Already one week into the new year and many people are wondering what the big news will be in 2026.
People in northern Alberta want to keep their communities, schools and businesses survive into the future. What can be done to make rural regions viable and sustainable?
Low and declining enrolment in several schools in Peace River School Division has administration and the board concerned. At its regular meeting Dec. 18, the board discussed concerns about two schools in the town of Peace River region.
Nampa Public School has 42 students across kindergarten to Grade 6, a decrease of three students from June. If that number is spread out over the grades, that could be about six students in each grade.
It is widely known that population in rural Alberta is declining – and so is the number of children in families.
Could the school division again consider closing Nampa school as it pondered in late 2021 and early 2022?
Another school in the region is Red Earth Creek School with 108 students from K-12. It had an increase of 11 from last June, which is a good trend.
Low enrolment is not a good thing financially for school divisions and the provincial government. It is simply not economical to keep small schools open. Communities must find ways to attract families with children.
Business and economic issues continue to be prominent in local rural regions. Steps are being made to revive the High Prairie and Area Chamber of Commerce that has not been officially active since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions started.
The Town of High Prairie and Big Lakes County will launch a partner project in January to create a regional economic development strategic plan.
Last July, both councils agreed to establish a regional economic development committee for Big Lakes and High Prairie.
At the same time, Community Future Lesser Slave Lake Region (CFLSLR), based in Slave Lake, has prepared preliminary plans to launch a three-year regional economic development project with municipalities and Indigenous communities in the CFLSLR service region. It is not a formal proposal yet, executive director Josh Friesen says. Each partner community will be asked to commit to a three-year agreement and funding to ensure full continuity and effectiveness of the program, the preliminary report states.
The issue of provincial electoral boundaries is top of the mind for many municipalities and Indigenous communities. The Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission released an interim report Oct. 27 with proposed changes to current electoral divisions that have sparked strong opposition from local MLAs municipal councils, Treaty 8 and constituency associations.
The commission proposes to eliminate the long-standing Lesser Slave Lake riding and create the Slave Lake – Westlock – Athabasca riding, adding the new Mackenzie riding which includes the eastern portion of Big Lakes County and extend to the northwest corner of Alberta, with High Level the only urban municipality.
Big Lakes would have four MLAs.
No doubt, many more very prominent issues will arise elsewhere this year in the northwest region.
Have a very happy news year!
Richard Froese