young girl gets her face painted at Andrew Canada Day
Jana Semeniuk photo.
Andrew Councillor Chris Lupul smiles as he grills dozens of hotdogs for the Village’s Canada Day Celebration. Jana Semeniuk photo.
Above: Awaiting parade candy in Chipman. Mundare float in Chipman parade. Right: Candy conqueror. Jana Semeniuk photos.
Al Klassen, of the Bruderheim Fire Department, pours and cooks pancakes at the annual Bruderheim Firefighters Canada Day pancake breakfast. Klassen has been cooking the pancakes for this event for the past 23 years. John Mather photo.
Members of the Bruderheim Fire Dept. serving breakfast. Melissa MacIntosh-Young photo.
Concern about church tour website sparks conversation
BY JOHN MATHER
There is some concern in Lamont County, amongst church goers, that the County’s website promoting church tours in the County, could also encourage potential thieves of where churches are that nmight be ripe for thefts.
Division Five Councillor Neil Woitas brought the issue up at the June 24 council meeting.
“I’ve been getting lots of calls from parishioners wanting to get their churches off the County website,” he said.
“You can go on there
and see inside the church and everything in there.
“There have been five churches broken into recently, the most recent one near Skaro.”
The parishioners feel the thieves are looking at the web site and seeing what paintings and other items might have value if they broke into the church, Woitas explained.
Reeve David Diduck said he thought if a church wanted to be removed from the tour web site that they sent a request to the County and it would be removed.
Police nab impaired driver doing 150 km/hr in rainstorm
BY JOHN MATHER
Police witnessed a driver speeding on Highway 16 eastbound near Range Road 193 on June 20 travelling at 150 km/hr during a heavy rain storm.
After apprehending the driver, the Fort Saskatchewan Crime Reduction Unit police found the driver, an Edmonton resident, to be impaired by alcohol. Her vehicle was impounded for 30 days and she received a $1,200 fine.
RCMP encourages the public to report suspected impaired or dangerous drivers.
“In Alberta, if you suspect someone is driving under the influence, you should call 911 immediately,” police said in a release.
“When reporting, if safe to do so, provide your location, a description of the vehicle (including license plate, make, model, and colour), the direction of travel to police.”
Chief Administrative Officer Peter Tarnawsky said there had been more than a 1,000 hits on the web site in the past 12 months, but he added the web site didn’t show the interior of the churches.
“That indicates people do view the web site,” he said.
He added the concept for the church tour website was to possibly “monetize it,” to make it a possible fundraiser for the churches.
“Very few of the churches are open obviously, but during the summer some people
might want to visit when they are open and view the inside.”
Councillor Aaron Wick suggested the council
accept the discussion as information and if a church requested to be removed from the website, then just take them
off. He then made a motion for council to accept it as information and it was carried.
The Lamont Leader (Lamont, Alberta),
Opinion
Who determines what is truth?
BY JOHN MATHER
Years ago, I joined several friends for a long weekend gathering at a cabin north of Edmonton.
Sometime during the revelry, one of my friends, and one must remember we are all journalists, launched into a tirade about “What is Truth?”
That is a very deep question and one that still lingers in my memory to this day.
So as we celebrate Canada’a birthday this week let’s examine truth and why some people want to stifle it.
In last week’s Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills by-election Alberta Republican Party leader and candidate Cameron Davies was touted to be the best thing on the horizon for Alberta’s separatist movement, and in the central Alberta hot bed of separatism he should be an easy winner.
Right?
After all, the constituency under a different name and in a different era had elected Alberta’s only separatist MLA Gordon Kessler to one term in the Legislature in the ’80s.
But on June 23, Davies was trounced by UCP candidate Tara Sawyer who received 9,363 votes for 61.1 per cent of the vote.
Surprisingly the NDP candidate Bev Toews came in second with 3,061 votes and 30 per cent of the vote.
Where was Davies?
Well he was a distant third gathering 2,705 votes for 17.7 per cent of the vote.
Which pretty much sums up the state of Alberta Separatism.
While there is a disgruntled minority mumbling about in the corners of coffee shops and taverns, the majority seemingly want to remain in Canada.
Yet our Premier Danielle Smith shouts to Ottawa, even after the election, the threat of separatism is at an all time high in this province and NDP leader Naheed Nenshi screams in his victory speech at Edmonton strathcona that Smith is a separatist.
All true?
I certainly disagree with both statements and would love to know what they are based on. But unfortunately, our mainstream media no longer asks these questions.
CONTINUED
They prefer to run with the titillating sound bites.
Which brings me to Ken Chapman. He is the founder of Reboot Alberta, a blog where people can discourse on how they feel about our Alberta and Federal politics.
Chapman, whom I met through the Alberta Party many years ago, is a smart fellow. For the most part I agree with many of his stances while I disagree with some others.
