Lac La Biche County 2022 Year In Review

COUNTY COUNCIL

Term started October 2021

Paul Reutov Mayor

Darlene Beniuk Councillor, Ward 1

Kevin Paré Councillor, Ward 2

Colette Borgun Councillor, Ward 3

Jason Stedman Councillor, Ward 4

Charlyn Moore Councillor, Ward 5

Sterling Johnson Councillor, Ward 6

John Mondal Councillor, Ward 7

Lorin Tkachuk Councillor, Ward 7

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Council’s Vision

Our vision is to foster a high quality of life in the County that welcomes new residents and allows businesses to thrive. We will achieve this by thinking about today as well as the long-term, to foster economic growth, provide service excellence, and promote social wellness to make Lac La Biche County a connected, livable community. We will develop strategic communications to market Lac La Biche County as a community of choice for new residents, new businesses, and tourists. We will balance our development and growth with sustainability to protect our natural resources, so our beautiful environment remains safe, usable, and protected today and into the future.

Dan Small Chief Administrative Officer

Melanie McConnell

Associate Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services

Zeeshan Hasan Associate Chief Administrative Officer, Finance & Planning

Darrell Lessmeister

Ron Fraser

Kashif Ijaz

Associate

Associate

Director

Chief

Administrative Officer, Recreation & Community Services

Chief

Administrative Officer, Infrastructure Services

of Human Resources

From left to right: Charlyn Moore, Jason Stedman, John Mondal, Darlene Beniuk, Paul Reutov, Colette Borgun, Sterling Johnson, Kevin Paré, Lorin Tkachuk

LAC LA BICHE COUNTY’S VISION AND STRATEGIC PLAN

In 2022, Council adopted the new Lac La Biche County Strategic Plan (2022-2032): Crafting a Community of Choice, which will guide Council’s decision-making over the next 10 years. According to the plan:

Our vision is to foster a high quality of life in the County that welcomes new residents and allows businesses to thrive. We will achieve this by thinking about today as well as the long-term, to foster economic growth, provide service excellence, and promote social wellness to make Lac La Biche County a connected, livable community. We will develop strategic communications to market Lac La Biche County as a community of choice for new residents, new businesses, and tourists. We will balance our development and growth with sustainability to protect our natural resources, so our beautiful environment remains safe, usable, and protected today and into the future.

Council has set six priority focus areas to make that vision a reality, each with several objectives. We’ve included a few under each priority area, along with actions we’re taking to meet those objectives, but be sure to view the complete Plan on www.laclabichecounty.com for more detail.

1. Flourishing Economy

We will develop strategic policy that supports current businesses and attracts new businesses to diversify and strengthen our economy.

Objective

Enhance support for the downtown core to energize and animate new and existing businesses in a centralized shopping area.

Promote current and new community events that add to economic development and attract residents and tourists to the area for shopping and recreation.

2. Service Excellence

Action

Lac La Biche County is starting the Main Street Lac La Biche Revitalization Project in spring 2023, with the aim of creating a more attractive, walkable main street where residents and visitors will enjoy spending time and money.

Lac La Biche County regularly promotes community events through the community calendar on www.laclabichecounty.com. Lac La Biche Region social media regularly compiles County and non-County events to show residents and visitors all that there is to do in our communities over weekends.

We will set the standard for service delivery every day to sustain and improve quality of life of residents and attract new residents.

Objective Action

Effectively maintain capital assets by employing best practices related to asset management and long-term capital planning.

Continue an emphasis on safety through programming, such as the County FireSmart program.

3. Strategic Communication

Lac La Biche County is currently in the process of developing an asset management program, which will help us plan and budget for the replacement of key infrastructure, like roads or utility lines. Council also created a capital plan that lists major construction projects planned for each year.

The County continues to apply for and receive FireSmart grant funding, which is used each year to support practices that make our communities more resilient to the threat of wildfire. Community Peace Officers continue to proactively patrol communities and educate residents to enhance safety.

We will develop strategic communications to build relationships, enhance our community identity, and promote our advantages.

Objective Action

Create a Strategic Communication Plan identifying opportunities to market Lac La Biche County to residents, businesses, industry, developers, tourists.

Develop a public profile based on the Strategic Communication Plan and Service Inventory that markets Lac La Biche County.

In 2022, Council adopted a refreshed Strategic Communications Plan. The Plan guides the County’s efforts to effectively communicate with residents, ensuring that they are aware of what programs, services, and events are available to them.

Staff created both Lac La Biche East and general Lac La Biche County Investor’s Guides to market the County to prospective developers, compiling useful statistics, maps, and more that showcase our County as the ideal investment location.

4. Social Wellness

We advocate for programs, services, and amenities that promote a healthy and connected community.

Objective Action

Improve and maintain our healthcare and emergency services for all residents.

Continue to strengthen our relationship with Indigenous peoples in and outside of Lac La Biche County, and seek opportunities for positive dialogue and mutually beneficial partnerships.

5. Tourism & Recreation

Council participated in numerous advocacy efforts in 2022 to ensure that rural healthcare and our community were allocated more resources from the Province. The County partnered with the Regional Attraction & Retention Society to attract and retain healthcare professionals in our region.

Lac La Biche County established and convened the Indigenous Collaboration Committee multiple times in 2022, bringing together elected officials from neighbouring First Nations, Métis Settlements, and Indigenous organizations to discuss and partner on issues of mutual benefit.

