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Or sign-in if you have an account Mounties have arrested a man after an excavator was used to smash several police cruisers at an RCMP detachment in Bonnyville on Saturday night a stolen trackhoe went into the parking lot of the RCMP detachment in Bonnyville and dumped several boulders in front of the prisoner bay before damaging five police cars that were parked in the lot Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience RCMP said a suspect fled on foot but officers were able to use the services of a police dog to track down a man a short time later in a treeline northwest of the detachment Slaney said at this time the suspect can’t be named but he’s currently in custody pending a judicial interim release hearing It’s expected that RCMP will release more information about this incident on Monday “Incidents like this would be frightening for any community but we want to stress that there is no further harm or risk to the community,” said Slaney “Soon we’ll be able to give a full update and potentially the reason behind the cause of such a crime.” transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account EdmontonNews5 police vehicles damaged in Bonnyville, man arrestedBy Stephen HuntPublished: May 04, 2025 at 10:56AM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved EdmontonNewsMan charged with damaging RCMP vehicles with trackhoe, threatening to kill officersBy Karyn MulcahyPublished: May 05, 2025 at 4:27PM EDT Sign In Register BONNYVILLE – The 2025 Northeast Alberta Schools' Athletic Association (NEASAA) handball zone championship tournament was held in Bonnyville at the C2 field house where boys and girls teams from Bonnyville (Notre Dame) Paul teams taking the win in the finals.   Paul teams and how they performed against some stiff competition.  as only the first-place team in each category would earn the right to advance to provincials with each team bringing energy and intensity to the court,” said Ozga.  Paul girls’ team defeated Two Hills in the finals 29-10 showcasing their “strong defensive structure and discipline.”  Paul boys’ team defeated Mallaig in the finals 62-24 with an “outstanding offensive display that kept the crowd energized throughout.”  Paul athletes truly rose to the occasion in the finals.  “The girls demonstrated exceptional defensive teamwork shutting down key scoring threats and controlling the pace of the game The boys brought relentless offensive pressure creating scoring opportunities with fast breaks Both teams executed their game plans with intensity and discipline.”  Ozga said the entire handball season has been remarkable for both the girls’ and boys’ teams.  “We attended two major tournaments where we competed against much larger schools and still held our own with impressive results and prepared us well for success at Zones.”  Along with being proud of their athletic accomplishments Ozga spoke to how impressed she is with who the young athletes are as people.  “It’s easy to praise our players for their athletic abilities - but what stands out even more is their character They support one another on and off the court and exemplify what it means to be student-athletes.”  “I could not be prouder of the heart and grit these athletes have shown They consistently prioritize team success over individual accolades intelligent brand of handball that reflects their maturity and dedication.”  Ozga spoke highly of the sport of handball calling it fast paced and high-energy game that combines speed “It challenges players physically and mentally and is accessible to athletes of varying skill levels its intensity makes it exciting to watch and even more thrilling to play.”  Ozga gave a heartfelt thank-you to the graduating Grade 12 athletes who over the past three years have laid the foundation for the success the team is now enjoying.  “They have helped build a culture of excellence and commitment that will carry on long after they graduate and spirit will be deeply missed next season.”  More SPOTLIGHT > A man who allegedly drove a stolen trackhoe to the Bonnyville RCMP base and smashed up a few police vehicles Saturday was arrested after fleeing on foot at the detachment in the northern part of the town which is a couple of hours northeast of Edmonton Mounties say the man dumped several boulders in front of the prisoner bay and then proceeded to the parking lot and damaged five RCMP vehicles before fleeing on foot Bonnyville RCMP searched for the man with the help of police dogs and drones finding him shortly in a forest northwest of the detachment According to reporting from Lakeland Today Mounties were still searching at around 9 p.m the suspect is currently in custody and waiting for an interim release hearing Police say the suspect can’t be named as no charges have been made More information is expected in the coming days Premier Danielle Smith says she will address Albertans Monday on a "path forward with the federal government" after a meeting with her caucus Calgary police have laid charges in the stabbing death of a young man outside a downtown bar last month Calgary fire crews are battling a grass fire in the city's southwest Monday afternoon that has forced the closure of some area pathways As cases of measles in Alberta rise to numbers not seen in decades the province is out with a new advertising campaign and increasing vaccine-positive messaging On the same day as the Alberta Rally for Independence Alberta Premier Danielle Smith appeared on her radio show is facing numerous charges after fleeing a traffic stop and crashing into a house in Calgary’s Radisson area late Friday night were called to the scene near the Woodland Close and Lochend Road intersection The annual Calgary Bike Swap filled downtown Calgary with bike buzz on Saturday A fire in Calgary’s Ramsay area significantly damaged one home and spread to a neighboring house listen to NewsRadio Calgary live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews Calgary anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices BONNYVILLE - The Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority says a fire near Highway 660 is being held An update was provided Sunday evening just before 10 p.m "Thanks to the quick response and coordinated efforts from all involved the wildfire near Highway 660 is now being held," reads the update from the BRFA the MD of Bonnyville CPOs, Absolute Multicorp, Allpex Oilfield Services and Tri Rez Grader LP, Star Helicopter, Randy Batke and many residents who have assisted during the response and teamwork have been instrumental in preventing further spread of the fire," according to the BRFA Crews will be working through the night and into tomorrow to ensure hotspots are extinguished and the area remains secure "We ask the public to allow emergency personnel to safely complete their work." RELATED - MD of Bonnyville issues state of emergency BONNYVILLE - The Municipal District of Bonnyville has issued a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) in relation to the fire located north of Highway 660 and north of Evergreen Estates in the Moose Lake area and several local contractors are currently on scene and working to extinguish the blaze RCMP and members from the M.D.’s Public Safety Department are also in the area assisting with traffic control and other measures Keep up to date by using the M.D.’s Voyent Alert You can find updates and registration information for the emergency notification system at bit.ly/MDVoyentAlert Updates will be posted to md.bonnyville.ab.ca and all M.D social media platforms as new information becomes available BONNYVILLE - A man operating an excavator used it to smash several RCMP vehicles in the Bonnyville detachment compound tonight.  