But he’s doing something weird when it comes to separatism. He hooked up, along with former Conservative Thomas Lukaszuk, to get up a petition to show solid support for Alberta remaining in Canada.
They are doing this to try and get into a tug of war with the separatists who are also trying to get a petition to host a referendum on separation.
I have no problem with either of these petitions moving forward and I wouldn’t sign either one.
I’m not a separatist.
But I do agree the Trudeau regime did much to destroy national unity across Canada, yet I’m willing to give PM Mark Carney a chance to reverse some of the Trudeau stupidity.
But recently Chapman posted an email stating he had been concerned about a separatist meeting or town hall being held in the German Club of Lethbridge.
He expressed his concern to the club and in a reply the club said in part, the club had concerns with the meeting and “after reviewing the matter we have cancelled the event and we at the GCCL (don’t) condone any organization that promotes any type of radicalization.”
In a separate blog post June 22, Chapman writes, “individual members of the Reboot Alberta community are contacting private and public venues renting facilities for the Separatist Alberta Prosperity Project events.
“Their message is direct, as proud Albertans and loyal Canadians are disappointed that the venues are enabling efforts
to have Alberta separated from Canada.” Chapman goes on to write Reboot Alberta members “are expressing disappointment that the venues are enabling the spread of misinformation on Alberta’s relationship with and within Canada.”
And this is where I have a problem. Ken, what is truth and what is misinformation?
Should I take Chapman’s word that the people hosting these separatist meetings are spreading misinformation?
Or is Chapman spreading the misinformation?
As a journalist the rule of thumb is three separate sources telling you the same thing constitutes a true fact.
But still I believe it is up to each individual to do their own research to find the facts and seek out the truth.
I would expect that somewhere between the message of the separatists, and the message of Chapman and his pal Lukaszuk, on the reasons and value of remaining in Canada lies the truth.
But by trying to suppress free speech of those separatists from sharing their message is just wrong.
Let the people decide what is the truth. Chapman and his worry about separatists is certainly allowed.
I’m sure many have concerns.
But only by attending their meetings, hearing their message, attending a pro Canada rally and hearing that message and then doing your own research and talking amongst your friends and neighbours will you arrive and what should be the truth.
And as the election in Olds-DidsburyThree Hills showed nationalism won out.
Despite the claims of NDP leader Naheed Nenshi, Premier Danielle Smith has never endorsed separatism.
And a smart person like Ken Chapman shouldn’t be trying to have meetings, so people can state their opinions and rationale for a stand cancelled.
We live in a democracy and what Chapman suggests is more like something you would see in a dictatorship.
Let regular Albertans decide what they want.
They aren’t stupid people.
Kerry Anderson Publisher John Mather Reporter
Jana Semeniuk Reporter Crystal Moren
BY HAZEL ANAKA
Maybe it’s time for a round-up of topics as we cross the half way mark in 2025. Didn’t the past six months fly by in double time? So, here are some quick odds and ends, dribs and drabs, bits and bobs of things that have flickered across my mind lately.
The other day I attended my aunt’s funeral at Park Memorial on 97 St and 111 Avenue with internment at Evergreen Memorial Park in the Manning area of Edmonton. I think they do a pretty good job of directing traffic in the parking lot to facilitate easy departure when it’s time to leave the funeral home and this busy intersection. We were all given Funeral Procession stickers for our windshields. The stickers have pretty skimpy and out-dated info on the back of them. It says turn on your headlights and
FROM WHERE I SIT: Some Practical Info
not much more. With virtually every vehicle having day-running lights, how does that set us apart from every other vehicle on the streets? It doesn’t so most of us had our flashing hazard lights on.
The way my brain is wired I see situations and automatically begin thinking of ways to improve them. As the procession turned into a broken up, slow-going boondoggle that took absolutely forever, I had to force myself to chill out. However, in the buffet line I did confirm with one of the funeral directors what I’ve always known to be true.
Here is the skinny on how funeral processions are supposed to work---especially in the city. When the guy at the funeral home stops the street traffic so we can exit, exit in a swift, efficient, smooth move. Cars in a procession Do Not have to stop at red lights, let side traffic in, yield or otherwise break rank. We are to remain close to the guy in front of us and ensure we all stay together. No onlooker should be unsure what’s going on. Liken it to a parade. Parade floats don’t stop at lights. It’s one smooth continuous flow.
When a car stops at a red light, the chain is broken and everyone behind that vehicle is now separated from the
larger procession. The problem is further compounded at every other yellow or red traffic light if people hesitate instead of acting in confidence. As it was, many vehicles broke away to drive their own route. This right is mentioned in the drivers’ manual according to the funeral director. And you needn’t have a police escort to make this true. I told this man that it should be common practice to say something about how processions work at the end of the funeral just as someone announces the location of internment and the invitation for lunch. Easy peasey.