We advocate for recreational programs, services, and amenities that provide a high quality of life for our community and make Lac La Biche County a destination of choice.

Objective Action

Promote the natural beauty and amenities of our community that make Lac La Biche County a tourist destination for fun, recreation, and relaxation.

Enhance and support additional recreational amenities and programs, including a pool, outdoor playgrounds, sports fields, and senior recreation.

6. Environment & Agriculture

Council approved a new brand identity for the Lac La Biche Region, Lac La Biche County’s tourism brand. The refreshed brand identity and our renewed focus on social media engagement has led to a much wider reach among tourists throughout Alberta.

The multi-year Bold Centre sports fields project was completed in 2022, with several ball diamonds, an artificial turf, and natural turf rounding out the Bold Centre’s outdoor offerings. Work is beginning on a new Bold Centre Aquatics Centre in 2023, with planned completion currently set for fall 2025.

We commit to taking practical, balanced, sustainable actions to protect the environment for our residents today and in the future.

Objective Action

Embark on green infrastructure initiatives that will support natural beauty and allow sustainable use

Lac La Biche County continued to work on the newly-created wetlands near the Bold Centre and Field Lake, including monitoring the wetlands and

Photo of the new Bold Centre sports fields - DC Art Studio and Design

LAC LA BICHE REGION GETS A NEW LOOK

The Lac La Biche Region is Lac La Biche County’s tourism brand, showing off our home and neighbouring communities as a year-round playground for those in search of authentic outdoor adventure, cultural connections, and must-see events.

In 2022, the Lac La Biche Region received a new logo and refreshed visual identity (pictured here), along with a brand-new website (www. laclabicheregion.com) and an energized social media presence across Facebook and Instagram. After 6 months of renewed focus on social media, our Facebook reach was 63,500 people (up 54% compared to the first half of 2022) and our Instagram reach was 3,159 people (up 114.3% compared to the first half of 2022).

One of Lac La Biche County Council’s goals is to enhance tourism and make the Region a destination of choice. We plan to carry the momentum of the new Lac La Biche Region look into 2023 and beyond, cultivating our status as a place for unique visitor experiences in the north.

CAO DIVISION

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER/ GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is Council’s employee. The CAO was busy with a variety of high level projects in 2022, including:

• The adoption of the 2023 budget.

• Working with Council to adopt the 2022-2032 Strategic Plan, which sets their main areas of focus for the next decade.

• Working alongside provincial and local healthcare representatives to improve healthcare in Lac La Biche County.

• Adopting a land acknowledgement, which Lac La Biche County is using at meetings and events.

• Establishing the internal Focus Indigenous Committee, which promotes knowledge of and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples among County staff.

• Launching a business licensing program with the Economic Development department.

• Presenting a McArthur Park Master Plan to Council. The plan will guide the construction of and changes to McArthur Park, which are scheduled to take place over the next 3 years.

• Completing an audit on the Procurement and Day Labour Policy, which governs how Lac La Biche County selects contractors for projects.

• Seeking out industry opportunities and assisting local businesses with services like the Business Improvement Program.

• Exploring options for the Lac La Biche Water Tower.

• Completing the TELUS PureFibre build, with a cell tower under construction in Hylo.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Economic Development department worked to fulfill Council’s vision of creating a vibrant, welcoming, and prosperous community with a high quality of life. The Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) was formed with representation from business, industry, non-profit, and other sectors to share ideas and advise Council. EDAC met numerous times in 2022 and presented their first annual report to Council in September 2022.

The department collaborated with the Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures, Portage College, Alberta HUB, Travel Alberta, and many other organizations. The Business Improvement Program pilot was launched, and several businesses utilized the program to improve their business.

In November, Council passed the Business Licensing Bylaw, with the program starting in 2023. This will allow Administration to build a comprehensive list of businesses in our municipality, the services they offer, the number of staff, and other important information. This information helps us determine business gaps, advertise, and communicate with our business community.

Diversifying our economy by encouraging tourism continues to be a major priority. In September, the award-winning Northeast Collaborative, a partnership of five destinations that includes Lac La Biche County, received a $170,780 grant through PrairiesCan’s Tourism Relief Fund to develop a visitor corridor plan and deliver training to tourism operators and their employees. Partners on the project include Athabasca County, Métis Crossing, the Municipal District of Bonnyville, and the Town of Vermilion, with Lac La Biche County as project lead.

A new visual identity for the Lac La Biche Region was adopted by Council in November 2022. Wes David from Fishing the Wild West TV and Lisa Roper from Lisa Roper Outdoors filmed

episodes of their television series in the Lac La Biche Region, which are set to air in 2023. The 2022 Visitor Guide was distributed throughout Alberta, and shared at the Edmonton Boat and Sportsman Show in early spring and the Snowmobile and ATV Show in October.

Local healthcare continues to be a priority for the Economic Development department. Staff worked in partnership with Alberta Health Services and the Rural Attraction and Retention Society (RARS) to ensure support is in place to attract new doctors and other key medical staff to the community. Efforts will continue in this area by Lac La Biche County and RARS.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND HEALTH & SAFETY

Human Resources assisted all County departments with recruitment, including 93 competitions for regular positions, and 62 for summer/seasonal jobs.

