Amanda Jeffery, Free Press
The Drayton Valley Chamber of Commerce is working to entice Draytonians to keep their money circulating locally.
After the success of the Christmas Passports, which saw nearly $100,000 kept in the community, Diane Huska, the event coordinator for the Chamber, says they have decided to run the passport program all year round.
“We had a meeting and decided why not run this thing the whole year because we had such success at Christmas,” she says.
To participate in the Passport Program and be entered to win their prizes, all residents have to do is shop at the businesses that are participating, says Huska. Every time someone makes a purchase at one of those businesses, they will receive a stamp on their passport. The more stamps, the more entries there are for the prizes.
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Huska says these prizes will be drawn on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving and there will also be the annual Christmas draw.
This time, Huska says they have forty-two local businesses participating, twenty more than they had over the Christmas holidays. She says the Chamber is excited to see how much local spending they can encourage in Drayton.
“It’s a really good variety of retail,” she says. Some of those businesses are Chamber members and some are not.
She says the Chamber is working with the Town of Drayton Valley and Brazeau County, and they’ve really enjoyed the collaboration.
“Everybody wants Drayton going. You know? Keep it positive. Get some happiness back in here,” she says.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Next Week’s News
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
Air cadets mark 60 years
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
Staff Sergeant stepping down
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
Concern over Winfield School
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
County spends on fire suppression
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
Huska says though Covid has had a negative impact on many businesses, in some cases there has been a bit of a silver lining. More people have been shopping in their own community. The hope is that by offering these passports and the prizes, people will continue to shop locally rather than go to Edmonton or other places to shop.
“We thought, they’ve done it this long, over a year, why not try to encourage the public to still spend as much as they can in town? This is just a bit of an incentive,” she says.
Another goal of the program is to stimulate new growth and awareness of some of the businesses. Those that are new to the community might be able to find some stores that they weren’t aware of.
Ten years ago, Kelly Forster and her friend Amanda Evans, decided they would do their best to help struggling people in Drayton Valley.
Today, Warming Hearts is a space where people can come to eat, do laundry, shower, get some clothes, or relax in a warm building.
As a thank you to Forster for her efforts, the Homelessness and Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee had a surprise party for her on June 14. Several volunteers, clients, and funders were there to help her celebrate her success.
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“I’m very humbled. [I] didn’t see it coming, but it means a lot from my volunteers and my family,” she says.
“We didn’t think it would last a month,” says Forster about first starting the kitchen. But now, she doesn’t think there is anything that could make her give it up.
The entire program is run by volunteers. Forster is at the building every day, as is Jordan Faunt, another volunteer. Several others rotate in and out as they are needed. Forster says the program’s 20 volunteers put in about 720 hours a month.
Currently, the program is offering breakfast and lunch for those in need. The food donations come from IGA and the Drayton Bakery, as well as other people who drop off items or funds.
While the program has been running for ten years, it wasn’t until recently that it had a place to call its own. In the past, Forster has run the program in the Legion and at the Life Church. Now they have a space in the building next to the bottle depot thanks to a provincial grant they received.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
Forster says there are more than 20 people who use the program right now, which is lower than it was before the evacuation. She says some people haven’t yet returned to the community.
Over the years, Forster estimates that she’s served tens of thousands of meals.
Helping her celebrate her achievement was one of her clients, John.
“She saved my life,” he says. “It helped me out quite a bit, actually.” When he was down on hard times, he says he wasn’t even aware of Warming Hearts at first.
“Sometimes I think we’re the best kept secret in the community,” says Forster.
John says that the program helped bring him out of his depression.
“I’m a firm believer that feeding a person a hot meal and giving them a warm bed at night will help.”
Volunteer Marguerite Geilen has only recently started with the program, but she says it’s been a rewarding experience. When she heard about it through her church, Geilen decided that since she was retired she could devote more of her time to helping others.
“It has opened up my eyes big time,” says Geilen. “I was raised quite sheltered, I guess.”
She says through her time with the program she’s felt herself developing more compassion, empathy, and love for everyone.
“I feel like we’re all just one bad decision or really hard trauma away from being in the same place,” says Amanda Dow, another volunteer. “It’s that easy. You can wake up to find out something happened that day and it’s all over.”
Dow says sometimes just a kind face can make a difference for those who are struggling.
