The Community
Press
se o o G w o Sn stival tion di Fe
ir E n e v Sou
INS
IDE
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115 Years of Telling YOUR Story
Volume 115 Issue 40
www.thecommunitypress.com
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 s
GRUMPY GRUMPY GEESE GRUMPY
GEESE
GEESE
Late lingering snow finally easing up thanks Late lingering snow toLate warmer weather snow lingering
finally easingfinally up thanks easing up thanks to warmer weather to warmer weather
JOSEF HARTUNG PHOTOS
You know how it starts... first someoneʼs ʻbeaking off,ʼ then they are showing off, then it inevitably leads to a confrontation, which in this case, likely isnʼt going to end well for the goose whoʼs trying to drop in on this pair. Returning geese are used to ice-covered ponds, but this year, a combination of snow and ice welcomed the territorial animals.
Planned Victim Services redesign by province not popular with existing rural VSUs Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Flagstaff Victim Services Unit (VSU) has served the community for a long time; helping people who are victims or crime. The unit has a board of directors, and a paid coordinator, a part-time administrative position, and then volunteer advocates who are the ones who interact with victims of crime. Based out of the Killam RCMP Detachment, Flagstaff VSU work closely with local police. But if the Province has its way, that local, individualized service will go away. The Ministry of Justice stated last fall that it had a mandate to “undertake a victims of crime engagement and changes to the financial benefits
program and service delivery model.” Back in 2020 and 2021, a review with 40 engagement sessions, with a total of 150 stakeholder groups was held. MLA’s heard there were gaps in service and supports in some areas. From these sessions, recommendations for change were made, and the province announced earlier this year how it had taken the report to create a new delivery model. The report recommends that a new, sustainable service delivery model “that reflects nuances for rural, urban, and metro communities but ensures equitable service for victims” be created. However that same recommendation recommended a zone approach for Alberta municipalities with populations fewer than 15,000; which is most of rural Alberta, and a large majority of all
municipalities in the province. Finally, the recommendation noted that these ‘delivery zones’ should align with police service delivery regions instead of municipal boundaries as much as possible. At present, there are 42 community based organizations and 73 police-based victim services units delivering services to Alberta, according to that report. Another potential troubling recommendation was to not “rely overly on volunteer advocates in place of an adequate number of paid staff.” Other recommendations had less to do with delivery models as with standards
See VICTIM SERVICES P10
Page 10 - The Community Press, Wednesday, April 12, 2023
County takes three-pronged approach to feedback Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Flagstaff County has a public participation policy to engage its ratepayers when developing the annual budget and business plan. Assistant CAO Jim Fedyk says, “I believe the County has tried a number of different things in the past with varying success.” This year Council has tried something new. It’s a three-pronged approach to encourage engagement, says Fedyk The first and most obvious to ‘Press readers has been the survey. Fedyk says, “We developed a survey that can be completed both online and by hard copy.” He says the goal of the survey is to ask a question of each service level of various departments. “Are you happy with the current level or service or do you want to enhance or decrease? If you want to increase the service level, does it mean enough to you to pay more in taxes, or would you prefer to take funding from other areas?” The survey has been popular, to date they have received over 125 re-
Victim Services Continued from Front of delivery. “Relationships are key,” stressed those stakeholders who were consulted. “Strong relationships, collaboration, and partnerships are working within victim serving organizations.” However, respondents were not unanimous when voicing a preference for future governance structure. It should be noted that most stakeholders “prefer to maintain the current model with increased funding levels.” The report goes on to say, “Many believe, that other than funding levels, the current model is effective.” Citing a need for increased consistency and coordination, stakeholders suggested that the province lay the groundwork and foster opportunities for victim services units to network and collaborate, with more consistent and widely available training for volunteers and boards. Stakeholders emphasized that policebased victim services see a great deal of benefit from co-locating in police detachments, like Killam’s VSU, and consider this partnership a strength, the report says. Stakeholders agreed that no one test concept of a delivery model would work everywhere, “the model needs to recognize the unique needs in each area.” When the Zonal approach was introduced as a potential method of delivering victim services, the key concern was that current paid staff members would
