Message from the Reeve Notes from the CAO Time to get your camp on!
the gap (analysis)!
Rural Review is published eight times a year and is distributed to residents via unaddressed ad mail. Opt in for flyers at your local post office to ensure you receive your copy. If you wish to pick up an additional copy of the latest newsletter, please visit an M.D. office or sign up for a digital copy at md.bonnyville.ab.ca
Disclaimer: Generative AI has been used in portions of this publication.
Municipal District of Bonnyville 4905 - 50 Avenue, Bag 1010, Bonnyville, Alberta T9N 2J7
There are a few signs in the M.D. to let you know spring has sprung — road bans are put in place, Fire Guardians are appointed, and planning gets underway for fun open houses departments host each May.
Road bans went into effect March 24 this year. That means there is a weight restriction on all M.D. roads (with the exception of provincial highways). This helps protect the integrity of M.D. roads, especially during the spring thaw when they are more likely to be damaged by larger trucks and equipment. You can find out more on Page 8.
March 1 to October 31 is wildfire season right across Alberta. Each year, Council appoints Fire Guardians who issue fire permits for when M.D. residents and businesses have controlled burning to undertake. Issuing fire permits helps the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority know where permitted fires are burning, which reduces the need to send out fire crews. You can find out more about fire permits and who your Fire Guardian is on Page 11.
Last but not least, M.D. staff are working hard to plan the open houses for Emergency Preparedness Week (May 10) and National Public Works Week (May 24). Keep an eye on our social platforms and website for updates on times, locations, and more. Council and I look forward to seeing you there!
NOTES FROM THE CAO Ben Berlinguette
There’s something incredibly special about coming back home — whether it’s reconnecting with the land, the people, or the place that shaped you. As I reflect on the journey of returning to the M.D. of Bonnyville, there has been some wonderful moments that have made this experience unforgettable.
I recently had the privilege of driving through some rugged terrain. Nothing says “home” like the smell of fresh earth and the thrill of navigating through it. That muddy path took me back to my roots — where hard work, a sense of adventure, and the beauty of the landscape come together.
A big part of returning home has meant getting down to business and serving the people of the M.D. Recently, Council and I had the chance to spend some time at the Alberta Legislature Building, meeting with the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen. It’s always inspiring to see such a dedicated group of people working together, making decisions that benefit us all. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this team and to contribute to shaping the future of our region. It’s all about progress, and we’re making it happen one conversation at a time.
Speaking of teamwork, I’ve been lucky enough to be part of the incredible team at RMA. If you haven’t heard of RMA (Rural Municipalities of Alberta), let me tell you, these folks are the backbone of rural Alberta. Working alongside passionate, dedicated individuals who care deeply about
improving the quality of life for our rural communities has been nothing short of inspiring.
One of the most important parts of my job is heading into the field and hearing directly from our ratepayers. No matter how busy the office gets, I always make time to get out and listen to the people who make this place what it is. I’m committed to ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed. After all, they’re the reason we do what we do.
I can honestly say being back in the M.D. feels like coming full circle. There’s something special about working for the place that raised you. Every day I’m reminded of how lucky I am to serve this community — this is home.
I have to take a moment to shout out to the amazing staff at the M.D. These folks are the heartbeat of our operations. Whether it’s in the office, out in the field, or behind the scenes, the dedication and hard work the staff put in every single day is something I deeply respect. Their passion for making this community a better place is truly contagious. We’re all working toward the same goal — improving the quality of life for everyone here. It’s an honour to be part of such a fantastic group of people.
Coming back home to the M.D. has been a journey filled with hard work, deep connections, and a whole lot of love for this community. Thank you to everyone who has made this return so special. Let’s keep moving forward — together.
From left to right: Reeve Kalinski, Councillor Fadeyiw, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen, Councillor Crick, Councillor Skarsen
PARKS & REC
Time to get your camp on!
Camping season is right around the corner! Reservations for all M.D. campgrounds opened April 1.