Forster and the volunteers at the facility encourage people to come in and spend their time helping others. She says they are always open to having volunteers join the program.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Last week, some parents from H.W. Pickup gathered to hear from Wild Rose School Division superintendent Brad Volkman and the board trustee for ward one, Daryl Scott, to get an update about the new Powerhouse Learning Campus.
Volkman told parents that students from H.W. Pickup and the Drayton Christian School could be in the new facility as early as Christmas, though the date isn’t written in stone.
“They don’t ever really give us a firm date,” says Volkman. Weather conditions or supply issues could still possibly cause delays, but they are hoping to move the schools over on Christmas break if possible.
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Volkman had a list of questions that had been submitted to the division and answered them for all of the parents present. He then addressed the questions of those who were at the meeting.
One concern was about how the division was addressing the safety and security of the students. Volkman says designing schools can be challenging in that they want the building to be secure, but they don’t want it to feel like a prison for the kids. He says one additional feature for the school is a mechanism in the office that will allow staff to lock the outer doors of the school if needed.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
There will also be an elevator in the school to give easy access to both floors to those in wheelchairs. Volkman says there is an elevator in the Breton Elementary School that has worked well for those students.
He also advised that a staggered entry into the school was something being considered by the schools. Volkman pointed out the success of the staggered entries into Frank Maddock High School and H.W. Pickup as examples of where it has worked well. It’s also a possibility that some students who struggle with change will have the opportunity to tour the school before the year starts.
Another topic discussed was the bathrooms in the school, which Volkman said would have full doors like the ones used in Aurora Elementary and Evergreen Elementary. The bathrooms would also be gender-neutral, except for those in the DCS area, where they would likely be labeled.
Volkman also addressed concerns about non-secular students in the same school as secular students. “We’ve seen it work for years here in Drayton,” he says, referring to the Eldorado Elementary School shared with DCS.
He also spoke about the success of a similar situation in Rocky Mountain House at the West Central High School, which is shared with both St. Dominic’s High School and Red Deer College.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Brazeau County residents with questions, kudos or concerns about the handling of the Buck Creek Fire will be able to have their say June 26. The County is hosting a public wildfire town hall meeting that evening at the Buck Creek Hall.
Living Spirit United Church
Everyone welcome. Sunday Worship, 10:30 We are residents of Drayton Valley, members and adherents of
During the public input sessions at the two council meetings held since the evacuation order was lifted, residents have raised a number of issues. Those include concerns over who is responsible for clean up and remediation after the fire, the financial cost of firefighting and the way information was communicated to the public during the state of emergency.
The meeting is set to start at 6 pm. Beef on a bun will be served.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
Meanwhile firefighters continue to deal with hotspots and potential flare ups from the blaze. That work is expected to continue well into the fall.
The Pembina Complex fire continues to burn in the area north of the Brazeau Dam. The western portion of Brazeau County, including both Lodgepole and Cynthia, has been under an evacuation alert since last week. The weather forecast for the coming days calls for showers and cooler temperatures.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
There will be no DV100 Race or Ride this year. The annual event, which draws cyclists from across Alberta, had been set to go Saturday September 9.
Living Spirit United Church
Everyone welcome. Sunday Worship, 10:30 We are residents of Drayton Valley, members and adherents of
On Tuesday morning organizers issued a statement saying the DV100 had been postponed, citing the current wildfire situation and the corresponding hazardous air quality.
“Our committee’s number one priority is the safety and well-being of our racers, volunteers and the overall community, and we firmly believe that cancelling this event is the best course of action at this time,” the group said.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
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Along with the direct threat from the fires, poor air quality makes physical exertion potentially dangerous, even to those without an underlying health condition. The DV100 follows a 100 kilometre loop heading west from Drayton Valley and travelling through both Lodgepole and Cynthia. That part of Brazeau County is potentially threatened by the Pembina Complex Fire, which is likely to continue to cause challenges in the area well into the fall.
Organizers say they will be issuing refunds to those who have already signed up for the DV100 in due course.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Nine-year-old resident Tristan Arseneault is hoping to head off to nationals on July 1 to arm wrestle himself a medal.
The only issue facing the family is the expense of the trip. Tristan would like his entire family to come for the trip to Nova Scotia, which is expected to cost around $5,500, possibly more.
“Tristan’s heart’s desire is that [we all] be there,” says his mother, Ashley Arseneault. “We’re trying to support that.”
Church of God
Service Updates *View website for up to date Covid-19 protocols* Join us Sunday mornings for
She says Tristan is a stickler about the goals he sets and rarely lets things get in the way of achieving them. “He’s very passionate and dedicated,” she says.
