2023 PUBLIC WORKS YEAR IN REVIEW CALENDAR RM of Ste. Anne 2024 Council Meeting Dates January 24, 6:00 pm February 14, 9:00 am February 28, 6:00 pm March 13, 9:00 am March 27, 6:00 pm April 10, 9:00 am April 24, 6:00 pm LUD of Richer Meeting Dates February 7, 7:00 pm March 6, 7:00 pm April 3, 7:00 pm
A new playground was installed in October at Thurston Park.
2023 was a busy year for the Public Works Department. In July, we hired a new employee, David, and we are very happy that he is working at the RM. We did a few drainage projects around the RM this year. A big one was to help with the congestion of large amounts of water in Giroux. This project was entirely funded through the provincial Mitigation and Preparedness Program. Additional drainage work included cleaning out ditches on PR210 in Giroux, finishing Rd. #42E between Dawson and Hwy #1E, and addressed drainage problems on Rd. #39E near Arbey Lane. We also did a lot a brush cutting and tree removal along road allowances. These areas had tree stumps and rocks removed so that the mowers
can safely operate, all with the ultimate goal of preventing snow drifts from building up across roads. During a spring where the roads were riddled with frost-boils due to the unusual weather, paving and patching work was required in various locations throughout the RM and Richer. Additional road projects included the paving of the Service Road off #1 Highway in Richer, and some paving work in front of the Richer Fire Department. Work was completed at the Giroux Heritage Park and skating rink, including new lights and fence upgrades. Thurston Park had a new playground installed in October, and lines were painted so that the basketball court can now be used for pickleball. As part of our Green Initiatives, cold weather plug-ins were also added to
the Park-and-Ride lot next to the Municipal Office, making it a safe all year round option for commuters. A couple of pieces of equipment were purchased to help us continue to provide our own services. A brush-head was purchased to cut the shrubs along roadways. A new mulcher, which helps the grader mulch up the grass and sod that is growing on the edges of the road, was acquired to replace an aging unit. We also purchased a small compact tractor to help with grass cutting in Richer and to do the sidewalk snowblowing in the winter. The Public Works team looks forward to a variety of projects being considered for 2024. Should you have any questions or public works related concerns, please contact the Administration office at 204-422-5929.
Meetings of the RM of Ste. Anne and Local Urban District of Richer are open to the public. Council meetings are held in the Council Chambers of the RM Office at 395 Traverse Road and continue to be recorded and livestreamed via www.rmofsteanne.com. LUD of Richer Committee Meetings are now held at the Richer Young at Hearts Club at 22 Dawson Rd. Committee of the Whole Meeting Dates* February 20, 9:00 am March 19, 9:00 am April 16, 9:00 am *may be subject to change, check website for updates LUD of Richer Garbage Pickup Day - Fridays Electronic Recycle Day First Tuesday of every month
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
YOUR VOICE HEARD: INTRODUCTION OF NEW ZONING BY-LAW NO. 2023-13 Thanks to your valuable contributions and insights, the Council successfully enacted the Zoning By-law, and it is now officially in effect. This new by-law reflects the collective efforts of our community to create a zoning framework that aligns with our shared vision for the RM of Ste. Anne.
CHECK IT OUT! The 113-page PDF download is located under the “Resources” menu tab, on the Bylaws and Policies page and is titled “Zoning By-Law” in the By-laws list
Explore the New Zoning By-law on our Municipal Website: You can access the full text of the Zoning By-law 2023-13 on the RM website at www.rmofsteanne.com. We encourage you to explore the document, familiarize yourself with its contents, and see how your valuable input has shaped our community’s zoning regulations. Continued Collaboration – Building a Better Future Together: This achievement signifies the strength of our collaborative community spirit. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the Public Hearings and contributed to this positive change. As we move forward, your ongoing support and engagement remain crucial. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for being an integral part of the RM of Ste. Anne’s journey toward a vibrant and wellplanned future.
