AUGUST 2026
COUNCIL CONTACTS
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
CONTACT US
Main Administration
780-826-3171
Public Safety/Bylaw Concerns
780-812-3332
24-Hour Concern Line
780-812-5000
FIND US ONLINE
web - md.bonnyville.ab.ca
email - info@md.bonnyville.ab.ca
©2026 Municipal District of Bonnyville No.
87. Unauthorized use or duplication of articles, logos, graphics, and photos in the publication is strictly prohibited.
BARRY KALINSKI
Reeve
bkalinski@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 780-573-6082
BEN FADEYIW
Deputy Reeve, Ward 6 Councillor
bfadeyiw@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 780-826-1462
JOSH CRICK
Ward 1 Councillor
jcrick@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 587-398-2916
CAROLINE PALMER
Ward 2 Councillor
cpalmer@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 587-398-3075
DAN AMALIA
Ward 3 Councillor
damalia@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 587-398-2716
ED DUCHESNE
Ward 4 Councillor
educhesne@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 587-398-3004
BRIAN KOLUK
Ward 5 Councillor
bkoluk@md.bonnyville.ab.ca 587-398-2992
Regular Meetings of Council are typically held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. View recordings of these meetings at bit.ly/MDBvilleYouTube
Committee of the Whole meetings are typically held the third Tuesday of each month. Agenda packages are published at bit.ly/MDBvilleAgendas by the end of day the Friday before the meeting.
Meetings begin at 9 a.m. and are open to the public.
MESSAGE FROM THE REEVE
Every year seems to pass by quicker than the one before. It’s hard to believe we’re already in August, looking not so far into the future to fall harvest.
I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on the wonderful people we have in our community. This year, you have all come together to help one another, to volunteer, and to show the rest of the province, the country, and indeed to places extending past our borders who we are, what we’re made of, and why the M.D. of Bonnyville is such a great place to call home.
From the volunteers showing up for the Alberta Winter Games and helping showcase the diversity of the facilities we offer here to those who dedicated their time at charity events like Haying in the ‘30s and also to
Barry Kalinski
everyone who helped welcome the thousands of visitors the Cold Lake Air Show brought to our region, we truly came together as a community. So, thank you. You are appreciated. I am grateful to every resident who helps make this area one of the best places to live.
Make sure you keep up to date with what’s happening in your community. From Council Agendas to the online Community Calendar, the M.D.’s website is an incredible tool to help you get involved and be engaged with your community. Have a non-profit community event coming up? Be sure to submit it using the button on the front page of the website, right beside the Community Calendar.
Stay safe, enjoy the last of the summer season, and we’ll see you again in the October edition.
NOTES FROM THE CAO Ben Berlinguette
With summer beginning to wind down, many of us are taking advantage of the last few weeks of warm weather to spend time with family and friends, enjoy our local parks and lakes, and prepare for the busy fall season. I hope everyone has had the opportunity to relax, recharge, and make the most of what our communities have to offer.
As we transition into September, it’s also a good time to refocus on safety. With students returning to classrooms, school buses will once again be on our roads, and playgrounds and school zones will become much busier. I encourage all motorists to slow down, remain alert, and be mindful of changing traffic patterns during school drop-off and pick-up times. A few extra moments of patience can make a significant difference in keeping our children safe.
This seasonal change also brings new opportunities for our municipality as we continue working on projects, delivering services, and planning for the months ahead. Thank you to our residents, staff, volunteers, and community partners for your ongoing support and commitment throughout the summer.
On behalf of the M.D. of Bonnyville Administration, I wish everyone a safe, successful, and enjoyable start to the school year.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Every minute counts in an emergency. This is why you want your Rural Address Sign (blue sign) to be bright and visible. If yours is faded, the M.D. can help you with that!
Take a look at your blue address sign. Is it faded or damaged? Do you need a replacement? Take a look at the pictures below. Does it look like the one on the left? If so, you probably need a new one.
