal history and the heritage of the town of peace river.

780-624-4261 | peacerivermuseum.blogspot.ca

OLD MANNING HOSPITAL MUSEUM Manning, AB | Main Street Built in 1937, much of the hospital, including the operating room, has been restored.

780-836-3606

Heritage Days Cemetary Tour | August 3, 2015 Mount Pleasant Cemetary | Peace River, AB Tours: 10:30am, 1:30pm Explore the stories of the early families of the Peace. peaceriver.net

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

Explore the Town of Fairview UPCOMING EVENTS Fairview Amateur Rodeo Weekend | July 17 - 19 Local team roping, WRA rodeo and various other rodeo events. Concession available, Popular evening dances encompass great live music, a large dance floor and a positive and friendly atmosphere. Local barrels start at 1pm each day. WRA/LRA rodeo starts at 3pm each day. Beer gardens and dance on Friday & Saturday nights.

Summer’s End Festival |August 22 A variety of local entertainment and activities all day long. Open air markets, food booths, music, street dance, athletics, live bands, shows, activities for the kids, inflatables, Peace Classic Wheels Street Spectacular, parade, prizes and more!

Fairview Fall Finale Horse Show | October 3 & 4 Jockey-sponsored “TIP” classes, lots of stakes classes, huge cash payouts, high-quality awards and more! Join us at the GPRC Fairview Pavilion for the “Biggest Little Show in the North”. fairviewshorseshows.weebly.com Summer’s End Festival, held yearly in August, has something for everyone. [Top Photo: Fran Wylie]

SWIM

& SKATE

Fairview Regional Aquatic Centre | East of Hwy 2 The Fairview Aquatic Centre features a 5-lane, 25-metre lap pool; a zero depth wading pool; a hot tub; a climbing wall; a water slide; Tarzan rope lessons; free swim on the first Saturday of the month; family/lane/public swims; activities room and more!

780-835-2812

Heart of the Peace Splash & Skate Park fairview.ca

For more information visit www.mightypeace.com

#Li fesBetterUpHere | SUMMER 2 0 1 5 M OV E U P

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ON TRACK Local motocross association close to building a racetrack in Fairview WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY DREW ROGERS

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hen The Fairview Motocross Association started five years ago, the goal was to get a competitive motocross track built locally. Now closer than ever, President Darian Armstrong spoke with Move Up about the challenges, small victories and, most importantly, what needs to happen to finish this project.

The summer evenings are getting longer as the Peace Region rolls into summer. Armstrong and riding partner Austin Dillman unload their dirt bikes at a secluded riding area outside of Fairview, AB. With the sun shining later every day, there’s no rush.

Gearing up, they talk about the race that weekend and how good it is to get out and train close to home. The closest tracks are currently in Grande Prairie and Peace River. During summer, the Peace Motocross Association has a circuit featuring races all over the Peace Region, in Alberta and BC. Having a track would mean a stop for Fairview.

Armstrong and the association have been working hard to provide another recreation opportunity for his town.

“There are all kinds of kids riding bikes here. We need a track for them,” said Armstrong.

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Photography by Paul Lavoie Images #Li #Li fesBetterUpHere fesBetterUpHere| SUMMER | SPRI NG 2 0 1 5 M OV E U P

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Austin Dillman tears it up on his dirt bike in Grande Prairie

“Rural towns like ours lack things to do. When you build something like this, it gives another outlet.

It’s also a great attraction for people from outside the community,” said Armstrong.

With races attracting people from all across the region there’s no telling what the added financial benefits for local business could be.

Coming up with the money is essential to actually getting a large, capital project like this off the ground, and the association has been working hard to make it a reality. Fundraising efforts have gone quite well. In the winter they host ice races for bikes and quads. For this, they plow a track on frozen lakes. Riders wear extra layers and ride bikes 58

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equipped with studded tires. After the costs of the race are covered the profits are deposited into the association’s account.

“These races have always been popular and because we build fun, technical tracks. We get guys coming all the way from Calgary to race,” said Armstrong.

Armstrong has also cleared another major hurdle on the track. Dedication and persistent engagement with local government has helped secure a piece of land just outside of Fairview.

“The biggest thing holding us back right now is a fence,” said Armstrong.

Armstrong has been working consistently on this project and is starting to see the finish line.

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“Getting people together and organizing has taken up most of my time up until now. I know if we get everyone to pitch in, we can get this done quickly,” said Armstrong.

Once the land is fenced in and secure, the track can start being built. Armstrong thinks they could have a competitive track up and running for 2016. The track has already been designed for the area, along with smaller track for young riders.