At the age of three, Tristan started in wrestling, where his natural athletic talent shone. When he participated in tournaments, he came home with gold medals. Since then, he’s gone on to secure gold at a recent powerlifting event where he deadlifted 150 lbs.
“That’s almost three times his weight,” says his dad, Nick Arseneault.
Nick says Tristan has been in arm wrestling for a year. His training started after one coach, Frazier Benoit, heard that Tristan had challenged the 13-year-old national silver medalist to an arm wrestle and won.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
Benoit is a world champion arm wrestler who owns Frazier’s Next Level Coaching in Blackfalds, and Nick says he was really interested in training Tristan.
“[Benoit] was training that silver medalist,” says Nick. “When he heard what Tristan had done, he bugged us for about half a year to come train with him.”
Nick says Benoit’s training got Tristan to provincials. “He pretty much walked through provincials,” says Nick.
Should Tristan do well in the nationals, he could qualify to head to Kazakhstan for the World Championships at the end of August.
Ashley says they have created a GiveSendGo site (www.givesendgo.com/TristanANationals), and she is planning to take Arseneault out to ask businesses for donations. There will be a yard sale and potentially a bottle drive to help out as well. Ashley says she’s also banking on word of mouth, especially because of the short timeline they have.
Anyone looking to donate to help the Arseneaults can call Ashley at 780-514-5241, or Nick 780-898-3457, and emails can be sent to ashleyjeanarseneault@gmail.com.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Residents of Drayton Valley and Brazeau County will have a little extra time to pay their property taxes this year.
At last week’s county council meeting, council passed motions to move the tax due date back by a month. In a special meeting the same day, town council followed suit. Taxes in both municipalities are now due on or before July 31 of this year. Previously the deadline had been June 30. A statement from the County says the change was made due to the recent wildfire that affected members of the community. Late penalties will not be charged before August 1.
County council also rescheduled three public hearings that had been set to take place in May but were postponed due to the evacuation. The public hearings for bylaw 1137-23, bylaw 1138-23 and bylaw 1139-23 are now set to be held at the June 20 council meeting. Two of the bylaws relate to amendments of the Land Use Bylaw, while the third involves an amendment to the Cynthia Area Structure Plan.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
Tax break for fire damage
The Town is to offer tax forgiveness to the owners of homes lost in the Buck Creek wildfire.
Council made the move on Wednesday morning. Acting CAO Elvera Thomson said there were two homes located within town boundaries that had been destroyed by the blaze. Since tax assessments are based on the condition of the property as of last December, the owners would not normally see a reduction to reflect the fire damage until 2024.
Council will forgive the municipal portion of taxes totaling $1,038 for the two properties.
“I think it’s a little bit of something we can do to assist the families,” said Mayor Nancy Dodds.
Tax notices for Drayton Valley residents were mailed out this week. The average homeowner can expect to see an increase of about 5.5 percent over last year’s total. However, that amount will vary depending on changes to the assessed value of the property.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Huska says the Passport Program isn’t the only event the chamber is planning to help boost the economy in Drayton. They will also be hosting town hall meetings that will invite businesses to get together and share tips of how they were able to survive the Covid restrictions. She says this will be in partnership with the Town and the County.
Ten years ago, Kelly Forster and her friend Amanda Evans, decided they would do their best to help struggling people in Drayton Valley.
Today, Warming Hearts is a space where people can come to eat, do laundry, shower, get some clothes, or relax in a warm building.
As a thank you to Forster for her efforts, the Homelessness and Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee had a surprise party for her on June 14. Several volunteers, clients, and funders were there to help her celebrate her success.
Valley Worship Assembly
Please take your time and discover what is happening at Valley Worship in Drayton Valley.
“I’m very humbled. [I] didn’t see it coming, but it means a lot from my volunteers and my family,” she says.
“We didn’t think it would last a month,” says Forster about first starting the kitchen. But now, she doesn’t think there is anything that could make her give it up.
The entire program is run by volunteers. Forster is at the building every day, as is Jordan Faunt, another volunteer. Several others rotate in and out as they are needed. Forster says the program’s 20 volunteers put in about 720 hours a month.
Currently, the program is offering breakfast and lunch for those in need. The food donations come from IGA and the Drayton Bakery, as well as other people who drop off items or funds.
