11 minute read
RECREATION & COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT DIVISION
RECREATION, AQUATICS, AND FITNESS
Staff focused on overcoming the major challenges that changing COVID-19 measures, restrictions and closures created, all while coordinating and delivering programs and services that support the health and wellness of our community.
County recreation facilities experienced two pandemic-related closures in 2021: one from December 13, 2020 to March 8, 2021, and another from May 9 to mid-June. Recreation facilities reopened with reduced hours for the summer, and resumed regular operating hours effective September 7, 2021.
Staff established the Lac La Biche County Sport Tourism Terms of Reference and Working Group in February, which will guide the County’s efforts to attract major sporting events to our community. The Working Group completed a community assessment, and research for best practices and hosting policies has been ongoing throughout 2021. Staff continue to work on items like a community highlight sheet, detailed inventories of facilities and accommodations, and venue bookings.
Staff supported the Museum Sustainability project, and the report’s recommendations will be presented to Council in the new year.
Memberships and Guest Services
There were 150,000 visits to the Bold Center in 2021. Due to the pandemic, all-access drop-in passes sold totaled 4,497 (down 21% from last year) and 1,101 memberships were sold (down 57% from last year).
Seven companies participated in the Corporate Membership Program, with approximately 44 individuals and family corporate members.
546 members have signed up for ActiveLLBC, the County’s online portal for registering for recreation and fitness programs. 522 online activity registrations were recorded, and 17 memberships were purchased online.
The 3rd annual Member Appreciation Week was held from August 30 to September 4. The Community Appreciation Evening at McArthur Park hosted approximately 250 people for supper, activities, and an outdoor concert with Fat Racket headlining.
60 individuals from 16 families used the Fair Access Fee Assistance Program, which helps those with financial barriers access County recreation programs and services. A total of $3,637.50 was redeemed.
Trick or Play passes, which allow purchasers to give away access to recreation facilities as a healthy Halloween alternative to candy, sold well in 2021, and 390 passes have been redeemed to date.
Aquatics
6,084 drop-in patrons visited Portage Pool during its 9 months of operation this year. Public swim times were only held during 6 of the 9 months of operation due to COVID-19 restrictions.
505 individuals participated in swim lessons. Of the 211 swim classes offered, 106 of those were family cohort lessons.
37 youth participated in aquatic leadership training, some from as far away as Grimshaw, Redwater, and Thorsby.
In 2021, the partnership between Portage Pool and Portage College resumed, which allows college students and their families to access all available swim times. From September to December, 100 students and families have accessed the pool as a result.
From August 16 to October, 243 residents participated in a survey that gathered feedback on a proposed new aquatics centre at the Bold Center.
Staff hosted the New Year’s Eve Glow Swim event on December 31. Maximum capacity of 80 people was reached within the first 15 minutes.
Fitness
59 fitness classes were offered in 2021 with 268 participants, including 76 paid drop-in participants. Most adult classes were offered virtually to meet COVID-19 restrictions.
There were 24,565 fitness area member visits in 2021. 1,296 users accessed the running track free of charge.
51 youth aged 12 to 15 years completed the Access Fitness I & II program. Access Fitness trains youth to use the fitness area without adult supervision. Since it was first introduced, 317 youth have successfully completed this course. Of this year’s 51 graduates, 19 have purchased passes and memberships to access the fitness area.
The Prescription to Get Active program, which allows doctors to prescribe exercise regimens to their patients and grant free access to the Bold Center’s fitness area, saw use from 19 community members.
New cardio equipment was purchased to replace 10 yearold equipment in the Bold Center’s fitness area. Moreover, renovations are complete on the Bold Center’s Synergy Studio, which will allow for larger class sizes once restrictions are lifted.
Access Fitness Program
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK As an annual member I make sure I sign up for the free class. I’m always challenged & motivated with each class. The past year with all the challenges to offer courses, the online platform has been amazing allowing me to do the class either live or getting the recorded version for when it works with my schedule. As a bonus I you don’t have the equipment, you can lend it from the Bold Center too, providing no reason not to participate! - J.D.