The department organized many internal development opportunities for staff, including training on leadership, workplace harassment awareness & violence prevention, and psychological health & safety.

An employee satisfaction survey was completed, with a followup action committee being developed to improve staff morale and productivity.

A gap analysis was conducted to improve the County’s health and safety program.

The County’s Payroll staff supported our efforts to submit a claim for disaster relief funding for the 2021 floods.

CREATING AN INVESTMENT-READY COMMUNITY

Lac La Biche County laid the groundwork in 2022 to make our community an even better place to invest, start new businesses, and grow existing customer bases.

First, the Business Improvement Program provided grant funding to businesses that wished to make aesthetic improvements to their storefronts and facades, which five businesses took advantage of in 2022. The program will continue in 2023.

Council passed a new business licensing bylaw in 2022 (which came into effect on January 1, 2023), with nominal annual fees that won’t burden businesses and entrepreneurs. The licensing program will support businesses in several ways.

• We’ll have up-to-date business statistics, which is useful information to share with investors.

• Licenced businesses will have the option of adding their information to an online directory, which the County will manage.

• In emergencies, we’ll know exactly who to contact for supplies and other needs.

Our staff also continued to update planning documents like the Municipal Development Plan and Land Use Bylaw to enhance the County’s friendliness to new developments. They completed the Lac La Biche East Area Structure Plan, establishing a clear vision for a new development area in our municipality. These streamlining activities will continue in 2023.

photo: Jason Caine

Costa Cafe was one of the recipients of funding through the business improvement program in 2022.

CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Information Technology continued to support County staff and Council, fulfilling work orders that kept Countyprovided computers, phones, and other technology in good working condition. Many projects were completed in collaboration with other departments to create efficiencies in the organization.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)

Geographic Information Systems staff continue to support residents, businesses, staff, and Council by providing timely and accurate mapping information. The small team produced over 400 maps for various stakeholders, and continued updating and adding information to online mapping systems.

LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

Legislative Services staff concluded legislated wrap up from the 2021 General Municipal Election.

Staff provided support for 30 Regular Council Meetings, 11 Special Council Meetings, and one organizational meeting. They dedicated 238.75 hours to supporting Council meetings, which included meeting setup, booking 69 delegations, coordinating 17 public hearings, taking minutes, and actioning the 1,000+ motions made in 2022.

The department responded to 10 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act requests, and completed one routine disclosure of information.

Staff brought a number of significant bylaws and policies before Council, including:

• The Code of Conduct Bylaw;

• Meeting Procedures Amendments;

• Attendance at Political Functions Policy;

• Elected Official Service Recognition Policy;

• Elected Official Conference Attendance Policy;

• Hosting and Promotional Expenses Policy; and

• Implementation of the Active Dissemination and Routine Disclosure Procedure.

Staff provided their expertise to complete 31 bylaw reviews, a comprehensive review of internal Council committees, and reports on three informal petitions. They also provided a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy presentation to the County’s law enforcement students.

MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT

With the help of a third-party who reviewed the County’s processes and interviewed major stakeholders, staff developed and began implementing the recommendations of the refreshed Strategic Communications Plan. The Plan will guide the County’s efforts to effectively communicate with residents, ensuring they are aware of what programs, services, and events are available to them. The Plan also renamed Communications to Marketing, Communications and Engagement to reflect the department’s mandate more accurately.

Staff created and launched www.laclabicheregion.com, which showcases Lac La Biche County and our neighbours as a premier tourist destination.

Marketing, Communications and Engagement began managing the Lac La Biche Region social media pages, growing our audience significantly by creating engaging content.

Staff continued work on the branding and placemaking project, which will guide the County’s branding and the experiences we offer in uniquely Lac La Biche County spaces. A new Lac La Biche Region logo was presented to and adopted by Council, and Lac La Biche County and Bold Centre branding guidelines will come in 2023. Staff began launching the new Lac La Biche Region logo and branding, which gives the Region a new look and feel to match the unique experiences we offer.

Staff re-established the community calendar on the Lac La Biche County website, and promoted local events on County and Region social media accounts.

RECORDS & INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Records & Information Management supports the organization by guiding County staff on how to manage and maintain all the different records and information that the County keeps. This includes completing roughly 280 search requests. The team scanned 12,500 physical files to make them instantly available for staff decision making.

LAC LA BICHE COUNTY RENEWS FOCUS ON TOURISM IN 2022

Part of our efforts to diversify our economy includes a new focus on tourism and the development of new experiences in our area.

With a contribution of $170,780 from the federal PrairiesCan Tourism Relief Fund, the County is spearheading a tourism development and training project shared with four nearby destinations: Athabasca County, Métis Crossing, the Municipal District of Bonnyville, and the Town of Vermilion. The five partners will collaborate to develop visitor corridors across the region that link tourism attractions and experiences together, drawing visitors from one community to the next. The project is also expected to engage 50 tourism businesses throughout the region, including 20-plus Indigenous entrepreneurs, with training on how to make the most of digital marketing.

Along with the fresh new look for Lac La Biche Region, our updated Visitor Guide, renewed social media marketing efforts, and Council’s commitment to completing large projects like Main Street Lac La Biche and McArthur Park, Lac La Biche County plans to promote our region as the place for outdoor adventures and authentic cultural experiences.

