Triumphs and tragedy in 2018
from Elk Point Review By Vicki Brooker
The past 12 months saw great accomplishments and major setbacks hit the headlines, as Elk Point and district celebrated new leadership in community groups, major sports victories and new fundraising ideas while coping with falling oil prices, rising unemployment, rural crime sprees and devastating fires
January.
The completed walking trail project topped Mayor Lorne Young’s list of accomplishments from a busy year in 2017, along with the start of numerous other projects, from the bulk water station to looping water lines between Circle Drive and Ravine Drive.
The renewal of the Summer Temporary Employment Program was good news to municipalities and organizations who hire summer students.
Metelytsia Ukrainian Dancers delighted the crowd at their 36th annual Malanka celebration with fast paced and energetic dances carrying on the age-old traditions.
A decision regarding increased water rates was revisited by town council, who agreed that it would be prudent to take the matter to a public hearing and get input from the community before implementing the changes.
It would take new ideas and wise decision making, but Elk Point Chamber of Commerce agreed that ways to repay the $135,000 loan on the EcoCentre should be determined by the new executive that would be elected in February.
Elk Point Minor Hockey hoped the community shared their dream of making the four days of the Bantam ‘D’ Provincials a huge success not just for the host team but the whole community, with volunteers invited to help prepare the arena, sell programs and assist in the concession, and local businesses invited to sponsor games.
There were brand new champions at the 35th Oilmen’s Bonspiel, the recently established Techmation rink of Lorne Koss, Brad Koss, Ryan MacDonald and Conrad Pierce taking the win over DOG Inspection’s John Regnier, Don Anderson, Owen Gibson and Chad Milnthorp in the final.
Ratepayers attending the public hearing learned the reasons for the utility rate increases, which included installing electronic water meters and avoiding another huge shortfall in the utilities budget, following guide- lines from the province that indicated that utilities should pay for themselves.
February
Mayor Lorne Young and town council, on behalf of the Elk Point Regional Fire Area Committee, asked the Elk Point and District Chamber of Commerce to assist in the recruitment of volunteers to join the Elk Point Fire Department, as only two or three of the approximately 20 members were in town during the daytime.
A sure sign of spring was a baseball winter camp in the F. G. Miller High School gym.
Elk Point’s first-ever Zabava was a fabulous kaleidoscope of talent from Edmonton’s famed Vohon Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Innisfree Chudovyi’s adult dancers and two local dancers who are part of MY Academy of St. Albert joining Elk Point Metelytsia dancers to create a truly memorable event.
Elk Point Chamber of Commerce was under new leadership, with Terri Hampson of Northern Lights Library System as the new president and Bob Ellacott of Cornerstone Co-op as vice president, joining treasurer Christine Fenton and secretary Vicki Brooker on the executive team.
A five-member delegation from F. G, Miller High School visited town council to request the declaration of Feb. 25 to March as Random Acts of Kindness Week and Feb. 28 as National PINK Day in Elk Point.
Town council approved the appointment of Lyle Frisby as Fire Chief and Peter Hewitt as Deputy Fire Chief.
Minister of Education David Eggen visited Elk Point Elementary School with school trustee Lorne Young as part of a tour of schools that are encouraging healthy eating in a pilot project.
Greater Lakeland Rural Crime Watch members grilled Crown Prosecutor Jordan Kerr at their Annual Meeting in St. Paul, gaining insight into the steps undertaken between the time a crime is reported and the sentencing of the perpetrator.
March
F. G. Miller High School got to the heart of the matter on Pink Shirt Day, with RCMP Cst. P. Pottie offering insight into bullying and the impact it has on its victims at an assembly where students also spoke out against bullying and for random acts of kindness.
Elk Point Golf and Country Club told town council they were successful in their application to draw water from Atimoswe Creek at any time to fill the club’s reservoir for watering the greens, with a permit to do so in place until 2027.
Young scientists showed their skills at Elk Point Elementary School’s annual Science Fair, Book Fair and Art Show, with four of 15 outstanding projects earning Awards of Excellence for Trace Morgan and Braylee Lesyk, Grade 3, Duane Rivera, Grade 4, Robyn Urquhart, Grade 4 and Aaron Cayanan, Grade 5.