I have finally finished the three baby journals I
was commissioned to make so I can begin something new. I’ll be trusting my intuition as to what that should be. In the meantime, I’m forced to clean up the working mess I've made. I need to stash away the remaining supplies in a compact and careful way to avoid damage to anything and to make finding them again easy. This is not for the faint of heart. But I am eager to see my desktop again.
Roy and I will finally be able to tackle the jungle outside. We need to remove several dead trees and others who’ve outgrown their rightful space. Tree removal, especially with a tractor is dangerous work. Roy
From the files of the Lamont Leader
Lamont and Area
LAMONT UNITED CHURCH
5306 - 51 Ave., Lamont, AB 780-895-2145
Rev. Deborah Brill SUNDAY SERVICES 11:15 AM There will be no Church Services during the month of July. Services will resume August 10th.
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had a near miss several years ago that could’ve killed him in addition to the damage inflicted on the tractor itself. A few weeks ago, I heard the story of a man who needed reconstructive surgery to his face when the chain he was using snapped. I don’t recall if he was blinded in one eye. Ironically, he knew the chain was a bad idea but sometimes in haste we take shortcuts. Heavy duty towing straps have largely replaced chains in this type of situation. Even they can be dangerous if the clevis breaks so doing a proper wrap is essential. Bystanders, foremen, and busy bodies should also stand well out of the way to avoid being hit by a broken chain or the falling tree.
We can officially break out the champagne. The Anaka homestead finally surpassed the one-inch mark of rainfall this year. Woohoo. For weeks, the only rainfall we saw was in the forecast or miles from where we live and farm. It should be a saving grace.
I hope you found some practical info to use in your own life whether you’re in a funeral procession or pulling out a tree, from where I sit.
April 23, 2013 issue of the Lamont Leader: The grain elevator on Highway 15 at Mundare came tumbling down in a demolition that only took a few days under the watchful eyes of locals and former customers.
Loophole means minors can still access inappropriate books
BY JANA SEMENIUK
Alberta’s Education Minister, Demetrios Nicolaides, announced on May 26 a crack down on books with inappropriate content made available to children through their school libraries, but did not address the loophole of public libraries housed inside public schools.
Nicolaides said parents brought forward several examples of books, mostly graphic novels, depicting story lines of child molestation, graphic sexual scenes and suicide, found in several Alberta division school libraries from kindergarten to grade 12. Examples of the shocking material can be found on the Alberta.ca website.
“As a parent, it is extremely concerning to me to find out that books explicitly depicting sexual acts are available to students in some school libraries,” said Nico-
laides. “We are going to do something about this serious issue by consulting Albertans and creating standards to ensure students do not have access to age-inappropriate materials in school libraries.”
A survey following the announcement received just over 77,000 responses with parents of school aged children making up the majority of respondents at 48 percent. A large majority believed explicit content should be restricted based on age/grade at 41 percent while 30 percent believed it should be removed entirely, and 17 percent would like to see the explicit material available to all students.
A small number, 12 percent, would like to see parental permission for access to the disturbing material.
While many school divisions have online library catalogs to see what material is avail-
NW 23-50-17 W4M
Being 160 Acres M/L
Starting Price: $200,000.00
This quarter has 40 cultivated acres seeded back to grass using the Duelmaster blend from Nutrien. A new fence has been installed and there is a 5-acre non-habitat area on the quarter that can be used as a potential development site in the future.
able to students, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) does not.
In light of the minister’s announcement, EIPS Superintendent Sandra Stoddard sent an email to families on June 2 to reassure them that none of the books referenced in the minister’s announcement were in any EIPS schools.
“Collections are curated in clear alignment with the developmental stages of Division students. It’s important to note the resources referenced in the Government of Alberta’s news release are not part of library collections in our schools,” said Stoddard.
Although the school collections may not contain the concerning material, the public library collection does.
In terms of the unique arrangement where a public library is used and housed inside a public school, Nicolaides said, during a media
townhall on June 17, that Alberta has 55 schools that are in this category. While his Ministry of Education has jurisdiction over school libraries, only the Minister of Municipal Affairs can interfere with a public library.
When asked by the Lamont Leader whether he would address the glaring loophole, Nicolaides said he’s had some preliminary talks with the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Dan Williams, but did not say whether an actual plan was discussed.
“Our general intent is to make sure that graphic material is not available to underage, elementary children,” said Nicolaides. “I don't want to speak on his behalf, but I think he supports that direction, and I'll be very happy to talk more with him as well.”
Lamont High School, grades 7-12, is one such school that incorporates
a public library inside their building, containing both school and public library collections of material.
Emails to both the Lamont Library Board Chair, Kelly VanDeurzen, and EIPS Director of Communications Laura McNabb confirmed there are no restrictions on material in the public library side for any student, however a public library card for minors must be obtained with parental permission.