The M.D. has an online program which allows property owners to request a new or replacement sign, at no additional charge. Simply fill out the form at bit.ly/RuralAddressing, and your sign will be ordered. You can also scan the QR code above to access the program from your mobile phone.
If you’ve ordered a replacement sign, have been notified it’s arrived, but haven’t picked it up yet, drop by the Planning & Development reception desk Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Once you have picked up your sign from our office, upload a photo of it to through the same online form to let us know it has been installed.
If you have any questions, please call the Planning & Development Department at 780-826-3171 select option 3, or send us an email at ruraladdress@md.bonnyville.ab.ca
Did you know? The Rural Addressing System was created for the protection, health, and welfare of Municipal District of Bonnyville residents and businesses. Signage that clearly identifies your rural location address is essential for emergency services and other core municipal services. It also serves as a basic location identifier for visitors, couriers, and service crews.
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
The Agricultural Services Department will be offering a three-day Standard Trapping Course to M.D. of Bonnyville residents October 16 to 18, 2026.
The Standard Trapping Course is the first step to becoming a trapper and combines classroom learning with hands-on field instruction. It is open to participants aged 12 and older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult who is accountable for them throughout the program. Upon completion, participants will be able to purchase a trapping license and receive a certificate that is recognized across Canada.
The course will cover the following topics:
• Safe trap setting and use of fur-handling equipment
• Canadian trap certification requirements and regulations
• Furbearer biology and management practices
• Skinning, fleshing, and drying pelts to meet market standards Building and using snares with breakaway devices
• Proper anchoring and bedding of traps and snares
• Using appropriate approach techniques to support humane trapping
• Baits, lures, and bait stations
• Storing and shipping furs, including market and marketing options
The course will be held at the M.D.’s Ag & Waste Shop located at #117, 61501 Hwy. 41.
Book your spot now by contacting the Alberta Trappers Association at 780-349-6626. For more information visit albertatrappers.com.
INFRASTUCTURE SERVICES
Septic Disposal Fee Rebate Program
Council adopted Policy No. C-4B.021 Septic Disposal Fee Rebate Program Policy during its meeting June 9, 2026.
The new program will allow M.D. property owners who are not tied to a municipal wastewater collection/disposal system and who use the Cold Lake Regional Utility Services Commission septic dumping facility to receive a rebate. Taxpayers may submit rebate applications on a quarterly basis or upon accumulation of four service receipts (whichever happens first). Approved applications can receive a maximum rebate of $40 per load, up to an annual amount of $500, per roll number.
For more information, find the policy at bit.ly/MDBvillePolicies. You can get a copy of the application at bit.ly/SDFRebate
PUBLIC SAFETY
School Bus Safety
Kids are heading back to school at the end of the month. That means there will be more pedestrians and traffic around our local schools, and the big yellow buses will be back on the roads. The M.D.’s Public Safety Department wants to make sure everyone gets to and from school safely.
School
Bus Loading Zone Safety
The area within approximately three metres (10 feet) around a school bus is considered the Danger Zone.
Most student injuries occur:
• while boarding,
• after exiting, or while crossing in front of the bus.
Drivers should:
• Never attempt to squeeze past a stopped bus.
• Expect children to appear suddenly.
• Use extra caution during morning and afternoon bus times, especially around School Zones, which have their own rules.
School
Zone Rules
But safety doesn’t end with school buses. We also need to think about students as they make their way through School Zones.
Rules in School Zones are (unless otherwise posted):
• Maximum speed is 30 km/h.
• Applies on school days only.
• Times are shown on the signs (many municipalities now use 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or other locally posted times).
Drivers should:
• Slow down before entering the zone. Watch for children crossing unexpectedly. Obey crossing guards. Never pass vehicles stopped for pedestrians at a crosswalk.
Stopping for a School Bus
A driver must stop when approaching a stopped school bus displaying alternating flashing red lights on an undivided highway or roadway.
This applies to vehicles approaching from both directions.
