JUNE 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
It’s hard to believe we’re already in June. This year has flown by quickly. As we move into summer, Council and I are looking forward to spending more time with you, our community, during the many events happening around our area this summer.
One of the events I’m most excited about are the firstever Community BBQs and Information Open Houses we’re hosting this month. On June 10 in Fort Kent (Fort Kent Community Hall) and June 11 in La Corey (Willow Prairie Hall), M.D. residents are invited to come have a burger, meet with M.D. staff to learn more about the programs we offer, while offering the opportunity to sign up for everything from our Tax Installment Payment Plan to requesting a replacement blue rural address sign.
Each open house will run from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the barbecue being fired up from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Barry Kalinski
You’ll also see members of Council at Canada Day Parades, the Bonnyville Gear Grabbers drag races, the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo & Chuckwagon Races, and more.
We hope you enjoy your summer and all the events and the wonderful activities available in our region. Camping, fishing, hiking — there are many ways to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
We are also deep into wildfire season. Please be sure to review the information in the middle of this newsletter to find out more about fire advisories, restrictions, and bans. Keep up with the latest status by following our M.D. social media channels or by using our emergency alert system, Voyent Alert!
NOTES FROM THE CAO Ben Berlinguette
As we head into the summer season, it is always encouraging to see our communities come alive with activity. From busy farms and local businesses to family gatherings, community events, and outdoor recreation, summer is an important time for residents across our region.
I’d like to thank everyone for the care and pride you continue to show in our communities. Whether it’s supporting neighbours, volunteering at local events, or helping keep our roadsides, properties, and public spaces safe and welcoming, those efforts make a meaningful difference.
With warmer and drier conditions arriving earlier this year, I also encourage residents to stay informed about current fire advisory, restriction, and ban levels. A few extra precautions can go a long way in helping protect our homes, farmland, and natural areas throughout the season.
Council and Administration remain committed to providing reliable services and supporting the longterm needs of our communities. We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation as seasonal maintenance and projects get underway.
I wish you all an enjoyable summer season.
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
Nominations now open!
Have you ever admired a neighbour’s yard, landscaping, or shelterbelt while driving by? Now is your chance to celebrate the care and pride that make our rural community shine!
Nominations are now being accepted for the Agricultural Services Board’s (ASB) 2026 Rural Beautification Contest. Residents are encouraged to nominate a neighbour whose property showcases the effort and pride our rural residents put into their community.
Nominations close June 20, 2026.
Visit bit.ly/2026RuralBeautificationNomination to submit nominations.
Award recipients will be recognized during the ASB Tour on August 6, 2026. Tickets go on sale July 6 at bit.ly/MDBvilleAgWorkshops
Watch our social media channels for more details about the tour, including featured stops.
Questions? Contact the Agricultural Services Department at 780-826-3901.
TAX DEADLINE
Please be advised that the M.D.’s 2026 tax and assessment notices were mailed on May 15, 2026.
This year, the tax deadline has been changed to June 30. Any 2026 outstanding amounts will be subject to a 12 per cent penalty on July 1, 2026.
*NEW The M.D. invites residents to sign up for our Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) up to June 30. This will allow property owners to have their 2026 property tax bills split into six monthly payments, automatically withdrawn on the 15th of each month, starting in July. Scan the QR Code above or visit bit.ly/MDBvilleTaxPayments for more information.
If you have not received your notice by mid-June, would like to sign up for TIPP, or if you have any questions about your tax account, please call our Tax Team at 780-826-3171.
WASTE SERVICES
Exciting news — an enhanced recycling system is coming to Alberta!
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.
What does this mean for M.D. residents?
On October 1, residents of Ardmore, Country Lane Estates, Countryside Estates, Emerald Estates, and Fort Kent who are currently receiving curbside waste collection will begin receiving curbside recycling collection. The M.D. will not be the service provider for the recycling collection. Residents in the above-named areas will be contacted by the contracted service provider in the coming months. There are no additional costs associated with this service.
For all other M.D. residents, also starting October 1, Alberta depots will be moving to a single-stream collection model. This means that you will no longer have to sort your recycling materials when visiting your local depot. They can all go into the same bin!