“It’s going to be a great technical track, really separating the riders,” said Armstrong. “We have kids racing from ages four to six and then all the way up from there. It’s a great family activity and having this in our town would be very positive. We’re not

punk dirt bikers. Families from all over the area and out of town come to these races,” said Armstrong.

The bikes fire up. Armstrong and Dillman take off and buzz around the woods sending sand sailing through the air. Weaving around trees, they jockey for position and look ahead to brace for the next jump.

The conditions are great; the riding is fast and technical.

It’s just another night out on the dirt bikes.

The Fairview Motocross Association wants to add a competitive motocross track in their community.

If you want to get involved or learn about out what is happening, find “Fairview Motocross Association” on Facebook. move up

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The Only Road to Zama City

A community challenged by a rocky road

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n the farthest reaches of northwest Alberta is the community of Zama City. It is a quaint community with a surprising amount of amenities for a community that is in fact not a City, a town or even a village.

Zama City is a hamlet in Mackenzie County. Two hundred permanent residents call this gathering of houses home. There is a post office, a library, a 24-hour fitness centre, an elementary/ middle school, a local store/ gas station, a swimming hole and trout pond and a fine meal can be had at the restaurant located in the local work camp. Apache, an oil-and-gas company, is the largest employer in the region, and Zama City is home to the second largest conventional oil reserves in the province.

There is a scattering of other businesses, most of them related to or supported by the oil and gas industry, that keep this community alive and apparently thriving. A recent municipal census shows numbers are

By Dan Dibbelt increasing. The hamlet is tidy and the yards are treated with pride. The people are friendly as is often the case in smaller communities, where one has to rely on one another now and again.

Zama City is also home to a large number of shadow population workers—oil and gas workers that live in camps during their work shift and then fly home to places like Newfoundland and Calgary.

There is also a herd of bison far outnumbering the local residents and they can often be seen in the school yard, walking around town or laying on the one road that leads in and out of the hamlet.

Zama City is located approximately 85 kilometers on the Mackenzie Highway north of the Town of High Level. It’s a two-lane, paved highway that goes further north eventually connecting to the Northwest Territories. At the Zama City access road, one turns left and travels a high-grade gravel road for another 50 kilometers before you

hit pavement for the last portion of the trip, about 13 kilometers into the hamlet.

The road, when all things are good, is a pretty good road for a gravel road, but seldom are all things good. High volumes of industrial traffic, rain, snow, ice, dust, bison, and forest fires are regular challenges faced by the residents of Zama City. Even when all things are good, 50km of gravel road is just never all that good.

The residents of Zama City along with Mackenzie County have long fought to have the road paved by the province. The cost, about $30 million, exceeds the ability of Mackenzie County, which is the largest county in the province, and many people may question the cost for the scant number of residents utilizing the road.

In a province like Alberta, which relies heavily on oil and gas, one also has to ask what the cost is to the people who ensure the province’s economic livelihood is taken care of? Is it right that high school students in Zama City have to make the

one-and-a-half-hour drive to school twice a day? Is it right that pregnant mothers need to risk travelling down the road on snowy winter days to make a doctor’s appointment? Is it right that the residents of Zama City aren’t afforded the same level of roads that most of us take for granted day after day?

The feeling of isolation in Zama City is heightened by the fact that a third of the residents routinely commute to the closest major centre, the Town of High Level. All indications suggest Zama City is here to stay. Opportunities exist in Zama City, but they are opportunities that can only be fully explored once they have a paved highway leading in and out of their community.

Zama City is perhaps oddly named because of its population. It may not be a city, but it is a community that helps to keep our economy going in a big way.

Perhaps it is time for the government to invest in this little hamlet and its people. move up

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Connecting

northern

communities

By Wendy Patterson

I

t’s a long way to Fort McMurray, especially if you live in the northern part of the province, but Carolyn Kolebaba, Chair of the Northern Transportation Advisory Council (NTAC), is hoping to change that and make travel in Alberta easier and more efficient for everyone.

Kolebaba, who is also the Deputy Reeve of Northern Sunrise County, is advocating for a new East-West Connector road that would link Peace River directly with Fort McMurray. The proposed road would cut the travel time literally in half, allowing drivers to make the trip in under four hours.

“Right now we have to go a long way south to get back up north,” Kolebaba explained.

Despite the fact that Fort

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McMurray is further north than Peace River, the current route follows the AB-2 Highway all the way down (south) to Athabasca before heading upward (north) again on AB-63.

It’s a distance of 677 km, and a grueling seven-hour drive from Northern Sunrise County, along often narrow roads.