This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available UPDATE - RCMP search for suspect who rammed police cars with excavator UPDATE #2 - Man in custody after police vehicles damaged by trackhoe in Bonnyville a male suspect operating a stolen trackhoe entered the parking lot of the Bonnyville RCMP detachment The individual proceeded to dump several large boulders in front of the prisoner bay and subsequently caused significant damage to five RCMP vehicles parked on the premises with the assistance of Police Dog Services and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) The suspect was located shortly thereafter in a nearby tree line northwest of the detachment He was taken into custody without further incident and remains held pending a Judicial Interim Release Hearing the suspect’s identity cannot be released as charges have not yet been formally sworn before the courts An updated media release will be provided in the coming days as more information becomes available “Officers are still investigating this incident to determine the cause,” states Staff Sergeant Sarah Parke Alberta RCMP Bonnyville Detachment Commander “While incidents like this can be frightening for communities rest assured there is no on-going threat to the public at this time Alberta RCMP officers from neighbouring detachments were able to quickly assist to ensure on-going police service in Bonnyville we are dedicated to restoring safety and security within communities.” © 2012 - 2025 Connected Media Inc. for Lakeland Connect • All Rights Reserved BONNYVILLE - RCMP in the Lakeland region are searching for the suspect(s) responsible for ramming police cars at the Bonnyville RCMP detachment on the evening of May 3 Gina Slaney of RCMP K Division media relations confirmed that an incident did occur in the parking lot at the Bonnyville RCMP detachment When speaking with Lakeland This Week at 9 p.m Slaney stated that the RCMP was still pursuing the suspect(s) involved in the incident Slaney continued by saying that the Mounties are hopeful that they will be able to provide an update shortly BONNYVILLE - RCMP confirm a man was arrested after five police vehicles were damaged by a trackhoe at the Bonnyville RCMP detachment Saturday night a male suspect drove a stolen trackhoe into the parking lot of the Bonnyville RCMP detachment according to information released on Sunday morning "The suspect dumped several boulders in front of the prisoner bay and then proceeded to damage five police vehicles The suspect then fled on foot," according to RCMP searched for the suspect and he was quickly located in a tree line just north west of the detachment He was arrested and is currently in custody pending a Judicial Interim Release Hearing," states the information from police the suspect cannot be named since charges have not been sworn before the courts An update is expected in the coming days UPDATE - Man in custody after police vehicles damaged by trackhoe in Bonnyville The Municipal District of Bonnyville has declared a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) due to a wildfire burning north of Highway 660 and Evergreen Estates in the Moose Lake area While no evacuation order is currently in place fire crews and support teams remain actively engaged and several local contractors are working together to control the blaze Public Safety personnel are managing traffic and supporting safety efforts on the ground BONNYVILLE - The MD of Bonnyville is sponsoring the 2025 Bonnyville Oil and Gas show to the tune of $15,000.  The Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce (BDCC) is hosting the Oil and Gas show on June 18 and 19 at the C2 Centre.  manager of Planning and Development for the MD of Bonnyville described the Oil and Gas show as an event that “brings technology innovation and the transfer of knowledge to a single event drawing industry experts from across the region.”  Representatives from the BDCC had requested a $12,500 sponsorship from the MD and offered a list of other sponsorship opportunities Dana Swigart said the event is “really valuable for the area” and brought up a previously conversation among council where it was discussed the MD should designate a source of funding for the event and we get questioned on where [funding] should come from I think we should be budgeting for it,” said Swigart.   Deputy Reeve Darcy Skarsen said he had received correspondence from BDCC Executive Director Serena Lyons saying the $15,000 sponsorship package was available.   “I got thinking that might be the best opportunity for us What better way to say that we are open for business than by sponsoring the opening ceremony?” said Skarsen.  He made a motion to sponsor the event for $15,000 to be funded from the Community Action Grant Reserve  Ben Fadeyiw commented that council has been a supporter of the event for as long as he has been in council but would rather sponsor the event for the $12,500 that was requested.  Skarsen brought up council’s previous sponsorship of the Lakeland Xtreme Bronc & Bulls events.  This one shouldn’t even be a thought - oil and gas is our lifeline here and we should be the premier sponsor of this event and noted that the MD does support the BDCC financially.  “It’s $2500 we’re arguing about but I think I’d rather just go with the [requested amount] myself,” said Crick.  The motion to sponsor the event for $15,000 was carried by a vote of 4-2.  As warmer weather arrives and school years wind down more young drivers will be hitting Alberta’s roads — many of them learning behind the wheel for the first time Bonnyville RCMP are reminding motorists to be patient and cautious when encountering learner drivers including those operating vehicles marked with driving school signage or learner decals New drivers need extra time and space to safely make decisions on the road Motorists are asked to keep the following safety tips in mind: Vehicles clearly marked with learner decals or signs from registered driving schools indicate that the driver is under instruction Aggressive driving or road rage directed at learner drivers creates unnecessary stress and risks for everyone on the road For parents or guardians teaching a new driver it’s equally important to prioritize safety when supervising your teen’s practice sessions Parke says: “Being a new driver while exciting is also a very stressful experience Every single driver out there on our roads has been there themselves and can remember some of the stresses associated to being a new driver Please be patient and supportive of new drivers and keep our roads safe.” Follow us on Facebook @RCMPinAlberta and on X @RCMPAlberta for more crime prevention tips BONNYVILLE – Several members of Bonnyville Karate-Do recently competed and won medals at a karate competition held in Lloydminster.  an instructor with Bonnyville Karate-Do dojo said the 2025 Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai Karate Championships took place on April 12 at Lloydminster’s Holy Rosary High School.   Events that took place during the Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai Karate Championships included Kobudo (weapons) and Kumite (freestyle fighting).   “Bonnyville’s 25 participants brought home 32 medals in various events at various levels,” Grant told Lakeland This Week “Competitors were divided by rank and age as well as size for the younger groups."  Some of the members of Bonnyville Karate-Do who won medals at the championships included Bohdana Werstiuk (gold weapons and Julie Andriachuk (bronze Kumite).  