Whitecourt Town Council Update

The new buses for Whitecourt Transit will be hitting local streets and serving our community starting June 1. In celebration, a ribbon cutting event has been scheduled for May 29. Join us at 10:00 a.m. at the Town Office to see the new buses and celebrate this milestone. The buses were purchased with the Province’s support through the GreenTRIP Grant Program. Two new transit buses, and a new Dial-A-Bus vehicle will be added to the mu- nicipal fleet as part of the first stage of enhancements planned for the Whitecourt Transit service. Starting in the fall, the transit schedule will change to provide 30-minute pickup during peak times. In conjunction with other initiatives, Whitecourt aims to enhance service deliverables and increase ridership and cost efficiencies. For information on Whitecourt Transit visit www.whitecourt.ca.

Plans for Party In The Park are well underway, and the event will take place in Rotary Park June 16 and 17. The event will feature activities and entertainment for people of all ages, and this year’s headliners are Dan Davidson and The Watchman. For more information on Party In The Park visit  www.whitecourtwoodlandstourism.com.

Whitecourt awarded over $28,000 in funding to local community groups as part of the 2017 Enhancement Grant Program. The grant offers community arts, culture, and recreation organizations assistance to start-up or de- velop new community events or enhance existing facilities and programs. The following groups will receive support for their local projects:

• Boys & Girls Club of Whitecourt – $2,205.43 for an outdoor sign at the Teen Centre
• Whitecourt Baptist Church – $10,500.00 for Camp Caroline City Camps
• Whitecourt Woodlands Hawks Foundation – $1,500.00 for Technology Enhancement Project
• Whitecourt Minor Ball Association – $14,164.80 for Pitching Warm Up Areas

The Whitecourt Wolverines Hockey Club has requested permission to construct a 3,000-square foot addition to the Scott Safety Centre for the exclusive use by the Junior “A” Team. The proposed addition, a key part of the Club’s long-term commitment to the community, would include a dressing room, laundry room, office space and a weight room. Whitecourt will be working with the owner of the Wolverines to finalize details, and the Club is hoping to begin construction this summer to have the addition ready for the next hockey season.

Whitecourt has contracted Stantec Consulting to proceed with headworks conceptual design for the Whitecourt Wastewater Treatment Plant. Last year, Stantec completed a master plan and odour mitigation study for the facility. The headworks conceptual design project is the first phase for proposed enhancements and will help to select equipment and processes to be used in upgrading the facility. The project will support future grant applica- tions for proposed plant upgrades and capital expenditures.

Council has adopted the 2017 Twenty Year Capital Plan. The plan provides a vision for the long term develop- ment of Whitecourt’s infrastructure, land development, parks and trails, building and recreational facilities. To view a copy of the plan, visit www.whitecourt.ca.

Council has authorized the Whitecourt Royal Canadian Legion Branch #44 to undertake enhancements at the Field of Honour in the Whitecourt Cemetery. The Legion plans to make enhancements to the landscaping and signage. The Legion will also be hosting a “Flags of Remembrance” event in early October to

commemorate the lives of those lost while serving our country.