Drive-In Movie - Plamondon
Recreation & Culture Programs and Events
The Summer Shack recreation was a highlight in 2021. This free program provides active and social opportunities free of screens for kids ages 6 to 12 during their summer break. It was offered at two sites this summer, Monday to Friday from 12:30 to 4:30 pm daily. 298 different children participated in the program, for a total attendance of 1,621 throughout the summer.
The Park & Play Fun Van saw more use after a quiet 2020 due to COVID. A total of 12 bookings/events provided programming to 332 community members. The Fun Van allows County staff to provide outdoor activities in a variety of locations, bringing recreational and active living resources directly to residents.
From September to December, youth programs were permitted and saw good registration numbers in Active Kids, Junior Jammers, Art Start, and a new Artful Monday program on no-school days. Staff also offered specific programs and leagues for youth, including a summer volleyball camp with a professional coach. A total of 252 participated in these recreation and culture programs in 2021.
Three drive-in movies were offered in fall 2021 (two at the Bold Center, and one at the Festival Centre in Plamondon), with popcorn, treats, and themed games and activities to provide a fun and free night out for families and friends. Total attendance was 235 people in approximately 80 vehicles.
The annual Spooktacular Halloween event, which draws a crowd of 600+, was cancelled this year due to COVID. However, staff created “Spooktacular in a Box” take-home kits for families, and held a Halloween costume photo contest to celebrate. 100 boxes were distributed, and 30 people entered the photo contest.
Community Partnerships
Recreation partnered with KidSport to make programs more accessible. Funding for the Be Bold Boy and Go Girl programs is planned for February 2022, along with the youth pickleball program in May 2022.
Staff continued their partnership with the Lakeland Primary Care Network, including the Active Lifestyles and Prescription to Get Active Programs, to encourage physical activity and well-being in the community.
Liv North (formerly Apple Fitness) sponsored a new Synergy unit to replace the smaller Cross-Fire unit on the Bold Center’s walking track. It should be installed in 2022.
In partnership with the Rotary Club of Lac La Biche, staff established the Rotary Disc Golf Course at Alexander Hamilton Park. This is a challenging 9-hole course that takes participants on a journey through nature.
Staff commissioned 4 promotional videos of County facilities, enabling residents to take virtual tours of County facilities and amenities.
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK I live on the back side of Young’s Beach Park. As I was working on my deck today, I was listening to the music playing, the children laughing... [t]his reminded me of when my kids were small and it warmed my heart. - Anonymous
Lac La Biche County
Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) provides activities, programs, and services that encourage a healthy, resilient community. With advice from the FCSS board, input from the public, and County support, staff strive for “People Development for Strong Communities.”
More than 900 people registered in 2021 FCSS programs. Attendance across FCSS and Community Development programs (counting instances of the same individuals attending more than one event) included 4,543 adults and 3,150 children/youth. The breakdown for each type of programming is as follows: • Family Resource Network: 958 adults, 393 children/youth. • FCSS: 3,245 adults, 2,086 children/youth. • Child Minding: 340 adults, 671 children/youth.
The Community Access bus service, which aims to create affordable and accessible transportation in our community, provided 2,824 trips this year.
The FCSS team worked hard to find ways to host in-person programming, and hosted 48 programs in 2021. Sometimes, programs were mix of in-person and virtual attendance. When pandemic protocols did not allow that, the team continued through virtual programs and touching base with clients via phone or messaging.
In addition to fundraising, Next Gen Volunteers (a teen volunteer group coordinated by FCSS staff) cleaned up the Humane Society yard, assembled and distributed 200 craft bags at the Festival of Trees, and helped organize the Community Appreciation Event and Bold Center’s drive-in movies.
The FCSS team holds regular interagency meetings to encourage networking and collaboration. They also compiled information for the Community Services Directory, which is published in the Lac La Biche Post phone book and on the County website, helping connect people with local social services and other resources.