While the program has been running for ten years, it wasn’t until recently that it had a place to call its own. In the past, Forster has run the program in the Legion and at the Life Church. Now they have a space in the building next to the bottle depot thanks to a provincial grant they received.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
Forster says there are more than 20 people who use the program right now, which is lower than it was before the evacuation. She says some people haven’t yet returned to the community.
Over the years, Forster estimates that she’s served tens of thousands of meals.
Helping her celebrate her achievement was one of her clients, John.
“She saved my life,” he says. “It helped me out quite a bit, actually.” When he was down on hard times, he says he wasn’t even aware of Warming Hearts at first.
“Sometimes I think we’re the best kept secret in the community,” says Forster.
John says that the program helped bring him out of his depression.
“I’m a firm believer that feeding a person a hot meal and giving them a warm bed at night will help.”
Volunteer Marguerite Geilen has only recently started with the program, but she says it’s been a rewarding experience. When she heard about it through her church, Geilen decided that since she was retired she could devote more of her time to helping others.
“It has opened up my eyes big time,” says Geilen. “I was raised quite sheltered, I guess.”
She says through her time with the program she’s felt herself developing more compassion, empathy, and love for everyone.
“I feel like we’re all just one bad decision or really hard trauma away from being in the same place,” says Amanda Dow, another volunteer. “It’s that easy. You can wake up to find out something happened that day and it’s all over.”
Dow says sometimes just a kind face can make a difference for those who are struggling.
Forster and the volunteers at the facility encourage people to come in and spend their time helping others. She says they are always open to having volunteers join the program.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Last week, some parents from H.W. Pickup gathered to hear from Wild Rose School Division superintendent Brad Volkman and the board trustee for ward one, Daryl Scott, to get an update about the new Powerhouse Learning Campus.
Volkman told parents that students from H.W. Pickup and the Drayton Christian School could be in the new facility as early as Christmas, though the date isn’t written in stone.
“They don’t ever really give us a firm date,” says Volkman. Weather conditions or supply issues could still possibly cause delays, but they are hoping to move the schools over on Christmas break if possible.
Life Church Drayton Valley
We know that exploring a new church can be an overwhelming experience. To help you
Volkman had a list of questions that had been submitted to the division and answered them for all of the parents present. He then addressed the questions of those who were at the meeting.
One concern was about how the division was addressing the safety and security of the students. Volkman says designing schools can be challenging in that they want the building to be secure, but they don’t want it to feel like a prison for the kids. He says one additional feature for the school is a mechanism in the office that will allow staff to lock the outer doors of the school if needed.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
There will also be an elevator in the school to give easy access to both floors to those in wheelchairs. Volkman says there is an elevator in the Breton Elementary School that has worked well for those students.
He also advised that a staggered entry into the school was something being considered by the schools. Volkman pointed out the success of the staggered entries into Frank Maddock High School and H.W. Pickup as examples of where it has worked well. It’s also a possibility that some students who struggle with change will have the opportunity to tour the school before the year starts.
Another topic discussed was the bathrooms in the school, which Volkman said would have full doors like the ones used in Aurora Elementary and Evergreen Elementary. The bathrooms would also be gender-neutral, except for those in the DCS area, where they would likely be labeled.
Volkman also addressed concerns about non-secular students in the same school as secular students. “We’ve seen it work for years here in Drayton,” he says, referring to the Eldorado Elementary School shared with DCS.
He also spoke about the success of a similar situation in Rocky Mountain House at the West Central High School, which is shared with both St. Dominic’s High School and Red Deer College.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Brazeau County residents with questions, kudos or concerns about the handling of the Buck Creek Fire will be able to have their say June 26. The County is hosting a public wildfire town hall meeting that evening at the Buck Creek Hall.
Valley Worship Assembly
Please take your time and discover what is happening at Valley Worship in Drayton Valley.
During the public input sessions at the two council meetings held since the evacuation order was lifted, residents have raised a number of issues. Those include concerns over who is responsible for clean up and remediation after the fire, the financial cost of firefighting and the way information was communicated to the public during the state of emergency.
The meeting is set to start at 6 pm. Beef on a bun will be served.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
Meanwhile firefighters continue to deal with hotspots and potential flare ups from the blaze. That work is expected to continue well into the fall.
The Pembina Complex fire continues to burn in the area north of the Brazeau Dam. The western portion of Brazeau County, including both Lodgepole and Cynthia, has been under an evacuation alert since last week. The weather forecast for the coming days calls for showers and cooler temperatures.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
There will be no DV100 Race or Ride this year. The annual event, which draws cyclists from across Alberta, had been set to go Saturday September 9.