Additionally, if a book is not on the shelf of the public library, it can be attained through the library’s system, with a request and brought into the library.
A quick online search of the Public Library’s collection revealed all of the books addressed by Minister Nicolaides are available through the public library system even thought they may not be on the shelf at Lamont.
Additionally, one book not on Nicolaides list but causing concern for some parents, is on the shelf at Lamont High. The book titled ‘This Book is Gay’, written by Juno Dawson, contains graphic drawings and detailed descriptions of sexual acts.
When EIPS Director of Communications Laura McNabb was asked by the Lamont Leader if EIPS is concerned children could be accessing inappropriate material through the public library side of the school, McNabb said EIPS would not comment.
Additionally, both the public and school libraries have policies in place where material can be challenged by anyone concerned and possibly removed from the collection. Van Deurzen confirmed no one has ever challenged a book in the public library collection. Continued on Page 14
NW 19-48-17 W5M Being 158.97 Acres M/L
Starting Price: $320,000.00
This quarter is pastureland and fully fenced. There is a 5-acre non-habitat area on the quarter that can be used as a development site in the future
#3 Selling as a 1/2
SW 25-55-15 W4M Being 157.99 Acres M/L & the NW 25-55-15 W4M Being 154.09 Acres M/L
Starting Price: $500,000.00
This half section had approximately 160 cultivated acres that were seeded down to Grass (Meadow Bromegrass, Alfalfa, Tall Fescue, Slender Wheat Grass, Greenleaf Pubescent Wheatgrass).
There is a 5-acre non-habitat area on both quarters that can be developed in the future
Parcels of Land for Ducks Unlimited in Lamont County
Parcel #1
Parcel #2
Parcel
Orphan Well Association wants County to ease road bonds
BY JOHN MATHER
Cliff Pybus, land stakeholder coordinator with the Orphan Well Association of Alberta appeared virtually before Lamont Council June 24 to share information regarding how many orphan wells were being decommissioned within the County and why the County road use bonds could affect their decommissioning.
“Our mandate is to decommission oil and gas structures and reclaim the land to its original state in a safe, principled, and cost efficient manner,” he said.
“It’s important to recognize that the Orphan Well Association is a non-profit association,” he added. 'We are not a government organization but operate under the authority of the Alberta Energy Regulator.”
He told council the
association had the authority to go on to private property to clean up any abandoned well infrastructure.
He further explained the reasons these sites become abandoned was often through bankruptcies of the companies that installed them and then the Orphan Well Association was brought in the clean them up.
“As of today there are 8,153 sites to be reclaimed throughout Alberta,” Pybus said. He added the inventory was increasing as there was a decline in the oil and gas industry.
“In. Lamont County specifically we have seen a significant increase in liability due to the recent orphaning of the Sequoia assets as well as others”
“Currently we have 241 unique surface locations, both wells and facilities in the County,” he said. “This represents
$10.8 million in facilities and well abandoned liability.”
There is also $15.5 million in environmental liability.
“This includes remediation estimates, reclamation costs, your detailed site assessments and that could grow if we discover there is more remediation to be done onsite.”
He added there was an additional 228 pipeline segments crossing through quarters and sections connecting all the sites to distribution points.
“This represents $1.2 million in pipeline decommissioning liabilities,” he added.
He said until a reclamation certificate is received by the land owners, they are unable to use the land for any crop production or development until the OWA does its closure work.
He said the OWA works with counties, forestry officials and other stakeholders to get these sites cleaned up across the province.
He then said if monies are spent on road bonds rather than closure work it slows the pace that his organization can do the clean ups.
“Under the current road bond regime it is $10,000 per kilometre of road used,” he said.
“If we use five kilometres for roads for each site clean up, multiply that by 241 sites and we're looking at more than $12 million in road bonds potentially,” he stated.
He said this could force the reduction of 44 per cent of the field work in Lamont County, that 44 per cent representing the percentage of their total cleanup budget for the County.
“That would drag the
closure costs and clean up through multiple years as opposed to getting in there and getting this work done expediently.”
He said they would like to work with the County to ensure their prime contractors don’t damage the roads and he added, the OWA has a “pretty good track record.”
“There’s always a risk we could have an issue, but we’ve always shown we would repair any damages that are caused and endeavour to prevent any damage.”
He said they’d like to work towards the elimination of the road bonds in the County.
“We can’t do this if there is always a $10,000 road bond,” Pybus said.
“We would just turn towards other counties where we have a more favourable agreement.”
“We don’t do this to make money,” he said. “We’re non-profit and here to clean up these assets when there’s nobody else to do so.”
Continued on Page 14
BY JOHN MATHER
Lamont County has sent out a message that two water transfer stations in the County will be closed for annual valve maintenance in early July.
The down time will be less than a day.