New in 2025
Seasonal camping is now available at Muriel Lake M.D. Park. Set up once and stay all summer! The season is from May 1 to September 30, and the following rates apply:
$2,500/season for power sites
• $2,000/season for non-power sites
A monthly cabin rental is now available at Vezeau Beach M.D. Park:
• $1,200/month. Call 780-826-3972 for more information and to book.
The following campgrounds are open from May 9 to September 7, 2025:
• Chickenhill Lake M.D. Park
• Cold Lake M.D. Park
• Crane Lake M.D. Parks
• Ethel Lake M.D. Park
French Bay M.D. Park (Cold Lake)
Minnie Lake M.D. Parks
• Pelican Point M.D. Park (Moose Lake)
• Wolf Lake M.D. Park
The following campgrounds are open from May 1 to September 30, 2025: Muriel Lake M.D. Park
• Vezeau Beach M.D. Park (Moose Lake)
Book your sites online today at letscamp.ca
More of a last-minute camper? Keep an eye on our social platforms for weekly updates about site availability. Visit bit.ly/MDAdventureGuide or scan the QR Code to check out our 2025 Adventure Guide.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Summer planning and planning for summer
The weather is getting warmer, and thoughts are drifting toward property improvements and recreation. Here are some tips from our Planning & Development Department to help your summer run smoothly.
Sheds and Accessory Buildings
You may not need a permit for structures under 150 sq. ft. If you are constructing a structure over 150 sq. ft., even if it is temporary or on skids, you need a permit. If life safety is a concern (for example a bunkhouse), you need a permit no matter the size.
Pools
Swimming pools over two feet deep require a minimum six-foot-tall fence around them. Development and building permits with a site plan are required.
Fences
If your proposed fence is under three feet high in the front yard, and under six feet high on the side and rear yard, you do not need a permit. It must be on or within your property lines. If you want a taller fence, you will need a development permit.
Decks
Decks over two feet from the grade require development and building permits.
Recreational Vehicles (RVs)
You can have a maximum of three RVs on your lot at one time, or, if you live in a hamlet, you may have one. If you want to have more than three RVs on your lot, you may consider applying for a campground permit* or storage facility. *Please note these are not permitted in multi-lot subdivisions
The friendly staff at Planning & Development are here to help and will guide you through all your permitting needs. Call 780-826-3171 or email planning@md.bonnyville.ab.ca to get more information and guidance.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
CPTED is a free service provided to M.D. residents and businesses by the M. D.’s Public Safety Department.
CPTED is a proactive crime prevention strategy utilized by law enforcement, planners, architects, security professionals, and citizens. It is centred on the understanding that many criminals want to conduct their criminal activities without being noticed, as they tend to go to secluded, isolated, or hidden places.
At your request, a certified crime prevention officer will conduct an assessment and complete a formal written report.
For further information or to request an assessment, please contact the M.D.’s Public Safety Department at 780-812-3332 or by email at publicsafety@md.bonnyville.ab.ca.
NATURAL ACCESS CONTROL
This strategy controls how people can enter and leave a property. It is one of the keys to preventing crime. People who use alternative methods to enter an area look suspicious, risk detection, and experience a sense of increased risk of apprehension.
Fences and gates are the most common means of denying access to unwanted visitors. These structures can also direct people to desired entrances.
Landscape and building design should give a natural indication of where people are allowed to be. This includes walkways, flower beds, bushes, and ground cover such as gravel and woodchips
MAINTENANCE
The more run down an area, the greater the risk of attracting criminal activity.
Consistently well-maintained areas send a message that someone cares about and looks after the space, which can deter unwanted behaviour.
NATURAL SURVEILLANCE
This is a design strategy directed at increasing the ability for people to naturally see an area during their normal day-to-day activities, creating a better chance of detecting criminals.
Natural surveillance is the placement of physical features and/ or activities and people which maximize natural visibility or observation. Livestock grazing and proper placement, selection, and maintenance of plant material should be considered to maximize natural surveillance opportunities.