Elk Point Chamber of Commerce had new faces at the table as well as a new executive, including new president Terri Hampson, who introduced the OFEEDS Formula of meeting rules that would keep meetings orderly, focused, efficient, equal in opportunity to be heard and make decisions, decorum and in a safe environment that fosters positive relationships.
A proposal that would see a complex of up-to 25 adult living villas built on 7.21 acres at the north end of Elk Point was brought to town council by the CEO and marketing director of Country Garden Villas, who said the development would solve the deficiency: of housing for seniors.
F. G. Miller High ranked number one in Grade 12 exam marks for the St. Paul Education Regional Division and better than the provincial average, reported Superintendent of Schools Glen Brodziak.
Elk Point Volunteer Fire Department sent out its own call for assistance, Fire Chief Lyle Frisby hoping to the number of volunteers and ensure there would be enough to respond during daytime hours for emergency calls, as only three of the 17 active members were immediately available at that time.
Elk Point Interagency Health and Wellness Committee was happy to hear that all was well at the healthcare centre, with adequate nursing staff in place and laboratory renovations almost completed.
April
Elk Point Fire Department’s ninth annual Good Friday pancake breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt brought out a capacity crowd which included special guest Sparky the Fire Dog, who presented well filled Easter baskets to golden egg finders Kobi Apigao, Ladi Smith, Ava Goulet and Elizabeth Smith.
June 12 was set for a town council by-election after Coun. Sherry Bower Gagne resigned to move to Lloydminster to support the needs of her parents.
Elk Point Chamber saw more new faces for the second meeting in a row, where fundraising chairman Dwayne Yaremkevich proposed a Spring Frolic as a way to start paying down the loan on the EcoCentre.
The Town of Elk Point’s finances were. much improved over the previous year, according to auditor Michael Epp, who presented the audited financial statement and said the net financial debt had dropped by more than $1 million from the previous year.
The County of St. Paul approved their 2018 budget and projected a slight surplus, with increases in the school requisition, a six per cent increase in property, values and a new requirement for owners of designated industrial properties to pay additional tax.
The Towns of St. Paul and Elk Point, the County of St. Paul and the Summer Village of Horseshoe Bay were in the beginning phase that would see existing Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs) for the towns and county updated and a new IDP and a municipal development plan prepared for the summer village.
St. Paul RCMP’s new Detachment Commander felt right at home when he attended the Greater Lakeland Rural Crime Watch meeting at Elk Point Elementary, SSgt. Cory Blize having attended school there and graduated from F. G. Miller High before his law enforcement career.
May
A fast-moving late afternoon fire claimed the eight-unit townhouse com- plex, with fire crews from Elk Point and St. Paul battling the blaze fanned by strong south winds until it was finally extinguished in late evening, on a week- end that also saw numerous grass and brush fires in the area.
Elk Point’s mill rate increase was the first since 2011, and reflected the need to replace aging infrastructure, including the catastrophic breakdown at the sewage lift station, which could cost close to $248,000 when repairs were complete, council was told.
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table overcame obstacles ranging from surly, baguette-wielding French guards to demanding Knights of Ni to a killer rabbit as they tracked down the Holy Grail in Elk Point Theatre Project’s version of Monty Python’s “Spamalot.”
Fire inspectors ruled that the fire raging through eight townhouses was accidental and pinpointed ‘improperly discarded smoking materials’ as the cause of the $3.8 million blaze.
The 2nd Chance Trail Ride set a new record as 360 participants and 36 wagons made their way up the Iron Horse Trail from Lindbergh to Elk Point under cloudless skies to raise funds to support organ and tissue transplant recipients and to raise awareness of the need for organ donation.
The Town of Elk Point’s new Public Engagement Policy, required under the new Municipal Government Act, apparently didn’t engage the public, because no input or comments were received before the policy received council’s approval.
Five hats were thrown in the ring for the town council seat left vacant by the resignation of Sherry Bower-Gagne, including former councillor Bernice Capjack and senior Henry Botting, who had both been on the Oct. 2017 ballot, and first-time candidates Sherry Oszust, Jason Boorse and Tim Smereka.