The Heartland Truck Fill will be shut down July 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m and the Hilliard Truck Fill will be shut down July 8 from 1 p.m.
He added they would pay for any damages caused from their own funds.
Ag and 4-H making Bruderheim bloom
BY MELISSA MACINTOSH-YOUNG
Bruderheim is looking brighter thanks to a great team effort between the Bruderheim Agricultural Society and local 4-H members.
Together, they filled raised garden beds at the Walker school, with
colourful flowers and vegetables, adding a cheerful touch to public spaces. The raised beds were made possible through a community grant, and all the plants were donated. It was a real hands-on day, with volunteers of
all ages digging, planting, and working together to give the town a fresh splash of color.
The best part? The vegetables aren’t just for looks — 4-H members plan to harvest them in the fall for their culinary projects.
Report of suspicious man leads to huge drug bust
BY JANA SEMENIUK
An early morning report of a suspicious male in a parked car at a Fort Sasktchewan restaurant led to a drug bust with a street value of approximately $22,000.
Fort Saskatchewan RCMP responded to the call at 9:30 a.m. on June 26 and found a heavily intoxicated man “in care and control of a vehicle” while impaired by drugs.
While police attempted to arrest the man for possession of suspected fentanyl, the man resisted and assaulted the officer, who used a taser to subdue the man.
After a search of the man’s vehicle, police found 87 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of cocaine, 55 ml of GHB, six vials of steroids, in addition to a large amount of Canadian money and several edged weapons.
Samuel Blackmore, 35, of no fixed
address, received several charges including possession of cocaine, fentanyl, and steroids for the purpose of trafficking, possession of GHB, assault of a police officer, resisting arrest/obstruction, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and possession of property obtained by crime.
Blackmore was held for a judicial interim release hearing, where he was remanded into custody.
A large amount of drugs, valued at approximately $22,000 was seized after a report of a suspicious man in Fort
Location: Hwy #16 & Rge Rd 185 (1 Mile East of Hwy 834) South Side of the Road Phone: (780) 208-2508 Office
We are now accepting Listings for this Sale. Any items prelisted by July 8th will be included in our Sales Posters, Newspaper & Radio Advertising, Web Page & Social Media.
Selling equipment to all four Western provinces and the Northern USA.
4H members, Eleanor and Marigold McCullough, along with volunteers Danny McCullough and John Jacobs helped to plant flowers and vegetables at Walker School.
Photo by Melissa MacIntosh-Young
Saskatchewan on June 26.
Photo: supplied
Bruderheim Facebook post seeks to ease public hearing concerns
BY JOHN MATHER
In a rare posting Bruderheim
Chief Administrative Officer
Phylis Forsyth gave on Facebook an explanation of events leading up to, and an explanation of, the Town’s position on a public hearing to be held tonight July 2 at the firehall at 6 p.m
The hearing to discuss potential changes to a municipal development plan around the former hemp plant on the southeast side of the town has stirred up quite a bit of online controversy in the community.
Originally scheduled for early June, it had to be postponed when the Town was informed they hadn’t properly advertised the event so it couldn’t be held under the Alberta Municipal Act regulations.
Since then rumours have swirled about why the change in designation is taking place and the potential redevelopment of the industrial site.
This prompted the CAO to post the Facebook post on June 27.
“I have received multiple concerns from council and staff members,” she said. “They’re concerned about the information being posted on social media
“As they feel it is important to provide accurate information in a timely manner, I have put this information together for you.
“My intent is to not stir the pot, but possibly put some things into perspective.”
She said council and administration didn’t try to slide anything past the residents when the advertising for the original public meeting was done incorrectly.
“It was a mistake,” she posted. “Town staff like you, are not perfect. A mistake was made and corrective action were taken before it blew up on social media.”
She added perhaps that had been a good thing because of the number of residents now registered to speak the the public hearing.
She added individuals will get five minutes to
speak at the public hearing as outlined in the Town’s procedural bylaw.
“This,” she said. “Is not determined by the CAO.” Delegations, she added, are scheduled by the CAO.
She said the hearing was to discuss an amendment to the municipal development plan, the long term document that guides the municipality’s future growth and development.
She added it outlines desired land uses and development patterns within Bruderheim, acting as a “blueprint” for how the municipality will evolve over time.
She said it and a revamping of the land use bylaw are one of the large projects the administration is undertaking this year.
She posted a map of the current MDP and showed the hemp lands had been in two zones and she said this public hearing was to correct this.
She said the land should be zoned industrial south of the CN railroad and commercial on the north side of the track. She added the
entire area of the hemp site would be changed to industrial.
She said the Town had to protect the landowners’ information and respect their privacy as much as they would if the resident had an issue so no project specific information would be discussed at the meeting although she added the Town had received no applications for any projects.