LIGHTING
Lighting can be one of the most effective crime deterrents when used properly.
Light discourages criminal activity, enhances natural surveillance, and reduces fear. The type and quantity of light required will vary from application to application.
TRANSPORTATION & UTILITIES
Road Bans now in effect
A 75 per cent ban for Municipal District of Bonnyville roads went into effect Monday, March 24, 2025 at 1 p.m.
All commercial vehicles using M.D. roads at weights over the posted restriction, including agricultural vehicles licensed and registered for highway use, transporting agricultural equipment and produce (including animals and crops) will require a Road Use Agreement. Farm Equipment, as defined in Bylaw No. 1840, (also known as implements or implements of husbandry), which do NOT require a license plate to use public roadways, remain exempt.
Road bans help protect the integrity of M.D. roads, especially during spring thaw when the roads are most vulnerable to damage.
The following M.D. roads have restrictions year-round: Twp. Rd. 610 (from Rge. Rd. 460 to Hwy. 657) – 75% Rge. Rd. 474 (Hwy. 660 to Hwy. 28) – 50%
All commercial and agricultural haulers are encouraged to review Bylaw No. 1840 for full specifications on road use in the M.D.
All commercial, industry, and agricultural partners that wish to utilize M.D. roads over the posted weight restriction will be required to submit a request for a Road Use Agreement, which, if approved, will outline the terms of road use within the municipality. The M.D. reserves the right to specify routes of travel designated for operations based on the M.D.’s opinion of suitable roads. The Road Use Agreement will also bind the Agreement holder to be responsible for the repairs of any roadway(s) damaged in the process of carrying out the Agreement holder’s operations. The M.D. will work closely with organizations to determine the optimum route(s), while protecting municipal infrastructure.
These road bans do not extend to any roads under the jurisdiction of the Province of Alberta, within M.D. boundaries. Primary and secondary highways will still be subject to provincial road use regulations.
The Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87, being the road authority, may at its sole discretion alter haul routes assigned at any given time due to road deterioration.
For more information on Road Use Agreements, visit bit.ly/MDRoadUseAgreements or call 780-826-3951.
WASTE SERVICES
Round it up!
The Great Twine Round-Up continues in Alberta, with $9,000 in cash prizes still to be won for 4-H clubs and agriculture charities!
Cleanfarms, through the Alberta Ag-Plastic Recycle-It! pilot program, is hosting The Great Twine Round-Up, a province-wide twine collection contest with a total of $12,000 in cash prizes for the winners’ 4-H club or an Alberta-based agricultural charity of choice.
The first of four $3,000 cash prizes has already been awarded to the Northern Lethbridge 4-H Beef Club. Three more prizes are up for grabs! Two of the remaining prize draws will go to winning 4-H clubs/districts, and the final draw will be awarded to an independent entrant’s Alberta-based agricultural charity of choice.
Here’s how to participate:
• Collect used plastic baler twine in the collection bags provided for free at all M.D. landfills and the Environmental Services Shop located at #117, 61501 Hwy. 41.
• Mark each bag with your 4-H club/district name and the date if participating on behalf of a 4-H club or with your full name/farm name and the date if participating individually. Drop off the bags at one of our M.D. of Bonnyville Landfill locations before May 31, 2025, and snap a photo of your bags at the site!
• Submit your photo at greattwineroundup.ca to enter.
The more bags you drop off, the more entries you’ll have! You’ll also be helping to keep used baler twine out of landfills and burn piles. For more information and full contest rules, visit greattwineroundup.ca.
The Great Twine Round-Up is part of the Alberta Ag-Plastic Recycle it! pilot program, which allows Alberta farmers to return used plastic baler twine and grain bags for recycling. Last year, Cleanfarms recycled 673,000 kg of grain bags and 95,400 kg of twine through this pilot. The pilot project is led by the multi-stakeholder Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG). Funds were granted by the Government of Alberta and are administered by Alberta Beef Producers. Learn more about this program at cleanfarms.ca/alberta-ag-plastic-recycle-it-program-details/.