Single-stream recycling is a collection method where all designated recycling materials in Alberta’s EPR recycling program for PPP are placed into one container and sorted later at a specialized pre-conditioning 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. Please be patient as we slowly make changes to our recycling bins, signage, and collection routes.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Every summer, the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA) issues fire advisories, fire restrictions, and in some cases, fire bans. Have you ever wondered what the difference is and how the decision is made?
The BRFA has provided some insight into each level. The different levels are generally based on current and forecasted fire conditions, including factors such as temperature, humidity, wind, fuel, moisture, recent precipitation, and overall wildfire activity within the region. The intent behind advisories, restrictions, and bans is to reduce the risk of humancaused wildfires while still balancing public and industrial activities where possible.
Fire Advisory
Used when conditions are becoming elevated and caution is required. Existing fire permits may remain valid, but residents are encouraged to use extra care with any open burning activities. Think of this as a “heads up” to be extra vigilant with equipment and disposal.
Fire Restriction
Implemented when the wildfire risk increases further. Certain types of burning may no longer be permitted, new permits may be suspended, and recreational fires may be limited, depending on the area and conditions. This is the “scale back” phase where non-essential burning is halted to prevent accidental ignitions.
Fire Ban
The highest level implemented during extreme fire danger conditions. Open burning is prohibited and fire permits are suspended. This is the “emergency” phase. Generally, only certified propane or natural gas appliances (like BBQ grills or portable fire pits) are permitted.
These decisions are typically made through a combination of provincial wildfire information, local conditions, and operational considerations within the municipality and response areas.
Make sure you are getting your information from a trusted source. Follow the BRFA or M.D. social platforms and sign up for a Voyent Alert! account to receive updates from the M.D.
Also consider downloading the Alberta Emergency Alerts and the Alberta Wildfire apps. These two apps will follow you around the province, ensuring you have the most up-to-date information for your location.
2026 FIRE GUARDIANS
Fire permits are required during wildfire season, which is March 1 to October 31, 2026.
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 or, should you live in the Alberta Forest Protection Area, from your Forestry Office. There is NO CHARGE for the permit.
The 2026 Fire Guardians are:
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Ed Watrich 780-812-0766 cell
• Portions of Ward 2 - West of Hoselaw
• Portions of Ward 3 - South of Twp 62
Michael Topylki* 780-812-5819 cell
• Portions of Ward 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 cell
• Portions of Ward 5 and South of Hwy 28 to Hwy 659 and Twp 63, Rge 2 in Ward 6 Fort Kent and Ardmore
Zone 4
Diane Jenkinson 780-573-6114 cell
• Portions of Ward 6, except for Twp 63, Rge 2
*Indicates Divisions with Alberta Forest Protection Management Areas.
Contact Alberta Forestry - Lac La Biche: 780-623-5388
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 nonessential 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.
GIS
Finding your way around the M.D.
The Municipal District of Bonnyville, through a partnership with Catalis, a software solutions company, provides an accessible, interactive, and online map for use by staff and municipal residents alike. This map is available at the bottom of the left side on the GIS/Maps section on the M.D.’s website at bit.ly/MapsAddressing
From the login page, a visiting user may browse as a guest. Within the Webmap, multiple options are available for viewing. Some of these capabilities include:
1. The “Legend” tab manages the information displayed in the map window.
a. Layer display can be toggled on and off by using the checkbox for items in the Legend.
b. Some of the layers have the additional ability for users to change the display symbology by clicking on the gear icon to the left of the checkbox. This will bring up a pop-up window which allows the user to adjust the size, colour, icon, and transparency of a given layer.
2. The “Searches” tab enables the user to look up intersections, roads, legal land descriptions, parcels, landmarks, and more.
3. “Redline Tools” allow users to mark up the map with rudimentary paint style inputs such as lines, geometric shapes, and text. Ground dimensions of the input shapes can be calculated by selecting the “Include Measurements” checkbox in the pop-up window.
4. The “Measurement Tools” offer the same dimensional calculation abilities as the Redline Tools in a quick and easy format.