FINANCE & PLANNING DIVISION

FINANCE & GRANTS

County Council approved the 2023 budget on December 22, 2022. The operating expense budget was set at $63,056,156 and the capital budget was $42,645,819. Non-operating reserve allocations were $7,305,704 (which Council can use to fund projects as they come up throughout the year), and the overall budgeted surplus was $4,035,710. Further, Council allocated $1.455 million towards stabilization and contingency reserves— the County still has more than $3.4 million in stabilization reserves.

During 2023 budget deliberations, Council funded the Main Street Lac La Biche Revitalization Project Phases 2 and 3 with an additional debenture of $11 million, along with another debenture for the McArthur Park Project.

The County launched a new public engagement platform called A Balancing Act to gather feedback on the proposed 2023 budget. The new platform was well-received, and submissions were shared with Council to ensure that the public has input in the overall budget process.

Grants staff continue to seek, apply for, and manage grant funding contributions made to the County from various levels of government. These contributions help the County undertake new projects, support existing services, and recover costs.

In 2022, Lac La Biche County received funding from a variety of federal sources, including:

• $960,000 from the Railway Safety Improvement Program to fund the installation of safety devices at 2 rail crossings;

• $475,000 from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund for the Richard & Devonian Park renovation;

• $288,000 from the federal Rural Transit Solutions Fund to retrofit a newly purchased Community Access bus to electric and install a charging station;

• $170,780 from the Tourism Relief Fund to develop a visitor corridor development plan and implement training for tourism providers in our area; and

• $99,000 from the Community Foundations of Canada’s Healthy Communities Initiative to create an outdoor patio area at the Bold Centre.

In 2022, the County received funding from a variety of Provincial sources, including:

• $77,500 from the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program to fund wetland restoration in the County;

• $60,000 from the Municipal Internship Program to host an administrative intern at Lac La Biche County; and

• $30,000 in 2022-23 Cooperative Investment Funding for tourism marketing activities in our region.

Lac La Biche County also received $76,000 in Municipal Climate Change Resiliency Grant funding from Intact, which helped fund wildfire resiliency improvements to properties in Lac La Biche County.

In total, the County received over $2 million in competitive grants in 2022. This is in addition to the routine grant funding that the County receives from sources such as MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) and the Canada Community Building Fund.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

112 development permits were issued, which brought the County more than $16 million in new development. 26 subdivision files were processed, which created 26 new residential lots and 37 new commerical lots in our County.

23 miscellaneous land files were processesd, which include municipal leases, licence of occupation requests, road closure files, encroachment agreements, and requests to purchase County-owned lands.

Planning staff continued to reduce red tape, making amendments to the Land Use Bylaw to streamline processes and provide clarification. They also worked with The Inspections Group Inc. to implement an expedited process for safety codes permits in the County.

Staff updated and modernized the County’s Land Lease Policy, License of Occupation Policy, and Road Closure Policy.

Planning & Development worked with Economic Development on the Placemaking project, Business Licensing Bylaw, and other development-related inquiries.

To enhance the County’s friendliness to business and new developments, staff updated the Municipal Development Plan and completed the Lac La Biche East Area Structure Plan with the assistance of contractors.

INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES DIVISION

ENGINEERING SERVICES (MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS)

Engineering Services oversaw major construction projects to completion in 2022, including:

• Bayview Beach Subdivision Water and Sewer Installation;

• Agricultural Chemical Storage Shed Building;

• The Hamlet Resurfacing Program;

• The County Centre Parking Lot and Yard Extension;

• Hamlet of Beaver Lake (Young’s Beach) Drainage Improvements;

• Beaver Lake Lift Station Upgrades;

• Beaver Lake Compost Pad; and

• Mission Road Culvert Replacement.

Projects that were carried over and will be continued in future years include:

• Young’s Beach Base and Pave;

• Campsite Road Bridge and Culvert Replacement;

• Tarrabain Drive Base and Pave;

• Plamondon Lift Stations;

• Beaver Hill Road & 91 Avenue Intersection Improvement (Streetlight Installation);

• Richard & Devonian Park (Lighting Installation);

• Highway 881 Crosswalk Lighting;

• Airport Modernization;

• Lac La Biche Lake Shoreline Erosion Protection; and

• The Rail Safety Improvement Program.

Engineering Services also completed engineering for a number of bridges and completed the Heart Lake First Nation Access Road Feasibility Study.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Agricultural Services

In partnership with Portage College, staff planned and hosted the 2022 Agricultural Appreciation Dinner at the Bold Center. The event was attended by approximately 300 guests—our biggest Appreciation Dinner to date.

Two fields tested positive for clubroot in the County. Testing is part of our ongoing commitment to reduce clubroot spread in Lac La Biche County.

Improvements were made to the Community Garden, including beautification and the installation of new raised beds. More landscaping is planned for 2023.

7,232 km of roadside vegetation was mowed on County roads, highway entrances to the hamlets, ditches, and right of ways, with most areas receiving a second pass. This was 35% higher than 2021. 260.2 km of municipal roads were sprayed for noxious and prohibited noxious weeds.

649 tree seedlings were sold in 2022 (28% higher than 2021).

Agricultural Service Board equipment was rented by 92 residents for a combined total of 342 days (56% higher than 2021).

Several educational workshops were held for agricultural producers and residents, with a focus on the importance of riparian area protection, tree planting, plant disease prevention, and produce harvesting.

