Slave Lake town council approved several operational and infrastructure changes during its latest meeting, including Christmas closures at two recreation facilities, a new single-stream recycling system and pedestrian safety improvements at a key intersection.

Recreation facilities to close over Christmas

Council approved closing the Northern Lights Aquatic Centre and Multi Rec Centre to the public on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day each year.

Administration said the three days have historically been among the facilities’ lowest-use days. Last year, the Multi Rec Centre recorded six users on Christmas Eve and four on Boxing Day, with most of those users using the walking track. No ice rentals were recorded on either day.

The closures will allow staff to have a holiday break while still requiring essential building and pool chemical checks to continue. Regular facility operating hours will otherwise remain unchanged.

The Northern Lights Aquatic Centre currently operates year-round from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The MRC uses seasonal hours.

Council also heard that the Legacy Centre has introduced a “ghost kitchen” option, allowing users to rent the approved kitchen without booking the rest of the facility. Administration said two or three users have used the arrangement so far, including businesses that need an Alberta Health Services-approved kitchen they cannot access at home.

Recycling depot moving to single stream

Beginning Oct. 1, residents using the Slave Lake Recycle Depot will no longer have to sort recyclable materials into separate cardboard and commingled streams.

The depot, located on 7th Street NE, is transitioning to a single-stream system under the town’s renewed agreement with Circular Materials. The depot is available to residential users, including residents of the M.D. of Lesser Slave River under an existing agreement.

Recyclables will be hauled to an approved receiving facility at 240 Balsam Road, operated by GFL Environmental. The closer receiving location is expected to substantially reduce hauling costs, from approximately $8,000 to $9,000 per month to an estimated $3,000 to $3,500.

The depot will also receive $4,872.33 per month in compensation under the renewed extended producer responsibility agreement. Administration estimated the total annual cost of operating the depot could fall from about $106,000 last year to roughly $77,000 under the new arrangement, although the estimate could change depending on public works staffing requirements.

The town expects to initially maintain the current pickup schedule and adjust collection frequency if increased use of the single-stream bins causes capacity issues.

Council also heard that cameras installed at the depot appear to be reducing illegal dumping and other problems. Administration said repeat offenders are being identified for possible tickets, while the cameras have also made it easier to detect damage and theft from the bottle donation area.

Main Street intersection to receive pedestrian safety upgrades

Council received an update on planned improvements to the Main Street and 67 Street NE intersection, a heavily used crossing near schools and seniors’ facilities.

A 2023 intersection study found the intersection was operating at an acceptable level of service, but identified several pedestrian safety concerns. These included long crossing distances, faded crosswalk markings, pedestrians crossing at the south leg where no formal crosswalk currently exists, and vehicles failing to make complete stops.

The town plans to install curb extensions, improve pedestrian warning signage and crosswalk markings, and establish a formal pedestrian crossing on the south side of the intersection. The town has allocated $100,000 from its road reserve for the work.

Some recommendations from the original study will not be implemented. The school-zone recommendation is outdated because the area’s school-zone configuration has since changed, while raised crossings and zebra-style crosswalk markings are also not part of the current plan.

Administration said the curb extensions are expected to take two or three days, with asphalt repairs and catch-basin adjustments taking additional time. The entire project could potentially be completed within about five days. Staff said they have been working with the contractor to complete the work before the end of August and, where possible, avoid disrupting school traffic.

The curb extensions were designed with bus movements in mind. A vehicle-sweep analysis resulted in a 12.2-metre curb radius to accommodate buses and other larger vehicles.

Regional planning grant application approved

Council also approved an application to the Alberta Community Partnership Intermunicipal Collaboration Grant.

The proposed project would update the Town of Slave Lake and M.D. of Lesser Slave River’s intermunicipal development plan and waterfront area structure plan, as well as the tri-council regional growth plan. The existing documents date from 2007, 2014 and 2015 respectively.

The project is estimated to cost between $130,000 and $150,000. If the cost reaches $150,000, the grant could provide up to $135,000, leaving a $15,000 municipal contribution that could be shared among the participating partners. Funding decisions are expected in March 2027, with work potentially beginning in fall 2027 and finishing in late 2028 or early 2029.

Council approved the Town of Slave Lake acting as managing partner and authorized administration to submit the application.

MLA provides Highway 88 update

MLA Sinclair also briefed council on provincial transportation funding and Highway 88.

Sinclair said approximately $800,000 in additional maintenance funding has been approved for the region, with work expected to include summer maintenance such as pavement patching, pothole filling and potentially line painting. Some work has already begun, with the remaining maintenance scheduled to be completed by Sept. 30.

He emphasized that the funding is separate from the larger Highway 88 reconstruction project. Sinclair said there will be no major construction on Highway 88 in 2026, although maintenance will take place.
He said the province is preparing for a community design meeting on Highway 88, with approximately 90-95 per cent of the design complete, and that he is advocating for the highway to eventually receive an “economic corridor” designation.

Sinclair also said he is working on a potential November visit to the region by the premier and confirmed that Premier Danielle Smith is scheduled to meet with regional municipal representatives in High Prairie on Aug. 26. The meeting will be closed to the public, with each municipality limited to two delegates or speakers.

Council accepted Sinclair’s update as information.

William Hetherington
Lakeside Leader