Through the Canadian Volunteer Income Tax Program, which FCSS hosts for Lac La Biche County, 159 income tax returns were processed for low-income seniors.
Beyond the Reaching Home grant for the Transitional Housing program, staff continue to look for other funding opportunities. With Métis Nation of Alberta, staff supported the setup of the temporary homeless camp, which includes daily bus service between the camp and the hamlet of Lac La Biche.
Bold Center Campground
Owl River Campground
PARKS & FACILITIES
Staff completed 31 projects throughout the year, including: • Creating the new Bold Center campsite. • Assisting with Phases 1 and 2 of the Bold Center sports field project, which includes an artificial turf, natural turf soccer field, and three new ball diamonds. • Building the Owl River campground. • Establishing parking at the Elinor Lake and Poplar Point
Boat Launches. • Moving Protective Services, Enforcement Services, and firefighters to the new Protective Services Facility. • Helping move Mr. Sub into the Bold Center’s food court. • Completing Bold Center Community Hall Lighting
Upgrades. • Assisting with the Golf Course Master Plan and McArthur
Park Master Plan.
ENFORCEMENT SERVICES (COMMUNITY PEACE OFFICERS)
Enforcement Services conducted 3,159 investigations and issued 483 violation tickets for provincial and municipal bylaw offences. This represents a 9% increase in investigations compared to 2020.
Peace Officers conducted regular patrols of the County, rural subdivision areas, and the hamlets of Lac La Biche and Plamondon while driving 282,085 km throughout the year. They also conducted 2,374 traffic stops for various offences, and completed 349 foot patrols in and around urban areas.
In partnership with the Lac La Biche Regional Humane Society, 41 animals were spayed/neutered to reduce the number of strays in the County.
The Law Enforcement Training Program continued to deliver training for law enforcement professionals and other first responders. In total, instructors educated 146 people throughout the year in disciplines like shotgun training, speed measurement, the appropriate use of force, and other related topics. The program also successfully completed the first-ever, municipallyran Community Peace Officer Induction Program. The course was 10 weeks long, and saw a total of 8 students graduate in fall 2021 to become Alberta’s newest Peace Officers.
PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Disaster Response
Lac La Biche County’s Special Unit Protection (SPU) crews assisted with the Saskatchewan La Ronge wildfires for 7 days and the British Columbia Cache Creek Fires for 14 days.
Lac La Biche County also experienced the Hylo-Buffalo Lake Fire, one of our largest local wildfires in more than 10 years, spanning over 500 acres, which was contained and controlled over a period of 7 days.
Emergency Management
147 County staff are trained in provincial emergency management. With this knowledge, staff can respond to emergency incidents (like wildfires, flooding, and more) quickly and efficiently.
The County’s COVID-19 Response Team met 28 times in 2021. The Team consists of a variety of County staff who work to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on County services, operations, and our community.
In 2021, Lac La Biche County received the prestigious federal Emergency Management Exemplary Service Medal - Resilient Communities for our involvement as a reception centre during the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire disaster.
Fire Services
Fire Services currently has 64 members, including 3 full-time administrative staff and 53 paid-on-call firefighters.
Fire Services had 591 calls in 2021, a 23% increase over 2020 numbers. Approximately $1.537 million in property was saved due to structural firefighting response.
The department trained one recruit class in 2021, welcoming 13 new members that includes 8 firefighters, 4 cadets, and 1 fire support worker.
Staff completed 115 FireSmart home assessments and conducted wood chipping on properties. Lac La Biche County led the province in these initiatives. Staff also maintained and pruned Blais Resort and Deer Ridge Park, which will reduce the likelihood of wildfires threatening homes and property in those areas.
The County trained 2 more Safety Codes Officers in 2021, bringing our total of staff qualified in Safety Codes to 5. Staff completed 40 Safety Codes fire inspections over the past year.