Two members of the Elk Point and District Interagency Health and Wellness Committee attended meetings with Alberta Health Services and the Lakeland the Lakeland Communities Health Advisory Council and said they felt the health regions needed realign- ment to better serve the needs of smaller communities.
Kailey Wirsta showed Elk Point 4-H’s Grand Champion Steer and her sister Lexi showed both the Reserve Champion Steer and the Supreme Champion Female at the club’s Achievement Day, while Luke Germain showed the Reserve Champion Female.
F. G. Miller High School may be small for a 2A school, with only 108 students, but seven out of 27 students who went to Track and Field Zones in Lloydminster outperformed schools with close to 300 students, bringing home the second Zone banner in two years and advancing to provincials.
June
Storm clouds threatened the Elk Point Auto Club’s Show and Shine, bringing the event to an early halt as show car owners hurried to put up convertible tops, close windows and even load some of the vehicles in trailers before the winners were announced.
A full slate of by-election candidates outlined their platforms at a forum hosted by the Elk Point Chamber of Commerce and answered a variety of questions posed by the voters in attendance.
Kailey Wirsta was back in the winner’s circle with her steer when it was named the St. Paul District Grand Champion, which later sold to JPD Enterprises of Elk Point for $3.60 per pound. Elk Point steers shown by Nicole Bristow and Lexi Wirsta were also part of the Parade of Champions.
The Town of Elk Point announced that the Elk Point Airport would begin a major infrastructure to rebuild the airfield lighting system on the runway, taxiway and apron, replacing the original 30-year-old lights with the latest LED technology.
Tim Smereka won the nod from over a third of the voters in the council by-election, with Jason Boorse and Sherry Oszust only one vote apart for second place.
Town council was catching up on their homework, faced with 20 pages of recommendations from Alberta Health on cannabis regulations and a lengthy background report and concept map for the multi-jurisdictional urban Intermunicipal Development Plan.
Heinsburg went Hollywood, making the nine members of the Heinsburg Community School Class of 2018 the stars of the show at their graduation ceremonies, where Justice Daniels continued the tradition of passing on the school colors to Gabrielle Potts- Abraham of the Class of 2019.
The County of St. Paul gave the go-ahead to their public works department to test a new road stabilizing product called Roadtek, said to bind existing road materials and aggregates to resolve problem areas and increase their strength and moisture resistance, on Richland Road, south of Highway 646.
July
“You make us proud,” F. G. Miller High School principal Colin Bjorkman told the 30 members of the Class of 2018 at their June 30 ceremonies. “This is an actual graduation; everyone will receive a high school diploma. Valedictorian Brayden Fairbairn spoke on the need for the class to adapt to change in their future lives.
A proposed fire pit and barbecue policy proved to be a hot topic for town council, bringing about a flurry of discussion regarding such aspects as the approved size of fire pits and location of barbecue structures.
Canada Day celebrations offered family-style fun, from the pancake breakfast to the fireworks, with new features of Loopy Ball and Sumo Suit Wrestling replacing the afternoon stage show, and evening activities including a dance for the adults and an outdoor movie for the younger set prior to the fireworks display.
Cowboy Mounted Shooting took over the infield at Stoney Lake on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning as a new and exciting addition to the 56th Annual Stoney Lake Stampede.
Town council took the next step toward restoring the capability of Elk Point’s airport to serve aircraft around the clock, as they awarded the contract for lighting upgrades to Tipp Off Inc., the lowest compliant bidder at $160,600 plus GST.
A reported total of 110 descendants of one of the 15 families to settle in the Ferguson Flats area in 1911 gathered just down the road from the Ockerman family homestead to pay tribute to their family’s roots, wrapping up the tribute with the lighting of a candle for those now missing from the family circle, but “whose spirits are still with us.”
The County of St. Paul and Elk Point FCSS provided summer fun for local communities throughout the summer, including a Science Afternoon at Ferguson Flats where summer students Jamie Kuzma and Brad Dubrule showed the youngsters how to find the DNA of a strawberry and how to make a rainbow volcano.
Elk Point Municipal Library’s Summer Reading Program also offered adventures for area youngsters, including nature hikes at Ross Lake where they found and identified interesting insects and tried their hand at watercolor painting with found materials, such as bark and grasses instead of brushes.