the 25 members of the Bonnyville group were among over 200 members of Shito-Ryu Kyokai Canada who gathered on April 12 for the tournament were represented at the event.   In addition to having the opportunity to bring home medals in various events the students with Bonnyville Karate-Do who participated in the competition also benefited by learning about preparedness and being able to socialize.    “The main benefit from competing is the hard work and preparation the students put in getting ready for the competition they are instructed to have fun and to make a new friend at the event,” he stated.  Bonnyville Karate-Do has been doing well this year with ranks from 1st Kyu (white belt) all the way to Godan (5th level Black Belt).  trains two or three times a week in traditional Shito-Ryu Karate-Do as well as Kobudo (weapons) and Batto-Do (sword) The club takes part in different events throughout the year with the next one being the Demura Festival which Grant said is scheduled for the May long weekend It will also take place at Holy Rosary High School in Lloydminster.   “This is an annual event to honour our late instructor Fumio Demura It will include seminars and instruction as well as some testing,” he said.   The Bonnyville dojo will be hosting its own small year-end tournament toward the end of May after which the club will begin a summer schedule.   Thanks to the quick response and coordinated efforts from all involved the wildfire near Highway 660 is now being held We extend our sincere appreciation to the dedicated crews from: Photo Credit: Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority.Scene from above – Moose LakeWildfire 2025 and teamwork have been instrumental in preventing further spread of the fire Crews will continue to work through the night and into tomorrow to ensure hotspots are extinguished and the area remains secure The Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority asks the public to allow emergency personnel to safely complete their work The encore run of the pair's acoustic Homecoming Tour is coming to 34 cities across seven provinces BY Megan LaPierrePublished May 5 After joining forces for the 2023 Homecoming Tour, Canadian country music legends Terri Clark and Paul Brandt have announced an encore run of their nationwide acoustic co-headliner for 2025 which will bring them to 34 cities across seven provinces "Being on tour with Terri Clark has been a highlight of my career; it's hard to recall the last time I had so much fun," said Brandt "When you find a chemistry that is so natural and powerful The fans have spoken — the demand is there — so here we come I can't wait to bring Homecoming Tour 2.0 to stages across Canada." but the Homecoming Tour was our first time sharing the stage — and the magic and chemistry were beyond what we imagined and to go coast to coast with one of Canada's finest talents." The Homecoming Tour 2.0 kicks off on October 17 in Moncton Clark and Brandt will hit Nova Scotia and Newfoundland ahead of making their way to numerous Ontario locales they'll go on to play concerts in Manitoba wrapping things up on December 1 in Cranbrook Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday (May 9), with presales beginning May 6 at 10 a.m. local time. See the full itinerary below, as well as Exclaim!'s Canadian concert listings for more upcoming shows Terri Clark and Paul Brandt 2025 Tour Dates: Be the first to get our biggest stories delivered to your inbox. BONNYVILLE - A fire restriction is in place as of May 1 for the MD of Bonnyville No Summer Village of Pelican Narrows and Village of Glendon existing fire permits have been suspended and no new fire permits are being issued according to information released by the BRFA "All existing fires must be extinguished." The restriction does allow for safe wood campfires within fire rings in campgrounds and on privately owned land charcoal briquette barbecues on private land and propane/natural gas powered appliances are also allowed "All outdoor wood fires or fires fuelled by charcoal briquettes are banned on public lands including backcountry and random camping areas," reads the fire restriction information. "The use of fireworks and exploding targets are also prohibited." BRFA reminds people to "never leave a campfire unattended stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished." People are also asked to report any wildfire immediately by calling 310-FIRE Information is available at www.albertafirebans.ca For further information contact the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority 780-826-4755 along with the Central Forest Protection Area Smoky Lake County, Lac La Biche County and Two Hills County have fire bans in place We're sorry, we couldn't find this page. You can try the search tool, visit our homepage, or scroll down for our top stories and videos The Watoto Children’s Choir is a group from Uganda who performed their message of inspiration and hope in Jesus to Bonnyville residents at Lakeview Gospel Centre on Friday night Raising funds for their church that’s been around for 41 years There are currently approximately 3500 children in the care of the Watoto Childcare Ministry which can become safe shelter in rescuing children and placing them in decent homes and was able to grow up and go through university Now her and Alvin are part of Watoto Choir 118 the 118th choir to travel everyone across the globe they spread their message of Better Days: There is hope with song and dance For those more interested in their story, you can visit their website here BONNYVILLE – The Town of Bonnyville has elected to re-start their rural immigration program that offers permanent residence to skilled workers wanting to settle in rural communities.  the Town of Bonnyville’s economic development officer explained the framework of the program to Lakeland this Week.  “Immigration is a federal jurisdiction - and then they give the province the right to run this particular program and we're just one part of those six streams.  The Government of Alberta has the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).  “If you look at the AAIP stream on the provincial government website there are six areas in the Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) - there's a hospitality stream and the stream we're in is specific to rural communities,” explained Lavar.  According to the Government of  Alberta “the Rural Renewal Stream supports the attraction and retention of newcomers to rural Alberta through a community-driven approach that supports local economic development needs and contributes to the growth of the community The Rural Renewal Stream empowers rural communities to recruit and retain foreign nationals to live work and settle in their communities.”  During the April 22 Town of Bonnyville council meeting Laver explained that the province has made changes to the program that have “significantly affected the efficiency and viability of the RRS program.”   “The biggest recent changes in the program have come from the provincial government They’ve taken the number of nominations down from 1,900 to 950 across 35 communities that are participating in the program,” said Laver.  there are approximately 3,000 people waiting in the queue for the program  “The program in itself has received some good feedback from the local business community and they’re quite strongly behind it,” said Laver.  Laver told Lakeland this Week that Bonnyville including recent changes by the province.   “It does take up a significant amount of staff time and that was a primary reason for pausing it We wanted to do a deep dive into it to understand more about the program We wrote 300 letters of endorsement for people but when we paused the program and did some research we found that 45 per cent of those people aren't even in town yet,” said Laver.  Laver explained that it is a “downloaded program,” which means the municipality must cover all the costs of running it.  “The province doesn't give us any money or resources to run it it's a financial burden on all of these communities as well particularly with the amount of time that it takes,” said Laver.  He explained that there are secondary effects of the program that need to be taken into consideration.  “There is a rental shortage in town as well rental space is going to be a challenge.”  The RRS program was discussed at length during the Town of Bonnyville’s last Economic Development meeting.  “The committee unanimously recommended that the program be re-opened on a limited basis,” said Laver The program will limit the number of employees a business can sponsor to 30 per cent of their workforce if they have more than five employees Deputy Mayor David Sharun commended the Economic Development Committee for bringing the program back to the table.  Mark Laver and I attended the economic development conference When we told the developers franchisee owners that we are involved in this program because one of their questions is what are we doing about labor shortages Because of this program we got a lot of positive feedback.”  Neil Langridge commented on the amount of consideration the Economic Development Committee took in discussing the program.  “There’s a high demand for this program A lot of the roadblocks and red tape are out of the municipality's hands they fall on the provincial and federal governments But we want to support our local business community as much as possible and if [that means] having them apply to the program under the new restrictions then that's what we definitely want to do,” said Langridge.  The motion to re-open the program with the new restrictions was carried unanimously.  BONNYVILLE - Registration is open to participate in the 2025 Cancer Fun Run a fundraiser for the Bonnyville Cancer Centre.  The 5 km run will start at Little Leap Splash Park on June 1 and organizer Kelly Haygarth says it’s a great event for all ages and skill levels the event is about showing up to support those affected by cancer in the community.  “It’s about bringing people together to support each other We’ve had people come and just walk part of it and we’ve had people do it in a wheelchair before.”  Local group 86Cancer has volunteered to DJ the event giving the event an uplifting atmosphere.  “You can listen to some tunes and just be with other people that may have gone through similar experiences You can do it in honour of someone you’ve lost or support someone that’s going through it right now.”  Haygarth talked about how helpful the event can be for the grieving process of those affected by cancer which is her inspiration behind volunteering to organize the event.  and I remember doing the Relay for Life event and how much that helped me with the grieving process - just being around other people who could relate That’s what got me wanting to do the [Cancer Fun Run].”  Haygarth commented on how heartwarming it is to see all the people who show up for the event “It's that non-verbal communication that says ‘We’ve got your back’.”  Participants also have an option to be recognized as a survivor.  “This year the colours are lime green and blue they can wear a shirt that lets people know that they are a survivor It’s very humbling to see.”  Haygarth spoke to how wonderful it is for the Bonnyville Cancer Clinic staff members to see patients and families that they’ve worked with in the past.  and we need more connection – we need to get off our phones and screens and be with each other All you have to do is be there – you can support by just showing up.”  The event is hosted in partnership with the Alberta Cancer Foundation and oncology nurses will be taking on volunteer roles for the event.  “This is the fourth event we’ve done and in years prior we’d raised upwards of $20,000 That money goes right to our cancer clinic in Bonnyville.”  Haygarth encourages people to pre-register for the event to secure their T-shirt and swag bag before they run out Anyone is welcome to show up at the event and participate.  “There’s a lot of small-town pride and it’s exciting to watch.”  BONNYVILLE – The Town of Bonnyville is hosting its annual Canada Day event in July and has announced that they have booked Canadian Country Hall of Famer Charlie Major to help the community celebrate.   The free event will take place on July 1 at Little Leap Park and includes an evening fireworks Major was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019 “His lyrics champion the ‘Blue Collar Hero’ in a manner that embodies Springsteen and other roots rock legends but it is in the country music format that Major finds his home.”  recreation assistant for the Town of Bonnyville explained that they have an event committee for Canada Day and they are very excited about booking such a big headliner.   This year we’ve got some great musicians lined up and we’re bringing back all the fun kids’ games Kushnir said there will be other bands opening for Major and sideshows including sword swallowing and fire eating.  “Canada Day is one of the big events in Bonnyville [The event committee] has lots to do.”  The Town of Bonnyville is re-starting its rural immigration program to help bring skilled workers into the community The program is part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program and lets rural towns support newcomers who want to live and work there Changes from the province mean Bonnyville will now limit how many workers each business can sponsor but local leaders say it’s a big help for solving labour shortages Council voted unanimously to bring the program back with the new rules BONNYVILLE - Clayton Bellamy cut the ribbon during the grand opening ceremony for the Strathcona Performing Arts Centre on April 30 Bellamy is a musician and songwriter who grew up performing in Bonnyville and is the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band The Road Hammers Bellamy is also the president of the Clayton Bellamy Foundation for the Arts – the group that fundraised over $2 million towards the completion of the new theatre.  “This is a celebration of community vision brought to life through the commitment of so many people who believe in the power of the arts and bringing people together,” said Bellamy.  The event hosted guests to join in the ribbon cutting ceremony hear speeches from sponsors and dignitaries and enjoy performances by renowned fiddler Calvin Vollrath Clayton Bellamy also took to the new stage for the first time.  Bellamy noted the theatre is in the heart of the Lakeland and it is more than just a building.  and a space where our kids' imagination and expression can thrive It will be a place where students find their voice and where audiences from across the region will come together to experience something unforgettable,” said Bellamy.  and supporters for their community spirit and assistance in creating a theatre that will be enjoyed by generations.  President of the Lakeland Society for Truth and Reconciliation, provided a land acknowledgement and gifted Clayton Bellamy with a white spruce seedling.  “The white spruce tree is seen in our culture as a sign of resilience may we always be reminded of our friendship and journey together,” said Vachon.  