Short of chartering a private flight, flying to Fort McMurray means a drive to Grande Prairie followed by a layover in Edmonton or Calgary since there are no direct flights. With the proposed connector, people and goods could be transported by road as quickly as they presently can by air.

The good news is while the proposed connector would be about 400 km long, only about half of that actually needs to be built.

The connector road would incorporate the existing

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route between Peace River and Peerless Lake, in the Municipal District of Opportunity. That route, which follows AB-686 and AB-986 West, could be widened and upgraded and the additional 220 km to Fort McMurray added on.

department store merchandise to heavy equipment and skilled labourers bound for the oilfields.

“We just need to finish what’s started,” Kolebaba said. “And add the piece to Fort McMurray.”

Kolebaba adds that powerlines, railroads, communications cables and pipelines could also follow the proposed route.

Important for industry Kolebaba believes the construction of the connector would be a significant improvement, not only for travelers but also for industry in the northern part of the province.

“It’s important for the movement of product,” said Kolebaba.

The connector could allow for faster and more efficient transportation of everything from

“It would feed the economies of both rural communities and bigger centres,” said Kolebaba.

“So it would only be one footprint on the land,” said Kolebaba. “It would be favourable to the environment as well as to us.”

There is tremendous support for the connector project among northern communities. “It would be better for Fort McMurray, too. It would help all of us in the north,” said Kolebaba.

The lack of connector roads is a common

Proposed road would cut travel times in half

characteristic of Northern Alberta, she added, and not just in the area around Peace River. “The majority of our roads go north and south, not east and west,” said Kolebaba.

Advocating for the north

The NTAC, which is a committee made up of members from Mackenzie County Economic Development Alliance and the Peace Regional Economic Development Alliance, was formed to advocate for better infrastructure in the north.

Though the council itself is relatively new, the idea for the proposed connector has been in the works for almost 17 years.

“I was elected in 1998, and we’ve been talking about it since then. So it’s been a while,” said Kolebaba.

Over the years the Peace River-Fort McMurray connector has taken a back

seat to a number of other provincial transportation projects, particularly to growth around the Edmonton-Calgary corridor. Critics of the proposal claim the cost of a road between Peerless Lake and Fort McMurray would

However, Kolebaba says the proposal had made progress under the previous government. Now the challenge for the council will be to make it a priority for the newly-elected NDP government, as well.

the connector would be a significant improvement, not only for travelers but also for industry in the northern part of the province. be too high, particularly in light of the often swampy terrain the road would have to cross. And, considering the relatively low population of the north, the connector may not be given precedence over other transportation projects in more densely populated areas.

Nelson, BC. Besides having few eastwest roads, the northern part of the province also lacks roads that connect to other provinces.

Developing these routes is very important, according to Kolebaba, in the same way that having rail lines across Canada was vital for the growth of the nation— it will make the movement of goods and workers faster and more affordable, improving the economies of both local communities and the country as a whole.

Moving forward, connecting Peace River with Fort McMurray is Kolebaba’s primary goal.

“If Northern Alberta is going to give, I think it’s time to give back,” she said.

There are currently a number of other proposed connectors in the works for the region, as well, including one between Rainbow Lake and Fort

“We should have the freedom to go east and west above the 55th parallel, and right now we have very few roads that let us do that,” said Kolebaba. move up

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COLUMN AMANDA FURLONG | COMMUNITY LIASON OFFICER, SHELL CANADA, PEACE RIVER //

Shell’s Focus on Road Safety

A

Life Saving Rules and Golden Rules

t Shell Canada, safety is always our first priority.

By working closely with our staff and contractors, we’ve compiled 12 Life Saving Rules that target activities where failure to comply has the highest potential for death or serious injury. The rules, which are mandatory for everyone on Shell sites or on Shell business, are a powerful way of ensuring a consistent culture of compliance.

The rules, which have been fully enforced since July 1, 2009, have saved an estimated 30 lives since enforcement (based on historical data across Shell).

The 12 Life Saving Rules support Shell’s Golden Rules, which state that you and I:  Comply with the law, standards and procedures  Intervene on unsafe or noncompliant actions  Respect our neighbours We must still comply with all other safety rules. If any national law requires an even higher level of compliance we meet that national requirement.

The Life Saving Rules, which apply to driving include:  No distracted driving—this includes use of hands free devices. Research shows that they can be as distracting as handheld devices  Wear your seatbelt  No alcohol/drugs  Follow prescribed journey management plan

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Journey Management Planning Journey Management Planning (JMP) is a process that helps people arrive safely on their road transport journeys. JMP helps to prevent road transport incidents and mitigates consequences if there were to be an incident. A JMP is a plan that defines the controls for all the identified risks of a journey.

