Session Descriptions - Alberta Small Communities

* Last updated May 27th

ACE Communities

Ms. Carolyn Mead
ACE Communities

Active, creative, and engaged (ACE) Communities is an initiative of the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association that is focused on enhancing the quality of life in rural Alberta by strengthening community leadership, collaboration, and innovation through recreation, parks, arts, culture and heritage. Their key learnings about the importance of community building and how to make it a reality will be shared.

Asbestos Awareness

Mr. Jason Dent
JADA Solutions for Alberta Municipal Health & Safety Association

Workers are frequently exposed to Hazardous Materials such as asbestos, PCBs and mercury-containing materials while conducting repairs and renovations. This seminar will cover some of the common hazardous materials on the worksite and the importance of having a Hazardous Materials Management Program(HMMP).

The seminar will also focus on the importance of having an adequate HMMP, and some of the integral components within an HMMP. We will discuss the need to integrate the HMMP into the many different systems within your organization.

Building A Successful Emergency Services Department

Mr. Jim Jackson
Mannville Fire Chief

Learn how we went from one truck and six untrained firefighters to three trucks and sixteen trained firefighters. See how much dedication it truly takes!

Mirgrant Routes Program

Mr. Victor Moke-Ngala
Centre for Race and Culture

In an effort to combat racial discrimination and build inclusive and equitable communities for newcomers to Canada, the Migrant Routes program uses education and training to help community members, workers, educators and students to explore the experiences, challenges and barriers newcomers face when settling in Canada and to help develop and identify ways to build anti-racist, equitable and inclusive spaces for migrants in their new Canadian communities.

Challenges with Providing Quality Education in Small Rural Communities

Mr. Bob Allen
Buffalo Trails Schools

In rural communities, the school is seen as a hub of the community. The ability to maintain a school in the community is vital. As populations in rural communities in Central Eastern Alberta decline, so do the enrollments in many schools. Lower enrollments means offering students a full program becomes more and more challenging. Buffalo Trails Public Schools values small rural communities and has taken purposeful steps in trying to maintain programs for students in our many rural communities. Through the use of innovative technology, powerful teaching techniques and non-traditional course delivery models, we have been able to keep rural schools operating and offering our students a quality education in their home community. This session will provide information on many of the innovative steps taken by BTPS to maintain schools in our communities and promote the positive aspects of education in our rural communities.

Community Involvement: How do we get involved with local health services?

Caroline McAuley MBA RD.
Community Engagement Officer
Alberta Health Services

How can small communities have a voice in health service provision? Alberta Health recognizes how important public feedback regarding health care service delivery truly is. As one of the four core values in the new strategic direction, Alberta Health Services recognizes that involving community in meaningful ways will allow Alberta Health Services to be more responsive to the needs of the diverse communities it serves and enhance transparency and accountability.

The Community Engagement department within Alberta Health Services is responsible for supporting this strategic direction of Alberta Health Services and to engage community members in thoughtful discussion and dialogue on health service delivery, policy development and service planning. Ms. McAuley will provide information regarding the role of this department and the Health Advisory Councils and how communities can provide input regarding health services.

Co-operative Model for Elder Care and Elder Housing

Richard Stringham, PAg
Director of Co-operative Development
Alberta Community and Co-operative Association

Quality care at affordable rates: these are two seemingly competing needs that our seniors face and with the forecast for a much greater proportion of seniors in our population, the need will become that much greater. This session will provide some illustrations of how the co-operative model is being used to meet these needs across the country.

Corporate Affairs - Regional Sustainability

Ms. Nina Gales
Town of Olds, Manager of Corporate Affairs

Municipal Sustainability Planning (MSP) is an opportunity for municipalities and citizens to imagine their communities’ future, and take proactive steps to achieve their vision. The session will provide an overview of AUMA’s MSP process, including tools and resources that municipalities are using to develop MSPs. Experiences from across Alberta will be shared.