Valley Worship Assembly
Please take your time and discover what is happening at Valley Worship in Drayton Valley.
On Tuesday morning organizers issued a statement saying the DV100 had been postponed, citing the current wildfire situation and the corresponding hazardous air quality.
“Our committee’s number one priority is the safety and well-being of our racers, volunteers and the overall community, and we firmly believe that cancelling this event is the best course of action at this time,” the group said.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
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Along with the direct threat from the fires, poor air quality makes physical exertion potentially dangerous, even to those without an underlying health condition. The DV100 follows a 100 kilometre loop heading west from Drayton Valley and travelling through both Lodgepole and Cynthia. That part of Brazeau County is potentially threatened by the Pembina Complex Fire, which is likely to continue to cause challenges in the area well into the fall.
Organizers say they will be issuing refunds to those who have already signed up for the DV100 in due course.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Nine-year-old resident Tristan Arseneault is hoping to head off to nationals on July 1 to arm wrestle himself a medal.
The only issue facing the family is the expense of the trip. Tristan would like his entire family to come for the trip to Nova Scotia, which is expected to cost around $5,500, possibly more.
“Tristan’s heart’s desire is that [we all] be there,” says his mother, Ashley Arseneault. “We’re trying to support that.”
Valley Worship Assembly
Please take your time and discover what is happening at Valley Worship in Drayton Valley.
She says Tristan is a stickler about the goals he sets and rarely lets things get in the way of achieving them. “He’s very passionate and dedicated,” she says.
At the age of three, Tristan started in wrestling, where his natural athletic talent shone. When he participated in tournaments, he came home with gold medals. Since then, he’s gone on to secure gold at a recent powerlifting event where he deadlifted 150 lbs.
“That’s almost three times his weight,” says his dad, Nick Arseneault.
Nick says Tristan has been in arm wrestling for a year. His training started after one coach, Frazier Benoit, heard that Tristan had challenged the 13-year-old national silver medalist to an arm wrestle and won.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
Benoit is a world champion arm wrestler who owns Frazier’s Next Level Coaching in Blackfalds, and Nick says he was really interested in training Tristan.
“[Benoit] was training that silver medalist,” says Nick. “When he heard what Tristan had done, he bugged us for about half a year to come train with him.”
Nick says Benoit’s training got Tristan to provincials. “He pretty much walked through provincials,” says Nick.
Should Tristan do well in the nationals, he could qualify to head to Kazakhstan for the World Championships at the end of August.
Ashley says they have created a GiveSendGo site (www.givesendgo.com/TristanANationals), and she is planning to take Arseneault out to ask businesses for donations. There will be a yard sale and potentially a bottle drive to help out as well. Ashley says she’s also banking on word of mouth, especially because of the short timeline they have.
Anyone looking to donate to help the Arseneaults can call Ashley at 780-514-5241, or Nick 780-898-3457, and emails can be sent to ashleyjeanarseneault@gmail.com.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Residents of Drayton Valley and Brazeau County will have a little extra time to pay their property taxes this year.
At last week’s county council meeting, council passed motions to move the tax due date back by a month. In a special meeting the same day, town council followed suit. Taxes in both municipalities are now due on or before July 31 of this year. Previously the deadline had been June 30. A statement from the County says the change was made due to the recent wildfire that affected members of the community. Late penalties will not be charged before August 1.
County council also rescheduled three public hearings that had been set to take place in May but were postponed due to the evacuation. The public hearings for bylaw 1137-23, bylaw 1138-23 and bylaw 1139-23 are now set to be held at the June 20 council meeting. Two of the bylaws relate to amendments of the Land Use Bylaw, while the third involves an amendment to the Cynthia Area Structure Plan.
A new proposal could see the creation of a fire rescue college in Lodgepole.
In a presentation to Brazeau County council last week, Erik Ives spoke regarding the Canadian Fire Rescue College (CFRC) which is exploring Lodgepole as a campus location to train firefighters.
The CFRC is an indigenous owned private corporation, which is certified as an educational institution by the government of Canada,
The college currently operates a facility in Alberta Beach. Core services offered include Firefighter I and II training, HazMat responder training and a wildland firefighter program which is geared toward municipal firefighters.