The County’s Emergency Livestock Plan was updated for the benefit of all agricultural producers in Lac La Biche County, and will help us protect and preserve livestock in the event of an emergency.

Richard Devonian Park

Young’s Beach Base and Pave

Campsite Road Boat Launch

Environment

The lake water quality monitoring program continued in 2022, helping us gather important data that will inform future environmental protection-related decisions. This work included lake sampling (20 events), beach sampling (24 events), and inflow/outflow sampling (4 events). The lake water quality monitoring reports for Lac La Biche Lake, Beaver Lake, Elinor Lake, and Fork Lake are available on the Lac La Biche County website.

The 2022 Environmental Stewardship Awards were issued to individual, business, and organization winners. Recipients were given a $500 cash award and a framed certificate to display.

The Lac La Biche Watershed Management Plan, which was updated and approved in 2021, now has an implementation committee, made up of 16 members representing government, Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations, industry, agriculture, and more.

Mad About Science hosted ten summer day camps in 2022, with over 220 participants throughout the summer. Six of the day camps were offered through a partnership with the Summer Shack Program.

Lac La Biche County continued to work on the newly-created wetlands near the Bold Centre and Field Lake. Work included completing wetland monitoring reports and planning for new wetland vegetation. In total, three workshops were hosted at the Bold Centre wetland in 2022, with over 100 participants.

Over 700 wetland plants were taken to local Grade 5 students for a wetland planting workshop. The students cared for the plants in the growing dome at Aurora Middle School from June 1 to June 22, 2022, after which the students travelled to the Bold Centre wetland to place the plants in the new biome.

Lac La Biche County joined a project team to identify wetland conservation strategies for our area. The project also included the update of the wetland inventory found in the County’s mapping software MuniSight.

Staff installed hydrometric monitoring equipment at Plamondon Creek and Red Deer Brook, this equipment will be used by Lac La Biche County to monitor the depth and flow of these rivers to determine the total discharge of the streams. This is a brand new tool for Lac La Biche County.

Waste & Recycling Management

Several educational workshops and landfill tours were provided to local school groups and community organizations regarding proper waste and recycling management.

The compost pad at the Beaver Lake Landfill was completed— it will be open to the public in spring 2023.

Staff implemented an online search engine for ‘What Goes Where,’ which makes it easier for residents to search for specific materials to see if they should be recycled or not and where to take them. It provides directions and hours of operation for the landfills and transfer stations, along with information on the Curbside Pickup Program, hazardous waste, composting, and more.

Lac La Biche County received the Alberta Recycling Management Authority 2022 Collection Site Award of Excellence. This is a prestigious provincial award chosen for exceptional dedication to meeting recycling program requirements and providing organized, convenient, and safe services for residents and businesses.

COUNTY RECOGNIZED FOR RECYCLING COLLECTION SITE EXCELLENCE IN 2022

Lac La Biche County is committed to preserving and enhancing our natural assets for generations to come. Part of this commitment is our dedication to creating easy-to-use recycling options, making it simple for residents to make the right choice for the environment by recycling and reusing all that we can.

The County was recognized by the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) as a 2022 Collection Site Award of Excellence winner. Winners are chosen annually for exceptional dedication to meeting all collection site requirements, and for running sites that are organized, convenient, and safe for residents and businesses to use.

To qualify, a recycling collection site must have electronics, paint, tire, and used oil recycling programs, must properly separate and store materials, and must have processes to prevent spills and groundwater contamination.

The County is proud to be a leader in waste and recycling programs, and we plan to continue expanding our offerings in future years.

FLEET SERVICES

Fleet Services continued to provide everyday repair and maintenance of the County’s inventory of 400+ fleet vehicles, heavy and medium trucks, trailers, off-road construction equipment, and small/medium equipment. Approximately 770 work orders were completed in 2022.

The County purchased the following new and replacement equipment and vehicles in 2022, among other purchases necessary for delivering services:

• 3 skid steer loaders;

• 2 graders;

• 1 15-foot winged mower;

• 1 Community Access bus;

• HD truck column lifts;

• 2 wireless crane remotes;

• 1 sandbag machine;

• 1 brush chipper;

• 1 pull-type mulcher (gravel reclaimer);

• 1 twist-a-wrist/chuck bucket for excavator;

• 1 rock picker for Agricultural Service Board rental;

• 1 livestock scale for Agricultural Service Board rental;

• 1 bush cutter for Agricultural Service Board rental; and

• Miscellaneous attachments and shop equipment.

Surplus equipment and miscellaneous items have been listed on the www.govdeals.ca online auction site, allowing the County to list items no longer needed throughout the year, rather than all at once in an in-person auction. The site generated $88,171 in sales.

The department continues to work with local schools to provide placement for work experience and registered apprentice program (RAP) students.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

2022 saw unprecedented amounts of snowfall. In addition, the Snow and Ice Control Policy was updated in 2022, enhancing our service levels by increasing the frequency of response to accumulated snow volumes in the downtown and business core district in Lac La Biche and Plamondon, as well as residential areas. With these changes and the above-average snowfall, crews completed an additional 10 snow removals compared to the annual average of 4 cleanups per year.

The Transportation Services department graded 912 km of gravel roads in 2022. As part of the annual road re-gravelling program, staff placed 45,000 tonnes of gravel over 189 km of roads.

