Striking Winter Landscapes
LESLIE CHOLOWSKY PHOTO
On the weekend scattered pockets of fog coated surfaces with a light coat of ice, turning the Flagstaff and area countryside into a winter wonderland, despite being no picnic for travellers.
Revamped FIP Committee members developing new working agreement Leslie Cholowsky Editor
The Flagstaff Intermunicipal Partnership (FIP) committee held a re-organizational meeting on Sept. 14, with elected representatives from Forestburg, Sedgewick, Killam, Daysland, Alliance, and Hardisty, and included administration from Heisler. The meeting opened with a discussion between elected officials and CAOs on how to proceed with FIP, maintaining meaningful partnerships, and potential topics members would like to see brought to the table to be discussed. “The committee agreed that the importance of creating a platform that municipalities could work together through
Volume 113, Issue 21
was extremely beneficial; to share information, discuss challenges, and attain common goals,” the minutes read. These include projects like the Flagstaff Regional Subdivision and Development Appeal Board and the Intermunicipal Assessment Review Board. The group discussed how future projects could be picked, and the advantages of strategic planning sessions where groups could be formed to come up with ideas. Some of the areas identified by the committee that would benefit from partnerships included public works, economic development, water and wastewater, recreation, protective services (Emergency management), and legislative, or bylaw development.
The committee reviewed the existing FIP protocol, calling it ‘onerous, with terms and references that do not meet the objectives of the ‘new’ FIP.” Sedgewick CAO Jim Fedyk offered to develop a new simplified working agreement outlining how the group would work together and what the objectives of FIP would be going forward, which was accepted by the group. While that agreement was being drafted, FIP tabled any formal budget discussions. During the reorganizational meeting, the Chair and ViceChair positions were reaffirmed, with existing Chair Bob Coutts, Deputy Mayor of Forestburg, reelected. Sedgewick Mayor Perry Robinson will serve as Vice-Chair.
The committee met again on Oct. 5 with the CAO of Lougheed joining the discussion, where Fedyk presented a draft of the new FIP working agreement. The committee accepted the new agreement, commending Fedyk for simplifying how the group can work together, and members will take the draft agreement back to their individual councils for approval. Discussion on potential requisitions and a budget began, with a recommendation that any monies refunded from the dissolution of the previous FIP be reallocated to the new group by member councils. The Town of Hardisty will continue to act as the managing partner for FIP going forward, and will also act as financial
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
trustee for FIP requisitions and expenses. Hardisty CAO Sandy Otto was asked to provide samples of potential requisitions, based on equalized assessments, as well as project development requisition based on a percentage of member’s operating budgets, for the next meeting. The committee will meet again in December, if possible, or whenever all member councils have had the opportunity to review and approve the new agreement. The committee agreed that copies of meeting minutes and a copy of the new agreement should be sent to Flagstaff County, who in 2019 withdrew from FIP. Some highlights from See FIP P26
$1 Including GST
Page 12 - The Community Press, Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Buy that Special Someone in your life a Special Gift this Christmas
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The Community Press, Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - Page 13
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COVID-19 numbers continue to surge in Edmonton and Calgary. Let’s keep our families safe while keeping our LOCAL business community afloat. We CHALLENGE all of our readers to do a bulk of their Christmas Shopping at or near home this year. Let’s keep our money circulating amongst friends and neighbours.
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Page 16 - The Community Press, Wednesday, November 18, 2020
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Ask Jason or Chase in the parts department for your installed tire price today! Our pricing is very straight forward and includes the mounting, balancing, and installation with environmental fee to give you a clear before tax total. $50 when winter tires are installed in the fall and $50 when the all-season tires go back on in the spring!
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The Community Press, Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - Page 17
WCB enhancement good news for First Responders Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Proposed legislation in Alberta under Bill 47 would see the creation of a Heroes Fund. Through this new fund, the Province will honour the sacrifices of first responders who die as a result of performing their duties. The Heroes Fund would provide a onetime, tax-free payment of $100,000 to eligible families through the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). Premier Jason Kenney says, “There is no higher form of public service than to risk one’s life to maintain public safety.” Those eligible for the new fund include fire-
fighters, police officers, paramedics, sheriffs, and provincial correction officers. WCB will administer the fund, which, if passed, would be retroactive to April 1. Flagstaff Emergency Services Co-ordinator Kim Cannady says, “I’m glad to see recognition for the families left behind; because to me, that’s who this is for.” Alberta Fire Fighters Association President Brad Readman says, “Day in and day out, our members put their health and safety on the line to help Albertans often during the most difficult times in their lives. “First responders understand that this is our calling, this is what we do. We acknowledge the
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inherent risk of our profession and do what we can to mitigate risk. “Unfortunately, risk cannot always be mitigated, and every year we see firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers who are killed from jobrelated injuries, occupational disease, or mental health struggles. “The Alberta Fire Fighters Association would like to take this opportunity to applaud the Government of Alberta for the Heroes Fund. While this fund will never replace the void from the loss of a loved one, it will help ease the inevitable financial hardships caused by those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.” The Province has com-
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Killam
mitted $1.5 million per year for the Heroes Fund for three years. Alberta is the only province with a program of this type for families of fallen first responders. Cannady says, “You can give your heart and soul to public service as a first responder, and although you may be appreciated, your family may lose in the end.” He says it’s far too easy for first responders to justify giving up family time to respond to emergencies, “But if you’re not careful, you miss out on so much with your family, and your spouse and kids miss out on you as well.” Cannady says he’s heard situations where the costs of funerals
haven’t been covered by police, ambulance, or fire department, burdening already grieving families with bearing the cost of burying their loved one. “This is the same for anyone that died while at work, but sometimes these deaths are directly attributed to assisting others. “To me, an officer killed while dealing with some criminal is no different than a firefighter dying in a burning building. Both deaths are devastating to the families left behind. “It means a lot knowing if I died today my family would not be in debt for year to cover my funeral costs and any uninsured loans. This recognizes not only the first
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responder, but also the families. “If a person commits suicide after years of suffering the trauma we sometimes go through, I hate to see the family left behind with nothing. They have probably already suffered through that person’s PTSD issues for a long time already.” The Province says there were 106 Alberta first responder fatalities between 2010 and 2019; 90 per cent of these were firefighters due to occupational illness. Alberta has more than 14,000 fulltime, part-time, and volunteer firefighters, with 80 per cent of those made up of volunteers. Albertans are served by 7,500 police officers and 9,400 paramedics.
