Recreation Services

County Programs:

The County encourages and promotes the delivery of recreational services through the various community organizations and volunteers.  Although demand is very low, the County will provide, upon request, a limited variety of programs not otherwise available at the community level.

Programs provided by the County are divided into the following seasons:

Fall/Winter (Sept. - Dec.)          Winter/Spring (Jan. - May)          Summer (June - Aug.)

Summer programs are the more demanding.  The County and the Town work together to provide various summer programs.

Programs are designed to try and provide something of interest to:

Children                                  Adults                                     Seniors

All programs are offered on a cost recovery basis, meaning that the registration fees charged should cover the cost.

Play School Operating Grant:

The County encourages play school operations within the County, and as such offers an annual grant of $50.00 to each operational play school.  Additionally, the County offers each play school access to insurance coverage through the County insurance policies at a nominal rate.

Open Space Development:

The County encourages and promotes the development of its various park reserves by local initiative.  Communities and other volunteer organizations are encouraged to undertake development, with approval from the County and its Planning department.  The County will, at its discretion, provide some funding for proposals on the basis of individual merit and fund availability.

Community Groups and Facilities:

The County encourages local initiative in the maintenance and improvement of community facilities, and as such, provides support in principle from time to time, for applications made for Provincial funding on various proposals.  The County itself may, at its discretion, consider providing some funding for proposals on the basis of individual merit and fund availability.

The County also provides access for community groups, etc. to a variety insurance coverage through the County’s policies, each as an additional insured at cost.

·        Long Island Lake Municipal Park:

The County holds a long-term recreational lease on Crown lands (approx. 140 acres) at the north end of Long Island Lake.  The area has been developed for a public park, with access to the lake.  There is a covered picnic shelter and a maintenance shop on the property.  Overnight camping is available at approx. 70 sites (no hook-ups).  There is also a group camp area which will accommodate approx. an additional 20 units, and an RV sani-dump on site as well.

·        Tawatinaw Valley Centennial Ski Hill:

The County owns the ski hill facilities at Tawatinaw, which, under agreement with the County, is operated by the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Club.  The Club has invested funds raised in on site development, such as the Chalet, ski runs and lifts, and a variety of equipment, etc. including most recently, snowmaking facilities.  The County makes available to the Club at cost, a variety of insurance coverage as an additional insured under the County’s policies.  The County also provides some administrative services to the Ski Club (e.g., Accounting services, etc., computerized applications).

Library Services

·        Local Library Services:

The County, in partnership with the Town, sponsors a joint municipal library board, with representation from at large on the Board.

The Board is responsible for the provision of library service at the following locations:

Rural Community Libraries:

Fawcett - in the Fawcett School                   

Vimy - in the Vimy School

Jarvie - in the Jarvie School                         

and also through the Municipal Library in:

The Town of Westlock

The County annually provides the per capita amount necessary ($2.56 per capita) for the Board to qualify for maximum per capita library grants available from the Province.

·        Regional Library Services:

The County is involved in regional library services through Yellowhead Regional Library (YRL), and, as a full member, has one person on the Board of Directors.  The County is required under the agreement to contribute $2.56 per capita annually, towards the membership.

Family & Community Social Services - (FCSS)

The County, Town of Westlock and Village of Clyde jointly sponsor, by agreement, the regional FCSS program, which provides a variety of preventive social services throughout the collective communities.  The Board of Directors is currently comprised of (2) elected people from both the Town and the County, (1) elected person from the Village, and (2) people appointed at large by the balance of the Board, with the approval of the participating jurisdictions.

A per capita grant from Alberta Social Services is provided to each municipality, who in turn allocates those funds to the regional board.  The grant represents 80% of the net cost of operation of the overall program; the participating municipalities share the 20% balance based on equalized assessment.

The County is the host jurisdiction for FCSS, and provides their accounting functions, including payroll, etc. 

Westlock County

10336 - 106 Street Westlock, AB  Canada  T7P 2G1

info@westlockcounty.com

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