To improve safety, the department replaced and installed over 239 road signs.

Staff sealed cracks along 85 km of paved roads, as well as rejuvenating 8 km of cold mix road. They also completed the equivalent of 4.5 km of cold mix spot repairs at various locations throughout the County. Staff patched potholes and completed other minor road touch-ups along 169 km of paved roads.

Transportation Services completed 260 residential dust suppression requests, each consisting of 200-metre strips of calcium chloride applications in front of residences. Dust suppression was also completed along key intersections and gravel haul routes.

Traffic line painting was completed on a number of paved roads, including main routes in the hamlets of Lac La Biche and Plamondon.

UTILITY SERVICES

Staff assisted with the construction, inspection, and commissioning of the new Bayview Beach water and sewer infrastructure project.

The Beaver Lake Lift Station Upgrade project was completed in 2022. The submersible pumps were upsized to ensure sufficient capacity during peak periods, along with necessary electrical upgrades like a new standby generator.

Staff assisted contractors with the install and commissioning of the new potable fill cabinets and credit/debit terminals at the Plamondon Reservoir and Young’s Beach RV Fill Station.

Utility Services installed a standby generator at the Sunset Bay Lift Station, ensuring uninterrupted operation in the event of a power outage at this facility.

Staff installed approximately 1,100 metres of poly pipe to complete a line loop between our urban and rural natural gas distribution system. The completion of this project will eliminate pressure and flow concerns during cold weather demand from consumers.

The department replaced regulator station #1. This station supplies natural gas to Lac La Biche, as well as the industrial area west of the hamlet. With this upgrade, staff can safely operate and maintain the natural gas distribution system.

Staff improved drainage in multiple subdivisions and roads within Lac La Biche County.

Utility Services has been assisting with the operation and regulatory compliance of Beaver Lake Cree Nation’s water treatment plant.

Maccagno Boat Launch

Beaverhill Road

Missawawi Bridge

RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

RECREATION, AQUATICS, AND FITNESS

Lac La Biche County is committed to providing affordable, accessible, and high-quality recreation programs and services. The Recreation & Culture department provides programs, lessons, and courses in aquatics, fitness, recreation, and arts & culture, giving residents and visitors the opportunity to improve their physical and mental health.

This year, the department focused on assessing the impact of COVID-19 and rebuilding opportunities after two years of uncertainty. Programs and services were set back on track, with residents returning for sport, leisure activities, and events at the Bold Centre, Portage Pool, and our outdoor spaces.

General Administration and Community Supports

Two editions of the Community Activity Guide, which outlines the programs and services that the community offers, were completed and distributed in 2022.

Staff completed and presented a museum sustainability report, and are now working with local museums on sustainability plans and areas of collaboration.

Staff assisted with the Alberta 55+ games in Peace River, hosted a regional sport tourism meeting, and participated on the Small Town, Big Deal panel at the Sport Event Congress to show Lac La Biche County’s potential in hosting major sporting events.

The department submitted and secured a Healthier Communities grant for the Bold Centre outdoor patio project, which should begin in 2023.

Guest Services/Memberships

There were 285,728 visits to the Bold Centre, up 90% from last year. An average of 782 people visit during a regular week at the Bold Centre.

A total of 9,967 all-access drop-in passes were sold, up 121% from last year. 1,879 memberships were sold, which is an increase of 70%. Revenue from drop-ins and memberships totaled $251,754.

7 companies participated in the Corporate Membership Program, with 28 individual and family corporate memberships. The County currently has 71 active Super Senior memberships and 25 matinee memberships.

875 members registered for ActiveLLBC (our online portal for signing up for memberships, fitness classes and other programming) since its implementation. 824 online activity registrations and 26 memberships were purchased online.

Staff hosted a member and community appreciation event in fall 2022, with approximately 500 people in attendance.

93 individuals (31 families) were assisted through the Fair Access Fee Assistance program, which helps families afford the cost of sports and recreation programming. A total of $8,477.69 was redeemed for access to programs, services, and facilities.

Member Promotions

The March “Buy 1 Month, Get 1 Month Free” promotion led to 293 memberships with $20,920 in revenue, up 49% from last year.

The “99 Days of Summer” promotion sold 242 memberships.

1,600 Trick or Play Passes (which are youth complimentary passes to County recreation facilities intended as a healthier Halloween giveaway) were sold in 2022, and 239 passes have been redeemed to date.

Fitness Services

119 programs were offered in 2022 virtually, in-person, or under a hybrid model.

• There were 596 registrations, 151 single drop-ins, and 49 fitness 10-passes used to access fitness classes.

• 159 children and youth registered in fitness programs like DANCEPL3Y, YOGAPL3Y, or Access Fitness.

• 60 youth completed the Access Fitness course, which gives early access to the fitness centre.

• 13 adult wellness and specialty workshops were offered in 2022, with 77 participants.

Personal training at the Bold Centre totaled 196 sessions, with 21 consultations, 9 packages, and 18 single or multi session packages sold.

More than 5,200 users accessed the walking/running track for free in 2022.

Recreation & Culture Programs and Events

A total of 44 programs, camps, and leagues were offered in 2022, with 580 participants.

