2022 Year In Review

2022 was a busy year for Parkland County with much to reflect on. Council released the Strategic Plan which sets the vision for the County’s future and will be the roadmap for Council during their term of office.

In April, with the Strategic Plan in place and much work to be done, Council wasted no time in driving priority initiatives. A $51 million investment was announced to move forward on key strategic areas, which includes broadband infrastructure, projects in the Acheson Business Park, developing trails throughout the County, and supporting initiatives in Wabamun.

By May, Parkland County moved forward with Phase 1 of the Broadband Strategy which involves expanding highspeed internet to the Northeast and North Central areas of Parkland County. The initiative will provide the capability of fibre-based home internet connections for at least 3,000 households by fall 2023 at comparable speed and pricing to those in urban centres of the region.

The warmer temperatures in June saw the Wabamun Farmers’ Market open its inaugural season in the former Firehall and ran until September. The market featured a variety of vendors, many of them from across Parkland County. The goal was to increase awareness of the Hamlet as a day-trip destination for Edmonton and area residents and increase economic development for other Wabamun businesses.

It was announced in July that the County’s Major Business Attraction Program was the winner of the provincial 2022 Minister’s Awards for Municipal Excellence in the Building Economic Strength Category. The program aims to attract investors and major industry to the area. Attracting high quality business investment plays a major role in creating economic growth, job creation, diversifying economic activity and allowing Parkland County to compete in the global marketplace.

August was a busy month for the County! The West Central Fire Hall in Wabamun celebrated its grand opening. The new fire hall boasts an 8,000 sq. ft. garage area that accommodates two tankers, two fire engines, two brush trucks and one part-time ambulance. The fire hall also houses an updated medical clinic to service residents in the area.  

The County also launched a Budget Engagement Survey that month and had almost 1,500 participants. The budget is Parkland’s plan for how tax dollars and other funding will be prioritized with the different programs and services the County provides. The engagement survey was a chance for residents and local business owners to have a say on how budget dollars are utilized within the County and will help Council understand community priorities when it comes to allocating tax dollars.

September saw the end of Summer and the start of a new tradition of giving as a cheque for $26,000 was presented to the Parkland Food Bank Society, the result of funds raised through the inaugural Tri-Region Mayors’ Golf Classic. Hosted by Parkland County, in partnership with the City of Spruce Grove and Town of Stony Plain, this sold-out event brought together over 140 individuals, local businesses, and community members.

In October, a new online planning and permitting application portal, PLANit, -was unveiled. PLANit allows residents and developers to subdivide or develop property and interact with the County’s Planning and Development department. Users can apply for and manage planning and development applications, book inspections, and check on development happening around their community, all online!

The 2023 Budget was approved by Council in November. With the lowest tax increase in the Edmonton region, the budget reflects a commitment to reasonable and consistent tax rate adjustments. Parkland County’s 2023 budget includes investments in broadband high-speed internet expansion, the connection of Parkland Village and Acheson through convenient On-Demand Transit, and maintains the County’s existing roads and infrastructure. The tax increase of 2.78% is an average increase of $7.67 per month for the median homeowner, and will keep the County in a strong fiscal position so that taxes will remain low, now and in the future.

As December comes to a close, Council and Parkland County’s teams are hard at work planning for projects that are upcoming in the new year, such as the On-Demand Transit system that will link the Tri-Region and provide transit service to Parkland Village residents, as well as scoping out longer term projects like the remaining phases of the Broadband Strategy and the development of a trail master plan to guide an annual trail development program. Both initiatives will connect Parkland communities for years to come.

Find out more about the 2023 Budget and how resident feedback was incorporated!