Typical risks include:  Driver fatigue  Transport in high risk environments  Transport in areas with security risks  Transport in remote areas  Transport at night and long driving distances  Loading and unloading activities In addition to JMP, other best practices include:  Walking around vehicles  Checking pickup truck box for debris before departing on trips  Completing defensive drivers training every two years (required)  Driving only 90km when travelling in the dark—research supports that this measure has reduced the number of animal strikes and improves reaction distance  Placing speed trailers at site for monitoring /local patrols with radar “That’s the biggest part of our

job, being proactive. You can prevent a lot of incidents that way—with constant reassessment and monitoring by the Shell road transport safety team.” ~ Dan Derzaph, Road Transport Specialist Investments with Road Safety The “safety first” approach also applies to Shell’s Social Investment in the region. Since 2013, Shell has invested in local and traffic safety initiatives including youth awareness programs, emergency response equipment, road safety education campaigns, industrial transport safety training for local companies and improved traffic monitoring initiatives. Shell is also focused on working with other stakeholders in the community including Alberta Transportation, the RCMP, Commercial Vehicle Inspections and other local agencies to build on the road safety message in the community.

“The entire community needs to be aware of, and invested in, the importance of road safety. It makes sense to work with all of the various safety-focused organizations to share resources and build opportunities to further develop road safety practices and share them with employees, contractors, coworkers, schools, families and neighbours.” ~ Jenna Strachan, Community Affairs In-Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IMVS).

All Shell vehicles, both onsite and offsite, are equipped with In-Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IMVS).

IMVSs are recognized tools to stimulate defensive driving and

The IVMS will beep letting the driver know when the following behaviours have occurred:  Harsh Braking: vehicle stops quicker than 7.5 mph per second  Harsh Acceleration: vehicle accelerates greater than 8 m/h/s  Speeding: when driving above the local speed limit the system will sound the buzzer continuously until vehicle is travelling below the speed limit.  Excessive idling: this is monitored and enforced through the IVMS Reports on driving are available to Supervisors & Managers on a regular basis. This helps our drivers and their managers recognize good driving and identify areas where improvements can be made. These reports may also be used for investigating and ensuring adherence to Shell policy and procedures. In a wider sense, the data provides a documented means by which we can demonstrate good driving.

Shell’s Carmon Creek Project is a testament to Shell’s commitment to road safety. For example, The Carmon Creek Project does not allow personal vehicles on site unless required for duties. To help facilitate the movement of people to and from site, Shell work with our bussing partner First Canada.

First Canada provides personnel transportation on site and operates a daily Park and Ride service from town to site and also from airports to site. In the first four months of 2015, we have safely transported over 115,000 personnel safely to and from site. All busses are equipped with IVMS. In addition, Shell’s logistics team helps coordinate the movement of materials and equipment to and from site. By consolidating demand we have reduced over 30,000km of road exposure so far in 2015. Shell times project traffic to avoid peak bus/shift rotations and school bus times in the region.

To reduce traffic volumes on local roads, Shell has partnered with Daishowa Marubeni International’s (DMI) Peace River Pulp Division to expand their existing rail facilities at their site to allow offloading of modules. Modules too large to be transported by rail will be trucked to site via two heavy load corridors as designated by Alberta Transportation.

Shell’s 12 Life-Saving Rules Work with a valid work permit when required Conduct Gas Tests When Required Verify Isolation before work begins and use the specified life protecting equipment Obtain authorization before entering a confined space Obtain authorization before overriding or disabling safety critical equipment Protect yourself against a fall when working at height Do not walk under a suspended load Do Not Smoke outside of designated smoking areas No Drugs or Alcohol while working or driving

COLUMN

Project Execution

AMANDA FURLONG | COMMUNITY LIASON OFFICER, SHELL CANADA, PEACE RIVER //

to improve driving habits by means of in-vehicle alerting and driver feedback. The intention of the IVMS is to help improve driving behaviour by means of performance indicators and constructive feedback.

The IVMS collects personal information, such as the date, time, location, duration of trips, and driving behaviour including speed deceleration and acceleration.

While Driving, do not use your phone and do not exceed speed limits Wear your seatbelt Follow prescribed journey management plan

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COLUMN CHRIS BLACK | GENERAL MANAGER, PEACE RIVER BROADCASTING //

Going the Distance ALBERTANS COMMUTE WITHOUT BATTING AN EYE

L

iving in Northern Alberta, one tends to put on a lot of miles. Pardon me, kilometres. The Peace Region is such a vast area—it’s just the way it is.