5. The “Print” function allows the user to generate a printable map including the Legend, North Arrow, and Scale in a few different dimensions.
6. The “Show Latitude & Longitude” button will display the coordinates in a few different formats of a selected location. It is possible to copy and paste these coordinates into a separate mapping application (i.e. Google Maps) to retrieve the same location.
7. The “Routing” tab at the top of the Legend and accompanying “Add Point to Route” button allow the generation of driving paths between two or more points to minimize time or distance. Information can be added to calculate a route that accommodates the vehicle’s size and mass.
8. “Save Map to Image File” creates a quick snapshot of the map display area.
Additional capabilities can be found in the top right corner of the map display window:
9. “Site Selection” allows guests to switch between display information for the M.D. and the Village of Glendon.
10. The “Imagery” button allows the user to view high resolution aerial imagery dating back to 2007.
11. The “Basemap” button will toggle the base features on and off. These have been sourced from openstreetmap.org and show non-selectable features such as water features, roads, jurisdictional boundaries, and more.
12. The map scale is the ratio between the units displayed on the map and the corresponding distance on the ground. For example, a scale of 1:5,000 means that one centimetre on the map would represent 5,000 cm on the ground, which could also be expressed as 1 cm = 50 m. A 1:5,000 scale would approximately fit one quarter section (half a mile x half a mile) in a portrait-oriented standard 8.5” x 11” sheet of printer paper. The M.D.’s south ownership map narrowly fits into a 42”x47” paper map at a scale of 1:95,000.
Scan the QR Code above for additional information about the capabilities outlined above. For questions or to report an issue with the M.D. of Bonnyville Regional Webmap, please contact the GIS Department at GIS@md.bonnyville.ab.ca.
EVENTS
On Saturdays this summer, starting June 13, enjoy Talent in the Trees at Muriel Lake M.D. Park. Keep an eye on our online event calendar for details by visiting bit.ly/MDBvilleEventCalendar or scan the QR Code above.
June 10 & 11 – Free Community BBQ & Open Houses
Hosted by the M.D. of Bonnyville md.bonnyville.ab.ca
June 10 in Fort Kent
Where: Fort Kent Community Hall When: 2 to 7 p.m.
June 20 – La Corey Farm Fair
Where: Willow Prairie Hall willowprarieag.com
June 11 in La Corey
Where: Willow Prairie Hall When: 2 to 7 p.m.
June 26 & 27 – Lawnmower Racing & Truck/Tractor Pull
Hosted by Ardmore Motorsports Where: 44015 HWY 28
July 3-5 – Gear Grabbers Race Weekend
Where: M.D. of Bonnyville Regional Airport geargrabbers.ca
July 15 – Air Show Kick-off BBQ
Hosted by the M.D. of Bonnyville – $5 for a cheeseburger and pop with proceeds going to the Bonnyville Legion Where: Shaw House at Vezeau Beach When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
July 18 & 19 – Cold Lake Air Show
Hosted by CFB Cold Lake (4 Wing) coldlakeairshow.com
KINOSOO RIDGE RESORT
The 2026 summer season at Kinosoo Ridge Resort has begun and we are ready for climbing, golf, and more! Not into adventure and love good eats? The Ridge has a delicious brunch menu every weekend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Starting June 19, Fridays mean our wing and fish and chips specials are BACK!
Father’s Day – June 21
Dad’s climb and ride free!* The BBQ and Beer Garden will be outside for lunch, while The Ridge hosts a Brunch Buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside. Reservations are strongly encouraged for the buffet. Please call 780-594-5564 to book your table.
June 6 – Wellness Morning | Yoga with The Fit Co. $30
When: 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
June 21 – Father’s Day Brunch
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
June 21 – Scenic Chair Rides $5
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
July 1 – Closed for Canada Day
July 4 – Wellness Morning | Sound Bath with Lemura
Soul, Megan Caleo $30
When: 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
July 4 – Scenic Chair Rides $5
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
July 26 – Bouquet & Brunch with Providence Acres Flower Farm $65
When: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Scan the QR Code above to book a spot and learn more about our special events.
*With the purchase of a regular aerial adventure park climb ticket or scenic chair ride ticket
