A year of considerable progress: 2012
By Vicki BROOKER Review Staff
The past 12 months have been a period of considerable progress in Elk Point, with the development of a new section of the industrial park, work underway on single- and multiple-family residential lots, the installation of paved walking trails, and the regional water line now nearing completion.
Here’s a brief rundown of the year’s top news.
January
F. G. Miller High School’s Practitioners of Underground Philanthropy (PUP) group was honoured with its second Doug Yeo Youth in Action award, recognizing tits good works in the community. Larry Lecopoy retired from Elk Point's public works department after 38 years on the job.
A third period hat trick by Sam Henderson broke a tie with Cold Lake in the Atom B Avalanche tourney for the team’s first win of the season. Joe Tremblay, Dana Lychak, Nicole Landstrom and Wayne Tymofichuk showed the award winners at Elk Point Oilmen’s Big Bucks contest.
Town council accepted STRAD Energy Services’ offer for a 7.52 acre parcel in the new industrial subdivision, and gave the engineers the go-ahead to draw up the plans to tender for servicing two blocks of the subdivision. Chamber of commerce past president Sandy Smith was eager to get going on plans for ‘Cars, Crafts and Cuisine.’
Metelytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble brought an old tale to life, performing ‘Sophia and the Seven Cossacks’ at their Malanka celebration. Greater Lakeland Rural Crime Watch Association was under new leadership, with Levina Ewasiuk elected president, Orest Sereda vice president and treasurer Donna Spielmacher joining treasurer Anna Leskiw after the first annual meeting since 2007.
Federal and provincial politicians heard regional and community issues when a total of 29 communities attended a round table hosted by Alberta HUB. Town council agreed to delay paving of the current industrial subdivision for one year while the new subdivision was top priority.
February
Steve Penz and the E-Can Oilfield Services rink won the 29th annual Elk Point Oilmen’s Bonspiel grand challenge with a win over Darwin Botting and his Dudley Contracting rink. Brian Anderson was named the Elk Point Oilmen’s Association Oilman of the Year at the bonspiel banquet.
Elk Point 4-H Multi Club members displayed a wide range of talents, with equal numbers of presenters and public speakers at the annual competition, with Nolan Vogel and Mackenzie Evans the top speakers. Acting’ president Debra McQuinn and new vice president Dwayne Yaremkevich were elected at the Elk Point Chamber of Commerce annual meeting as the chamber moved to one meeting per month and a new meeting day, Thursday.
A resident’s concern with recycling was brought to council, and was assured that tires, paint, electronics, batteries and chemical containers are now being collected for recycling, with other materials to be added when financially feasible. Rural Crime Watch appointed area directors in areas ranging from Stoney Lake to Northern Valley to Ferguson Flats, and was hoping for more representation from other areas to be added later in the year.
Entries from players from as far away as Vancouver were coming in for the second annual Jim Vinge Memorial Hockey Tournament in March. The May 29 Riverland Challenge was already proving to be a challenge for the organizers, who wee once again left without a coordinator for the event, after recreation director Valerie Lazicki left Elk Point.
March
Both Elk Point’s General Municipal Plan (GMP) and Land Use Bylaw were to be reviewed in the near future, when it was noted that some issues in the inter-municipal plan developed for the town and the County of St. Paul reflected on the GMP.
Elk Point 4-Hers Morgan Baker came first in the intermediate level and Dustin Pinder second in junior at the district public speaking competition in St. Paul.
Former teammates from the St. Pal Jr. B Canadiens, Elk Point Senior Elks and Jorvik recreational team were joined by some of the young men and women Jim Vinge had coached to remember their friend and mentor in the way he would have liked best, at the second annual Jim Vinge Memorial Hockey Tournament.
Young scientists at Elk Point Elementary School won awards on displays ranging from the effect of liquids on plant growth to the strength of paper towels at the annual Science Fair.
F. G. Miller Crusaders senior boys and FGM alumni took on the legendary Elk Point Pacers at the Wrecking Ball Tournament, the final basketball game in the gym before demolition and rebuilding began.