Grain Bags Too! If you have grain bags to be recycled, please contact the Waste Services Department at 780-826-3901 so we can arrange a time to come roll them for you.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Mind the gap (analysis)!
The need for a commercial/industrial gap analysis was identified in the M.D.’s Business and Industry Growth Strategy, published in 2022. Using a Northern and Regional Economic Development provincial grant, the M.D. contracted McSweeney and Associates Consulting Inc. to conduct the gap analysis.
This report, once completed, will identify where the M.D. has opportunities for businesses that are either underrepresented or absent in the region while also identifying businesses that could fill gaps or support existing businesses in the energy sector, Canadian Armed Forces procurement, and value-added agriculture.
There are five phases to the gap analysis process:
1. Review background information supplied by the M.D.’s Economic Development Department
2. Complete an environmental scan on public information, including M.D. websites, published documents, and SiteLink participant surveys to create a profile assessment.
3. Engage with local businesses, providing them with an opportunity to give their feedback through a survey or an interview. Some of the questions included getting the business owner’s view of economic conditions, industry trends, and opportunities, and how the M.D. could be more attractive to perspective businesses and those industries needed in the community.
4. Hold meetings with topics ranging from existing target sectors, land and building inventory, land use planning documents, tracking investment inquiries, review of the SiteLink event, and any best practices or findings.
The project is currently in the fifth and final stage. It is expected the project will be completed by the end of April, with recommendations moving forward.
For more information, contact the Economic Development Department at ecdev@md.bonnyville.ab.ca.
FIRE PERMITS
This year, fire permits are required from March 1 to October 31, 2025.
If you live or work in the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 and wish to conduct any burning, you must first obtain a permit from a Fire Guardian. Should you live in the Alberta Forest Protection Area, you can get your permit from your Agriculture and Forestry Office. There is no charge for the permit.
The Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority requests that all open burning in the M.D. be registered by calling 780-826-7446. When you register your burn during the non-permit season it will reduce the number of non-essential emergency responses made by the fire departments to investigate smoke.
When registering your burns please be prepared to provide the following information: name, legal land description or rural address, material being burnt, contact phone number, and expected completion date of the burn.
2025 FIRE GUARDIANS
Ed Watrich
780-812-0766
• Portions of Ward 2 - West of Hoselaw
• Portions of Ward 3 - South of Twp. 62
Vic Kolody(*)
780-826-9543
• Portions of Wards 1, 2, and 4
• East side of Moose Lake
• West side of Muriel Lake
• Crown Land in the Moose Lake area
Baz Churko
780-812-9173
• Portions of Ward 5 and South of Highway 28 to Hwy. 659 and Twp. 63, Rge. 2 in Ward 6 Fort Kent and Ardmore
Diane Jenkinson
780-573-6114
• Portions of Ward 6, except for Twp. 63, Rge. 2
(*) Indicates Divisions with Alberta Forest Protection Management Areas.
Agriculture and Forestry - Lac La Biche 780-623-5388
TIPS:
Never burn in windy or extremely dry conditions. Always keep a close eye on your fire and make sure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving the area.
• Residents who conducted any burning activities over the winter are reminded to return to their burn sites to ensure the fire was completely extinguished. Winter fires that were not properly put out can often smolder underground for months and reignite in the spring when conditions are right.
Election Day in the M.D. of Bonnyville is October 20, 2025.
All voters in the M.D. of Bonnyville must be on the permanent Electors Registry. If you do not register by the deadline, you can still register and vote on Election Day at your voting station. Pre-registering will make the process easier and faster on Election Day.
To register or to check your registration status, visit the Voterlink website, which is linked to the provincial voter registry.
The M.D. receives its list of eligible voters from Voterlink, this is why it is important you confirm your presence and details on the list.