Forsyth said when an application was received it would be assessed for environmental impacts, drainage plans, fire plans and development agreements would have to be entered into with all those concerns being addressed.
All larger projects, she added, would be required to have an open house for the public to share and receive information.
Forsyth added since the property had been unused for six months any permits and agreements would have to be arranged prior to any start up which would lead to a steep learning curve for the new council to undertake following the October municipal elections.
“What will our councillor gain from this,” she added. “Absolutely nothing, although they will get some grief from some of our residents.
“Any future development would add jobs, tax revenue for the Town plus stability and viability,” she stated.
Rumours have been circulating throughout the town on social media about a possible tire recycling plant and rail loading facility going into the former hemp lands and several posts have included links to a horrific tire fire in Hagersville, Ont. several years ago.
One questioner posted after watching the Forsyth video where those rumours had come from.
Polls have been posted online asking people if they would want a tire recycling facility in the community.
Others were totally opposed while some pointed out the benefits of such a plant and the benefits for recycled tire products, although it was stated traffic would become much heavier.
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CARD OF THANKS
The Viking Lions Club has been very generous in giving our Club a monetary donation, which we have used to cover the costs of utilizing the school gym for our program. The Viking Lions Club have supported us, along with many others for years. The Viking Gymnastics Club board, coaches, parents and youth athletes would like to thank you for your great support.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Celebration of Life for Darren James Young
Please join us as we gather to honor and remember the life of Darren James Young.
A Celebration of Life will be held on: Saturday, July 12th, 2025
2:00 PM
Royal Canadian Legion, Killam 5117 51 Ave, Killam, Alberta
This will be a time to share stories, memories, and reflect on his life. All are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that you consider a donation to a charity of your choice in Darren’s memory. 25/26p
COMING EVENTS
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Viking Municipal Library
Summer Hours starting July 2, 2025 Tues: 1 pm - 7 pm Wed: 10 am - 6 pm Thurs: 10 am - 6 pm
Crafty Creations Killam
CLASSIFIEDS
NOTICES. EVENTS. ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANKS. MEMORIALS. SALES. RENTALS. REAL ESTATE. GIVE AWAYS. & MORE!
FOR RENT
House for Rent in Viking. 2 bedroom. 55+. Available July 1. Call Rick for more information 780-385-4054 (between 7 and 9 p.m.)
25/26c
FINAL CLOSING OUT SALE
All stock except handmade goods40% off, Fabric bolts - whole bolt 50% off. Display cases also for sale. 23/24c
Viking Gymnastics Club will be having their registration open August 22, 2025 for our 8 week fall sessions. Please look for more information regarding registration closer to the above date. Don’t forget to sign your kids up fast as registration fills up quickly.
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Cloverlodge Stampede
Viking Alberta Saturday, July 12 4pm Rodeo Performance. Sunday, July 13 1pm Rodeo Performance Beer gardens, food both days. Grounds located in the NE Corner of Viking, AB near the Golf Course/Curling Rink. Come enjoy the fun!
26/27p
WORD SEARCH
Weekly Chuckle: Why did Earl bring a ladder to the bar? Because he heard drinks were on the house!
Large 2 bedroom suite for rent in Killam. Large, clean, quiet. Available August 1. Call Chuck at 780-263-7290 26tfnc
FOR SALE
Used tires; one 215/65 R16 with rim. One P215/70 R15 with rim. Two 215/55 R16 no rims. One 235/65 R16 with rim. One 195/70 R14. Two 215/55 R16 no rims. One P195/65 no rim. One 235/65 R16 rim only. Tent trailer, stove, fridge, sink, furnace, etc needs work. Phone 1-780-603-8812 with offers. TMP25-26
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Moving, these items must go. 15 cu. ft. freezer $150, 4 wall units $160, slate coffee and end tables $100, as well as a futon $50. Call 780-691-4355. TM26p
Registered Red & Black Angus bulls for sale. Call 780-986-9088 LL24/27
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Councillor Aaron Wick asked if there was a timeline to clear all the sites within Lamont County.
Pybus replied much depended on how much remediation had to be done at each site, but in terms of a standard clean up one season was needed to abandoned the well, and once that occurred it could take two to five days on site to remove any rigging, and then cement work and environmental work would have to be done.
“If there is no remediation, that meaning removal of any contaminated soils, it could be as short as three years. If a large scale remediation has to be done you could
be there for multiple growing seasons.”
“It could be three to five additional,” he added.
He then said a basic estimate would be three to five years with no issue with an additional three years of remediation is required.
Reeve David Diduck asked what sort of traffic did they bring to the well sites?
Pybus said typically you look at tandem trucks but “you need heavy yellow iron when you do the remediation work.”
He said in most situations they are under road weights.
Pybus said they would try to clean up 110 sites for down hole clean up, running three to five rigs at a time and would be in the County for three to five months.