Drivers must remain stopped until:
• the red lights stop flashing, or
• the bus begins moving.
You do NOT have to stop when:
• You are travelling on the opposite side of a divided highway separated by a physical median or barrier. A school bus is displaying amber warning lights only. This means prepare to stop and proceed with caution.
There are penalties for not following these rules. For passing a stopped school bus displaying flashing red lights, the current penalty in Alberta is:
• $567 fine
• 6 demerit points
This is one of the highest demerit offences under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act because it places children at immediate risk.
Below is a quick list of offences and the penalties they carry in relation to school bus and zone safety:
WASTE SERVICES
Single-stream recycling and what it means for you!
Starting October 1, Alberta recycling depots will be moving into a single-stream collection model.
Single-stream recycling is a collection method where all designated recycling materials in Alberta’s EPR recycling program for PPP (packaging and paper products) are placed into one container or collection vessel, such as a garbage truck, and sorted later at a specialized receiving facility, rather than being separated by material type at the point of collection.
This transition will significantly improve accessibility and streamline the recycling process for residents.
Starting October 1 at M.D. Depots (our bin sites and landfills), recyclable materials such as plastics, paper, glass, tin cans, and Styrofoam will be eligible to go into all blue recycling bins while the cardboard bins will remain for flattened cardboard only. The lids will continue to be locked on all recycling bins to ensure our contamination levels remain at an acceptable level for the program, while still permitting 24/7 access for the convenience of our residents. All materials at a site will then be collected on the same truck and hauled to Cold Lake to the designated receiving facility.
During this transition, we ask residents to be patient as we slowly make changes to our depots, recycling bins, signage, and collection routes.
Program Background Starting October 1, 2026, Alberta’s recycling program for packaging and paper products (PPP) will be managed by Circular Materials, a not-for-profit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) overseeing the province’s shift to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This means Circular Materials will be responsible for Alberta’s PPP recycling programs, either by working with the community or with a service provider to run curbside and depot services.
In 2022, Alberta introduced regulations creating an EPR framework for recycling PPP. This program is 100 per cent funded by producers — the companies that supply packaging and paper products to consumers, including the familiar brands and retailers Albertans interact with every day. This means municipalities and taxpayers no longer pay for recycling services as this cost is now paid by producers.
EPR is recognized as one of the most effective mechanisms for improving recycling rates. It enables innovation, operational efficiencies, increased standard levels, and access to materials.
Have questions? Call the M.D.’s Waste Services Department at 780-826-3901.
PARKS & RECREATION
Soak up the last of summer!
As the dog days of summer settle in, there’s still time to squeeze in another camping getaway in the M.D. of Bonnyville.
Whether you’re setting up the tent, parking the RV, paddling along the shoreline, or gathering around the campfire, a weekend close to home can feel like a true summer escape.
Book your stay at letscamp.ca or scan the QR Code above for more information and updates about our campgrounds.
Before heading out, stop by the Shaw House VIC to plan your adventure and cool off with a scoop of ice cream or a locally brewed beverage!
Shaw House VIC is open:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
EVENTS
August 14 & 15 – Big Smoke Bonnyville facebook.com/bigsmokebonnyville
August 15 – Family Fun Adventure Race
Where: Kinosoo Ridge Resort store.kinosoo.ca
August 15 & 16 – Alberta Open Farm Days
Where: Various locations albertaopenfarmdays.ca
August 21 to 23 – Bonnyville Gear Grabbers Race Weekend
M.D. of Bonnyville Regional Airport facebook.com/bonnyvillegeargrabbers
August 28 – Alberta Day Movie in the Park
Where: Muriel Lake M.D. Park facebook.com/ShawHouseVIC
August 30 – Cherry Grove Show & Shine
Where: Kinosoo Ridge Resort To register call 780-573-4723
September 4 & 5 – Feast at the Beach
Where: Kinosoo Beach, Cold Lake facebook.com/feastatthebeach