Business meetings, concerts, medical appointments and even important purchases are often up the highway, not merely down the street. It’s nothing to jump in a vehicle and drive for two or eight hours in any given direction.

Heck, sometimes we’ll turn around and come back the same day without blinking an eye.

The fact we are so mobile was never more apparent to me than the time I found myself giving a presentation in a high rise office building somewhere in Downtown Vancouver. A group of 20 to 30 year-old advertising planners and buyers sat before me, most of them thumbing away at their Blackberries and iDevices. I began my presentation with a series of questions.

“

“By show of hands, who has ever been to the Peace Region?”

Cue the crickets.

“How about Alberta?”

Still nothing. I try another angle.

“Who has never been out of the Greater Vancouver area?”

The hands shoot up, about half of the room.

It was an obvious case of same planet, different world. I had travelled 1,400 kilometres that morning for this meeting and these young city dwellers didn’t wander too far off the beaten path, ever. Let’s face it, they didn’t have to. Food, friends, work, entertainment—everything they needed—was a stone’s throw from their front door.

I’m not judging. I grew up in the city, so I once saw the world through their eyes.

If fate hadn’t moved me to Northern Alberta, I’d likely

be at that board table raising my hand too. I decided to use this opportunity, my allotted time, to educate my audience on the dynamics of our great region and some of the unique differences found in our Northern Alberta way of life.

Well, they listened. They were intrigued. They repeatedly asked, in sheer disbelief, why anybody would travel up to 200 kilometres to do their grocery shopping. If you’re from Northern Alberta, you’re likely nodding your head and laughing because, yeah, you’ve done it.

In the end, I felt like I had broken through and opened their eyes. If nothing else, when they visit someday in the future, if they do come visit, they won’t be surprised at the time they spend in transit. And hopefully they’ll be able to navigate between a 12 foot wooden statue, a giant bee, and the Dunvegan Bridge without too much trouble.

IT’S NOTHING TO JUMP IN A VEHICLE AND DRIVE FOR TWO OR EIGHT HOURS IN ANY GIVEN DIRECTION.

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* Denotes Professional Corporation

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COLUMN MELANIE BEKEVICH-JOOS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIGHTY PEACE TOURISM ASSOCIATION //

Don’t be a Hater

A Rant by Melanie Bekevich-Joos

D

on’t you hate people who come over to your house and complain about being there and compare everything in your house to what’s in their house?

“My food is better than your food. My TV is better than your TV.” Okay, that doesn’t happen. It doesn’t happen in your house, but it does happen in your region. I am always utterly annoyed when people come to the beautiful Mighty Peace and compare it to the city. It wouldn’t be okay for you to do that in my house, so why is it okay to talk that way about my home?

In a past column, I wrote about “the lie” we teach young people in our region—you know, that city life is somehow better than rural northern Alberta life. I bought into this for the first 25 years of my life. I still hear people of all ages trash talking my beloved Mighty Peace, and it frustrates me to no end.

I was reminded of how fortunate I am to be living in the Mighty Peace during a conference in an unnamed urban centre. Stuck in morning rush hour in a pre-coffee state, I started my day with utter frustration and a toddler screaming in the back seat. It’s time to stop the vicious cycle of lies. We must stop beating up on ourselves and open our eyes to what we really have.

Yes, comparing small town living to city life is comparing apples to oranges. A pretty ridiculous exercise, but it seems we need to be reminded of who we are in order to supercharge our gratitude and northern identity.

Let’s just acknowledge there are things we are not. The following is a comprehensive list: 1. Not a city. No mega malls; no millions of people; no skyscrapers; no passport office.

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Whether you are a newcomer or a longtime resident, allow me to remind you we are a lot of other things, and if you don’t open your eyes, you’ll miss it.

Here are just a few things to love in the Mighty Peace: 1. Land—The Mighty Peace has oodles and oodles of amazing, wide-open space—incredible eye candy.

2. An Adventurer’s Wonderland— If you love to paddle, golf, hike, ski or quad, the Mighty Peace has all of the above. Up here, camping is an art that will not disappoint.

3. Community—Love it or hate it, we know each other. When there is a funeral the whole town knows it and the parking lot is overflowing because we know each other and we take care of each other. People are still people and they don’t always agree, or play nice, but when it counts we pull together.

4. Water—The rivers, the lakes, the creeks. Oh, so lovely.

5. Arts & Culture— Our arts and culture scene has a pulse but it almost exists underground, which makes it even cooler.

The key here is you have to take

advantage of it when it springs up. Again, we are not a city (see previous list), with a million things happening at once. But if you’re looking for music festivals, live gigs, art shows or cultural events, you won’t have to look far.