The proposal would see the organization taking over the provincial boxing facility in Lodgepole, which covers more than 15,000 square feet and includes living quarters, a commercial kitchen and a large gymnasium, and turning it into a campus capable of offering a range of firefighting and rescue training for as many as 100 trainees by 2026.
The CFRC also envisions the creation of a fire station and a live fire building.
The estimated overall price tag for the project is a little over $1 million. CFRC staff are working on acquiring grant funding to help offset those costs.
After last week’s presentation, council agreed to write a letter of support for the idea.
Council going live
Starting May 21, county council meetings will be livestreamed online. The County has set up a YouTube channel to allow the public to watch proceedings without having to visit the county office. The link to each meeting will be posted on the County website. Meeting videos will also be archived to allow for viewing at a later date.
Rec board appointment
Council appointed Rina Saar to serve a two-year term as a member at large on the joint Town of Drayton Valley – Brazeau County Recreation Board. The board is composed of two councillors and one member at large from each municipality. Its mandate is to provide input regarding sport, culture, and recreation programs as designated by town and county councils.
Are you a local looking for things to do in and around Drayton Valley, or Brazeau County. Our award winning editor Graham Long, has got your covered in his weekly summary of things happening in Drayton Valley. Have a read of Next Week’s News each week to get an idea on how to plan your, week.
Next Week's News: May 16, 2024 Column
Ready for a long weekend? You must be. You look exhausted.
Victoria Day is Monday May 20, which means it’s a well deserved day off for those of you who have a real job. Currently the weather forecast is calling for it to be … cloudy with showers. That’s rain showers, not snow showers, so I suppose it could be worse.
And once Victoria Day is over, it’s time to start thinking all sorts of summery thoughts. For one thing, it’s usually around now that we have the last frost, so it’s time to start planting things outside if you’re of a horticultural inclination. You’ll find more summer activity ideas in the Free Press travel guide. You can pick up a copy at various locations around the community.
What else is going on? Brazeau County’s household hazardous waste roundup is at the Breton, Buck Lake and Lindale transfer stations May 25 and in Rocky Rapids, Easyford, Cynthia, Lodgepole and Violet Grove June 1.
The Drayton Valley Horse Club’s annual Cancer Ride is coming up May 25.
The 4-H Interclub Achievement Day will be held Monday May 27 at the Omniplex. This is a big deal for those involved and is well worth checking out if you have the time.
The Drayton Valley Triathlon is back once again. The date this year is Saturday June 1 with things taking place in the area around the pool.
And that same day the seventh annual Walk for ALS is happening in Lions West Valley Park. Registration opens at 10 am and the walk starts at 11 with a barbecue afterwards.
Since we’re talking about doing physical things outside, the Black Gold Brute Obstacle Race is coming up on June 8. That’s in the area around the Omniplex.
The Ol’ Pembina Tractor Pull Society 21st Annual Farmers Day Event is June 8 – 9. Tractor Pulls (8 classes), Concessions, Children’s Money Mine and more…You’ll find that at 56528 – Range Road 71
And there’s a bit of a theme here, because looking further ahead, the agricultural society is also holding an antique tractor pull at the Lions Rodeo Grounds on Saturday June 16.
Cut out the middle man and get your Drayton Valley and District Free Press directly to your email inbox.
Get more activity ideas in for the Drayton Valley and Brazeau County region in our Brazeau and Beyond Travel Guide.
Head over to our travel guide page to download yours today.
Click here: Brazeau and Beyond
The Drayton Valley Air Cadets Squadron 733 will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year with a barbecue open to the public.
Lamont Cardinal, the chair of the parent committee for the cadets, says that the cadets are technically turning 63 this year, but the original celebration for their 60th had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’re now essentially celebrating our sixtieth anniversary,” says Cardinal.
Cardinal says the barbecue will be held on Sunday, April 21 at their headquarters at 5524 Industrial Road. Only a month later, the 38 cadets will also be attending their Annual Ceremonial Revue, where they will be inspected by a member of the Canadian Military.
While the history of the Air Cadets goes back to the 1940s when the Canadian military recognized they would need more trained pilots for the war effort, Squadron 733 wasn’t established until April 22, 1961.
Originally, only boys were able to join the Cadets. However, when the Canadian Government amended legislation changing the word boys to persons in 1975, girls were allowed to enroll.
Captain Tanya Hunt says over the years there have been many people involved in the Cadets.