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Page 18 - The Community Press, Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Lougheed CJ Kinross Legion receives special gift Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Last month the C.J. Kinross Royal Canadian Legion Branch #180 in Lougheed received a special gift from Sepke VanVliet, mother of the late Trudy Haughland, and mother-in-law of Rev. Stephen Haughland of Killam. The gift is a copy of a painting by John Rutherford called “Operation Manna.” The painting was commissioned by the Bomber Command Museum of Canada for the July 1995 commemoration of “Operation Manna.” Operation Manna was a humanitarian food drop carried out over German-occupied Netherlands, and undertaken by Allied bomber commands. It was carried
out by British RAF units, with squadrons from the Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and Polish air forces between April 29 and May 7, 1945. During that period, the situation was growing worse for the starving people of the Netherlands under German control. Allied agents negotiated with the Germans to organize food drops, with an agreement that participating aircraft would not be fired upon within specified routes. A total of 3,301 sorties, or flights, were carried out, using Mosquitos and Lancaster bombers, with the majority of the drops made by the latter. While flying at a height of 150 metres from the ground, food packages were dropped, delivering a total of 6,680 tons of food, mostly consisting of
cans of food, dried food, and chocolate. The painting denotes a No 526 squadron Lancaster flown by F/O Joe English. Mr. English and his crew were aboard one of the lead aircraft on the opening day of Operation Manna. The painting has special meaning for VanVliet, who was a teenager living in the Netherlands during WWII. She is also friends with the artist. The painting has had a place of pride in her home for many years, and when she was cleaning it out, she asked Haughland to offer it to her friend, former Air Force officer Rev. Richard Conrad, whom she loved to visit with, Haughland says, at Jam Tarts over her many years of spending time in Killam. “Richard was very
happy with Sepkje's gift, and even more proud to present the painting to his home Legion,” says Haughland.
“Operation Manna,” a painting by John Rutherford, was recently given to Rev. Richard Conrad by Sepke VanVliet. Above: Conrad, past President of the C.J. Kinross Legion Branch #180 shown here with current President Denise Bratland, donated it to the branch.
Why it’s important to Shop Local this holiday season It’s been a tough year. Communities all over the globe are struggling to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and we will continue to see negative impacts into the future. If you are like me, you may be tired of reading the doom and gloom and feeling powerless to do anything about helping our communities in this new reality. What if I told you however, that you have more power than EVER - and together, this holiday season, we can make a real difference simply by shifting our thinking around where we make most of our purchases. This probably isn’t the first time you’ve seen a shop local message whether it’s a provincial and municipal initiative, chamber of commerce program, Facebook post, or highly marketed campaign backed by financial giants such as RBC - but I am asking you to hear me out on this one. A recent CBC article states: “while most Canadians support the idea, actually getting people to prioritize shopping locally over scoring the best
deal and the convenience of shopping online is a tough sell during the pandemic.” Together let’s make that statement false in the Flagstaff Region and make a commitment to support our small businesses! Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community and in the Flagstaff Region we are proud of the resiliency and grit of our small business owners, but they need our support now more than ever. If you have ever asked a business to sponsor a sports team, local event, or give to a charity close to your heart - now is the time to step up for that same business. If you cherish your local social support systems, school, or simply being able to grab milk on your way home, you must protect your main streets. The health and sustainability of your community starts and ends with small businesses and the people directly impacted by them. Buying decisions are often made based on a
perceived value, and at a time where we feel insecure about our finances the lowest price available may be attractive. Did you know, however that when you shop local more of your money will be kept in your local economy, you create local jobs and you nurture your community. Here are some facts for you from a recent survey by The Canadian Federation of Independent Busi-
ness (CFIB). -On average, 48 percent of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14 percent of purchases at chain stores. -9 in 10 Canadians are employed by small and medium-sized enterprises -Local businesses give five times more per dollar to groups in their communities
Collectively if we are willing to plan ahead, be patient and support small business we can really make a difference in our communities and the lives of individual families close to home. It’s important to remember that the pandemic is far reaching, and these businesses are dealing with reduced capacity, wait times and out of stock items - but if given the chance will provide you with exceptional customer service and increased quality of products. Extending some grace will make the holidays brighter in many ways! Small businesses in the Flagstaff Region have also been working diligently at making your health and safety a priority, while still having the ability to support them. Here are a few simple ways that you can help your small business community without even leaving your house: -Liking and sharing their social media posts -Purchasing gift cards to use in the future (where available)
-Shop local business online -Checking in to see if restaurants and gyms offer their services online/deliver -Leaving a positive review online Supporting local business is always going to be important, but this holiday season its vital that we shift this movement into a permanent habit. Whether you’re Christmas shopping for a loved one or stopping to pick up a few groceries, seek out a local business and see what they have to offer! Together, let’s show others that we love local. Jordyn Prior Economic Development Coordinator Flagstaff County
Check out the HOLIDAY SHOP FLAGSTAFF PAGES in this week’s paper!