2023 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

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.

LAC LA BICHE COUNTY’S LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

ENGLISH

We respectfully acknowledge the traditional and ancestral lands of the First Nations peoples of Treaty 6, Treaty 8 and Treaty 10 territories and the Homeland of the Métis people. Lac La Biche County continues to be home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial, and we recognize the vital contributions of Indigenous culture, history and perspectives in our shared past, present and future.

FRENCH/FRANÇAIS

Nous reconnaissons respectueusement les terres traditionnelles et ancestrales des peuples des Premières Nations faisant partie des territoires visés par le Traité numéro 6, le Traité numéro 8 et le Traité numéro 10 ainsi que la terre natale des Métis. Le comté de Lac La Biche abrite les peuples autochtones depuis des temps immémoriaux, et nous reconnaissons l’apport essentiel de la culture, de l’histoire et des perspectives autochtones à notre passé, notre présent et notre avenir collectifs.

CREE/NEHIYAWEWIN/ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐁᐧᐃᐧᐣ (Translation provided by Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre) Nimanācitānān naskwēyasihtamōwin nēhīyaw ōtipamakan askiya ēkwa ōtipimiso askiy. Wāwāskēsiw sākahikanihk kiyāpic nēhīyaw isiyiniw ēwīkiw aspin ohci kakiskisihk ēkwa nisitawēyitīnan nēhīyaw kayas pimacihowin ēkwa ēwāpatamahk asonamātōwin pīci ōtahk, anohc mēkwac, ēkwa ōtīnīkan.

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 STRATEGIC PLAN

Council has been working on updating the Strategic Plan to guide County programs, projects and services.

Although it is expected that Council will maintain many of the same goals as the previous strategic plan (including supporting economic growth and tourism, promoting excellence in service delivery and social wellness, and protecting our environment while building our agricultural sector), the strategies they endorse to support these areas may change to better suit our current circumstances.

When the updated plan is complete and approved, it will be available on laclabichecounty.com and shared on the County’s social media channels.

LOBBYING EFFORTS

Lac La Biche County Council and senior members of Administration participated in more than a dozen formal meetings with provincial ministers in 2023, as well as countless other meetings with elected officials, non-profit and non-government organization leaders, and others to make progress on Council’s priorities.

Priorities:

• Building new and improved schools in the region.

• Further developing the County’s Law Enforcement Training Centre.

• Funding for seniors’ lodges.

• Extending the northern living allowance to Lac La Biche County.

• Advocating to regionalize rural healthcare, and attracting more doctors and healthcare professionals to the area.

• Increasing access to affordable housing.

• Relaxing fishing regulations to increase tourism in the region.

• Wraparound supports to reduce homelessness.

• Opportunities for growth and economic development.

Above: (from left) Village of Boyle Mayor Colin Derko, Lac La Biche County Mayor Paul Reutov, Athabasca County Reeve Brian Hall and Town of Athabasca Mayor Robert Balay meet to discuss regionalizing rural healthcare.

Below: Members of Lac La Biche County Council and Administration meet with Alberta Infrastructure Minister Pete Gurthrie.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Manny Deol Chief Administrative Officer

Melanie McConnell Associate Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services

Darrell Lessmeister Associate Chief Administrative Officer, Recreation & Community Services

Ron Fraser Associate Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure Services

Zeeshan Hasan Associate Chief Administrative Officer, Finance & Planning Kashif Ijaz Director, Human Resources

CAO DIVISION

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER/ GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is Council’s sole employee, and acts as the head of Administration.

Under the CAO’s direction, Administration successfully reduced the 2024 operating budget by 5 per cent from 2023 levels, while maintaining service levels that residents rely on. The CAO’s office also implemented a hiring freeze until an efficiency review of the County’s operations is completed.

“Building customer service excellence, creating a safe community, and fostering economic growth remain the top priorities for our County.”

Manny Deol, Chief Administrative Officer

The CAO was busy with a variety of high-level projects in 2023, including:

• Continuing work alongside provincial and local Alberta Health Services representatives and elected officials to improve healthcare within Lac La Biche County.

• Supporting the County’s Indigenous Collaboration Committee and Focus Indigenous Committee, which have made great progress in promoting knowledge of and relationship-building with Indigenous peoples and communities.

• Overseeing the completion of the Lac La Biche Main Street Revitalization Project from 103 Street to 102 Street. Other phases of the project, including between 102 Street and 101 Street and between 101 Street and 100 Street, are planned for the 2024 and 2025 construction seasons.

• Overseeing the completion of Phase 1 of the McArthur Park Redevelopment Project. More work will be done in 2024 and 2025 to revamp the Park, including the addition of a new bike skills park and pump track, a skateboard park, an outdoor market, a public square, and much more.

• Building partnerships to open the Transitional Housing Facility, which aims to reduce homelessness by hosting a four-stage program that will help people transition out of homelessness to independence.

• Lobbying for lake development and emphasizing to provincial officials the importance of reviewing the region’s fishing regulations.

• Reviewing planning documents to emphasize development and investment readiness.

• Working with outside agencies to build relationships, including with key partners like Portage College.

Mayor Paul Reutov and the County’s new Chief Administrative Officer, Manny Deol (centre and right, respectively) meeting with local RCMP and Peace Officers to discuss law enforcement and crime prevention tactics.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM

The Economic Development & Tourism department continued to work with partners to secure investment and promote growth in Lac La Biche County. Staff also continued to assist many local businesses to start, grow, and succeed.

Council passed the Business Licence Bylaw in 2022, and it went into effect on January 1, 2023. Economic Development & Tourism issued 230 licences in 2023, and many businesses took advantage of the free licence fee offered until July 1, 2023.