sponses. The second prong is a ‘Brainstorm Board.’ Fedyk says this has just been released on the Flagstaff County website (flagstaff.ab.ca). “The concept here is to get new ideas for services that citizens want, or ideas on how we can increase a certain level of service. Individuals can ‘like’ their favourite ideas.” The final prong isn’t a new concept for Flagstaff County, it’s an Open House on Wed., April 19 from 5-7 p.m. at the county’s administration building in Sedgewick. But staff have some new ideas up their sleeves. “The theme of this evening is prioritizing our levels of service. “We will be using an interactive software which provides us with a mini online ranking survey, with the software determining priority ranking from first to last.” Fedyk says each department will have its own survey, which will take just a couple of minutes to complete. Flagstaff County will also be serving a free meal to encourage attendance. Fedyk says that each stage, or
prong, comes with an incentive; that being tickets to three different popular concerts. The survey participants will be entered to win a pair of Shania Twain concert tickets. The Brainstorm Board will pick the person who came up with the idea with the most likes and reward them with Blink-182 concert tickets. At the Open House, completing the mini, department surveys will equal an entry into a draw for Nickelback concert tickets. “In developing the plan this year, staff did some research and found a common theme to having successful public engagement was to provide different types of engagement, incentivize participation and piggyback on other attractions. “The concert tickets as incentives just kind of worked out since these concerts are all coming up rather quickly one after another, and they are all technically sold out and in great demand. It was just a kind of hip way to try to attract some interest.” There will be other fun activities at the Open House, including an up-
close look at some newer public works and ag services equipment. “Throughout this process we are trying to educate our residents about the services we provide. “The open house will provide more information on each department’s services which is a necessity if we expect attendees to rank them. “All of this information will be assembled and presented to Council either at or prior to their 2024 budgetary deliberations in June. “The great think about the survey and the priority ranking software is it pulls on the data together neatly and without much effort and provides Council with some really good analysis of the overall responses. “Ultimately Council just wants to get enough participation so that the results are meaningful. “If the residents show us through their participation level that we are on track, we can expand on what we are doing next year and keep taking it in a new direction.” The survey can be found in this paper. Be sure to fill it out and mail or drop off at the county office for a chance to win Shania Twain tickets.
compete for a few roles available, likely not in their present communities, and that smaller communities would be ‘swallowed up’ by bigger communities, with local, rural victims actually losing access to local services. Instead of multiple boards throughout the province, there would be one board for each of four zones. The zones would mimic the present RCMP policing zones. Each zone VSU would have one executive director, then under them, area managers, human resources personnel, financial and legal resources, and under them, VS staff and volunteers. The zonal model will service the smaller communities, like Flagstaff County, across the province, replacing 62 victim services organizations currently funded under the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General’s department. Under a different, Municipal Employer Approach, recommended for municipalities over 15,000 population, the municipality would provide funding, under them would be the RCMP and a municipal staff manager. Under those two, a VSU program lead, who supervised VSU workers and volunteer advocates. The latter approach most resembles the existing model, except for the funding, which comes mostly from the Province, but in Flagstaff County, is supplemented by the County. It’s interesting to note that there were 238 respondents to the survey, with 80 of those being from either Calgary or Edmonton.
