Looking back on 2023

How is 2023 already over? I don’t know about you, but these past twelve months were one of the
fastest, if not the fastest, twelve months I’ve lived through. Each month seemed to go faster than the
next, and before I knew what was happening, it was December. Now, here we are, in January, with our
toes dipping into the pond of 2024, facing another flick of the calendar.
As with years past, it’s time to look back at 2023 and remember some of the things that happened in the
community. With a grateful heart, thankful to be here, let’s take a trip down memory lane before
officially closing the door on 2023.
Early in the year, just in time for Valentine’s Day, staff at the Whitecourt Food Bank created “kindness
kits” to spread a little love. They made the kits with chocolates they received as donations and handed
them out to single parents when they accessed food bank services. It’s one of the many ways the food
bank goes above and beyond for the community.
In March, members of the local R.C.M.P. detachment laced up their skates to join community youth at
Percy Baxter Rink for a Winter Skate Party hosted by the Town of Whitecourt, the P.O.W.E.R. Group and
Pembina. Officers gave out good tickets, posed for pictures, gave high fives, played hockey, and made
many new friends.
Local coach Kevin Babiuk was awarded Whitecourt’s 2023 Volunteer Longstanding Achievement Award
in April. Throughout his time in the community, Babiuk has dedicated uncountable hours to the Cats
Football program since 1993. Babiuk has brought several previous Cats players into assistant roles within
the program, creating a leadership core.
May is here. Did someone say fires? While Whitecourt, thankfully, wasn’t a hot spot for threatening
wildland fires close to the community, it was surrounded by activity and played an integral part in
providing a temporary home for hundreds of evacuees. Canada’s worst fire season on record will
undoubtedly go down filled with negatives, but one big positive that came of it was the community spirit
it sparked. People helped where and when they could, offering their spare rooms, campers, food, hugs,
and Whitecourt hospitality to those in need.
Comments from the Whitecourt Support for Evacuees 2023 Facebook group showed how much it
meant. “We felt safe and welcomed. Thank you for everything you did for all of us. God Bless,” wrote
Fred from Valleyview. “Thank you, Whitecourt, for opening your stores, homes, arms, and hearts for us.
We will forever be grateful,” said Kim. “You are now our community, too. You opened your doors and
gave us shelter. You fed us and walked us through our most challenging days. We will never forget what
you did for little old Fox Creek. We appreciate you all,” wrote Sandra Hardy.
Evacuees from Fox Creek, Little Smokey, Valleyview, Edson and Yellowhead County took refuge in
Whitecourt at varying stages of their evacuations. Later in the summer, when the fires in the Northwest
Territories threatened communities and forced residents to flee, Whitecourt was one of the
communities selected to provide support. A four-member team and an apparatus from the Whitecourt
Fire Department also made the trek up north to render aid. You did good, Whitecourt, really good.

In June, things flipped from hot to wet. High water flows on the McLeod and Athabasca, and high rainfall
resulted in a perfect storm of chaos. Numerous residents in Woodlands County and public areas within
Whitecourt were significantly affected. Roadways along the river’s edge in Woodlands, such as Old Ferry
Loop, saw scary amounts of erosion as the banks gave way under the immense power of the swollen
McLeod River. The videos of entire campers and sheds floating down the river will not be soon
forgotten.
Homeowners faced unimaginable loss as homes and property were significantly damaged. Other areas,
such as Riverside Trailer Court, Sagitawah RV Park and Westview Trailer Court, faced evacuation or the
threat of it for several days until the water flow started to go down. The Whitecourt Golf and Country
Club was one area that received a direct blow from the Athabasca River.
Drone footage posted on June 20 captured the utter devastation as the line between the Athabasca and
the golf course disappeared. Every hole saw damage, with some seeing catastrophic damage. Once the
water retreated, leaving behind mounds of sand and silt, the community rallied with volunteers coming
out to support the grounds crew in the uphill battle they faced. Staff worked around the clock to get
holes open, and golfers came out in force weeks later once the first chunk was back in commission.
The morning of August 11 will go down in infamy for many as a day to never forget after a massive
fireball rose into the sky above town shortly after 9 am. A train and a transport carrying fuel collided just
beyond the Highway 43/Highway 32 intersection, shutting down Highway 43 for hours. Black plumes of
smoke could be seen across the municipality. It took several days for the intersection to be fully opened.
Through the chaos of the summer, one new event to the local artisan scene was largely successful and
quickly grew a following. The Whitecourt & District Chamber of Commerce kicked off its Fresh
Community Market in the Staples parking lot on June 24 and ran it until September 23. A variety of
different businesses, both local and regional, brought their products and creations to local shoppers
every Saturday morning.
A name change that came with a mix of emotions and feelings was the swap from Rotary Park to Festival
Park. The order to change the name came down from Rotary International after a policy change. Though
many locals will continue calling it by its old name, signs have changed, and Festival Park is now where
it’s at.
Last year, one of the most significant donations from the Smile Cookie Campaign shocked Tony Sgro,
owner of both Tim Hortons franchises, and Kyra Baranowski, Executive Director of the B.G.C. Whitecourt
& District. The week-long cookie fundraiser held in May raised nearly eleven thousand dollars. Sgro and
Baranowski credited the community’s outstanding generosity for the successful fundraiser.
The Whitecourt Woodlands Rodeo brought the fun of the rodeo to the area in early August after being
delayed due to the fires. Chuckwagons and chariot races brought high excitement for fans in the stands,
as did the bull riding, barrels, and roping events. The Whitecourt Cornhole League kicked off its
inaugural season last year and quickly garnered attention with a growing list of players. Cornhole isn’t
just a fun camping game anymore, it’s a competitive sport!
Chinese Lions were one of the cultural experiences enjoyed by attendees at last year’s Summer Street
Fest, which merged a farmer’s market, art workshops, cultural performances, live entertainment, and
family-friendly activities into one fantastic day. And who can forget Party in the Park?! Local and

regional artists did amazing on the big stage, as did the headliner acts, Fefe Dobson, Jojo Mason and
Econoline Crush. We also can’t forget that Whitecourt hosted the Alberta Provincials of the Canadian
Powerlifting League. Those athletes lifting insane weights were an absolute thrill to watch!
Through 2023, Whitecourt had many ups and downs, but even through the downs, the community
pulled together to help neighbours and strangers alike. Be it a car accident, a house fire, the passing of a
loved one, a flood, a fundraiser, or anything else in between.
If there’s one thing that 2023 has shown, it’s that when push comes to shove, Whitecourt steps up to
the plate. As we stare down a potentially hazardous spring thanks to low snow accumulation so far and
the lack of rain through the fall, I know that no matter what happens, the citizens of this community will
rally. Cheers to you, Whitecourt, and here’s to 2024.