In March 2023, Lac La Biche County completed its role as project manager to create a corridor development plan in collaboration with Vermilion, the City of Cold Lake, the Municipal District of Bonnyville, Métis Crossing, and Athabasca County. By working with consultants Tourism Café and Seekers Media (along with tourism providers throughout Alberta’s northeast), the team developed the Cruise Our Culture corridor development plan. The plan will help tourism providers in neighbouring municipalities work together to create more cohesive experiences, driving more tourist traffic and tourism development to the region.

The Business Improvement Program, which provides financial incentives to local business owners to improve their businesses’ façades and looks, saw significant interest in 2023. Over $120,000 in new projects were approved.

The department has made significant strides in medical professional attraction and retention, providing physician tours of the community and supporting Rural Attraction and Retention Society (RARS) initiatives. New doctors and nurses are joining the community in 2024, and the Associated Medical Clinic will be part of the Business Improvement Program in 2024 to support necessary aesthetic upgrades.

Staff hosted a Sitelink Forum in spring 2023 in collaboration with Paige Webster of Webster Global Site Selectors, which welcomed site selectors who choose locations on behalf of investor clients. Staff and members of Council led site selectors through a familiarization tour of the municipality. Tours of the various industrial parks, the local airport, rail and transportation corridors, local restaurants, and more took place over two days.

In September, Economic Development & Tourism reviewed visitor information services, and proposed the Business and Visitor Information Centre to Council to improve service delivery to the business community, prospective investors, tourism operators, and visitors coming to our region. The new Business and Visitor Information Centre opened in 2024, in the same building as the Lac La Biche Museum.

Lac La Biche County was accepted as an endorsed community for the Rural Renewal Stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program in October 2023. This program helps to connect local businesses with qualified newcomers to Canada, expediting processes that would otherwise be costly and timeconsuming for employers.

Lac La Biche County is located on Treaty 6, Treaty 8 and Treaty 10 lands and the Métis Homeland, and neighbours five different Indigenous communities, making every step towards reconciliation and respectful relationship-building extremely important.

FOCUS INDIGENOUS

Focus Indigenous is Lac La Biche County’s award-winning internal committee, in response to Call to Action 57 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which highlights the need to educate public servants on the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada, including Treaty rights.

Focus Indigenous seeks to bridge gaps in Indigenous cultural awareness, sparking constructive dialogue between County employees about the relationships and shared histories of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. In 2023, Focus Indigenous planned these activities to further that goal:

• Coordinating blanket exercises to teach staff about the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism.

• Entering into a Moose Hide Campaign partnership with Portage College. The Campaign is a grassroots movement to engage men and boys in ending violence towards women and children.

• Planning bannock-making and traditional beading classes, as well as CREE-O (bingo intended to teach Cree words).

• Educating staff about the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit individuals in Canada.

• Holding an annual National Indigenous Peoples Day and National Indigenous History Month celebration for staff.

• Creating educational videos and hands-on learning opportunities regarding smudge basics, medicinal plants, tobacco, and ceremony protocol.

• Honouring Métis Week.

Focus Indigenous and the Indigenous Collaboration Committee jointly won a Minister’s Award for Municipal Excellence (Partnership category) from the provincial government in 2023.

Scan the QR code at right to see a video about this accomplishment.

Sitelink tour of the Bold Centre.

TRUTH WISDOM LOVE RESPECT

BRAVERY

HONESTY

HUMILITY

The emblem adopted by Focus Indigenous: a medicine wheel with the Seven Sacred Teachings.

ENFORCEMENT SERVICES (COMMUNITY PEACE OFFICERS)

Enforcement Services conducted 2,640 investigations and issued 1,077 violation tickets for provincial and municipal bylaw offences.

Peace Officers conducted regular patrols of the County, rural subdivision areas, and the hamlets of Lac La Biche and Plamondon while driving 241,333 km throughout the year. Officers also conducted 2,738 traffic stops and 204 foot patrols around the community.

In an effort to make roads safer, a Peace Officer (certified as a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Inspector) inspected 21 commercial vehicles. During these inspections, 99 violations were found.

Peace Officers located 105 dogs in 2023 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 145 animals, which will reduce the number of strays in our community.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES

2023 was a busy year for Protective Services. Staff hosted a reception centre for 124 Northwest Territories wildfire evacuees for 35 days, providing them with all the necessities. Protective Services also provided a Structure Protection Unit to Fort Smith in the NWT. Fire department crews from Cypress County, Beiseker, Penhold and Black Diamond in southern Alberta made Lac La Biche County their home base for two months to provide additional firefighting resources to our area during 2023’s extreme fire season.

Disaster Response

Lac La Biche County was requested by the Northwest Territories to provide mutual aid structure protection mitigation to protect homes in Fort Smith during the wildfire season. We provided a 4-member crew with a type 6 engine (water pump) and a type 2 SPU trailer capable of protecting 50 structures. Our rotating crews provided much-needed support for 43 days, from August 12 to September 30, 2023.

Emergency Management

Lac La Biche County was requested by the Government of Alberta to open a reception centre and provide necessities for 124 displaced Northwest Territories residents affected by wildfires from August 16 to September 19, 2023.

166 County staff are now trained in emergency management.

The Community Emergency Management Plan, which guides staff in the event of a major disaster, was updated and approved by the Emergency Advisory Committee in 2023.

Fire Services

Fire Services currently has 64 members, including firefighters, support workers, and junior firefighter cadets.