6. Long Long Days—It’s extra special when you can tee off at 10pm. Dusk at midnight will touch your soul if you let it.

7. Jobs & Disposable Income— Most northern families enjoy more disposable income than our southern and/or urban counterparts. This will come in handy when you want to escape the winter (FYI, the city also gets winter).

8. And for things that can’t be found here, there’s always online shopping.  So there you have it. Stop the lie. When you hear people spouting off urban expectations, gently remind them that we are not urban.

We don’t intend to be and we love our region.

If you are here simply to spring board your career, that is likely a smart move, so kudos to you, but don’t hold your breath until your time here is over.

Embrace the Mighty Peace as your home, and it will love you back.

Above all, don’t dis your neighbour’s house. No one likes a sourpuss.

Photography by Melissa E. Earle with You And Mee

DINE IN OR TAKE OUT

Tasty & Convenient • Hot Meals Made Daily fresh chicken - real alberta beef - alberta pork At Freson Bros. we believe that everyone should have access to wholesome, hot and ready-to-eat meals, just like Mom used to make! That’s why we serve Hard Working Home Cooking meals in all of our Kitchens. Juicy & Crispy Chicken, Real Alberta Beef on a Bun or Pulled Alberta Pork served with your choice of sides. Taste for yourself our great quality Hard Working Home Cooking from our Freson Bros. Kitchens.

Visit us in any of our 13 communities

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Barrhead • Brooks • Drumheller • Fairview • Fox Creek • Grande Prairie • Hanna • Hinton • Manning • Peace River • Stony #LiPlain • Valleyview M OVE U P S PHigh R I N G 2 0 1 5Prairie | www.moveupmag.com fesBetterUpHere | SUMMER 2 0 1 5 M OV E U P

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TAKING HISTORY TO THE STREETS! every Thursday in July & August Get Free Admission to the Peace River Museum from 5 to 8pm.

Sponsored by the AUPE Local 001

Downtown historic walking tours Mondays: July 20, 27 & Aug. 10, 17 & 24 at 10:30am Thursdays: July 16, 23, 30 & Aug. 6, 13, 20 at 7pm Monday’s tours start at Linc Weaver Park.

Thursday’s Tours start at the Peace River museum. each tour is approx. 60 minutes long.

St. Augustine Mission Church Historic Tours July 26 & August 2, 9, 23 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm The Mission is located on Shaftesbury Trail on the Peace River Correctional Centre Grounds.

A heritage interpreter will be onsite. Those interested are encouraged to drop in anytime during the tour.

Peace River Main Street circ. 1940 (PRMA 73.531.042)

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I’m not what you would call an “avid runner.” I just can’t seem to allot enough time in my busy schedule. Don’t get me wrong, I do love running. It’s a great if you’re looking to get some exercise and explore your surroundings, but should you be concerned about the toll it takes on your body?

Running is not the most efficient transportation method, but that won’t stop the masses. Currently, there is a movement afoot called commute running, whereby one runs to work and back each day. For many people, however, this simply is not an option, whether it’s due to distance or the absence of a shower at work.

during any given year—but for serious health concerns, though, the evidence is much more positive.

A study in Clinical Sports Medicine in 2010 concluded that most scientific research “refutes an association between running and osteoarthritis” meaning that as far as they can tell, if you do end up with arthritis in the knees, it likely wasn’t because of running.

More importantly, a study that followed runners for 21 years, published in Archives of Internal Medicine in 2008, found that running helped reduce the risk of disability in later life to a substantial degree.

Regardless, in my opinion, it is the best way to explore your community. You will go places running that you could never get to by car. Nothing can compete with the experience of exploring the woods, hills, valleys, back streets and side streets of where you live or where you visit with your feet and a heartbeat.

As well, those who ran in their earlier years were more likely to still be living 21 years later than those who didn’t. So although sudden cardiac death does occur in marathon runners from time to time, it is an exceedingly rare event.

But, you ask, “If I run as a way of exploring my community, won’t I die of a heart attack or ravage my knees beyond repair?”

The authors of a review in Sports Health in July 2010 concluded that we only think it is more common because it seems so paradoxical and is usually highly publicized. Why should

Thankfully for those who run, and those who wish to get into it, neither of these commonly held beliefs hold up to scrutiny. True, running isn’t risk free—a study in the British Medical Journal in 2007 found that over half of runners experience an injury of some type

someone who is healthy enough to run a marathon die of a heart attack while running? It just doesn’t make sense.