A convoy of truckers, close to 100 strong, pulled out of Elk Point and headed east to Lloydminster to deliver a message of solidarity to Canadian Natural Resources Limited, calling for increased compensation for fluid hauling in the oilfield.
Elk Point’s Golden Loaf Bakery was sitting second out of 52 in Alberta, with only Drayton Valley Bakery and Café, in a community with a population of 7,235 ahead of it, and 14th nation wide in the running for Sweetest Bakery in Canada, with only one day to go in the voting in person and online.
August
A wagon train headed west out of Heinsburg on the Iron Horse Trail on a three-day, 100-km journey to Mallaig for the Haying in the 30s weekend, stopping overnight in Elk Point and St. Paul along the way.
Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA) paid their annual visit to the Elk Point Municipal Library's Summer Reading Program, this year raising awareness of the airshed, rather than the watershed as they have in previous years.
Lillian Balazs of Cold Lake won the Elk Point Ag Society Horticultural, Craft and Quilt Show Grand Aggregate for the seventh time since 2001, her name filling the final space on the challenge-plaque at what may be the final fair of a decades-long series.
Downpours didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of thou- sands of people attending the August long weekend Haying in the ‘30s celebration of the past, where more than $210,000 was raised to help support victims of cancer.
Elk Point Oilmen’s Association celebrated 35 years of golf tournaments, with Curtis Porcina and Robyn Moroziuk as this year’s Championship Flight winners and Doug Callbeck named the Oilman of the Year.
Only four local non-profit groups received approval of grants totaling $9, 500 under the Community Enhancement, Arts and Culture Endowment Grant Program, funded through MSI, with only the Elk Point Golf and Country Club receiving the $6,500 they requested, and the balance set aside for town projects.
Frog Lake First Nations celebrated the opening of their Emergency Response Facility, built to serve as a headquarters for Frog Lake’s fire department and hopefully later for EMS services, the biggest goal of director of emergency services Myles Quinney.
TD Financial closed its Elk Point branch after 71 years in the downtown core, with many customers dropping in to say goodbye to the staff and reminisce over the display of photos from years gone by.
September
Fort George and Buckingham House Provincial Historic Site reported attendance close to that of the previous year, with Ross Stromberg handing over his role to Suzanna Wagner after 17 years as program coordinator at the site.
Tie down roping and team roping finalist Austin Young was the third generation of his family to compete in the Lakeland Rodeo Association Showdown Finals, now in their 40th year, following in the boot-steps of his mother, barrel racer Wendy (Lorenson) Young and late grandfather, roper Larry Lorenson, both original LRA members.
Elk Point Volunteer Fire Department helped to turn what started out as a simple noon hour barbe- cue fundraiser for the Red Cross into a major event at Cornerstone Co-op’s liquor store that raised over $2,000 to support the Red Cross and firefighters battling wildfires in British Columbia.
The County of St. Paul and Elk Point FCSS Information Night brought more than 280 area residents to the Elk Point Arts and Leisure Centre to learn about everything from upcoming theatre presentations to preschool learning, pole walking and 4-H activities.
Fires, smoke and firearms were all on town council’s 300-page agenda, but centre stage went to the Elk Point Elks Lodge, as they presented $5,000 toward the Elk Point Airport’s lighting upgrade project.
Elk Point chamber of commerce got a running start on fall and winter activities, agreeing to take over the annual Scarecrow Contest from the town’s recreation department and setting Nov. 23 as the date for the 2018 Christmas Extravaganza. Space aliens were encouraged to attend the Northern Lights Library System conference, with the theme, ‘Space — Unlimited. Possibilities’ and a secondary theme of safety for staff and patrons, featuring guest speaker Debra deWaal, a former Calgary Police officer.
It had been a busy summer for both the RCMP and the Community Advisory Policing Committee, with Sgt. Terry Hyggen reporting “a number of very serious crimes in the Frog Lake and Fishing Lake areas” and “significant inroads” made on rounding up the perpetrators.
October
Town Council laid down the bylaws as the date for cannabis legalization approached, dealing with land use for production, distribution and consumption of cannabis, as well as passing the town’s first ever Firearms Bylaw, which replaced a 1953 bylaw that also prohibited loitering, use of offensive language and causing a disturbance.