Fire Services had a total of 882 apparatus response files in 2023, which was a 40 per cent increase over 2022 and a 55 per cent increase over 2021.

Approximately $1.6 million in property was saved due to timely and effective structural firefighting response.

The department trained one recruit class in 2023, welcoming seven new members.

FireSmart

FireSmart, a national program that aims to increase communities’ resilience to the threat of wildfire, continued to be offered locally in 2023. Staff completed 139 FireSmart home assessments and 50 wood-chipping projects to remove brush and reduce wildfire risk. 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 in 2022—this grant offers funding to property owners to complete FireSmart upgrades on their properties. Funding from this grant continued to be made available to residents in 2023.

Safety Codes

The County increased our accredited Safety Codes staff to six with the addition of a Deputy Chief of Safety and Logistics. This further increases our resources to inspect buildings and conduct more fire investigations within Lac La Biche County.

Lac La Biche County firefighters lending a hand in the Northwest Territories during an extremely active fire season.

Local Peace Officers on their way to Parkland County to assist with evacuations due to spring wildfires.

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, including wifi improvements and a cellphone booster in the Bold Centre, 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. A strategic plan for modernizing and updating the County’s GIS services was completed.

LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

Staff provided support for 27 Regular Council Meetings, 13 Special Council Meetings, and one organizational meeting. They dedicated 213 hours to supporting Council meetings (a total that does not include additional time to arrange meetings and produce agendas required for Council). Legislative Services staff also provided support and training to run a variety of committee meetings, and reviewed 31 bylaws in 2023.

Six Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act files were processed in accordance with legislation, and one privacy breach was investigated and coordinated with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Staff also delivered FOIP Training to Law Enforcement Training Centre students.

The County’s first Indigenous Relations Coordinator was hired to support the County’s commitment to reconciliation,build relationships with Indigenous communities, and develop a reconciliation action plan.

Staff had a number of other significant accomplishments, including:

• Handling two Subdivision and Development Appeal Board appeals and one Assessment Review Board complaint.

• Presenting the Elected Official Remuneration Policy to Council.

• Consolidating the County’s Schedule of Fees Bylaw.

• Developing guidelines for recall petitions.

• Supporting internal reviews of new and amended policies and procedures with the Policy Review Committee.

MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT

Staff completed hundreds of day-to-day tasks for all County departments, including the following:

• Designing brochures and posters, and coordinating newspaper and radio advertising from week to week.

• Creating investment guides and launching a new microsite, invest.laclabichecounty.com, to attract entrepreneurs and help connect developers with local opportunities.

• Preparing key messages and speeches for the Mayor, Council and others as required.

• Regularly updating the County’s website and social media channels with new and relevant information.

Staff attended more than 20 community events representing Lac La Biche Region (our tourism brand) and promoting our area to tourists and residents. In partnership with the Economic Development & Tourism department, staff executed the Lac La Biche Region brand roll-out, including a brand kick-off event at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park. The event attracted over 400 people with live music, prizes, and food.

Staff continued to promote the community calendar on the County’s website, and shared information about local events on County and Region social media accounts. Staff ran two marketing workshops focused on teaching community group volunteers effective methods and tools for promoting their events.

Staff adopted and rolled out new branding for the Bold Centre, and created an original logo for the new Lac La Biche County Law Enforcement Training Centre (LETC). The LETC is a partnership between our organization, Portage College, and Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services to provide high-quality training for law enforcement officers and other first responders. Staff also launched letc.laclabichecounty.com, which showcases and promotes LETC programs and courses.

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 search requests and digitizing physical files to make them instantly available for staff decision-making.

A new records retention schedule for the County was completed in 2023.

New logos for the Bold Centre (left) and the Law Enforcement Training Centre debuted in 2023.

lac la biche region

Lac La Biche Region is the County’s tourism brand, helping us market our municipality and neighbouring Indigenous partners to visitors in search of outdoor adventure with the comforts and conveniences of a larger centre.

2023 was a big year for the Region, with the introduction of a new brand that establishes our unique identity and story. The new brand launched on January 12.

Event promotion was a huge part of Region marketing. Marketing, Communications & Engagement department staff worked with the Economic Development & Tourism department to attend 37 events, with an on-site visitor information centre (where staff interacted with attendees to promote other events and attractions in our Region) at seven of them.

County staff also attended a variety of tradeshows to encourage new tourists to visit Lac La Biche Region, with booths at the Edmonton RV Show, the Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen Show (shared with Lisa Roper and Wes David) and the Alberta Snowmobile, ATV & Off-Road Show.

LAC LA BICHE REGION

Under the direction of Marketing, Communications and Engagement staff, Lac La Biche Region’s online presence grew significantly in 2023:

Facebook

• Facebook Reach: 670,252 (up 660 per cent from 2022)

• 740 new Facebook likes

• 407 posts (up 14% from 2022)

• 55 published stories (up 100 per cent from 2022)

Instagram

• Instagram Reach: 34,276 (up 767 per cent from 2022)

• 158 new Instagram likes

• 327 posts (up 44.1 per cent from 2022)

• 251 published stories (up 218 per cent from 2022)

Staff also produced many print materials for visitors and residents, including:

• Visitor Guide: this is the Region’s premier print document, and compiles information about experiences, events, campgrounds, tourism operators, and much more in a single, portable guidebook. 5,000 copies of the Visitor Guide were distributed, while 67 people read it online.

• Lac La Biche Region Map: staff revamped the Region map to better showcase the entire area on one side, including our Indigenous partners, and the hamlet of Lac La Biche on the other.