Skaters kicked up their heels to country tunes al the ice carnival, where Jazz Smyl-Joly and Nick Jesionek were guest performers.
Minor hockey celebrated the end of another season, with Warren Ference the proud recipient of the Alex Kurash Memorial trophy for the most improved peewee player of the year.
Six performances of the vintage musical comedy, ‘My Old Friends,’ wowed the crowds at Elk Point So paragon d Choir and Friends’ 19! annual dinner theatre.
April
Elk Point BPO Elks hosted visitors from St. Paul, Hairy Hill, Myrnam, Vegreville, Lac La Biche and the Grand Lodge at the District Six district meeting. Elk Point Historical Society held a well-attended History Day at Elk Point Municipal Library, with displays ranging from schools to settlers.
Elk Point's Co-op store would stay downtown, with a 4,000-square foot expansion and major renovations for the 72-year-old business.
Concerns with the impact of drilling close to town were expressed at the chamber meeting.
The town of Elk Point and County of St. Paul's joint inter-municipal development plan went uncontested at a five-minute public hearing with both councils on hand. Heinsburg Community Development Society checked out the progress made on restoration of their train station..
Wildrose candidate Shane Saskiw won the Lac La Biche — St. Paul — Two Hills seat in the provincial election, with former MLA Ray Danyluk saying, “I get my life back” as a result of the vote.
Garbage was delightful at Elk Point Elementary School, as students created a variety of creatures from castoffs at their Recycle Day.
May
The County of St. Paul honoured a pioneer family with a Century Farm plaque going to Walter and Frances Moneta, 100 years after Walter's father. William, registered the homestead four miles south of Elk Point.
The very successful Second Chance Trail Ride served both as a celebration of the successful recovery from life-threatening conditions suffered by organizer and double lung recipient Moe Irvine and six other organ transplant recipients and as a fundraiser for the Canadian Transplant Games in Calgary.
The fate of the Elk Point Rural Electrification Association would be decided by a member vote, after a motion to ask ATCO for a sale proposal was made at the REA’s annual meeting earlier in the spring, and held an information meeting when the proposal was received.
The town’s industrial rezoning hearing brought protests from nearby residents and &local business concerned about dust, traffic and Visual esthetics of the development.
Fort George and Buckingham House historic site hosted their fifth annual Riverland Adventure Challenge after overcoming challenges in organizing the popular event.
June
Kailey Wirsta showed the grand champion steer and Taylor Robbie the reserve champion, while Carson Vogel showed the grand champion market lamb and Madison MacDonald the reserve champion.
Showers plagued 27 teams taking part in the Elk Point Emergency Services S.T.A.R.S. golf tournament, with Lyle Frisby of the organizing committee calling it “one of the best soggy days of golf in a long time.”
Uncooperative weather and high streamflow conditions on the North Saskatchewan River relocated the Duck Race to a wading pool near the Elk Point water spray park, where winning ducks were netted by a series of blindfolded youngsters.
The site of Northwest Rebellion bloodshed in 1885 became the site of cultural understanding and reconciliation as a five-year project “ended with the unveiling of a series of panels that tell the story of the Frog Lake Massacre, which Onion Lake First Nation Chief Wallace Fox said, “was not a massacre, people were forced into starvation.”
July
“You're all winners, “ mistress of ceremonies Leanne Vinge told Elk Point Elementary School students at the school’s annual awards day, where Kira Brunner won the St. Paul Regional School Division No. 1 Grade 6 Academic Award.
Elk Point Co-op visited town council to outline plans for a major expansion and renovation of the store, with construction to begin in the spring of 2013.
Valedictorian Kelsey Lindquist sought advice from a previous valedictorian, her father Jim, to prepare her address to F. G. Miller's Class of 2013 at their graduation, where the Crusader sword was passed from Bailey Oster and Wyatt Dewan to Mandy Berg and Nicole Plunkie.
There was plenty of reminiscing at Stoney Lake's 50th annual Stampede, with original members Gunther May, Steve Drobot, Walter and Ed Piotrowski, Olga Demchuk joined by Joe Tymofichuk, a member since 1973, to cut the anniversary cake, while nearby, Pat Swedgan proudly displayed albums of posters, newspaper coverage and photos covering the half century of rodeo history.
