There was no shortage of game changers for the Lakeland in 2017.
There was no shortage of game changers for the Lakeland in 2017.
Nearing the end of 2017 the Town and MD of Bonnyville, the Village of Glendon, and Lac La Biche County learned they would be receiving funding from the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR).
"It's ground breaking, it's exciting, and it's very different than the original concept. In everyone's opinion, it's fair," Bonnyville Mayor Gene Sobolewski told the Nouvelle following the announcement.
Alberta Muncipal Affairs laid out the amended ID 349 agreement on Nov. 17, 2017, which had the City of Cold Lake's funding go from $26-million to $16-million.
Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland had a different opinion, expressing disappointment.
"The deal has changed dramatically and we want to know why the city has not been consulted between August and this decision. Taking $10-million out of our $26-million is significant," Copeland told the Nouvelle in November.
A $6-million Inter-Municipal Fund was also added to the new agreement. This funding will be used for projects that benefit the entire region.
The Bonnyville daycare got some big news last year.
Towards the end of April the daycare received recognition as an official Alberta Early Learning and Child Care Centre (ELCC).
Because of this, the centre was able to make their services more affordable for the community.
"Our normal fees ranged anywhere from $900 to $1,020 per month, depending on the age of your children. Now, it's straight, flat, across the board $25 per day," explained Kim Harvie, director of the Bonnyville and District ELCC.
The centre extended their hours and upgraded their programming as a result of the accreditation.
To celebrate, representatives of the daycare invited Minister of Children's Services Danielle Larivee to their facility for their grand opening on Wednesday Oct. 18, 2017.
The Town of Bonnyville now has a professional-grade football field and running track.
The project began to pick-up steam in March after the Bonnyville Amateur Football Association (BAFA) received notification local resident Raymond Scott would contribute $2.5-million.
With Scott's contribution, and help from the Town and MD of Bonnyville, crews began removing the grass from the old Walsh Field in May.
The organization withheld the field's grand opening until the Scott MacDonald Memorial on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017.
After a long process, students are enjoying the full benefit of the modernization of Notre Dame High School (NDHS).
Upgrades to the school's gymnasium gave students a taste of what was in store in February.
"(Our students) were astounded. They had no idea it was going to be that technologically advanced. There are just so many features in it, they're just really grateful," former NDHS principal Pamela Guilbault told the Nouvelle in late February.
Crews continued work throughout the summer, and by the time everyone returned for classes in September, the modernization was nearing completion. With the exception of two cosmetic additions, students had the full scope of what their new school would provide.
The process came to a close when the NDHS celebrated their grand opening with Alberta Education Minister David Eggen, on Dec. 8.
The Dr. Margaret Savage Crisis Centre (DMSCC) and the Dragonfly Centre worked hard to spread awareness of domestic and sexual violence in 2017.
For the first time, the DMSCC brought the national Walk a Mile In Her Shoes initiative to the region on two separate occasions. First was Bonnyville on Feb. 26, 2017, followed by Cold Lake during their Canada Day parade.
Representatives of the Dragonfly Centre did their part in raising awareness during the region's first Take Back the Night Walk on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017.
DMSCC hosted their annual Walk for Peace held outside the Bonnyville Native Friendship Centre, with the organizations annual Festival of Peace Gala wrapping up Domestic Violence Awareness Month in November.