Pybus said he had talked to public works who suggested the OWA
approach council. Pybus added public works had indicated to him they couldn’t waive any fees.
Diduck told him the road bonds were refundable, but Pybus said while the OWA realized this, it was still several millions of dollars in road bonds they would have to post before they could do any work.
“Frankly, we’re looking at having to move to another county and slow the pace in Lamont County,” he said.
He asked if possibly OWA could get a set road bond at the beginning of the year and it sits throughout the year, but they couldn’t afford several hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Pybus said they would like to see either the elimination of the road bonds or a nominal fixed amount.
Diduck said they would take the request under consideration. He
added he was was well aware of the need for the well remediation and he was surprised at the number of sites in the County.
“It’s a province-wide issue,” said Pybus.
“All we can do is be proactive and try to decommission the sites as quickly as we can.”
After Pybus left, council further discussed the issue.
Public Works Director Darby Dietz told council he didn’t think the association would want anything more than a fixed $100,000 bond.
He said he didn’t see the OWA starting any remediation work this year, but would be concentrating on decommissioning sites.
Council agreed they should work with the OWA and decided to see if they would post a $100,000 road bond, which would be refundable for the 2025 year.
Minors’ books access
Continued from Page 6
Meanwhile, although some critics of the Province’s efforts believe older children should have access to the material, Jeff Park, executive director for the Alberta Parent’s Union, said the line between appropriate and inappropriate, even for older children, is crystal clear.
“If a book could be understood by a reasonable person, or a teenager, which aren’t always the same thing, to encourage underage sex than it shouldn’t be accessible to teenagers,” he said, adding the availability of inappropriate material to minors through the public library is concerning.
Park said library boards and municipal councils need to examine their approach for allowing minors access to inappropriate material.
“We call on local library boards to make themselves aware of the overwhelming parental concern regarding these mature titles, take heed of their mandate as a service to families, and require parental consent before children access these titles during regular school hours,” said Park.
“If they do not, we call on municipal councils to be mindful of their obligation to families. And if they are not, we call on families to remember that when they vote for municipal councils and school trustees on October 20th.”
“Public libraries housed inside public schools are the most likely way children will encounter inappropriate material,” he said.
COUNCIL UPDATE – June 10 & June 24 Meetings
Council has directed that Administration publish a summary of decisions from the past two Council meetings each month. Meeting highlights are also summarized on the Lamont County website, and social media after each Council meeting. Once approved at the next Council meeting, all directions, approvals, and items discussed are in the approved minutes posted at lamontcounty.ca.
The following are updates from the past two Council Meetings, including important initiatives and activities that were discussed, debated, reviewed, and what Council has directed Administration to complete and implement.
June 10 Regular Council meeting (minutes were approved June 24). Highlights from this meeting include:
Process Water Intake License Approved
Council received update on the Process Water Intake Project, as well as notice of Provincial Approval of the process water intake license. Full information is available on our website lamontcounty.ca/news.
Schedule of Fees Bylaw (892.25)
Council reviewed and completed two of the three readings for its Schedule of Fees Bylaw to update for Municipal Reserve Dedication amounts, to ensure the correct reserve amounts are collected related to industrial and commercial lands. No change was made to agricultural lands. Third Reading will be at a future Council Meeting.
Committee of the Whole (COTW)
Council received a status update of the Reeve’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament – spaces are more than 85 per cent sold.
An update on a new lamontcountynow.ca map feature to display all potential land for sale in the Designated Industrial Zone was presented. Landowners interested in selling land are encouraged to register via lamontcountynow.ca/about-us/key-industries/growthand-opportunities-land-holdings
Council Business
- Council approved sponsorship of $500 for both Lamont Fish & Game and Lamont High School Grad Committee.
June 24 Council meeting (minutes are approved next Council meeting). Highlights from this meeting include:
Fire and Emergency Services
actions including response during peak time and brush pile inspection.
Council signed an emergency services mutual aid agreement with Sturgeon County as part of its emergency response partnerships with neighbouring municipalities. Council approved the disposal of surplus Lamont County Emergency Services assets (which were replaced earlier this year).
Schedule of Fees Bylaw (892.25)
Bylaw to update for Municipal Reserve Dedication amounts. This ensures the correct reserve amounts are collected related to industrial and commercial lands, as well as assigning correct fees when a unique request is made.
Council Business
- Council received a delegation from the Orphan Wells Association (OWA) related to decommissioning and scheduled for remediation.
- Council approved the renaming of Zeleny Road as a
- Council also received update on the new Access to Information Act (ATIA) and Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) privacy legislation in Alberta.
- Council received update on its Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Grant projects, including status on
- Council was also provided update on Google Maps and the work to improve GPS mapping coordination for correctly locating land in Lamont County and emergency dispatch.
Community Services: Serving Lamont County, Lamont, Bruderheim, Mundare, Andrew & Chipman (scan the QR code below for info.)
