Involve, involve, involve

Drayton Valley residents were recently involved in the development of the Municipal Sustainability Plan. While the involvement piece may not seem new, engaging people throughout the process can be challenging and new for some.

Can you imagine the setting? Co-residents, city staff, and council sitting together and engaging in dialogue about the goals and aspirations of the community and how those goals are incorporated in the pillars of sustainability. What an opportunity to really hear from one another about what is important to residents and how the community can be shaped.

With such community involvement the goals that were developed will not be forgotten or put on a shelf to collect dust. Residents will be more aware of how the Municipal Sustainability Plan unfolds in the community because they have been an integral part of the process.

Hinton Moving Forward

Congratulations to Hinton for the great progress being made on their community garden and greenhouse initiative. Spearheaded by the Hinton Community Garden Society, the project has three goals in place: to increase Hinton’s food security, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and bring the community together in a central hub.


Two greenhouses have been donated by Kinder Morgan canada that will be available to anyone in town to grow their own food, with a small portion of it going back into the community. Along with the grant from ACE Communities, the society was also the recipient of a $22,000 Quality of Life grant from the Town of Hinton earlier this year. More recently, they were a beneficiary of the Skid and Steer Rodeo, held on Sept. 26. The goal is have an outdoor garden planted by the spring of 2010, and to have a public greenhouse ready for planting by 2011.

For more info on this project you can go to: http://www.hintonvoice.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=186&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=3041&hn=hintonvoice&he=.com

Ensuring Fees Aren't a Barrier

Paddle Prairie has developed an inventive way of dealing with both declining volunteerism and accessibility to sports like hockey. As part of their intent to ensure fees aren't a barrier, they are allowing family members (not necessarily just parents...) to volunteer their time to reduce registration fees. Because of this, more children have access to sports and Paddle Prairie is better able to keep their facilities maintained.