Bonnyville born and raised playwright Lyle Victor Albert who had the community’s previous theatre named after him “In a world seduced by algorithms and the latest TikTok trends the performing arts deliver an old-fashioned flesh and blood communal experience that can't be replicated through an iPhone or computer screens Performing arts is as real as it gets Albert thanked all the people who put so much hard work into the creation of the theatre and said “It’s these people that make the arts perform.”  Town of Bonnyville Mayor Elisa Brosseau described the theatre as a gift to Bonnyville.  “We know it will become a cultural cornerstone for the entire region we recognize the vital role that arts and culture play in building a vibrant community let’s celebrate this incredible achievement,” said Brosseau.  MD of Bonnyville Reeve Barry Kalinski gave a speech about the young community members he knows will benefit from the theatre.  “There’s a young gentleman in my area who plays guitar in our church This kid loves Johnny Cash and he can really play and I'm pretty sure he’s going to be on this stage someday It makes me proud of our area,” said Kalinski.  Chief Operating Officer at Strathcona Resources said they are honoured to be a part of the project.  “We believe that having a dedicated space for artistic interests and passions is critical to developing a sense of belonging and community The Strathcona Performing Arts Centre will provide the opportunity to support young and promising local artists to follow their dreams while engaging in entertaining the community,” said Babiak.  recalled performing at the old Lyle Victor Albert Centre in Bonnyville when he was young He told the audience that he jumped at the opportunity to come and help celebrate the opening of the new theatre and acknowledged the incredible amount of work that Bellamy and his team put into spearheading this project.  “I had such a great start at the Lyle Victor Albert Centre and there's going to be so many kids who are going to be playing and performing and spending time on this stage thank you to each and every one of you for making a difference,” said Kissel.  Bellamy highlighted the many upcoming performances booked at the Strathcona Performing Arts Centre and told the audience that although their Heartstrings and Honky Tonks event is sold out people can still tune into it live on CFCW radio on May 3 at 7 p.m.  Bellamy reminded people about their third annual Golf and Gala fundraiser on Aug and a whole bunch of amazing artists are going to be there and we’ve got our million-dollar hole in one again It’s our major fundraiser to keep the doors open and the lights on at the theatre,” said Bellamy.  The crowd rose to give Bellamy a standing ovation for his efforts in making the theatre a reality.  “Thank you for being a part of this historic evening and all the stories still to come,” said Bellamy.  Summer Villages of Bonnyville Beach and Pelican Narrows and Village of Glendon is effective as of Thursday May 1 at 2:00PM stir it and soak it again until cool to the touch to ensure it is extinguished BONNYVILLE – The Bonnyville Farmers’ Market helped celebrate Easter with the community bringing 42 vendors to the C2 on April 19.  Long-time vendor David Krahenbil has been making people smile at the farmers’ market for over 30 years as he donned an Easter costume complete with bunny ears and tail.   We have a good time doing it.” said Krahenbill  Market manager Linda Boser said they host an Easter market annually and this year shoppers had the opportunity to pick an Easter egg out of a bowl for the chance to win a vendor prize.   People were loving it,” said Boser.  Every time you purchased something from a vendor you were given a ticket for a chance to pick an egg from the draw.  “Every vendor’s table number got put into an egg If you drew an egg that had a table number along with the [chocolate] mini egg inside then you went to that table and got one of their prizes,” said Boser.  Boser encouraged the community to come and visit the variety of vendors.  “It's so diverse.  From microgreens to sourdough to crocheting and knitting and chocolate and gnomes It’s just amazing what these vendors create,” said Boser.  The market gives residents a chance to shop local and Boser is passionate about offering creators a place to share their talents with the community.  when I started becoming the manager of the market my goal was for our community to come and see what the vendors had to offer first Come here for your treats or your produce or your baking because these guys all depend on this revenue,” said Boser.   BONNYVILLE  - The Bonnyville Health Foundation hosted its 25th fundraiser gala on Saturday Proceeds from the night will go toward mental health initiatives at the Bonnyville hospital with the event itself acting as a beacon of hope for mental health awareness.  Guests arrived at the C2 Centre field house glittering in their finest to enjoy an evening of fine food The atmosphere was vibrant with lavish decorations and the excitement of celebrating a good cause but the evening also took earnest moments of reflection to honour those who have struggled with mental health and create awareness and hope by sharing stories from community members.  executive director of the Bonnyville Health Foundation chair for the Bonnyville Health Foundation they kicked off the evening with a video introduction.  “As we planned the details of this event we don’t think Bonnyville would have been ready for a gala that focused our conversations awareness and fundraising solely around mental health,” said Weber.  Skuba commented on what an incredible testimony it is to have come this far in ending the stigma associated with mental health and Weber shared her hope that the gala would help break down barriers even further Kayla Blanchette spoke about the shift that has happened over the past 25 years in regard to how much more open people are to having conversations around difficult topics such as mental health reducing the stigma for those needing help in our community A huge thank-you goes out to our local healthcare professionals who have grown and evolved over the years to meet the needs of our community and its wellbeing I’m looking forward to seeing what the next 25 years brings.”  director of the Bonnyville Health Foundation delivered a moving speech about the effects of intergenerational trauma and how mental health care professionals supported her own healing journey.  Lynch explained that the event aimed to help fund $100,000 toward a mental health seclusion room at the hospital and a quiet and safe space for those dealing with a mental health crisis.  The event celebrated the hard work and dedication of the hospital staff Skuba was awarded the 2025 Milestone Volunteer Impact Award for her 30 years of volunteering at the Bonnyville hospital.  and colleagues congratulating her and speaking to what a wonderful and well-deserving person she is People spoke to Skuba’s charitable spirit and infectious smile saying she is a joy and an inspiration.  MD of Bonnyville Deputy Reeve Darcy Skarsen presented the 2025 Bonnyville Health Foundation Milestone Award for Community Impact to Tercier Motors for their outstanding legacy of service and dedication to making the community a better place.  “This family owned and operated business has consistently demonstrated deep commitment to investing in our local communities through charitable support and improving the lives of those they serve have helped shape and strengthen the very foundation of our community,” said Skarsen.  presented the 2025 Bonville Health Foundation Milestone Award for Community Spirit to the Ringuette family for their unwavering commitment to the community.  