Suzanne Oel – Division 4
Greetings! Sharing my News Update…
Wildlife Co-existence Workshop: Join us on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 7 pm, at the Priddis Community Hall. Foothills County and Alberta Environment departments are collaborating to provide presenters and are teaming up with local community groups to host this Wildlife Coexistence Workshop. We are planning to include these topics: introduction to our Agricultural Services Department, wildlife species awareness, conflict-reduction strategies, carnivores, managing the local Elk situation, recognizing invasive species, and Q&A with presenters. Refreshments will be provided.
Chainsaw and Tree Safety Workshop: Join us on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 7 pm, at the Priddis Community Hall. Foothills County has connected us with an accredited instructor so we can learn some safety tips on dealing with our west country treed properties. This event will be a collaboration of guest presenters, County departments and community groups. Whether its seasonal clean-up, clearing a treed area, pushing back the tree growth to FireSmart around buildings, or responding to the dead-fall of a windstorm, tree management is required every year. Topics to include: awareness about safe chainsaw use, understanding tree dynamics, how to approach a clean-up, where to take accredited chainsaw training, and Q&A with presenters. The focus of our meeting will be educational presentations and discussions with residents, along with introductions to our Agricultural Services Department and some local area tree-services contractors. (Tools will not be used by residents.)
Wildfire Reporting: You could be the FIRST to see a FIRE! If you see an active fire flame, and you are concerned that the fire has not been reported, please call it in to 9-1-1 and report it to 310-FIRE (3473) if it appears to be coming from Kananaskis. 9-1-1 dispatches our local fire departments. Reporting the fire to 310-FIRE gets Alberta Forestry involved. They are responsible for wildland fire response in neighbouring Kananaskis and coordinate response along the Foothills County/ Kananaskis boundary with Foothills Fire Department and our partners.
Be Prepared for Wildfire: Consider planning for yourself, your family, animals and property. Wildfire risk could be affected by a number of elements present in our area, including damage from forest insect pests, tree age, variety of trees, lack of recent fires, proximity to provincial forestry areas, potential dry conditions, and more site-specific situations. Learn more here: https://firesmartalberta.ca/ & https://firesmartcanada.ca/
Alberta Wildfire Stats from 2024: 1,184 wildfires. Causes: 557 lighting, 131 resident, 125 recreation, 84 intentionally lit, 79 power lines, 60 agriculture. Find the report here: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/alberta-wildfire-season-statistics
How to get a WILDFIRE ALERT on your cell phone: The “Alberta Emergency Alert App” is the primary alert App for all types of emergencies. You can subscribe to notices from “Foothills”, “Kananaskis”, “Tsuut’ina Nation” locations (and anywhere else you choose). Find the App here: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx
Check out Wildfire Apps & Online Maps: Stay informed about wildfires in Alberta and B.C. through their Apps or online maps via your computer. Find the latest apps, here:
AB Wildfire Map online: www.alberta.ca/wildfire-status
BC Wildfire Map online: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map
Stay Informed: Find “Calgary Forest Area” updates, including Kananaskis: www.alberta.ca/wildfire-update-calgary-forest-area
Find road conditions: https://511.alberta.ca/
Find out where the smoke is: https://firesmoke.ca/
Find Fire Ban status: www.albertafirebans.ca/
Be Prepared: www.alberta.ca/wildfire-preparedness.aspx www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness.html
Burn Permits are required: in Foothills County and the Forestry Protection Area of Alberta, except for campfires within approved pits. Foothills County: www.foothillscountyab.ca/emergency-services/foothills-fire/online-burn-fireworks-permit-application
Alberta Forestry: www.alberta.ca/get-a-fire-permit
February 27 West Foothills + Hwy 762- area Residents Meeting: Thank you to all who participated in the Foothills County meeting about fire and water services! The County looks forward to on-going communications.
High Country Rural Crime Watch – meeting recap: Thank you to all who attended the AGM on March 13! RCMP Staff Sgt. Racette and Foothills Enforcement Services Manager Beaudette provided updates on local policing services and invited discussion with residents on topics of interest, including: increased ticketing, crime reduction, targeting offenders, police-community relations, police visibility, school zone and bus safety, traffic safety, speeding, recording speed data, body-worn cameras, impaired driving consequences, cyclist & motorist “share the road” education, Rural Foothills Policing Committee, and joint forces operations. 24/7 RCMP Complaints Line: 403.933.4262. Foothills County Complaints Line: 403.603.6300.
For Other News & Updates:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CouncillorSuzanneOel/
Email: Suzanne.Oel@FoothillsCountyAB.ca
Visit High Country News online for my previous articles.
With Best Regards,
Suzanne