• Summer Fun Calendar: a quick reference guide to the huge number of events happening over the summer in the Lac La Biche Region. Approximately 1,000 copies were distributed at events, local businesses, County buildings, campgrounds, and hotels.

• Lac La Biche Region Winter Guide: similar to the Summer Fun Calendar, the Winter Guide showcases a variety of events and activities over the winter season in the Lac La Biche Region. These were distributed at the Alberta Snowmobile, ATV & Off-Road Show.

• Event Postcards: staff created four illustrated postcards to showcase signature events (the Winter Festival of Speed, the Plamondon Mud Bogs, Summer Days, and the Festival of Trees), encouraging families to invite their loved ones to come visit, as well as providing a memorable keepsake.

• Region Stickers: staff created four unique stickers to use as takeaways at events.

• Other Materials: these include four unique Valentine’s Day cards, a colouring book, and materials for information kiosks in Plamondon and at the Owl River campground.

Staff ran a variety of paid advertising campaigns to increase our reach and attract provincial and national audiences:

Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram)

• Winter Festival of Speed (reach: 25,536)

• Summer Kick-Off Party (reach: 5,252)

• Plamondon Mud Bogs (reach: 168,000)

• Summer Days (reach: 3,870)

Paid Magazine Ads

• Invest/Xperience Alberta

• Barry Mitchell’s Fishing Guide/Alberta Sport Fishing Guidelines

• Go East of Edmonton

• Alberta Outdoorsmen (February, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, and December)

• Summer in the City

• T8N (March, May, July, and December)

Online Ads

• Sponsored e-newsletter (through T8N)

• T8N e-newsletter ads for Mud Bogs and Summer Days

• Hot Summer Guide (paid advertising feature through Great West Media)

Lac La Biche Region partnered with influencers and creators to promote the area, including:

• Wes David

• Lisa Roper

• Dustin Cressey

• Evergreen Films

• Must Do Canada

• Go East of Edmonton

• Seekers Media

Heart Lake First Nation Pow Wow.

Rich Lake Trail Ride.

Wife-carrying competition at Lakeland Country Fair.

FINANCE & PLANNING DIVISION

FINANCE & GRANTS

County Council approved the 2024 budget on December 5, 2023. The operating expense budget was set at $70,052,665 and the capital budget was $50,906,385. 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 $872,771. Further, Council allocated $1.455 million towards stabilization and contingency reserves—the County still has more than $1.5 million in stabilization reserves.

The total 2024 capital project budget (including pre-approved projects like the Lac La Biche Main Street Revitalization Project between 103 Street and 102 Street, phase two of the McArthur Park Redevelopment project, and starting construction on the new Aquatics Centre at the Bold Centre) is $50,906,385.

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 2023, Lac La Biche County accessed several larger competitive grants, including:

• $200,000 from the Northern Regional Economic Development Program for the Main Street Revitalization Project (a Government of Alberta grant). This funding is approved for streetscaping features for the project, including planters, decorative structures, and lighting. It’s also approved for wayfinding signage within the project, like street signs, interpretive signs, and community map boards.

• $113,916.24 for a registered social worker position through the Mental Health in Schools pilot project. This grant was received in partnership with the Lakeland Catholic School Division. The Division receives the funding, which then funds a County-supervised position.

• $41,040 in FireSmart Programming funding from the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA).

• Other smaller funding contributions, including those for fire services training, recreation programming, and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The County also receives routine grant funding from sources such as the Municipal Sustainability Initiative and the Canada Community Building Fund.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

100 development permits were issued in 2023, which added just under $38 million in new development in Lac La Biche County. There were 12 subdivision files, which created a total of 22 lots, including residential, commercial, and industrial lots.

22 miscellaneous land files were processed, which includes municipal leases, licence of occupation requests, road closure files, encroachment matters, requests to purchase Countyowned lands, and erosion concerns.

Planning & Development staff have been working on a rewrite of the County’s Land Use Bylaw with a consultant, and the first round of public open houses and meetings with major stakeholders were completed in the early stages. As a result, staff are now thoroughly reviewing the draft bylaw, which will be presented to Council first and then the public through another round of open houses in 2024. Information about the County’s Land Use Bylaw is available on our website.

In December, County staff and V3 Companies of Canada held a four-day Design Charrette Workshop for the 91 Avenue Corridor in the hamlet of Lac La Biche. This gave residents and stakeholders an opportunity to visualize what they would like to see developed in this area, understand others’ perspectives on the project, and finally see four preferred, communitydriven designs. Council will be presented with this information and approve the final concept plan, which will help guide development in the corridor.

Brainstorming design concepts for the 91 Avenue Corridor in the hamlet of Lac La Biche.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND HEALTH & SAFETY

Human Resources assisted all County departments with recruitment, including competitions for:

• 37 full-time positions;

• Nine part-time positions;

• 16 term positions;

• 18 casual positions;

• Seven firefighters;

• Six fire cadets;

• Two fire support workers; and

• 65 summer/seasonal positions.

Staff began work on an improved orientation and onboarding process for County employees, which will help new employees familiarize themselves with Lac La Biche County and more efficiently integrate into the organization.

The internal Employee Satisfaction Committee and Human Resources met throughout 2023 to create stronger face-toface connections, encourage departments to collaborate and communicate more effectively, and improve the organization’s overall culture.

Health & Safety staff hosted Safety Day at the Bold Centre, an internal event that brought together nearly 200 County employees to explore workplace health and safety initiatives.

Health & Safety also conducted an internal safety audit across all County departments to maintain our Certificate of Recognition (COR) status. This involved interviewing 37 staff members, reviewing documentation, and conducting site tours to ensure health and safety best practices are being followed.

INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES DIVISION

ENGINEERING SERVICES (MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS)

Engineering Services oversaw major construction projects to completion in 2023, including:

• Lac La Biche Main Street Revitalization (103 Street to 102 Street).

• Beaver Hill Road and 91 Avenue Intersection Improvement (streetlight installation).

• Young’s Beach Base, Pave and Drainage.

• Campsite Road Bridge/Culvert Replacement.

• Tarrabain Drive Base and Pave.

• Bridge File 8807 (Missawawi-area bridge replacement)

• Bridge File 85387 (culvert replacement near Maccagno Point boat launch)

• Imperial Mills Walking Bridge Improvement.

• Blais Resort Base and Pave.

• Plamondon Lift Stations.

• Sentinel East Storm Pond.

• Churchill Drive Natural Gas System Rehabilitation – 104 Street to 101 Street (1,000 metres).

• Caslan Connector Culvert Replacements.

• Agricultural Services Board Chemical Storage Warehouse Build.

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

• 101 Avenue Water and Sewer Replacement (as part of the Lac La Biche Main Street Revitalization Project) between 101 Street and 103 Street.

• Richard & Devonian Park (lighting installation).

• Highway 881 Crosswalk Lighting.

• Lac La Biche Airport Modernization.

• Lac La Biche Shoreline Erosion Protection.

• Rail Safety Improvement Program.

• Beaver Lake Landfill Reconfiguration.

Engineering Services also completed engineering for:

• Lac La Biche County’s Bridge Replacement Program (design only for Township Road 650 over Beaver River, Township Road 680 over Plamondon Creek, and Township Road 652 over Amisk River).

• Highway 881 Crosswalk Lighting (Design).

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Agricultural Services

In partnership with Portage College, staff hosted the 2023 Agricultural Appreciation Dinner at the Bold Centre with approximately 200 guests.

The Agricultural Service Board awarded the 2023 Rural Beautification Award to Julian and Charmayne Lemay of Plamondon. Two Agricultural Service Board bursaries were awarded to local students.

779 tree seedlings were sold in 2023, which is 18 per cent more than in 2022.

Agricultural Service Board equipment was rented by 83 residents over 287 days.

Staff mowed 2,145 km of roadside vegetation in County ditches, with most areas getting second or third passes. 389.3 km of municipal roads were sprayed to eliminate noxious and prohibited noxious weeds. Pest inspectors also completed 280 site inspections to eliminate noxious and prohibited noxious weeds.

In 2023, there were 182 registered and active producers in the Veterinary Services Incorporated program, which offers a cost-sharing initiative for producers and farmers in the County. The program assists with veterinary expenses for agricultural producers’ livestock.

The County’s Emergency Livestock Plan was updated for the benefit of all agricultural producers in the County, to protect and preserve livestock in the event of an emergency.

In 2023, the Community Garden program maximized the use of 35 plots and 22 raised beds. Additionally, the installation of two extra water tanks increased the total to six. Furthermore, raised beds were moved to the newly-constructed gravel pad to enhance ease of use.

Environment

Under the Community Organics and Recycling Enhancement (CORE) Program, 230 kg of organic waste was diverted from our landfills in 2023.

Staff started the FoodCycler Pilot Program on April 5, 2023, and sold 100 FoodCycler FC-30 units for public household use, which diverted seven metric tons of food waste from the landfill. Staff also introduced four larger food cyclers for use in staff lunchrooms.

The Plamondon Gardening Workshop was held in April in partnership with the Plamondon & District Agricultural Society, with over 40 attendees.

Staff held the Community Spring Clean-Up in partnership with radio station Boom 103.5 and the Kinsmen Club on May 13, 2023, with about 30 participants.

Environment Week (June 4-10, 2023) consisted of a Launch Party at McArthur Park with approximately 200 participants, a composting workshop with 16 participants, a Mad About Science event with six participants, and the Household Hazardous Waste Roundup and Shredding Event with approximately 100 participants.

Staff completed lake sampling on 15 occasions for the Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program, and six times for the satellite monitoring project. In total, 21 sampling events were conducted across four lakes (Lac La Biche, Beaver Lake, Fork Lake and Elinor Lake).

Four hydrometric monitoring events were completed over the 2023 sampling season. Hydrometric monitoring is completed to work towards developing a water and nutrient budget. A water budget will tell us where the sources of water to the lake are, and a nutrient budget will pinpoint nutrient sources so we can better develop management strategies for Lac la Biche Lake.

Mad About Science hosted seven Friday events for kids in summer 2023 from in Dumasfield Park, in partnership with the Summer Shack program (a drop-in program for kids ages 6-12). There were approximately 210 total attendees.

Staff presented the 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award (Individual category) to Julie Hink, with a $500 cash award and framed certificate to display.

In September, the County co-hosted a Bird ID Workshop with the Lakeland Industry & Community Association (LICA) and Alberta Parks, drawing more than 20 participants.

Water quality sampling and hydrometric monitoring.

Julie Hink (right) receiving a well-deserved Lac La Biche County Environmental Stewardship Award.

Raised Community Garden beds.

Waste Reduction Week (October 16-23, 2023) started with a landfill tour for Grade 4 students from three schools with approximately 60 participants (including staff and students). Staff also held vermicomposting, canning, and bannock-making workshops. The Household Hazardous Waste Roundup and Shredding Event saw approximately 70 participants.

Waste & Recycling Management

In 2023, the County’s waste and recycling programs successfully kept our municipality clean and organized:

• We received 9,370 tonnes of waste at the Beaver Lake and Plamondon landfills.