Sharun extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Ringuette family and their “unforgettable legacy.”  “The [Ringuette family] has exemplified selfless acts of kindness and service in their community for over 25 years The award is not just about financial support fostering positive change and creating a lasting impact on the community,” said Sharun.  Bonnyville Mayor Elisa Brosseau described the 25th anniversary as a testament to the strength and compassion of Bonnyville’s healthcare teams and the supporting community.  committed to the wellbeing of our local healthcare Our hospital has been a lifeline for so many and none of this would have been possible without the support of our residents and the surrounding communities,” said Brosseau.  A total amount raised was not available as of Lakeland This Week’s press deadline.  BONNYVILLE – The MD of Bonnyville made the decision to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the culprit who damaged the Truman Bridge when a truck hauling logs crossed the bridge and struck the structure with the load on Oct general manager of Infrastructure Services presented the request for decision during the Feb and explained that the MD does not insure its bridges and with the RCMP investigation producing no suspects the MD is responsible for the $800,000 repair costs.  “Administration discussed this issue with legal counsel and it was determined that the MD could in fact offer a reward,” said Bespalko.  Ben Fadeyiw said he was happy to see this request brought forward.  their insurance company’s going to pay I think this might be the right direction for finding the person responsible and I think a number of $10,000 would work to make it serious,” said Fadeyiw.  commenting on the seriousness of the offence.  “It’s just absolutely wrong to wreck public property like a bridge $10,000 is well worth the investment,” said Crick.  Reeve Barry Kalinski inquired about the possibility of more than one person coming forward with the same information and CAO Ben Berlinguette explained that the reward would then be divided.  “If three come forward [with the same information] that leads to a conviction legal recommended that we divide it three ways,” said Berlinguette.  A motion to approve the $10,000 reward was carried unanimously stating that the funds would come from the 2025 council public relations budget  BONNYVILLE - Friends of the Lakeland are putting on a special event at the C2 in Bonnyville featuring “Skidrow CEO” motivational speaker Joe Roberts Roberts not only overcame childhood trauma but completed a 17 month long walk across Canada to fundraise and raise awareness about youth homelessness.  The event will first be directed at local high school students on March 25 but will also offer the community a chance to attend an additional public event on March 25 at 7p.m Event organizers Judy Cabay and Sheri McCulay presented information about the event to the MD of Bonnyville council during the Feb Cabay explained that Friends of the Lakeland is a nonprofit unregistered group of individuals and businesses who are coordinating the event to afford youth and the community the opportunity to be inspired by a world-renowned speaker.  “Joe Roberts delivers a message of a person's potential and then changing his life to becoming a CEO of a company We are planning for students from eight schools in the Lakeland region and know it will have a profound effect on them,” said Cabay.  Cabay said the challenges Roberts faced are relevant to the challenges seen in our communities and feels the event will give people the opportunity to witness a person’s ability to change and fulfil their personal potential.  McCulay spoke about her 23 years of service and how she saw the worsening of addiction and homelessness within the community McCulay described watching Roberts speak as “life changing” and noted his ability to promote a sense of hope.  Cabay also experienced Roberts’ motivational speaking when they attended a conference he was featured at and she told Lakeland This WEek about the lasting impression of hearing Roberts’ story.  “You could hear a pin drop,” said Cabay as she reflected on how rapt the audience was “I felt he had a phenomenal effect on the crowd.”  Cabay feels that Roberts will have an impact on the students and that inspiring even a small percentage of youth to avoid going down the wrong path could help lead them to a brighter future where they can inspire others.  Josh Crick commented that he is familiar with Roberts’ work and is “100 per cent on board.”  Cabay explained that the Lakeland Credit Union is sponsoring the cost of booking Roberts as a motivational speaker and organizers are reaching out to the community to cover the extra expenses Cabay requested financial support of $2,500 to assist with the expense of booking space at the C2 and renting the necessary equipment.   Council agreed to bring the request for funding back to the March 11 meeting so administration can determine sources of funding.  Paul Family Day Home Society is expanding to Bonnyville and Cold Lake after the day homes group in those communities shut down Under Alberta’s Early Learning and Child Care Act day home educators can provide care for up to six children Licensed day homes work with an agency and have access to provincial childcare funding and early childhood educator wage top-ups and do not receive funding from the government Barbara Rideout is one of the day home providers in Cold Lake who was impacted by the closure of Bonnyville Play & Learn Family Homes the agency that had been managing the licensing checks and funding for Bonnyville and Cold Lake “We sat down for a dinner with our agency and all our providers and were told the board had put in a cease letter on our behalf and we no longer had funding as of March 31,” said Rideout She said the information they received was pretty limited “but they made it sound as though we haven’t had a board for a very long time The providers were very upset by that,” said Rideout said they were told the board was “non-functioning” due to a lack of volunteers For the day home providers and the families they provide care to If they didn’t find a new agency right away they would lose access to the Alberta childcare funding which pays approximately two thirds of the monthly fees for full-time care leaving parents with a flat fee of $326.50 per child She said they were approached to see if they could take on the homes currently working with Bonnyville Play & Learn Family Homes when that group made the decision to shut down in early March We have another potential home in Cold Lake and we’ve sent out extra applications as well in the general Lakeland area within the past couple of weeks,” said Poulin the agency is providing the same services to their new homes in Bonnyville and Cold Lake that they do for the homes in St They are required to do certain things like report their attendance so we can claim their hours of care and then they have other requirements like the menu and the activity planning and all that stuff But whatever needs to get sent to the government that's us that do that,” said Poulin another provider in Bonnyville was caught in the crossfire She made the decision to return to the Bonnyville agency in the November and spent the winter doing the necessary paperwork and upgrading the safety measures in her home to meet the licensing requirements [they were] going to wait until [changes to Alberta child care funding] flips over so I was left really stressed,” said Hite who found out about the closure by text message Hite said she was very thankful the