As Flagstaff County is considered to be part of the RCMP East Central zone, a new victim services organization would likely be based in St. Paul. Existing VSU units question whether their current volunteers would be willing to take on the role under a new model that covers such a large area. Rural municipalities and detachments have questioned whether the zone model will or can replace those regions, very much like Flagstaff County, being served very well under the existing model. There’s no word on whether smaller municipalities will have an opportunity to opt out of the zonal model in favour of a regional municipal model. What is clear is that many of the municipalities affected by the new ‘zonal delivery model’ are concerned about losing services, or having service levels drop when those services are removed from the direct community they live and work in, in favour of a centralized model. It was recently brought up to Premier Smith at the Rural Municipalities convention. And no there is a movement started by non-elected individuals to ask the Province to take another look at the zonal model it wants to adopt. A petition against the proposed changes says, “With these changes scheduled to take effect April 1, 2024, the boards governing the more than 60 registered victim services units are being forced to con-
sider the future of their organizations this year. “They have been informed that they will not be permitted to work in police detachments as part of this redesign, and will not have access to case files to support their work with victims of crime. Their funding agreements with the Government of Alberta will not be extended once the redesign is implemented. “As well, the redesign process will change and sever many important relationships. Existing partnerships with law enforcement, the courts, and other service providers will be redefined, and relationships between current victim service units and volunteers, donors, and sponsors will end. “Volunteers and workers will all need to reapply for their positions if they want to continue helping people who have experienced crime, abuse, loss, tragedy, and trauma.” The petition agrees with much of what is already in the report, but lands on a model that improves victim services delivery by establishing service standards, offering more training opportunities, requires VSU reporting and accountability, but also one that works with existing relationships, and is funded sustainably. The petition web site contains links to the report and recommendations, as well as news stories from around the province regarding the proposed changes.
Web address for Victim Services Unit petition: https://www.change.org/p/save-victim-service-units-in-alberta
The Community Press, Wednesday, April 12, 2023 - Page 11
Women’s Conference looking to be another hit Leslie Cholowsky Editor
In 2022, the Flagstaff Women’s Conference took on a new format. In the initial return to an inperson event, having celebrated virtually in 2021, the demand for tickets left organizers with no doubts that the event would be a success. Building on that success, the 2023 Women’s Conference, incidentally, its 19th year, will keep much of the 2022 formatting, and will once again feature headliner Debra deWaal. “Back by popular demand,” says, Flagstaff Adult Learning Coordinator Nanette Jones, who has been part of the organizing committee for nearly as long as the event has existed. “This year Deb’s presentation is called ‘Sole Motivation - Putting your best foot forward.’ Jones says the session will talk about leadership, and about building a stronger community. “Last year we received all positive feedback on Debra, and she seemed like a winning choice for this year.” Last year the traditional cracker barrel sessions were replaced by four presenters, and Jones says that, too, was popular among attendees. The event will once again feature a fashion show, and a trade fair, “We’re booking vendors now.”
PREPARE FOR SEEDING
Kris Miller
Debra deWaal The event will take place the last Thursday of April, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “We want to make sure moms can come and still be able to pick up their kids after school,” Jones says. Another popular change last year was the box lunch. “It really streamlined service, and offered our participants more time to browse our vendor’s tables.” Jones isn’t spilling all the beans about the presenters, but she’s sure they’ll be a hit. The event has always been free to newcomers to Flagstaff County, so if that’s you, make sure to get in touch with Flagstaff Adult Learning in Killam and get your free ticket. Jones says ticket sales
are going well this year so far. “We have tried to listen to the feedback we received last year, which was actually phenomenal. “We try to change it up, introducing new features, and keep the day fresh and interesting. It’s a committee effort,” says Jones.
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April 2023 Meetings
Council Meetings Flagstaff County Co ouncil M Meetings eetings aare re conducted the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month commencing at 9 a.m. unless u otherwise planned. Council and Committ ommittee meeting agendas aare re aavvailable at the County’’ss websit ebsiite te at: flagstafff fff...ab.ca/c .ca/council/mee .ca/ council/meeetings-ande minuutes tes
780-384-4100 1-877-387-4100 Email: Stay Connected with Us:
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Closed Noon - 1 p.m.)
