Year in Review: Sylvan Lake Mayor says community connection is of utmost importance

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Hanson says that while it’s much more difficult to attract volunteers today compared to a decade ago, the Town has focused on increasing volunteer recruitment and celebration with the return of the annual Citizen of the Year awards. Nominations are currently open in seven categories.

“We’ve certainly seen a decline in volunteer involvement, seeing that across many of our programs, and that’s a challenge. That’s one of the ways that we really depend on many of the programs, many of our neighbourhoods, to function in a great way and to build community. When volunteers are not coming out to do that, it really puts stress on Town staff and there’s some things that just can’t go forward. We’ve been really making a push to encourage people back into volunteering,” she said, acknowledging that some programs took a pause for a few years due to the pandemic.

“We’ve been working on how we reengage people to come back and join our programs and lead our programs and plan community events and shovel your neighbours’ sidewalks and all the things that are needed to make our community successful.”

As a way of recognizing prominent community members, the Town renamed this year the Four Seasons Tournament House as the John Salsbury Tournament House, after a resident involved in the youth soccer program for many years. Hanson says Salsbury left a legacy in the local soccer community.

Other large events this year included the Treaty 6 and Métis flag raising ceremonies in several Town facilities, an uptick in their neighbourhood block party program, and the inaugural Ice Dragon Boat Festival that drew participants from across the country. As a result of weather, Sylvan Lake’s festival was the only one of its kind to take place in North America. Hanson enjoyed seeing various local teams, including town council, involved in the race and says she’s excited to see it happen again this upcoming February.

Sylvan Lake to host inaugural dragon boat festival Feb. 10-12

Treaty Six and Métis flags fly in Sylvan Lake

As for the beach, Hanson says in 2023 they were able to complete a project 10 years in the making to clean and improve the beachfront. They were able to bring sand closer to shore, get ride of certain pools that would collect trash, and have budgeted in the upcoming year for equipment to efficiently maintain the beach’s cleanliness.

They were also able to increase accessibility at the beach through the installation of a ramp and matting for wheelchairs and strollers, as well as inaugurate a beach wheelchair loaning program at no cost for visitors.

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Shoreline grading in Sylvan Lake

Beach accessible wheelchairs and mat for Sylvan Lake

In 2024, Hanson says their focus will be on safety, filling new positions for an Assistant Deputy Fire Chief and returning the Community Peace Officer School Resource Program through the RCMP. Although the program allowed for a connection with youth, Hanson says it had to take a pause due to staffing challenges.

“So many of the minor problems that we hear when it comes to youth are, ‘we just need somebody who’s available and who’s connected to the students there’,” she said.

The local food bank will be receiving a new storage structure for its expansion and the Town will be developing a new investment attraction strategy to see what industries are best needed in the area and what information investors need to choose the town as a destination.

“It was a fantastic year in Sylvan Lake last year and it just makes me so excited for the flip of the page on the calendar to see what’s next. Residents and community group are always surprising me with what’s up their sleeves and the new things being planned,” she said.

“We’re a growing community that is outpacing many other communities in Alberta and there’s a reason for that and I think it’s because of the great people that live here and the great things we have going on.”

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by Alessia Proietti

Year in Review: Sylvan Lake Mayor says community connection is of utmost importance

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