(VISIT: lamontcounty.ca/community-programming for full posters, dates, contact information & registration info or call 780-8952233 for info./registration). Current CALC, FCSS & KFRN and seniors’ activities include:
1.KFRN: Mindful Meetups – Drop-in programs in July/Aug. (Lamont, Bruderheim & Mundare).2. Meals In Motion: Returns in September.
3. Community Awareness Nights – in September. 4. CALC: Canadian Firearms Safety Course (non-restricted) – July 12 register at 825-439-5208
5. Seniors’ Coffee: 10-11 a.m. (Wed.) in Andrew, & (Thurs.) and in Mundare. Join FCSS for coffee, conversation, snacks, & assistance with senior-related supports. Seniors Coffee is in St. Michael (Thurs.) from 10 a.m. to noon.
6. SUMMER CAMPS & SUMMER FUN - Registration started June 2 (see lamontcounty.ca/community-programming for FCSS & KFRN programs). See Lamont County’s calendar for local community events, public meetings & other important dates lamontcounty.ca/eventscalendar
Toaccesscurrent COMMUNITYSERVICES programs and information scantheQRcode orfor FCSS
To access current COMMUNITY SERVICES programs and information, scan the QR code or for FCSS, CALC & KFRN on each of the services’ Facebook pages. | CALC/FCSS/KFRN: 877-895-2233 |
Take a Church Tour This Summer
Visit lamontcounty.ca/churchtour to explore the historical churches that make Lamont County the Church Capital of North America
With more churches per capita than any region in North America, you can take the tour by viewing YouTube video, audio casts or by PDF as you take a self-guided tour.
This tour was highlighted by CBC Edmonton!
Please Note – inFocus is also accessible online at: lamontcounty.ca/communications (to view full-sized PDF & access hyperlinks).
NEWS RELEASE – Process Water Intake License Approved (June 10)
Temporary Road Closures (June 9)
NEWS RELEASE – Summer Camps Benefit from Enbridge’s Fueling Futures Grant (June 5)
Council Meeting Highlights – June 10 (lamontcounty.ca/governance/agendas-minutes)
Council Meeting Highlights – June 24
Municipal Election Information – lamontcounty.ca/municipal-election.
Heritage Day – Lamont County offices and buildings are closed Aug. 4 for the stat. holiday.
Residue Survey #Ag
As part of the Agricultural Climate Solutions program, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is researching crop residue mapping using satellite imagery. They are working to validate and improve the method using photos of residue conditions from fields across Canada; this year the focus is on collecting field photos of canola, wheat, and pulses to improve residue mapping capabilities in the Prairies. The data collected is used to support national scale modelling of greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration inventories, and soil health monitoring. Producers interested in participating in the survey to ground truth the residue maps are asked to snap a couple pictures of the ground in their field using a smart phone after completing a field operation (harvest, tillage, seeding, residue removal, manure application), and submit these photos in the survey app along with the date of the field activity – the survey is designed to be completed while farmers are already on their fields for their field operations. Producers interested in participating can scan the QR code on the right, or visit lamontcounty.ca/agservices (surveys) for more details and survey access.
When waste gas is ignited as a controlled burn in many oil operations and activities, this is called flaring. In fact, you may have noticed major flaring at sites around the province in the past few months. The practice is also used in many drilling and well locations across Lamont County, and is generally safer than venting gases into the atmosphere directly—including managing odours and airborne gas safety.
A benign burn of by-product material is typically converted to carbon dioxide and water vapour and prevents pressure build-up through combustion.
While it may seem to be abnormal and damaging to the environment, flaring is actually a responsible and efficient way to dispose of waste gases. The controlled burn needs to follow Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) requirements and regulations to protect the public, the environment and for conservation. It is directed and managed by the AER to ensure safety and environmental protection—and more specifically, Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives and Guidelines—among the most stringent levels of safety and environmental protection. To ensure compliance, companies must apply for flaring license before a burn can commence, and sites are reviewed for compliance.
If your last name or company begins with the letters Av, Be, L, Sz, V & Z, remember to get your registration renewed before the end of July!
See monthly reminders: alberta.ca/vehicle-registration-expiry-date-chart.aspx Brought to you by the Elk Island Traffic Safety Partners.
REGULAR COUNCIL AND Agricultural Service Board (ASB) Meetings
The public is welcome to attend any scheduled meeting in person or virtually). Meetings start at 9 a.m. in Council Chambers/Lam ont County Admin. Bldg. (unless otherwise noted).
Next Regular Council Meeting: Tuesday, August 12 | Next ASB meeting: Wednesday, August 13 lamontcounty.ca/governance/agendas-minutes | lamontcounty.ca/agendas-minutes-asb
Recent News Posts (lamontcounty.ca/news)
Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (June 23)