The Park & Play Fun Van had a total of 17 bookings with 1,114 activity participants, and supported events at Hylo, Rich Lake,

Plamondon, Young’s Beach, the Lac Biche Mission, and several locations in the hamlet of Lac La Biche.

The Summer Shack recreation program had 1,144 visits, with close to 250 children attending the free afternoon program throughout the summer.

Drive-In Movies were organized in Plamondon and at the Bold Centre, with approximately 275 people attending. This year’s Spooktacular Halloween event saw more than 370 participants, who enjoyed fun activities and a chance to show off costumes.

The Cenovus Field Houses at the Bold Centre had over 12,000 visits.

More than 5,700 pieces of sports equipment (like basketballs, soccer balls, badminton racquets, hockey sticks, etc.) were loaned out for use in the Bold Centre. More than 1,000 pieces of equipment were loaned or rented for community use (snowshoes, disc golf, etc.).

Aquatics (Portage Pool)

8,686 drop-in patrons visited Portage Pool this year. This does not include individuals with facility memberships. Toonie swims continue to be Portage Pool’s most popular activity, with 2,565 individuals attending these events in 2022.

1,820 hours of public swims and 936 hours of lane swims were offered.

Children from schools as far away as Saddle Lake returned to Portage Pool and participated in both swim lessons and fun swims.

843 individuals participated in swim lessons (with 191 private/ semi-private lessons and 652 group lesson participants).

25 youth took courses that lead to qualifications as lifeguards and swim instructors.

Volleyball Camp

Community Appreciation Evening

Summer Shack Program

Art Camp

FAMILY & COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES (FCSS) AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) focuses on “people development for strong communities”—the FCSS Board’s mission statement. The department’s work includes programs and services that encourage healthy, resilient citizens and communities, networking, and being a source of information and referrals.

FCSS activities are funded by the County through a partnership agreement with the Government of Alberta for FCSS programming and Northern Lakes Family Resource Network funding. Additionally, the County funds the Community Access/Paratransit Busing Service and child minding offered in the Bold Centre.

FCSS distributed $64,024 in grants to various support organizations in the community, including Big Brothers-Big Sisters, the Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre, Hope Haven, the Plamondon & Wandering River Community Resource Society, Plamondon Quilters, and the Rich Lake Seniors’ Club. These grants, approved by the local FCSS Board, supported volunteer work, youth programs, and community development.

Staff hosted 63 programs across all age demographics. Seniors’ programs created social connections between seniors, early childhood programs taught parents about healthy childhood development, and youth programs developed self-esteem and leadership skills.

Through the Northern Lakes Family Resource Network, we connected caregivers with key resources to support their parenting work, providing parenting programs and mentoring caregivers.

Child mind services allowed caregivers to access fitness facilities and attend Bold Centre programs and special events.

The Community Access Bus Service helped people move around our community, both for paratransit users and general Community Access program users. This reduced barriers for residents needing to get to medical or professional appointments, take care of errands, or visit with others. Plans are being made to expand the number of stops available, including ones at Deer Meadows and Bonesville.

In 2022, FCSS saw 1,392 registered families and adults/seniors, which meant 2,278 unique users of their programs and services. The number of times people participated in FCSS programs or services in 2022 is 21,010, and includes:

• Family Resource Network: 1,957 participants

• Family & Community Support Services Programs: 8,363 participants

• Child Minding: 3,527 participants

• Community Access Service: 7,163 participants

In addition to regular programs, FCSS hosted a community engagement project in the spring to raise awareness about homelessness. This was an opportunity for open conversations about how people arrive in the circumstance of being homeless. Staff also supported advocacy efforts, such as the ongoing Transitional Housing Project.

Lac La Biche

Carnival

Teen Camp

Read & Roll

Dad & Me

Seniors Staycation - Métis Crossing

LAC LA BICHE COUNTY’S LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM BECOMES PERMANENT IN 2022

PARKS & FACILITIES

Staff maintained and improved County parks, buildings, and other open spaces throughout 2022.

The Bold Center’s outdoor sports fields were completed, and saw their first year of full operation after 4 years of construction.

Other notable Parks & Facilities projects that were completed included the Campsite Road boat launch, the Owl River Campground, three new playgrounds (in Blais Resort, Owl River’s Recreation Grounds, and the Crescent Heights Subdivision), and the outdoor rink resurfacing program. Outdoor rinks are now all concrete, and usable in all 4 seasons.

DID YOU KNOW?

Lac La Biche County owns three campgrounds? All three are open May 15 to September 4 (Labour Day).

1) Bold Centre - The Bold Centre Campground is ideal for those attending sporting events at the new outdoor sports fields and can be booked online through ActiveLLBC.

In 2022, Lac La Biche County Council reclassified the County’s Law Enforcement Training Program to full-time permanent status. After testing it out as a term program, the Law Enforcement Training Program has become a key part of training for first responders in Alberta and western Canada.

In addition to the Community Peace Officer Induction Program, which makes Lac La Biche County one of the only places in the Province to become a designated Peace Officer, the County delivers 16 standalone courses for law enforcement and other first responders. Topics include RADAR/LiDAR, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, Use of Force training, and more.

2) Fork Lake - Fork Lake Campground features a beach, cooking shelter and playground. First-come, first-served.

3) Owl River - Owl River Campground features a day use area, picnic shelter and group camping. First-come, first-served.