A whole lot of running was going on, with Elk Point Elementary School students running for Terry Fox and high school students from across the area competing in the St Paul Athletics Association’s cross-country competition.
Elk Point Fire Department was surprised by a presentation from Elk Point Canada Post workers, who presented a plaque-sized version of the recently released Firefighters stamp, along with their thanks for the department’s ongoing dedication to the community.
Elk Point seniors received updates on programs and services available from both the provincial and federal governments by Barb Lameman of Service Canada and Mary Jane Tkachuk of Alberta Seniors and Housing. Elk Point and District Lions Club added their $5,000 donation to the Airport Development Fund at a town council meeting that also saw a crackdown on unpaid pet fines, to the extent that owners of rental property whose tenants leave without paying the fines will become responsible for fine repayment.
Council also welcomed new Bylaw Officer Krysten Burton as she was sworn in to the position.
Enrolment was down by 81 students across St. Paul Education Regional Division, which superintendent Glen Brodziak said was “significant” to the division’s budget.
Both spooky and smiling scarecrows competed in the chamber and town’s contest, with Signatures Collision and Frame winning their second Scarecrow Contest in a row with a damsel in distress as this year’s ‘victim of an evil plot.
A huge addition to the C. G. Baker Arena was under construction, with the new space to be used for tying up extra horses during riding events.
The Halloween Family Dance hosted by Elk Point Early Childhood Development Committee and the County of St. Paul and Elk Point FCSS drew a-huge and enthusiastic crowd, with fun, games, costume-con- test and lively. DJ music and videos.
The town’s cannabis and firearms bylaws passed unopposed, with only two ratepayers in attendance to get further clarification on the bylaws’ content.
November
Superheroes from the Early Childhood Committee were also part of the Elk Point Municipal Library’s Free Comic Book Day, which offered free photos, an escape room and spooky attorsahoel snacks to the pre-Halloween crowd.
Greater Lakeland Rural Crime Watch hosted the Alberta Provincial Zone 4 RCW meeting, with members of the Derwent, Two Hills and District and Andrew -Willingdon RCW groups in attendance...»
Elementary and high school students held Remembrance Day observances and the community joined in the November 11 wreath laying and program as Elk Point paid respect to Canada’s armed forces 100 years after the World War I Armistice.
Chamber of commerce members had ample opportunity to give input on the Western Growth Strategy at their November meeting in a discussion led by Penny Fox of Community Futures St. Paul — Smoky Lake.
Numbers were up for all of the FCSS programs, director Janice Fodchuk told town council when she made her semi-annual visit and provided statistics on the various events. The County of St. Paul introduced a bylaw prohibiting consumption of cannabis in public places and passed its first reading.
Christmas Extravaganza brightened up a frosty Friday, with new events including a bale maze; cow bingo, beanbag toss and turkey bingo for the whole family.
Elk Point and Regional Allied Arts Sociéty’ s Christmas dinner theatre production of “Drinking Habits’ was a sellout success, with inquiries already coming in on tickets for the 2019 event.
December
Four existing bylaws and two existing policies were updated and one new bylaw approved by town council, establishing the Community Bylaw Officer Code of Conduct.
The importance of communication for rural crime watch groups was emphasized in a report brought to the Greater Lakeland RCW by Zone 4’s new director Jonny Nielsen from the Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch meeting.
A record total of nine churches were represented in the annual Interfaith Cantata.
Entries were way up for the Oilmen’s Big Bucks competition, with Karisa Whitlock, Wyatt Jacula, Cam Hryhchuk and Cody Eyben showing the winning racks.
An orchestra of “Rusty Musicians” opened-up the show for the Elk Point Community Choir’s annual Christmas Concert.
F. G. Miller vice principal Darcy Younghans won the prestigious Alberta Schools Athletic Association’s Lorne Woods Award which goes to a school administrator who actively models, promotes and supports sportsmanship through involvement in the school’s athletic program.
The school year wound up with a pair of Christmas concerts at Elk Point Elementary, as teachers across the St. Paul Education Regional Division authorized a strike vote.
