Town of Bonnyville
Council Highlights
Regular Council Meeting
Feb. 8
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Feb. 8 Regular Council Meeting was the first to begin with a Land Acknowledgement read by Mayor Elisa Brosseau. This comes after Council directed Administration to reach out to neighbouring Indigenous communities to ask what should be included in the declaration. All Council meetings from now on will begin with the Land Acknowledgment.
CONDOLENCES: Before officially starting the meeting, Mayor Brosseau offered condolences on behalf of Council and the Town to the Castor Volunteer Fire Rescue, who lost one of their own earlier this week. Mayor Brosseau said the loss has been felt throughout the province and communities like Bonnyville who rely on volunteer firefighters.
ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING PROGRAM: The Town of Bonnyville will be moving forward with an expression of interest and grant application for an Electric Vehicle Charging Program. This decision was made after administration received an email from Alberta Hub with regards to a funding program from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre, which provides funding support for municipalities in Alberta to install Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure that will support and accelerate the adoption of Electric Vehicles in their communities.
BRFA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EXERCISE GRANT: Council approved providing a letter of support to the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority’s (BRFA) grant application to the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta for a tabletop disaster exercise. The BRFA has been invited to apply for a training grant for approximately $15,000 for a tabletop exercise, which will be based on a one-day scenario with a round table exercise in the morning and debrief of the activities in the afternoon.
DELEGATION: Lakeland Industry & Community Association (LICA) made a presentation to Council about the Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) for the Beaver River, which will act as a guidance document and planning tool for resource managers. The IWMP identifies goals for maintaining and/or improving watershed health. The Beaver River IWMP is currently looking for engagement from local stakeholders and invited Council to attend an in-person engagement session at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre on March 3. LICA also invited Council to the Riparian Assessment Results presentation on Feb. 17.
OIL & GAS SPONSORSHIP: Council approved a $10,000 sponsorship for the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce’s Oil and Gas Show. Historically, the Oil and Gas Show and Cold Lake Air Show operate on alternating years and the Town has sponsored both events on alternating years for a similar amount. Due to COVID-19, both events are slated for later this year and the Chamber requested Council confirm their donation.
DONATION: After receiving a donation request from Farm Safety Centre, which offers various programs such as a child safety program aimed at elementary school aged children in rural areas, Council approved a donation of $350. The request came after the provincial government ceased grant funding for the Farm Safety Centre in 2020.
BRIEFLY: Coun. Byron Johnson offered congratulations to Clayton Bellamy and Mike Plume on being nominated for the 2022 Alberta Country Music Awards. Both men have called Bonnyville home at some point and Coun. Johnson wished them luck at this year’s awards ceremony.