Bold Centre Campground Fork Lake Campground Owl River Campground

ENFORCEMENT SERVICES (COMMUNITY PEACE OFFICERS)

Enforcement Services conducted 3,498 investigations and issued 1,969 violation tickets for provincial and municipal bylaw offences. 2022 marks a record year for the number of investigations completed by the Enforcement Services department.

Peace Officers conducted regular patrols of the County, rural subdivision areas, and the hamlets of Lac La Biche and Plamondon while driving 305,000 km throughout the year. Officers also conducted 3,767 traffic stops and 261 foot patrols around the community.

In an effort to make roads safer, a Peace Officer was certified as a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Inspector and inspected 61 commercial vehicles. During these inspections, 571 violations were found. Only 2% of commercial vehicles checked were fully compliant with safety legislation.

Peace Officers located 117 dogs in 2022 that were roaming or in distress. These dogs were cared for in partnership with the Lac La Biche Regional Humane Society. Our discount spay/neuter program treated 136 animals, which will reduce the number of strays in our community.

The Law Enforcement Training Program conducted various training for law enforcement officers, first responders, and other municipal employees throughout 2022. In total, 357 students attended various training programs. Training topics included RADAR/LiDAR, use of force, crime prevention through environmental design, shotgun training, and more. Our Community Peace Officer Induction Program conducted one 11-week training program with a graduating class of 14.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES

June 14, 2022 was the grand opening of the new Protective Services Building on Beaverhill Road in Lac La Biche, and now houses Fire Services Headquarters, Enforcement Services, and Fire Services Station One.

Disaster Response

Lac La Biche County’s Structure Protection Unit (SPU) was reviewed by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency in 2022. Lac La Biche County met all levels of training and equipment required by the Alberta Wildland Interface Structure Protection Program, meaning that we can respond to urban-wildland fires within our area and assist neighbours.

Emergency Management

151 County staff are trained in provincial emergency management. The Community Emergency Management Plan was updated then approved by the Province.

Fire Services

Fire Services currently has 56 members. They saw 635 incident responses in 2022—this is a 10% increase over 2021 numbers.

Approximately $7.5 million in property was saved due to structural firefighting response. The department trained one recruit class in 2022, welcoming 7 new members.

Lac La Biche County’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team became one of only four teams accredited in Alberta under the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

FireSmart

FireSmart, a national program that aims to increase communities’ resilience to the threat of wildfire, continued to be offered locally in 2022. Staff completed 132 FireSmart home assessments and 67 wood chipping projects. Per capita, Lac La Biche County led the province on these initiatives.

The County was one of 10 municipalities in Canada to be awarded the Intact Climate Resiliency Grant of $76,000—this grant offers funding to property owners to complete FireSmart upgrades on their properties.

Safety Codes

The County trained two Safety Codes Officers to Fire B2 certification and another to C2 certification. This allows our staff to inspect buildings and conduct most fire investigations within Lac La Biche County.

2022 Fire Services recruit class with staff

Vehicle extrication training

Summer 2022 Structure Fire in Lac La Biche

COUNTY SUPPORT

In 2022, the County supported the following organizations with capital projects, events, and more. Please note that the final amount paid to each organization may vary from the approved amounts, depending on actual project costs.

General notes about all County grants:

• Does not include grants or funding issued through Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).

• Does not include grants or funding issues through the Agricultural Services Board (ASB).

CAPITAL PROJECTS ASSISTANCE GRANT FUNDING PROGRAM

Final grant paid to organization may vary from approved amounts depending on actual project costs.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM

RECREATIONAL/CULTURAL OPERATING GRANT PROGRAM

de l'Alberta, Regionale de Plamondon -

*Includes power costs paid directly by the County.

EVENT SPONSORSHIP GRANT PROGRAM

AD-HOC FUNDING GRANTS

SPORTING EVENT ATTENDANCE FUNDING

COMMUNITY CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANTS

OTHER MAJOR FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS

2022 BUDGETED OPERATING REVENUES AND EXPENSES

Budgeted

MAIN STREET LAC LA BICHE REVITALIZATION

Main Street in the hamlet of Lac La Biche will soon be transformed into a more modern, walkable destination where locals and visitors alike will want to spend time and money. Beyond revamping underground utility services that supply businesses and homes in the area, aesthetic elements like new lighting, seating, and landscaping will make Main Street Lac La Biche a premier place for entrepreneurs and investors to open boutiques, cafes, shops, and more.

The project will start in spring 2023 and will be completed in phases over the next three years.

Concept subject to change.

AQUATICS CENTRE AT THE BOLD CENTRE

Planned to open in fall 2025, this new investment in the Bold Centre will complete the recreational multiplex’s offerings with a brand-new aquatics centre.

Construction will start in fall 2023.

Concept and layout subject to change.

MCARTHUR PARK

Located in the heart of the hamlet of Lac La Biche, McArthur Park is a jewel in the community and highly visible to anyone travelling through. Its 12 acres of parks and recreation amenities provide an unparalleled view of beautiful Lac La Biche Lake.

Council has committed to transforming the space over the next few years. By 2026, McArthur Park will include brand new open spaces, recreational equipment, sheltered meeting spaces, and an improved beach and trail system that will draw visitors and residents alike to the hamlet of Lac La Biche.

Construction is set to begin in 2023.

Concept and layout subject to change.