Lacombe County 2025 Year in Review

Planning for the 2025 Municipal Election kicked off in January and was a big focus throughout 2025. Long-time Councillor (and Reeve from 2021-2025) Barb Shepherd, announced she would not be running for another term.

We held elections in five of our seven divisions, with a number of residents putting their names forward to run for municipal government. Elections were not required in Divisions 2 and 7 as Councillors Brenda Knight (Division 2) and Dana Kreil (Division 7) were acclaimed.

On October 21, voters throughout Alberta went to the polls to cast their votes in the municipal elections. In Lacombe County, a total of 1,529 voters out of 5,660 eligible voters in the respective divisions cast ballots in this election.

After all the votes were counted, we welcomed two new Councillors - Mark Visscher (Division 3) and Roger Van Haren (Division 5) and congratulated returning Councillors John Ireland (Division 1), Dwayne West (Division 4), and Allan Wilson (Division 6). At the Organizational Meeting, Council appointed John Ireland as Reeve and Dwayne West as Deputy Reeve.

Development stayed strong throughout 2025, with steady activity and some exciting milestones. Between January and November, 35 subdivision applications and 170 development permits were approved, representing $84,525,475 in construction value – a clear sign of confidence in Lacombe County.

Dairy Innovation West. One of the year’s biggest highlights was the completion and commissioning of the Dairy Innovation West milk concentration facility in South Aspelund Industrial Park. This first-of-its-kind facility in Canada uses ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis technologies to process raw milk directly from regional dairy farms, reducing it to a concentrated form before transporting it to producers of cheese, butter, yogurt, and other dairy products. It’s a significant innovation for the dairy sector and a win for regional producers.

Growth throughout the County. We also experienced significant commercial and industrial growth in other parts of the County, with approvals for major new or expanded facilities for companies such as Eagle Builders, LPS Cranes, Pidherney’s, Nova Chemicals, and others. Residential development continued, with the second phase of two developments on Sylvan Lake (Eagles Quay and The Slopes) moving forward. This totals 14 additional lakeshore residential lots available for development in Lacombe County.

Collaborating with our urban neighbours. The Town of Bentley’s annexation of 103 hectares southeast of Bentley took effect January 1, 2025, following provincial approval – a change that sets the stage for future growth. The County also applied for an Alberta Community Partnership grant to create the Lacombe Lake Management Plan in collaboration with the Town of Blackfalds and City of Lacombe.

Policies for a strong future. On the policy side, bylaws for livestock, backyard chickens, and bees in residential districts were refreshed after community-wide engagement - balancing responsible animal management with neighbourhood compatibility. Background work also began on updating the Hamlet of Mirror Area Structure Plan, and the South Sylvan Lake Area Off-Site Levy Bylaw, which will fund upgrades from gravel to paved asphalt and improve intersections south of Sylvan Lake, was also approved.

Economic Development

Building our local economy. Economic development efforts focused on building relationships and sharing resources. We strengthened Lacombe County’s investment readiness through partnerships with regional and provincial organizations, such as Invest Alberta. 

A bi-monthly business newsletter was launched to keep our business community informed, and we participated in the Central Alberta Tourism Alliance (CATA) Tourism Economic Impact Study to better understand and grow tourism opportunities.

Keeping Lacombe County moving safely and efficiently is no small task and as such 2025 was another busy year for our Operations team.

Road maintenance updates. With 2,192 km of roads under our care - 1,774 km of gravel and 418 km of paved - our crews worked hard to maintain and improve this vital network. Key highlights of the past year include:

• Overlaying 22.86 km of paved roads, including Eckville North & West, Sunbreaker Cove Road, Sandy Point Access, Range Road 1-0 & Brighton Beach, Prentiss Road, Birch Bay & Birch Meadows, and McLaurin Subdivisions and the Hamlet of Tees.
• Paving new sections on Range Road 24 (6.73 km) and Range Road 273 (0.87 km).
• Chip sealing 6.9 km of roads, including Last Hill Road, Nova North Access, and 34 Street.
• Reconstructing 14.88 km of gravel roads and completing gravelling on 551 km of roads.

These projects demonstrate our commitment to providing safe and reliable roads for residents, businesses, our farming community, and visitors.

Bridge Construction updates. We completed four bridge projects in 2025, strategically planned to align with future road upgrades:

• BF364 – Tributary to Whelp Brook (Range Road 271)
• BF1758 – Tributary to Parlby Creek (Range Road 250)
• BF6989 – Tributary to Whelp Brook (Township Road 415B)
• BF1759 – Tributary to Parlby Creek (Range Road 245)

These improvements ensure safer crossings and support long-term transportation planning.

Parks & Trails in Lacombe County. Our team also maintains 38 km of trails, ensuring they remain safe and enjoyable year-round. Regular upkeep includes playground audits, trail sweeping, brushing, mowing, painting, landscaping, and signage. Key projects in 2025 included:

• Installing updated interpretive panels along the Blackfalds - Lacombe Connector section of the Trans Canada Trail in collaboration with the Trans Canada Trail and Lacombe Research and Development Centre.
• Partnering with the Town of Bentley to construct a new outdoor soccer facility, providing in-kind support for earthworks.
• Improving the Sunbreaker Cove Boat Launch with a new dock and gangway system.