“Since the formation of the squadron there have been many commanding officers that have helped form and mold the 733 Drayton Valley Air Cadet Squadron we have today. Capt Matt McCullach, Capt Pat Turner, Capt Brian Torpy, Capt Lorna Luchyk, Capt Randy Romanchuk, Capt Paul Spurrell , Capt Mitch Krasey, Capt Heather Guard, Capt Kate Simpson, Capt Gerald Landers and the current commander Capt Tanya Hunt,” says Hunt in an emailed statement.
She says the barbecue is also about promoting the cadets in the community.
While the cadets do follow many military style rules, they are a separate program than the Canadian Armed Forces, says Cardinal. Given that they are Air Cadets, the members spend some of their time focused on flying.
Cardinal says throughout the year, the parents and members fundraise to pay for cadets to go gliding at least one time. They also do some flying in small engine planes.
If the cadets stick with the program and complete all of the ground school and complete all of the training, Cardinal says they can get their private flying license once they graduate from the program. There are also some scholarships that are available through the Air Cadet League of Canada.
He says it’s also a great program to teach kids responsibility and discipline. All of the cadets are given their own uniforms and are completely responsible for the maintenance of that uniform. That includes sewing on patches, washing and ironing the uniform, and shining their boots.
“It’s all about the self-motivation and self-reliance, along with working as part of a team,” says Cardinal.
He says the cadets are always accepting donations, and all funds donated will go toward programs for the members.
The Drayton Valley RCMP Detachment is looking for a new Staff Sergeant as the current man in charge, Troy Raddatz, heads into retirement.
Raddatz started his time as Staff Sergeant in Drayton Valley in mid-May 2023, just as the community was dealing with the Buck Creek Wildfire. Raddatz hit the ground running with the detachment, and during his time the crime stats have been on a downward trend and the RCMP have been more visible in the community.
Before he was Staff Sergeant in Drayton, Raddatz had spent time in Breton, where he started his career in 2004. In 2010 he moved on to work with the canine unit where he eventually became the program director for dog services in 2017.
In 2023, he decided to make the lateral move to his position in Drayton. He and his wife had life-long friendships from the area, and he was impressed with the detachment in Drayton.
“I really enjoyed my year here, and it was good for my family,” says Raddatz. “We had planned on staying longer, but through a change in our family situation, we decided it was time to retire.”
One of Raddatz’s goals when he first started was seeing the detachment moved to a larger building. While Raddatz has been working diligently on achieving that goal, he says it’s been difficult to get the go ahead from the division.
However, during his last town council meeting report, Raddatz told council that he has been advised that there will be three trailers added to the detachment. He says he has been working with the division to finalize the design for the changes, and he anticipates the trailers will arrive in 2025/26.
“We’re trying to buy ten years for this current detachment,” says Raddatz.
He says during his time in Drayton he’s valued the support that the detachment has received from both the Town and Brazeau County, as well as members of the community.
And Raddatz says he has been happy with the detachment and feels like he’s leaving it in good hands.
“Drayton Valley has a really incredible detachment, and the community is in good hands there,” says Raddatz.
His last day as Staff Sergeant is April 11, and in the meantime, Sergeant Ryan Hoetmer will be the Interim Staff Sergeant until a replacement is found.
The parent advisory council at Winfield Elementary are worried about the future of their school.
Carolyn Schwindt, the president of the school’s PAC, says some motions that the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Division recently put forward in their board meeting are concerning.
Schwindt says this year the division has a new superintendent, Mike Wake, and Schwindt says that he’s been great to work with so far. However, she doesn’t agree with some of the ideas brought forward for calculating when a school should be closed.
“There’s always been discussion in Wetaskiwin Public Schools on the potential need for closure,” says Schwindt. “We’ve got low enrollment across the board in all schools.”
Schwindt says there are many factors at play when it comes to the enrollment at Winfield. Currently, the school has 63 students and also houses the community’s public library. Schwindt says there are multiple programs that use the school, such as the playschool and gymnastics club.
The motions that were put forward suggested that the school be closed if enrollment was below 60 students. Schwindt says if the number for closure is that close to the number of currently enrolled students, no one can really be certain if the school will stay open from year to year.
She worries this could affect whether teachers look for positions at the school. Or perhaps parents would move their children prematurely because the school might close.
She says since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of home-schooled students in the area, which has lowered student enrollment. Allowing families to pick a school of choice for their children also affects the numbers in the schools.
Schwindt says Wake has been focusing on the reason for low numbers and has been actively looking for solutions to the problem.