Address: e
12435 TToownship w Road 4442 PP..O. Box 35 358 Sedgew e wi wic icck, AB T0B 4C00
flagstaff.ab.ca
The Community Press, Wednesday, April 12, 2023 - Page 17
Invitation to Tender
Tender for the Sale of 1 Tax Recovery Property SEALED TENDERS, marked “Sale of Property Tender” will be received until 11:00 a.m. MST on April 19, 2023 at the FLASTAFF COUNTY Administration Office, 12435 TWP Rd 442, Box 358, Sedgewick, AB T0B 4C0.
#1: Property is located in the Hamlet of Strome at 5012 49th Street, totaling 6000 square feet with buildings. The property is to be sold as is with no warranties. Legal Description Plan RN67; Block 3, Lot 35 • Tender opening will follow immediately after tender closing at the Flagstaff County Administration Office in Sedgewick, AB. • Tender must be accompanied by a Bank Draft or Certified Cheque in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the Tender Price, made payable to Flagstaff County, and will be returned if the Tender is not accepted. • Any submission, revision or modification made by email or facsimile to the Flagstaff County Office will NOT be considered. • The highest or any tender many not necessarily be accepted. • The County reserves the right to refuse or reject any or all tenders. • Tenders may not be withdrawn after the Tender Closing and will be irrevocable and open for acceptance by the County for a period of thirty (30) days following the end of the day of the Tender Closing. • The Tender results will be presented to County Council for approval at the April 26, 2023, Council Meeting.
Invitation to Tender Daysland Grader Shed Concrete Floor Replacement PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR BID ON THE FOLLOWING FORM IN A SEALED ENVELOPE MARKED “SALE OF PROPERTY TENDER” Bid:
_____________________________________ (+ GST)
Name:
_____________________________________
Complete Address:
______________________________________
Phone Number:
______________________________________
Signature:
______________________________________
For further information please contact: Lisa Bonnett, Tax/Utility Clerk, 780-384-4132
SEALED TENDERS marked “2023 DAYSLAND GRADER SHED TENDER” will be received until 11:00:00 a.m. MST on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023, at the FLAGSTAFF COUNTY Administration Office, 12435 TWP RD 442, Sedgewick, AB T0B 4C0.
For more information, please visit: www.flagstaff.ab.ca/ opportunities/tenders.
Page 18 - The Community Press, Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Radiant Harmony preparing to perform in Daysland June Kurrik Radiant Harmony has been practicing on Wednesday evenings at the Daysland United Church in preparation for the Spring Concert being held at the Palace Theatre on Sunday, April 30. There will also be a dress rehearsal and concert at Providence Place on Thursday, April 27. Members of this choir commute from Round Hill to Rosalind and from Camrose to Lougheed. Sunbeam Drop-in Senior’s Centre has been busy in March. They’re open on Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m.
to noon with floor curling, card games, and fellowship. Members enjoy coffee and goodies, with the best prices in Daysland. Goodies vary depending on who is making refreshments that day. The Centre held its annual general meeting on Wednesday, March 8, with new executives elected by acclamation. Flu-like symptoms followed 48 hours later to the majority of those in attendance. We share the good stuff, and sometimes the not-so-good. Floor curling is coming up on Thursday, April 27. There’s room for two more teams! Call 780-374-3514 if interested.
Iron Creek Vet Hospital is wishing everyone a safe and successful calving season!
(780) 384-0003 • 24 Hour Emergency Service • #8 Spruce Drive P.O. Box 174
Sedgewick, AB. T0B 4C0 www.ironcreekvet.ca
Invitation to Tender Mazure Pit Crushing and Stockpiling SEALED TENDERS marked “CR-02-2023 MAZURE PIT CRUSHING and STOCKPILING TENDER” will be received until 11:00:00 a.m. MST on Friday, May 5th, 2023, at the FLAGSTAFF COUNTY (main reception desk) office, 12435 TWP RD 442, Sedgewick, AB T0B 4C0.
For more information, please visit: www.flagstaff.ab.ca/opportunities/tenders