• We received 2,952 tonnes of recycling material at the Beaver Lake and Plamondon landfills. 274 tonnes of recycling were sent to off-site recycling facilities.

• 830 tonnes of waste was collected through the Curbside Pickup Program (and brought to County landfills, which is included in the totals above).

• 123 tonnes of recycling was collected through the Curbside Pickup Program, and brought to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.

A number of improvements were made to County waste collection facilities in 2023:

• Pole storage sheds at County landfills were completed.

• The approach to the Owl River Transfer Station was widened for better access to the site.

• Some drainage issues were addressed at County landfills, with more work to be completed in the future.

• Mattress recycling programs were started at County landfills.

The County offered two free tipping weeks, allowing residents to drop off waste free-of-charge to encourage proper disposal.

County staff started using the new compost pad at the Beaver Lake Landfill, and received 59.62 tonnes of waste that would otherwise be disposed of in less efficient waste streams.

In 2023, the County’s new online “What Goes Where” tool saw 429 first-time visitors, with 836 materials being searched. This helped residents choose the right streams to dispose of waste.

UTILITIES SERVICES

Staff assisted with the construction, inspection, and commissioning of the first section of water and sewer lines within the Lac La Biche Main Street Revitalization Project.

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

Staff installed credit/debit terminals at the Airport and Summit Heights Truck Fills to allow for easier payment at these facilities.

The department replaced approximately 500 metres of aging steel natural gas pipe with poly pipe along Churchill Drive in the hamlet of Lac La Biche.

Staff also replaced natural gas regulator station #2. This station supplies natural gas to the east area of Lac La Biche, including the Bold Centre.

The Utilities Services department has successfully taken over operations and maintenance of the County’s Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) Wastewater Treatment Plant. This plant has been contract-operated for the past 10 years.

Staff improved drainage in multiple subdivisions and along roads within the County.

FLEET SERVICES

Fleet Services continued to provide everyday repair and maintenance of the County’s inventory of 400-plus fleet vehicles, heavy and medium trucks, trailers, off-road construction equipment, and small/medium equipment. Approximately 816 work orders were completed in 2023.

The Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program (CVIP) saw a total of 43 inspections completed. This included any trucks and trailers with a combined weight of over 11,947 kg, as well as two Family & Community Support Services buses.

The County purchased the following new and replacement equipment in 2023, among other purchases necessary for delivering services:

• Two John Deere 72” mowers with snowblower and snow broom attachments;

• One Zamboni Ice Resurfacer;

• One Zamboni Electric Edger;

• One Sweepster Airport Sweeper;

• One Bobcat Mini Excavator;

• One Bobcat Toolcat 5600;

• One Bobcat T770 Tracked Skid Steer;

• One Bobcat Forestry Cutter/Mulcher;

• One tracked skid steer;

• One trencher for skid steer;

• One rock windrower;

• One gas-powered post pounder;

• Various sidewalk snow-clearing equipment;

• ½ ton truck;

• 24’ tri-axle trailer; and

• Miscellaneous attachments and shop equipment.

Surplus equipment and miscellaneous items have been listed on govdeals.ca and through Michener Allen Auction, generating $158,555.50 for Fleet Services in sales.

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

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

The Transportation Services department graded 912 km of gravel roads in 2023. As part of the annual road re-gravelling program, staff placed 46,000 tonnes of gravel over 214 km of roads.

To improve safety, the department replaced and installed over 185 road signs.

Staff sealed cracks along 85 km of paved roads, as well as rejuvenating 5.5 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.

Brushing was completed on a regular basis along County roads to clean up deadfall and improve sightlines.

Transportation Services completed 282 residential dust suppression requests, each consisting of 200-metre strips of calcium chloride applications in front of residences. Dust suppression was also completed at key intersections and along gravel haul routes.

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

RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION

RECREATION & CULTURE

The Recreation & Culture department enhances community vibrancy, wellness, social recreation opportunities, and quality of life for Lac La Biche County residents and visitors. Recreation & Culture offers a variety of programs, services, events, education, and advocacy initiatives throughout the year to keep people healthy, active, and engaged. 2023 saw increases in usage of Recreation programs and facilities across the board, and the County hopes that trend continues as we start construction on the New Aquatics Facility.

General Administration and Community Supports

Two editions of the Community Activity Guide, which outlines the excellent programs and services that the community offers, were distributed in 2023.

There were two new inductees added to the Lac La Biche County Sports Hall of Fame, which celebrates the contributions of athletes, coaches, and volunteers have made to fostering local sports and athletics.

Staff provided administration and coordination support for multiple major community events, including the Winter Festival of Speed, Hockey Provincials, Plamondon Mud Bogs, Lac La Biche Summer Days, and more.

The department coordinated and hosted several leadership courses at the Bold Centre, including:

• Six different Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel (AARFP) courses with 73 participants from across the province.

• An Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association (AFLCA) Foundations course with seven participants.

The Bold Centre Outdoor Patio Project was completed. This initiative was funded by a grant from Canada Healthy Communities Initiatives.

Staff updated the Recreation Facility User and Rental Fee Schedule.

Guest Services/Memberships

There were 389,233 visits to the Bold Centre this year. The Festival of Trees weekend in November had the single highest weekend count of attendance, with 14,480 visits.

All-access drop in admissions totaled 15,921, and 2,537 recreation memberships were sold or renewed. 107 Super Senior memberships, 97 RecPlay, and 60 matinee memberships were activated. Additionally, 381 new members registered for accounts on the ActiveLLBC online portal, with 760 online activity registrations. Promotional membership sales numbers include:

• March 2-for-1, which sold 398 memberships.