Custom equipment projects. Behind the scenes, our shop team stayed busy customizing new equipment to meet operational needs. Rig-up projects included graders, tractors, loaders, mowers, and skid steers - demonstrating their commitment to maintaining a versatile and efficient equipment fleet.

Agriculture

Special visitor for Farm Safety Day. Farm Safety Day was a highlight, as we were honoured to welcome the Honourable RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, to our annual event. More than 320 Grade 5 students from schools throughout Lacombe County (and nearly 400 participants overall) learned hands-on skills for staying safe on the farm. The energy, curiosity, and support from partners made the day unforgettable.

Learning opportunities. We continued the learning process for our residents through education extension events, including All About Trees, Agricultural Excellence, funding workshops, and predator management, as well as provided Classroom Agriculture Programming in eight elementary classrooms.

Invasive species control. Regarding invasive species, County crews completed Sea Buckthorn control on 30 acres of land in the Gull Lake watershed area.

Environment

Expanding our solar projects. The County received a $35,000 grant for solar electricity expansion at the Tees and Rainy Creek public works shops. Total production is estimated at 93,000 kWh of electricity, resulting in $5,300 annual savings per site.

Environmental initiatives for residents. Residents embraced the FoodCycler pilot project, with 100 units distributed over a 12-week monitoring period to quantify waste diversion. This was offered as part of our Resident Environmental Sustainability Program (RESP). If you missed out on the FoodCyclers last year, you’re in luck! Watch for details in early 2026.

Public engagement for future recreation. The Abma Gravel Pit transitioned from ideas to engagement: after stakeholder meetings, we hosted an open house and conducted an online survey to gather feedback, refining concept plans for Council review.

Citizen photo project. We also added Chronolog photo points at Burns Nature Park, Sandy Point, and the Trans Canada Trail boardwalk, building on earlier sites and new interpretive signage. In 2026, we will be adding three more locations to this program, thanks to TD’s Friends of the Environment grant.

Fire & Emergency Management

Call volumes remained high in 2025 across all Lacombe County Fire Service departments, underscoring the importance of collaboration and coordinated responses.

New leadership in local fire departments. In July, Lacombe County and our respective partner municipalities officially appointed Steve Zaytsoff as District Fire Chief for the Clive Fire Department and Corrie Anderson as District Fire Chief for the Alix Fire Department. Both individuals bring decades of combined experience, deep ties to the fire service, and a shared commitment to public safety, leadership, and community service.

Regional emergency response planning. Our involvement with the Lacombe County Mutual Aid Organization (LCMAO) and the Lacombe Regional Emergency Management Partnership (LREMP) remained strong. Together, we advanced regional planning, refined emergency protocols, and conducted a joint exercise in November to ensure readiness for everything from severe weather to large-scale incidents.

Community Peace Officer Services

Farm Vehicle Safety checks. We leaned into education and prevention with our Farm Vehicle Safety Checks (22 inspections) and weekend patrols through the busy season. Officers balanced coaching and compliance to keep roads, trails, and recreation areas safe.

Supporting students and schools. The School Resource Officer (SRO) program remained active - from bike safety and vaping awareness to hands-on participation in community events. Following a presentation to Council by Candice Dickson, Lead for the School Social Work and Family School Liaison Program (Wolf Creek Public Schools), we began exploring ways to better support student wellness through the SRO program.

Utilities

Mirror Servicing Study.  In Mirror, we completed comprehensive infrastructure locating and GIS mapping utilizing hydrovacs, Closed Circuit Television, and field surveys, building a clear picture of the water and sanitary systems.

Lakeview Estates Fluoride. Lakeview Estates continued its fluoride analysis with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas; the County will be exploring point-of-use Reverse Osmosis solutions and semi-annual testing under an amended approval in 2026.

Tees Reservoir & Truck Fill. The Tees Reservoir and Truck Fill Project continues to advance.  The project team is finalizing the design engineering.  Construction is scheduled for completion in October 2026.

Municipal Elections. Election preparation involved introducing voter lists and expanding advance voting, with 12 election stations staffed and strong coordination behind the scenes. Post-election wrap-up and candidate reporting kept transparency at the forefront. We collected profiles from each candidate to help residents learn more about them.

Information Technology

Golf cart permitting system. In June, Lacombe County developed an in-house, web-based solution for golf cart permitting under Alberta’s pilot program. Using Office 365 workflows, the system automates identity verification, insurance checks, and permit generation, registering 135 golf carts in its first summer. The program was deemed a success and will be refined over the pilot’s five-year span.

Assessment & Finance

Transition to paperless Assessment processes. For the 2025 assessment cycle, staff transitioned to a paperless process, collecting property inspection data in the field via iPads and uploading it directly into the County’s assessment software. This innovation eliminates unnecessary data preparation, improves efficiency, and enhances accuracy. The County is also adopting electronic communication with property owners through email and online forms for streamlined interactions.

Appointment of new financial auditors. Lacombe County appointed new financial auditors starting with the 2025 fiscal year.   Metrix Group LLP takes over for BDO LLP, which had been the County’s auditors for over a decade.  Metrix was the successful proponent through a request for proposal issued in the spring of 2025.