Town council took two extra days and a special meeting to iron out the details, but finally gave approval for two parts of their planned walking trail development to go ahead on 54 Street and 50 Avenue.
The crowning of Canada Day Idol Tatum Williams of Lloydminster, junior winner and second runner up Alison Ference of Bonnyville and second runner up Cassidy Zahar of Vilna came at the end of a long day of Canada Day celebrations that included a pancake breakfast, parade, stage show, strength challenge and Dare, Challenge.
Twenty years after the Bicentennial and the opening of the Fort George and Buckingham House Interpretive Centre, 1992 advisory board members Sheila Thompson, Frank Mayner and John Zenko and Bicentennial Committée members Marjorie and Roy Scott, Kathy Foster, Sherry Milholland and Vicki Brooker were on hand to accept certificates of recognition from Alberta Historic Sites Director of Operations Charlene Garvey. The Bicentennial reunion was held in conjunction with the forts’ annual Saskatoon Festival.
Millie Orr won her second consecutive Grand Aggregate award at the Elk Point Agricultural Society Craft and Horticultural Show, with Lillian Balazs of Cold Lake and Lisa Love taking second and third place respectively. The town-conducted municipal census showed a significant increase to 1,571 residents, compared to the 2011 federal census total of 1,412.
August
It was a constructive summer in Elk Point, with the major infrastructure project of the 24/7 water line from St. Paul and street construction and the installation of services in the new industrial park area as the largest projects. One of the smaller projects was the construction of a concrete swale across 51 Street at the 50 Ave. intersection and modifications to the nearby storm drain, to alleviate a drainage trouble spot during spring runoff and heavy rains.
Fun and games were added to safety knowledge as Canadian Salt’s Lindbergh works held their annual Safety Day, where plant manager Roman Pietrus said that with 1.4 million worker hours without a lost time accident, “We have something to celebrate.”
Heinsburg’s Trail Day raised funds to assist cancer victims through Haying in the "30s.
Work got underway on the creation of 16 new RI residential lots that would be priced at $65,000 each and several R3 lots, with the price for those to be determined after the outline plan was completed.
Sean Hill was named champion of the 29" annual Elk Point Oilmen’s Golf Tournament, with a participant lineup that included champion curler Carter Rycroft.
MLA Shayne Saskiw paid his first-ever visit to Fort George and Buckingham House provincial historic site and toured the original fort sites and interpretive centre before presenting the staff with a certificate of congratulations on 20 years of operation.
Twenty-two members of the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group were also visitors at the Forts for the annual Forts des Prairies Jamboree.
September
School was back in, and Elk Point Elementary School principal Lorne Young and F. G. Miller High School's new principal Darcey Younghans were on hand bright and early on the first day to greet the students as they arrived by bus and on foot. Meanwhile at the Empress, a large group of retired teachers gathered to toast their colleagues “for whom the bell still tolls.”
Members of the Elk Point Rural Electrification Association voted to sell the electrical distribution system to ATCO Electric for $5,381,058, with 130 votes in favour of the sale, 20 against and one spoiled ballot.
Grandparents Day was a huge success, with Peggy Maas the top fundraiser, bringing in $918 of the $6,518 pledges, which would be split between the Seniors’ Recreation Centre, the Handi Van and grandparents raising orphaned grandchildren in Loshoto, Tasmania.
An increase in property tax concerned residents who felt their farm home on the outskirts of town was being taxed the same as an in-town residence, without the services town residents receive.
Former MLA Ray Danyluk announced h is intention to run for the presidency of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta.
Construction of a walking trail along 54 Street, between 50 Ave. and the elevator access road was well underway, as was work on the trail from the access road to the Elk Point Recreation Park.
Monday work bees were underway at the A. G. Ross Arena in preparation for the coming hockey and figure skating season.