His most recent proposal was to ask the provincial government for funds to build a K-12 school for the Buck Lake family of schools in the Alder Flats area. Another area that was considered was the Pigeon Lake family of schools becoming consolidated.
But Schwindt says those two school families have schools spread out over a large area. Already, some students are looking at bus rides that are an hour or more in some of those areas. Should the schools be consolidated, many of those bus rides could increase significantly.
As it is, students who choose to go to high school in WRPS rather than the Breton High School with the school of choice option, have to travel to Buck Mountain High School. The distance from Winfield to the Buck Mountain school is 27 kms, and takes about seventeen minutes of straight drive time.
Another thing Schwindt worries about is what would happen to the community should the school be closed.
As of 2011, Winfield had 244 residents. One of the major employers in the area is the school and its closure could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
Schwindt says she has spoken to Wetaskiwin County Council about the issue, but there is little they can do.
Kathy Rooyakkers, the councillor for Division 6 in Wetaskiwin County, says the idea of the school potentially being shut down next year worries her.
“It will affect them big time,” says Rooyakkers.
Rooyakkers says that unfortunately the County cannot stop anything WRPS plans to do. She says they have the opportunity to meet with the division a few times a year, where they discuss issues that concern both the County and the division, but all they can do is give their opinions about the situation.
“At the table, we don’t get a decision,” says Rooyakkers.
She says it’s frustrating, but there isn’t much they can do. At this point, she says the County has not discussed what they would do should the school be closed. She says there may be some other options that could be considered, such as creating a charter school, but council can’t make any changes…
Full story in the April 4, Free Press. Become an email subscriber at www.dvfreepress.com.
Brazeau County is set to spend $560,000 to improve fire suppression in two underserved parts of the municipality. Last week council approved $250,000 for a 210 cubic metre concrete water tank in Lindale and $310,000 for a similar tank and water well in Buck Creek.
The move is the result of a study conducted last year that outlined gaps in water sources for residential fire suppression. Lindale and Buck Creek were identified as areas that did not have access to an adequate source of water that was close enough to be practical in the event of a blaze.
According to the County, the Lindale tank will replace the current holding tank, and will provide year-round fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in case of wildfire in the area. A water well and the below ground tank near the Buck Creek lift station will provide fire suppression for structure fires as well as assisting in the event of wildfire. Water will be available all year round with no risk of freezing. If drilled to a lower aquifer, the water well will not place residents’ wells at risk.
Meanwhile, with the wildfire season now underway, CAO Kent Edney said that Incident Command System training, which is offered by the Government of Alberta, was being rolled out to staff. Edney said ICS 100 training was now mandatory for all employees. ICS 200, 300 and 400 were also being provided to those who are eligible. Councillors were scheduled to attend ICS 402 training, which is designed for elected officials, last week.
Two training sessions for public contractors held last month have enabled the County to draw up a list of “first calls” in the event of an emergency. The sessions sparked considerable interest, with 55 people attending in Breton February 21 and 112 in Drayton Valley two days later.
A review and update of the County’s Municipal Emergency Plan is expected to be completed by early April.
Tax break for fire damage
The Town is to offer tax forgiveness to the owners of homes lost in the Buck Creek wildfire.
Council made the move on Wednesday morning. Acting CAO Elvera Thomson said there were two homes located within town boundaries that had been destroyed by the blaze. Since tax assessments are based on the condition of the property as of last December, the owners would not normally see a reduction to reflect the fire damage until 2024.
Council will forgive the municipal portion of taxes totaling $1,038 for the two properties.
“I think it’s a little bit of something we can do to assist the families,” said Mayor Nancy Dodds.
Tax notices for Drayton Valley residents were mailed out this week. The average homeowner can expect to see an increase of about 5.5 percent over last year’s total. However, that amount will vary depending on changes to the assessed value of the property.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
Name recognizes local history
A historic landmark only officially recognized in 2017 will now have a street named after it.
Group works for Brighter Futures
After giving so much to the community, Brighter Futures is hoping the community can help them out.
Homeless number falls
There are currently an estimated 69 people living completely unsheltered in Drayton Valley. According to a report to council from the Town’s community services department, that number is lower than it was earlier this year. At least 15 people have not returned to the community since the evacuation in early May due to the Buck Creek Fire.
Lodge marks fifty years
Denise Chesterman, CAO of the Brazeau Foundation, said the history of the lodge actually goes back a little more than half a century.