other providers made sure St Paul Family Day Home Society knew who she was and kept her in the loop as things were being figured out Zelisko and Rideout all had high praise for Poulin and the staff in St “I was at it for three months trying to get everything organized and she did my house and the four other houses in 17 days. They’re incredibly hard-working ladies in in St Rideout said she was impressed with the level of transparency in St Paul and with the app the agency uses for tracking attendance and meal plans “They really are our heroes,” said Rideout Attempts by Lakeland This Week to reach out to Bonnyville Play & Learn Family Homes were unsuccessful but in a brief statement posted to social media "Thank you to the many families that trusted us with your little ones We took this job very seriously and every day did it to the best of our abilities." BONNYVILLE - A woman from Ardrossan has died due to injuries she sustained in a serious collision on March 24 in the Bonnyville area Bonnyville RCMP responded to a motor vehicle collision between a pickup truck and a large sedan on Range Road 460 between Township Road 610 and 604 "Initial findings revealed that the sedan failed to stop Alcohol was later discovered to be a factor," according to information from RCMP "Both drivers were brought to the hospital with varying levels of injuries with the driver of the pickup truck recovering from his injuries."  Bonnyville RCMP was advised that the driver of the large sedan had died Bonnyville RCMP say they are not seeking to lay charges "The thoughts of the Alberta RCMP are with all those impacted by this incident." BONNYVILLE - A lunch-hour roadside check conducted by Bonnyville RCMP on Feb 24 resulted in the seizure of weapons and drugs RCMP were doing the roadside check with a pickup truck that had two occupants on 66th Street just south of 50th Avenue in Bonnyville "While the member was running the driver’s documents The vehicle broke down less than a kilometre away and both occupants of the vehicle exited and began fleeing on foot "The member pulled up to the truck and took chase on foot catching up to both males and placing them under arrest," according to information from RCMP.  The men were allegedly found to be in possession of "a handgun various drug paraphernalia and thousands of dollars in cash." have been charged with a multitude of weapons offences possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.  Drake was also charged with flight from police driving while prohibited and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.  "Bail hearings were held and both males were remanded in custody and are awaiting their first court appearance," according to RCMP the Canadian government shuttered the Indian Day School on the Kehewin Cree Nation reserve leaving a community of students without a place to learn The ripple effects of what happened next are still being felt today the representative plaintiff who attended the school says Indigenous students bused to the church-run institution suffered “enormous harm,” including “frequent physical Lawyer Leighton Grey believes as many as 500 former students may be entitled to compensation He said schools like Notre Dame are a little-known part of Canada’s residential schools story all the same things that they would have experienced in residential school plus the endemic discrimination from the all-white school population,” he said said the experience of Indigenous students in schools like Notre Dame was not unusual His firm is aware of similar claims involving other schools in the Bonnyville and Cold Lake area and in Whitehorse We’re finding out more and more that these types of abuses occurred in public and also in Catholic schools.” By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Court of King’s Bench Justice James Neilson certified the class action in a decision released Tuesday It named the defendants as the Canadian and Alberta governments Paul and the Lakeland Roman Catholic Separate School Division Canada consented to the class action being certified while the diocese took no position either way Lawyers for the Alberta government objected to being included arguing independent school boards are ultimately responsible for managing school operations Neilson agreed and removed the provincial government as a defendant Amendments to the Indian Act in 1884 required Indigenous children to attend a day school were able to attend a day school in the community until the Canadian government closed the facility in 1964 or other educational facilities in Kehewin at that time,” Neilson’s decision states “It is alleged that the defendants jointly decided to begin transporting children from Kehewin Cree Nation to and from the nearby town of Bonnyville to attend school.” “almost all” the teachers at the time were priests or nuns and so it has its own issues in terms of systemic racism — racism that existed there at the time independent of these kids showing up there at school,” he said Neilson does not outline the specific abuse claims but says the mistreatment Indigenous students faced was allegedly caused by the defendants’ “negligence and breach of fiduciary duty” to children in their care The “survivor class” of eligible plaintiffs includes “all Aboriginal persons … who attended a school in Bonnyville The class of potential plaintiffs includes elementary More than 200 claimants have already signed on though Grey believes there may be as many as 500 Getting the claim certified has taken more than five years adding time is of the essence given the age of the former students so there’s some pressure to get this resolved.” Grey is pleased the Canadian government agreed not to stand in the way of the class action took a very litigious position — understandably so because they didn’t want to contribute to the settlement,” he said The treatment of Indigenous students at Notre Dame made headlines during the period in question According to a 1974 article in the Edmonton Journal Indigenous students at the school protested changes to their timetables and the departure of a popular teacher as well as a “system of lunchtime passes to visit the town that treats them differently than white students.” BONNYVILLE – The Town of Bonnyville council made the decision to join the Mid-Size Towns Mayors’ Caucus (MSTMC) after Deputy Mayor David Sharun and Interim CAO Renee Stoyles attended one of their meetings held during the AB Munis Spring Leaders’ Caucus.  The Mid-Size Towns Mayors’ Caucus is a group of 15 mid-sized urban communities that formed last year and among its members includes the neighbouring community of Cold Lake The purpose is to strengthen the significance and position of mid-sized towns as a relevant and important voice within the province-wide framework strategizing and advocating to address matters that directly impact mid-sized towns during the March 25 Town of Bonnyville council meeting.  the group identified strategic solutions for aging infrastructure as something they are advocating for.  “We realize the unique challenges that are specific to us and our individual requests cannot compete with those of our larger neighbours,” stated the MSTMC.  The MSTMC aims to grow in membership and gather data to strengthen their case and membership grants the municipality a vote.  Sharun explained that MSTMC does not conflict with other organizations such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.  He described his experience at the MSTMC meeting saying it was a “dynamic” group of people that attended.  “There's 15 [members] already and there was a lot of energy in that room but it was packed with delegates from different municipalities We're not in competition with anybody else It's just looking out for issues that pertain to smaller communities like ours,” said Sharun.  MSTMC listed its objectives in a Terms of Reference document which include being an advocate at a municipal Correction - A previous version of this story said the specific candidates for the RN partnership program had been accepted already Twelve Indigenous and rural students will be accepted to the program with an anticipated start date of Sept however applications to the program are being accepted until March 1 LakelandTODAY apologizes for this error LAKELAND - The first cohort of nursing students to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the University of Calgary and Covenant Health will begin their studies in September 2025.  the site administrator at the Bonnyville Health Care Centre there are over 50 applicants to the program so far and they are able to take 12 Indigenous and rural students for the inaugural class Applications are being accepted until March 1 “This program is going to kind of emulate what I had gone through when I first became a nurse our simulation room and our theory room are going to be upstairs and then they'll do a lot of work virtually from home,” said Franklin.  The partnership between UCalgary and Covenant Health will see similar programs rolled out by hospitals in several rural communities around the province The program aims to address the chronic shortage of nurses in rural and remote communities by allowing the opportunity to learn without having to travel.  Franklin said it is important to remember that recruitment doesn’t start when people are in nursing school.  and get the high school students engaged into if they want to pursue a healthcare profession and we ourselves at the hospital are very engaged in that project and along with my team,” said Franklin noting there is a high school skills day planned for September as well.  Bonnyville currently has two emergency room RN positions and one LPN position posted on the Covenant Health jobs board The hospital had 30 short-term contracts filled by an outside staffing agency between April and October 2024.  the senior director of operations rural/acute for Covenant Health they are also looking at more “Grow Your Own” programs following the success of Grow Your Own Health Care Aide.  “We're looking at Grow Your Own LPN to RN programs Shelley's got the Bachelor of Science Nursing program coming to Bonnyville we are looking at Grow Your Own for some of our other [positions] like Occupational Health Safety we're really looking at designing a plan that's going to sustain the workforce at our rural sites for 20 or 30 years to come,” said Poole.  Janelle Arnold is going to trial and has been released on bail with a series of conditions there are multiple trials scheduled for the former Duclos Elementary school teacher and child luring charges from three separate incidents Arnold elected to be heard by a judge and jury in her April 3rd appearance in Wainwright The original arrest in Bonnyville, announced publicly on Sept. 11, 2024 details an alleged assault and subsequent payment to a child to keep quiet about the incident This matter will return to Bonnyville on June 17 The charges fall under sexual assault and sexual interference with a child The charges related to the arrest in Wainwright in Oct 2024 while on release conditions will go to preliminary hearing in anticipation of trial in Wainwright on Nov This incident alleges attempting to luring a youth and their friends to a hotel room and the charges fall under Luring a child under 16 years old and failing to comply with a release order Bonnyville RCMP laid another charge of failing to comply with a release order in November 2024 stemming from contact with youth online in the weeks between her first charge and her remand It is alleged Arnold sent money and gifts to two youths in New Zealand during this time The majority of court proceedings have been conducted to this point in Wainwright After being in custody since the October 2024 incident Arnold appeared in Lloydminster Provincial Court on Friday speaking to Wainwright and Bonnyville charges She was released on a release order with several conditions BONNYVILLE - The Royal Canadian Legion in Bonnyville hosted a fish fry on Good Friday The fish was fresh local pike from Primrose Lake and the Legion was bustling with patrons.   Abstaining from meat on Fridays is a religious tradition dating back to the earliest days of Christianity.   BONNYVILLE - Two suspects were arrested by Bonnyvill RCMP after an officer noticed a side-by-side on the Iron Horse Trail near an industrial area parked "suspiciously close to the fence line of a business." The incident happened in the early morning hours of March 19 they observed one suspect climbing back over the fence onto the trail and into the UTV [side-by-side] which fled down the trail," according to information from RCMP.  "The member alerted another member who was close by in the direction the UTV was driving Police vehicle emergency lights were activated and the UTV tried to turn around but got stuck in a ditch and both suspects ran from police."  but ultimately both suspects were apprehended.  "It was determined the UTV they were driving was stolen from a residence in Elk Point in February."  of Bonnyville was charged with two counts of possession of stolen property two counts of mischief /damage to property over $5,000 He was released from custody and is set to appear in court on April 1.  resisting arrest and three counts of disobeying a court order He was remanded into custody and his next court appearance is March 25 BONNYVILLE – The MD of Bonnyville has announced that Ben Berlinguette will be the new Chief Administrative Office (CAO) as of Feb Berlinguette comes with a 20-year career including key roles in municipalities such as Thorhild Country and his last position with the Town of Valleyview.  Berlinguette’s early passion for building and creating coupled with his commitment to lifelong learning has shaped his approach to leadership,” stated information from the MD of Bonnyville The municipality says Berlinguette brings a list of qualifications including Civil Engineering Technology from NAIT certifications in Local Government Management Paired with experience in a wide range of industries from oil and gas the MD expressed confidence in Berlinguette Berlinguette on board and look forward to working with him as we continue to serve and enhance our community,” said Reeve Barry Kalinski.  The MD also commented on the volunteer efforts included in Berlinguette’s resume.  “[His] experience is complemented by his dedication to volunteerism having served on numerous boards and committees where he has earned recognition for his contributions,” stated the MD.  Berlinguette will play a critical role in creating “responsible growth and sustainability” for the MD “His experience managing large budgets and his commitment to strong governance and effective communication will ensure the MD remains a place where residents can thrive Berlinguette’s resignation from his position with the Town of Valleyview was announced in a statement written on behalf of council by Valleyview Mayor Vern Lymburner expressing gratitude for Berlinguette’s “leadership commitment and tireless efforts.”  “Ben’s contributions to Valleyview will have a lasting impact and we are truly thankful for the time and energy he has invested in making our town a better place for all residents We wish him nothing but the best in his next adventure within another rural community,” said Lymburner.