• 99 Days of Summer, which sold 338 memberships.

• 147 members received a 10 per cent discount off memberships during Customer Appreciation Week.

• 72 Child Mind passes were purchased during its 20 per cent off promotion during the month of October.

• 53 gift cards were purchased as part of the “Give the Gift That Keeps on Giving” promotion, totalling $7,000 in sales.

107 individuals (38 families) accessed the Fair Access Fee Assistance program, which assists people with recreation program fees to ensure everyone in Lac La Biche County can lead a healthy lifestyle without financial barriers. A total of $10,487.55 was issued, with $9,533.55 redeemed.

DID YOU KNOW?

If you are a long-term committed member, you may be entitled to join the Bold Gold loyalty program. Bold Gold members receive a complimentary gift and discounts off their membership renewals. In 2023, we added six members to the program with memberships dating back 10-plus years, and an additional six members with five-plus years of membership.

FITNESS CLASS TESTIMONIALS

“Working behind a desk for 2.5 years made me weak and soft. I had no core strength; my legs could barely lift myself onto the tailgate of a truck. Then I joined Spin 30, and everything changed. I really noticed an improvement in my core and leg strength. My balance is a lot better and I find myself more motivated to improve my physical conditioning. Before I started Spin, I went to the Bold Centre just to vote. Without a doubt I would recommend this fitness program to everyone. We are lucky to have such a beautiful facility with such a variety of programs and qualified and experienced instructors.”

Denis

“In the SYNERGY 360 fitness class I was encouraged to challenge myself, given various options within exercises to ensure my success, and always given positive and friendly feedback. I would recommend this fitness class because it has a great atmosphere, in a great facility and great staff!”

Lori

Fitness Services

121 programs were offered in 2023:

• There were 681 registered participants and 414 drop-ins in fitness classes.

• 19 adult and 19 youth workshops were offered, with a total of 235 participants.

• 91 youth completed the Access Fitness course, which gives participants early access to fitness facilities through an overview of gym equipment and etiquette.

Personal training consultations increased from 21 in 2022 to 31 in 2023. Personal Training Packages sold also increased, from 24 in 2022 to 178 one-hour sessions sold to 36 clients.

2,720 Trick-or-Play Passes were sold in 2023, up from 1,600 in 2022. Trick-or-Play Passes offer a healthy alternative to Halloween candy by providing trick-or-treaters with access to County recreation facilities.

The Prescription to Get Active (RxTGA), which gives free access to County recreation facilities on the recommendation of a qualified medical professional, assisted 26 individuals in their health journeys. Fitness staff also gave seven complimentary Fit Start Gym Orientations, helping new members become accustomed to the Bold Centre’s fitness area.

Recreation & Culture Programs and Events

39 programs, camps and leagues were offered with 717 participants.

The Edge Energy mini-rink was introduced to the Bold Centre.

The Fun Van, which brings recreation activities directly to residents all over our municipality, was booked 12 times and supported events in Hylo, Rich Lake, Plamondon, the Lac La Biche Mission, and the hamlet of Lac La Biche.

The Summer Shack recreation program had 1,083 visitations with 250 children attending this free afternoon program. RecreAction day camps saw 54 registrations over the summer.

Free special events hosted for the community included two outdoor movie events (at Plamondon and the Bold Centre), a combined Let’s Connect/Bold Free Day event, and the Spooktacular Halloween event. Spooktacular attracted more than 700 attendees.

The Cenovus Field Houses in the Bold Centre saw more than 17,000 visits (5,000 more than 2022).

DID YOU KNOW?

Portage Pool more than doubled its visitations from 2022, with 19,327 individuals taking a dip in 2023. Toonie swims continue to be our most popular, with around 3,733 individuals, and 250 patrons attended our 2023 New Year’s Eve Glow Swim.

Aquatic Services (Portage Pool)

It’s on the way! With Council’s final budget approval, construction on the new Aquatics Facility at the Bold Centre begins in 2024, with completion slated for the first half of 2026. To stay up to date, visit boldcentreaquatics.com.

2023 saw Portage Pool transition to the Lifesaving Society’s Learn-to-Swim program (swimming lessons). We would like to thank the community for their support during this transition, and for your continued patronage of our swimming lessons programming. 731 individuals participated in swim lessons this year.

31 youths started on their journey to become lifeguards and swimming instructors in 2023.

There were 88 private and school rentals (up from 33 in 2022).

Spin class at the Bold Centre.

Adult slo-pitch league champions.

Inspiring the next generation of lifeguards.

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. Its programs and services are funded by:

• A provincial FCSS grant, which provides 80% provincial funding to 20% municipal funding.

• A grant agreement with the Ministry of Children’s Services to provide services under the umbrella of the Northern Lakes Family Resource Network (NLFRN).

• County funds for services that complement FCSS and NLFRN work, but are solely funded by the County.

In 2023, the FCSS Board approved $55,812 in grants to various organizations working to support the community, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, Hope Haven, the Lac La Biche Heritage Society, the Lac La Biche Muslim Ladies Association, the Owl River Association, the Plamondon Historical Chappelle Society, the Plamondon Quilters, and Plamondon TOTS. These grants supported volunteer work, youth programs, early childhood development, and community development.

FCSS hosted 78 programs and services across all age demographics. Seniors’ programs created connections between elder residents, early childhood programs taught parents about healthy child development, children were able to strengthen relationships with their families, and youth programs developed self-esteem and leadership skills. Additionally, community development work created relationships, connected community members with information, and raised awareness about social issues.