A case study of the Town of Olds experience with the AUMA’s MSP process will be presented. Examples of sustainability projects and initiatives will be provided. The challenges and benefits of MSP planning will be highlighted. The case example will offer practical application of AUMA sustainability philosophy and will offer a question period for deeper exploration of the material delivered

Municipal Emergency Management Program Guide

Mr. Dieter Langer
Alberta Emergency Management

This session will take a look at the Emergency Management Program Guide which is replacing the current Municipal Emergency Plan template. Participants will learn how the new guidelines will assist small communities to increase public safety for their residents.

New Opportunities for Our Community from an Old Source

Richard Stringham, PAg
Director of Co-operative Development
Alberta Community and Co-operative Association

A vehicle very familiar to prairie communities may well provide some new opportunities for community economic development. Co-operatives have been on the prairie landscape for over a century and most rural Albertans are used to seeing them in their communities. But did you know that co-operatives are being used to provide housing, daycare, eldercare, funeral services, and to create employment and other community benefits? This is your opportunity to learn how the tried and tested co-operative model is being used in new ways. Does this have potential for your community?

Small Employer Certificate of Recognition

Mr. David Williamson
JADA Solutions for Alberta Municipal Health & Safety Association

A SECOR is issued to an employer whose health and safety management system meets the Partnerships standard. An effective system can support due diligence by the employer and result in reducing the social and financial costs of workplace injury and illness. Employers who achieve a SECOR and are registered in PIR are eligible for an automatic 5% industry rate discount on their annual WCB premiums, which could increase to a maximum of 20% based on claims cost performance as long as a valid COR is maintained.

Any municipality in Alberta with 10 or fewer employees can participate in the SECOR program. The total number of employees cannot exceed 10 at any time during the year; if it does, the municipality is considered a regular employer and the standard COR requirements apply.

Successful small employer municipalities will be issued a Small Employer Certificate of Recognition, which is valid for 3 years, assuming it is maintained by continuing to conduct SECOR audits in each of the next 2 calendar years.

This session will focus on how the SECOR process works and how it can support in building a successful Health and Safety System for smaller municipalities.

Water Conservation Management

Basil Ellinger
Neptune Technology Group (Canada) Ltd.

The Value of an E-Coder® -based ARM System: In 2006, Neptune integrated the field proven R900® and the E-Coder solid state absolute encoder into one device – the E-Coder R900i™ and introduced the industry’s first solid state wireless automatic meter reading solution.

The total cost of ownership benefit was greatly enhanced; installations costs were reduced, the potential for tamper was eliminated. Reading efficiencies in the first pass were read in 2 to 2.5 hours with 99.7% success rate. Continuous leaks can also be detected as well as days of zero consumption. You should attend this session if you want to learn more about this great metering system and how you can reduce your water consumption.

Welcoming Communities: Attracting and Retaining Newcomers to Smaller Centres

Jean Vidal
Career Employment Consultant/Business Industry Liaison
Alberta Employment and Immigration

With the ageing population, it is expected that labour and skill shortages will be apparent across all sectors. Rural communities sometimes have an added challenge to keep young people in their communities. Learn about the key strategies for “Building and Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce for the attraction and retention of workers.

Jean has worked for the government of Alberta for the past 18 years and has two roles as a Career and Employment Counsellor and Business and Industry Liaison.

Welcoming and Inclusive Communities

Marc Colbourne
Senior Project Coordinator
Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Initiative

Smaller municipalities are known for their tight knit connections, hospitality and strong sense of community. Residents often feel that they can easily be involved in the social fabric of their town or village. Unfortunately, these positive attributes can also be seen as barriers to individuals looking to relocate to a new place. Similarly, community members who are confronting issues of discrimination may feel isolated and not know where to access support. Marc Colbourne will address these issues in this break out session and provide information on how your community can become more welcoming and inclusive. The Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CMARD) and the Provincial Network of Welcoming and Inclusive Communities will be presented as two options for smaller communities who want to ensure that their residents can participate freely in all aspects of community life.

Marc Colbourne is Senior Project Coordinator – Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Initiative. This initiative is a partnership between the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Human Rights Commission and Human Rights and Citizenship branch of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit.

Youth Engagement and Developmental Assets

Ms. Candice McLean
Community Youth Worker
Youth Resiliency Project
Vermilion River Region Healthy Communities Coalition

In this session you will learn about Search Institutes 40 Developmental Assets and by learning how do build assets in young people you can engage youth.