October
Associate Minister of Health and Seniors George VandenBurg heard health and seniors’ concerns from a large group of northeast Alberta residents when he visited Elk Point with Bonnyville-Cold Lake MLA Genia Leskiw. Water was on town council's table, with three separate agenda items dealing with the Regional Water Commission and its operating, administrative and water supply agreements,
Elk Point Elementary School staff and students followed the dream of the legendary Terry Fox, with three survivors, teacher Debbie Wood and students
Abby Rybchinsky and Jake Fontaine, leading the group on their annual run. Planning for a revitalized Christmas Extravaganza got underway for the Elk Point Chamber of Commerce.
Coun. Ron Fraess called the targeted Dec. 21 startup date for water to start flowing through the new pipeline from St. Paul “optimistic,” adding, “I don’t think so,” with the control building not even expected to arrive until mid-November. Local businesses indicated that they were eager to get on board for the Extravaganza parade, which had been cancelled in 2011 due to lack of interest.
It was a busy and successful summer for the Greater Lakeland Rural Crime Watch, members agreed as they met for the first time since June, with awareness increased by the group's float in the Elk Point and St Paul parades and promotional booths at three events gaining another dozen members. Elk Point now had two 4-H clubs, one focusing on the beef project splitting off from the Multi Club to double the potential to ‘learn to do by doing.”
Halloween hilarity and fantastic costumes took top billing at Elk Point Ukrainian Dance Club’s third annual Halloween Family Frolic, which filled the Elk Point Arts and Leisure Centre to capacity. Town council increased honoraria by $25 per meeting across the board, and increased the allowance for meals and accommodation, but left monthly payments and car allowances at the existing levels.
November
Heinsburg Community School students spent Halloween afternoon creating a lineup of well-dressed scarecrows, with the high school students pitching in to assist the primary grades in this new twist on tradition. Elk Point Elementary’s Terry Fox Run raised record high donations of $4,942, and resulted in some very interesting makeovers for principal Lorne Young and vice principal Leanne Vinge.
The sacrifices and hardships of war were remembered by a smaller-than-average group, on a clear but cold Remembrance Day, with néwly arrived Christian Community Church Pastor Don Ford giving an inspiring message. Elk Point Elementary students also paid solemn tribute to those fallen in war, with Don Buryn and his music students performing several numbers and each class having a special part in the program.
The town’s proposed new garbage bylaw brought questions ranging from types and sources of containers to the need for street-front pickup, and was tabled for further study, with implementation delayed until the new year. The Lakeland Communities Health Advisory Committee met in Elk Point and got a through update on the proposed Medi-Vac move from Edmonton Municipal Airport to the international airport.
Elk Point Elementary students helped pack Santa’s bags, and their high school counterparts added to the sleigh load as Operation Christmas Child wrapped up for another year of sending shoeboxes stuffed with gifts to less fortunate children overseas. A project aimed at providing sustainable, responsive alternative transportation for seniors in rural Alberta “won't work here,’ the current volunteer drivers said at the Interagency Health Council meeting.
December
All was bright at the 26" annual Christmas Extravaganza, with a long lineup of brightly lighted floats delighting the crowds lining Main Street and the relocated craft show doing a roaring business at the Seniors’ Recreation Centre, which also housed an art show and photos with Santa. Things were much darker at the Big Bucks Contest the following evening, when a power outage all over town caused over half the prizes to be handed out by flashlight.
Extravaganza was “good for a comeback year,” chamber president Debra McQuinn declared at the December meeting, adding, “We got a lot of praise.” Santa went skating with the youngsters at a Victim Services fundraiser at the A. G. Ross Arena that also included a silent auction.
A weekend filled with music preceded Christmas, with Elk Point Community Choir joined by Les Musicos for their concert, angels in fine voice at the Christian Community Church and seven area churches joining in the Interfaith Cantata. The first reading of Elk Point’s new garbage bylaw was deferred to the first meeting of 2013, with the virtues of contracting out residential garbage collection or continuing to do it with town staff debated.
Elk Point Elementary School’s concerts shared joy, hope and love, along with a beloved Christmas tree that the forest animals conceded looked even better when the townsfolk got in on the decorating. Concerts at Jack and Jill Playschool and Elk Point Baptist Church and an outpouring of donations for Frog Lake’s less fortunate at Heinsburg Community School added to the celebration of the festive season.