Through the Northern Lakes Family Resource Network, we connected caregivers with key resources. We also hosted programs to encourage healthy development of parenting skills.

Child Mind services helped caregivers access fitness facilities, as well as attend programs and special events at the Bold Centre. Child Mind gives caregivers peace of mind that their child is cared for in a high-quality environment.

The Community Access Bussing Service helped people move around our community, both for Paratransit users or 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.

In 2023, FCSS saw 495 registered families and adults/seniors, which meant 1,372 unique users of their programs and services. We also have many residents using Community Access Bussing Services without needing to register by name. The number of

FCSS TESTIMONIALS

“Our community is so lucky to have the awesome FCSS team. If my life wasn’t so overrun already, I’d apply to join the team in a heartbeat. You are all so considerate and fun.”

Parent Sessions

“Thanks for putting on wonderful classes that your program does—I love learning new things and socializing with other parents. It is always something fun and enjoyable!”

Book Club

“I truly appreciated this program. The book was such a gift and the discussions around it were even richer than I could have imagined.”

“Thanks so much! I love the book, and there have been some great discussions. It’s so nice to know that we’re not alone in this parenting thing.”

NextGen Volunteers

“It’s so weird how, when you help people, you are the one who ends up feeling good.”

Teen Chillzone

“Both my boys are grateful for the ability to be able to go to these kinds of things. Truly, it’s a blessing to our family!”

“My son has really struggled with feeling alone since we moved here and this is really helping him to feel better about life.”

Teen Skillzone

“We are the ones who are grateful that there is such an amazing outlet for the teens in Lac La Biche and the surrounding communities. The creativity that goes into each and every activity is truly amazing, as well as the hard work, attentiveness and patience that you and your coworkers put into it.”

times that people participated in programs or used services was:

• Family Resource Network: 1,709

• Family & Community Support Services Programs: 13,183

• Child Minding: 4,667

• Community Access Service: 15,434

This is a total of 33,993 visits to or uses of programs and services.

Other regular FCSS services include updating information for the community services directory (the blue pages in the phone book published by the local newspaper) and the pocket directory. Information and referral services are a natural extension of our everyday work, whether through a special event, conversation with a citizen new to the County, gifting a Welcome Home Kit, or a phone call about services available in the County.

In addition to regular programs, FCSS conducted a Housing and Service Needs Estimation in partnership with the Rural Development Network. This is the third time that Lac La Biche County has participated in this project, and the intent is to understand the number of people we have who are not able to access services or may be in need of housing supports. In the long term, we trust this information will support projects related to improving access to housing in our community.

PARKS & FACILITIES

Staff maintained and improved County parks, buildings, and other open spaces throughout 2023.

Notable Parks & Facilities projects that were completed included the Birch Grove playground, Bayview Beach playground, and the Jubilee Park half-court small rink. Staff also provided significant support to Phase 1 of the McArthur Park Redevelopment Project.

LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTRE

Staff trained 490 people in a variety of law enforcement and first responder-related training. This is a record for the County’s Law Enforcement Training Centre.

The department delivered two Community Peace Officer Induction Programs in 2023 that saw a total of 28 recruits successfully complete training and become Alberta’s newest Community Peace Officers. This is the first time since 2020 that we have conducted two Community Peace Officer Induction Program courses within a calendar year.

We received accreditation with the Emergency Vehicle Operators Course to instruct first responders on how to operate emergency vehicles. We are the only non-provincial organization to achieve accreditation for our program.

In 2023, Alberta Environment’s Enforcement Branch selected Lac La Biche County as their training location.

Training staff assisted Enforcement Services in 2023 in the following areas:

• Issued 321 violation tickets for provincial and municipal offences.

• Attended and conducted 476 complaint investigations.

• Conducted 681 traffic stops.

Members of Council, Administration and the design and construction team officially break ground on the three-year McArthur Park Redevelopment project.

Left: New Birch Grove playground

Right: New half-court rink in Jubilee Park

COUNTY SUPPORT

In 2023, 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 & Community Support Services (FCSS).

• Does not include grants or funding issued 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

AD-HOC FUNDING GRANTS

COMMUNITY CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANTS

RECREATIONAL/CULTURAL OPERATING GRANT PROGRAM

*Includes power costs paid directly by the County.

OTHER MAJOR FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS

Venice Picnic.

Plamondon Mud Bogs.

2023 in numbers

389,233 visits to the Bold Centre in 2023.

107 individuals used Fair Access Fee Assistance to stay active.

398 March Madness and 338 Ninety-Nine Days of Summer

Bold Centre member promotions sold.

The County received 2,952 tonnes of recycling at landfills. 123 tonnes of recycling were received via curbside pickup.

Staff replaced and installed

185 road signs.

2,738 traffic stops and 204 foot patrols were performed by Peace Officers.

Utility Services replaced 500 metres of aging steel natural gas line with polyethylene line.

8,000+ rentals of Bold Centre sports and recreation equipment.

100 development permits, worth $38 million in new development, and 12 subdivision files were processed.

Staff mowed 2,145 km of roadside vegetation in County ditches.

59.62 tonnes of organic waste was received at the County’s new compost pad.

195 kg of organic waste was diverted from landfills via the CORE program.

Peace Officers have responded to 2,640 complaints.

Fire Services responded to 882 calls.

$1.6 million in property was saved due to structural firefighting response.

Staff graded 912 km of gravel roads and placed 46,000 tonnes of gravel over 214 km.

Child Mind saw 4,667 participants.

Across 6 sessions of Dad and Me

351 participants attended.

291 seniors received FCSS’ help to file taxes.