On the contrary, they found that most of the people who suffered this unfortunate fate had underlying heart conditions. Even then, the total incidence of sudden cardiac death was incredibly low, with only 39 cases among 4 million runners.

That’s 1 in 114,000 marathon runners, a risk substantially lower than dying from a lightning strike or a venomous bite or sting, and 1,000 times less likely than dying in a motor vehicle accident.

The authors of the Sports Health review state that there is an obvious association of “endurance running with improved quality of life and longevity [that] underscores the importance of putting risks into perspective with other well-established health benefits.”

There are risks to everything.

But if you run, for whatever reason, you are far more likely to benefit from it than you are to suffer negative consequences.

So get out there and look around. You never know what you’ll find.

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COLUMN

Healthy Habit or Health Risk?

TONY NICKONCHUK, BSC. PHARM. | CLINICAL PHARMACIST, ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES //

Running

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COLUMN BRIAN SIDDLE | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY & CONTENT, STRONG COFFEE MARKETING //

Who Should Manage My

Social Media?

O ne of our most frequently asked questions at Strong Coffee Marketing usually involves resources and social media. Business owners often understand the importance of social media, but they lack the skills and time to properly execute a social media plan. Who should manage your social media? What types of skills should that person have? What are some of pitfalls of inexperience?

head their social media efforts. Sure this person might understand the various platforms and how to use them, but how knowledgeable are they about the company? What do they say when they don’t have answer to a question? Do they understand the organizational voice and tone?

The scenario that I like to put forward considerations offline media.

If a local TV station were to contact you for an interview about your company, who would you send out in front of the camera? Would it be you? A key employee? Someone with little knowledge of the company?

•

Someone with a strong understanding of the business Make sure they have information on the history of business, products, clients, technical expertise, etc.

•

Someone with a moderate understanding of social media platforms and how to use them Social media posting is relatively easy. Understanding the “what”, “why”, “who” and “where” takes some time to learn though.

•

Someone with a background in marketing, communications or public relations I’d take a communications or public relations person over a marketer but maybe that’s just me.

•

Someone with the ability to not get discouraged when things go wrong It’s not always flowers and

Chances are pretty good that if you didn’t do it yourself, you’d get someone with a lot of company knowledge to speak on your behalf.

You would want someone with the ability to answer any question that might get thrown their way while still maintaining a level of professionalism. I highly doubt you’d put a new employee with little experience in front of a camera to answer questions they don’t have the answers to.

This same scenario applies to social media. I see a lot of companies designate the “young person who knows a lot about computers” to

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What should this person look like?

Here’s a starting point:

•

rainbows. People are going to say things you don’t like. If the person doesn’t have the ability to move on and get over it, they’re in for a long haul.

Someone willing to try new things A savvy individual who takes the time to research trends and emerging technologies and implements strategies accordingly is key.

In a perfect world, business owners would all happily do their social media and provide regular, informative updates to all their adoring fans. Unfortunately, it’s probably not going to happen this way. If you do look for inside or outside help with your social media, take some time to make the right decision. If you do decide to simply use the “young person who knows a lot about computers” and things start to go sideways, give me a call. It might be a fun thing to watch.

COLUMN

Refresh Your Refreshments

T

he long days of summer are upon us and we all need a refreshing cocktail to help cool us off.

You can picture it now: a tall glass sits on a table; beads of sweat glisten in

the hot sun as they run down the side. You’ve had a long day at work and you really need something to help you beat the heat.

Your mouth salivates in anticipation; your thirst will be quenched if you only take a sip. Slap.

Mosquito. Fantasy over.

What was in the glass?

Maybe it was an ice cold beer after cutting the lawn?

Maybe you sit on the patio and sip on a fruity margarita.

Perhaps you would like to have a glass of sweet sangria while you read a book in the hammock?

My personal summer favourite is a Paralyzer. Not sure what that is? How about

a Colorado Bulldog? No matter what name you know it by, it’s an awesome summer drink.

Fill a tall glass with ice; then, add two ounces of cola, an ounce of coffee liqueur and an ounce of vodka. Hold a spoon just inside the glass and slowly pour milk onto the spoon filling to the top of the ice, (this will help prevent the milk from curdling). Then, top with a cocktail cherry.

It’s sweet, creamy and totally refreshing. What I like to do is skip the ice and milk and use a big scoop of vanilla ice cream instead.

How about something a little more Albertan?

We all know the Caesar is a truly Canadian cocktail, but did you know it was invented in Calgary?

The Caesar was invented in 1969 by restaurant manager Walter Chell after being tasked to create a signature drink for the Calgary Inn’s new Italian

restaurant. Boom! The Caesar was born and now over 350 million Caesars consumed in Canada every year.

Run a lime around the rim of a glass and then dip it in celery salt. Fill the glass with ice, and pour in two ounces of vodka, add some hot sauce, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce to taste and fill with everyone’s favourite, Mott’s Clamato.

Whether you make the traditional vodka Caesar with a celery stalk, or perhaps a Gin Caesar with a spicy bean or maybe you walk on the wild side and have a Jägermeister Caesar with a pepperoni stick, you really can’t go wrong.

CHANCE GERK | OWNER, RUM RUNNERS LIQUOR STORE //

This summer,

There’s no wrong way to enjoy a drink in the summer. Drink what you like and drink it responsibly.

#Li fesBetterUpHere | SUMMER 2 0 1 5 M OV E U P

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RELOCATION STORIES

The Woronuk Family moved up from Lethbridge, Alberta.

Patricia Woronuk, 40, moved up with her husband Ken, 42, and kids, Logan, 14, and Shaun, 11.

Where are you originally from?

Ken grew up in Fairview and I was raised on a grain farm just outside of Fairview.

Where did you move to?

Ken and I were high school sweethearts and wanted to move somewhere we could both take the programs we were interested in and be in a smaller centre. We moved to Lethbridge, AB. I pursued a Marketing Major, a Bachelor of Management at the University of Lethbridge. Ken took the Golf Management Program/Accounting Diploma at Lethbridge Community College.

How long ago did you move?

We moved right after high school graduation in the fall of 1992 to Lethbridge, AB, and relocated ten years later, in 2002.

Where do you work?

We both had a variety of part-time/summer jobs but eventually I moved to Calgary to continue a Cooperative Education that turned into a full-time position as a Marketing Analyst with Amoco (Oil & Gas), which merged into British Petroleum in 1998. Ken worked at Carstairs Golf Course as a Golf Pro and later came into Calgary to work for Telus Communications, as Team Lead for DSL Internet Services.

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Fairview Campus. My current position is Community Relations and Development Coordinator.

MOVE U P

What brought you to the Peace?

Ken and I started to feel like we were turning into city dwellers and weren’t sure that was what we wanted to become.

On March 2, 2001, our lives and priorities instantly changed with the birth of our first son, Logan. We began to long for home (Fairview) and our family that lived mostly in the Fairview and in Peace Region. I really started to notice the children and teenagers on the city buses, etc. and knew I wanted to raise my family differently. We appreciated that we had been raised in a small community, close to our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and we wanted that for our children too.

We started watching for positions in Fairview. We discussed moving to Grande Prairie but thought if we were going to move north we wanted to be in Fairview where the majority of our family live.

S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 | www.moveupmag.com

Ken started talks with Roy Northern Land & Environmental and was eventually offered a position with them as the Project Coordinator starting in October 2002. At the exact same time, Ken was offered a significant promotion at Telus so we really had to consider what we really wanted, and we chose to move up north! Ken still works at Roy Northern Land & Environment and is now a partner.

We were fortunate enough that we could afford for me to stay home from working, with Logan and on September 20, 2003 we were blessed with our second son Shaun.

I stayed home with the boys until Shaun entered a prekindergarten program. This is something we may not have been able to do in the city, so I am very grateful for this. In December 2009, I started work with Grande Prairie Regional College,

How does the Peace Region differ from where you came from?

Both Ken & I grew up here so we knew exactly what we were getting into, though things are always different even when you move back into an area. It did take a little while for me, being at home, to meet people but once I made connections, I made some really great lifelong friends.

Did you have any “culture shock” moments after moving here?

We love the commute here!

One of the last days of Ken’s work before we moved from Calgary there was an accident and it took Ken 2.5 hrs to get to work, so for a long time we joked that the commute home from work in Fairview was “great today.”

Ken and I both only drive about five minutes to work and can come home for lunch every day. I can drive the boys to school and they can walk home from school.

These are things you may take for granted living in a small town but we get more hours out of our days, and more time with our family.

What is your favourite activity in the Peace?

Ken and I are both active volunteering and in the community. We believe you have to be part of the community you live in.

LET’S GO FURTHER WITH CONSERVATION Shell works with and learns from more than 100 scientific and conservation organizations in 40 countries. In partnership with the Alberta Conservation Association, we’re conserving boreal forest habitat to partially offset our operational land footprint in Alberta. Together we can build a better energy future. Let’s go. www.shell.ca/100