YOUR GUIDE TO PROPERTY SUBDIVISION: A STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
Navigating the process of property subdivision can raise numerous questions for residents and developers alike. We understand the importance of providing clear guidance, especially for those with active subdivision inquiries. To address this, the RM of Ste Anne has crafted a comprehensive document to lead you through each step of a successful application.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS: Step-by-Step Guidance: Our document is designed to provide you with a detailed, step-by-step guide to streamline your subdivision application process. Easy Access: For your convenience, this resource is readily available on our official website at www.rmofsteanne.com.
Your Success, Our Priority: We trust that this document will help residents looking to develop their land, and developers who have chosen our vibrant RM for their projects. Feel free to explore the guide at your own pace, and may it serve as a valuable companion on your journey to successful property development.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
Over the past few years, we’ve noticed a growing interest in secondary suites, garden suites, and coach houses from our community members. Understanding your needs, we’re thrilled to share that our latest zoning by-law opens doors to the possibility of having a secondary suite on your property in certain zones. What’s New? Now, you have the opportunity to add a secondary suite, whether attached or detached, to your property. It’s important to note that only one secondary suite is allowed per property, with the required permits. KEY REGULATIONS: Here’s a summary of the regulations to guide you through the process: Number of Suites: Only one secondary suite is allowed on a single zoning site. Design Guidelines for Detached Suites: The exterior of a detached secondary suite should use similar building materials and colors as the main building. Regulations for Secondary Suites within or Attached to a Principal Dwelling: The main dwelling should be an existing permanent structure.
Types of Secondary Suites
UNLOCKING POSSIBILITIES: SECONDARY SUITES IN RM OF STE. ANNE
The maximum floor area should not exceed 40% of the total habitable floor space of the main dwelling or 80 m² (861.1 ft²), whichever is less. Regulations for Detached Secondary Suites (Coach House & Garden Suites): The floor area should not exceed that of the main dwelling. Maximum building height is specified for above-grade Coach Houses and at-grade Garden Suites or Coach Houses. Specific setbacks and projections
are set for properties backing onto certain areas. Parking: A minimum of one on-site parking space per unit is required. Access: A secondary suite should have access to the road through an existing driveway. Mobile Homes: If a mobile home is used as a secondary suite, it must adhere to the Manitoba Building Code. For more detailed information,
please visit our Zoning By-law on the RM website. To determine the possibility of having a secondary suite in your property zone and to understand the process and necessary permissions, please refer to the Zoning By-law or reach out to the RM by giving us a call, or emailing our Development Officer, Hadiseh Bajelan, at development@rmofsteanne.com. We’re thrilled about the possibilities this brings to our community and are here to support you every step of the way.
ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE “HEALTHY CITIES” PROJECT In reflection of our shared commitment to community well-being, we want to express our gratitude for your active participation in the “Healthy Cities” project. This initiative focused on studying and understanding ticks, aiming to find the most effective ways to protect our
area and educate residents about tick-borne illnesses. A Step Towards a Healthier Future: Your involvement in this project marked a pivotal step in the variant process. The RM of Ste Anne takes pride in your dedication to creating not only a better community
but also contributing to a healthier world. Your Continued Support: For ongoing support, we encourage you to participate further. Whenever you come across a tick in your surroundings, whether in your backyard or during outdoor activities, snap a
picture and upload it to www.etick.ca. Your contributions aid researchers in gaining a better understanding of tick varieties in specific areas and their prevalence. Thank you for your active participation and commitment to building a healthier, safer community.
RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF STE. ANNE FIRE DEPARTMENTS – 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW The Richer Fire Department had a busy year. There were 52 total calls for the RM of Ste. Anne between the Richer and Giroux departments. Emergency calls responded to by the Richer Fire Department included 16 Motor Vehicle Accidents, 12 Fire Related, 2 for Mutual Aid, 3 calls to assist other agencies, and 6 false alarms. The Giroux Fire department had 13 calls. In addition to welcoming 3 new members, there were also several members who completed milestone years of service. The RM would like to congratulate Ryan Ostrowski, Leo Stockburn, Kris Carriere and Troy Barkman, who have all been with the department for 5 years. Further congratulations also go out to Chris Wilkins for 10 years of service, and Kurt Orbanski who has
been with the department for 25 years. Thank you all for all years of service and helping to protect our community. When the department is not rushing to calls, the members have the pleasure of helping to educate our community. This year Richer Fire Department hosted 2 fire hall tours for the Richer School and Daycare. Additionally, the team put out various Facebook posts throughout the year to educate and remind the public about various fire-related topics such as cooking safety, the importance of remembering to check your smoke detectors, and remembering to keep Christmas trees watered. The Department participated in a lot of training to learn new skills which help provide aid in our community. 13 members took part in
Narcan training, multiple members participated in Stars Landing Zone refresher training, 3 members did a 20-hour fire ground management course, 3 members completed an Emergency Services Instructor course, and 11 members completed a traffic control seminar. 2 members from Richer and 1 member from Giroux are also in the middle of taking their level one firefighting training and are expected to complete this training in May 2024. The Richer Fire Department was pleased to be able to assist with some local events in the Richer area. The Department contributed to dust control at the Rodeo arena during the annual Richer Rough-stock Rodeo. Department Members also had fun setting up an obstacle course for the children attending the Richer
Canada Day celebration. Recently, the Richer Fire Department helped the Richer Community Club by flooding one of the ice rinks at the park to help make it ready for the Christmas in The Park event. At the event, the Richer Fire Department had the pleasure of guiding Santa safely in and out of the park. This year the Richer Fire Department was also represented at the World Police and Fire Games. Two members participated in fishing events and one member volunteered at multiple events during the weeklong games held in Winnipeg and surrounding areas. Three members from the department also participated in a friendly competition with other fire departments at the Kleefeld Honey Festival this summer.
The RM would like to congratulate Ryan Ostrowski, Leo Stockburn, Kris Carriere and Troy Barkman, who have all been with the department for 5 years. Further congratulations also go out to Chris Wilkins for 10 years of service, and Kurt Orbanski who has been with the department for 25 years. Thank you all for all years of service and helping to protect our community.
CHANGES TO FIRE PROTECTIVE SERVICES Over the years, the residents of the RM of Ste. Anne have seen fire departments from Richer, Ste. Anne, La Broquerie and Steinbach respond in designated areas of the Municipality. Given the recent growth and development in the RM of Ste. Anne and also in the greater region, including new and relocated Fire Halls, and with new equipment available to the responding departments, the question arose of whether the current protection arrangements were still optimal. In early 2023, the RM of Ste Anne was awarded a grant through the provincial Municipal Service Delivery Improvement Program that allowed the Municipality to engage in a review of our Fire Protection Services. The purpose of this review was to
ensure that the best possible service was being provided to those who lived in the Municipality by looking at factors such as response times, hall capacity, and the inter-municipal service agreements in place. One of the recommendations that came from this review was to re-evaluate and consider adjusting the protective services agreements and coverage areas in the municipality, given the recent changes in the available resources. As a result, Council and administration entered into discussions with our neighbouring municipalities, who have since agreed to assist us in enhancing our fire protection services. As of January 1, 2024, there have been some changes related to fire services coverage areas within the RM.
Please see the map below, which is also available on the RM website. As shown on the fire coverage map: - Areas previously serviced by the Steinbach Fire Department adjacent to or south of the PR 311, will now be covered by the La Broquerie Fire Department. - Properties north of the PR 311 previously serviced by the Steinbach Fire Department are now covered by the Hanover Fire Department’s Blumenort Hall. - All other properties are covered by the same departments as in years past. These changes either maintain or improve response times, and ensure that all who live in the RM of Ste. Anne have optimal fire protection services. With these changes, the RM of
Ste. Anne will no longer rely on the city of Steinbach’s Fire Department for assistance, except in exceptional circumstances. Council would like to thank the members of the fire department as well as City Council and Administration for the many years of dedicated service, bringing a wealth of experience and care and compassion while serving our community during emergencies. Council would also like to welcome the Hanover fire department, and thank the Town of Ste. Anne Fire Department, the La Broquerie Fire Department, the Richer Fire Department and the Giroux Fire Department for their commitment to fire safety in the Municipality of Ste. Anne If you have any questions or concerns, or would like more information, please contact the RM office.
FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION Richer Fire Department 204-422-5966: Fire Chief Chris Wilkins richerchief@rmofsteanne.com
Town of Ste. Anne Fire Department 204-422-8882: Fire Chief Robert Saindon firechief@steanne.ca
Hanover Fire Department Fire Chief Paul Wiebe 204-346-7130
RM of La Broquerie Fire Department 204-326-0107 Fire Chief Alain Nadeau - firechief@rmlabroquerie.ca Rheal Gagnon - fireadmin@rmlabroquerie.ca
LOCAL URBAN DISTRICT OF RICHER COMMITTEE’S LOSS IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S GAIN In summer 2023, a pipe burst in the Local Urban District Hall. As this building used to be the Richer Fire Hall, the pipe in question was located in the ceiling of the hall building. Given the location of the burst pipe, and the timing of the incident occurring when the building was not actively in use, the damages were significant. With much consideration having been given to the long-term needs of the community, as well as to the LUD’s Finances, the LUD of Richer Committee, with the support of Council and the Richer Fire Department, have chosen to surrender the building’s use back to the Municipality to serve once again as a Fire Department garage. With this decision having been made, the LUD of Richer Committee would like to thank the Richer Young at Heart Club for allowing us to call their facility home on the 1st Wednesday of each month for our regular meetings to be held. This venue boasts many advantages, such as being accessibility friendly, equipped with wi-fi internet, and is much larger allowing us to welcome all members of the public who wish to attend these meetings to view the Committee’s proceedings. Council’s decision to convert the building at 136 Dawson Road into storage space will also enable the Fire Department to be better organized and respond more efficiently to emergency calls for services. This will also allow more space in the main building for training purposes, and facilitate the general operations of the hall and vehicles of the department, leading to being able to better serve the residents of the Richer area.
WHAT DO I DO WITH MY RECYCLING?
The RM of Ste. Anne encourages everyone to recycle! Household recyclables can be dropped off in the GREEN Emterra bins at the following public locations across the municipality for your convenience: • #35042 PR 210 (Municipal Public Works Shop) • Intersection of Roads #39E & #45N (Paradise Village/La Coulee Mail Boxes) • PR 302 @ HWY #1E (Richer Husky Parking Lot) • #39011 Road #39E (Giroux Fire Hall Parking Lot) If bagging your recyclables, please use only clear or blue bags. Please also flatten/break down boxes before putting them in these bins. For a list of items that can be recycled, please visit our website. The Municipality also has an ongoing Commercial Recycling Pilot Program where the Municipality subsidizes a portion of the cost to have onsite recycling collection services. Please see our website for the policy. Please contact cao@rmofsteanne.com for more information on this program.
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP EVENT The RM of Ste. Anne is looking to host the 4th annual Community Clean Up Event. In years past, community members have registered with our office to clean a section of municipal roadways after the spring snow melt. This registration entitles participants to join us afterwards for a community barbeque and a chance to win some great prizes. We love our Municipality and take pride in keeping it clean and welcoming for those living and visiting here. Help us out by joining our efforts! Keep your eyes open for the ads in this spring.
SAFETY AND WINTER SPORTS
Just a friendly reminder from the RM Council and staff to play safe when it comes to winter sports and snowmobiling/ATV riding! Watch weather conditions, and be sure you’re aware of traffic in the area to keep yourself and others safe. Please also remember that winter sports and activities should be kept to your personal or public areas, unless you have the permission of the private landowner to snowmobile/ATV ride on the land. Let’s all be respectful of one another while enjoying time outdoors this winter! RCMP remind operators of off-road vehicle laws and safety: Every year, RCMP respond to numerous calls about snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles. Here are the laws that apply to anyone operating an off-road vehicle. When operating an off-road vehicle on public land (ditches, Crown Land, roads, groomed snowmobile trails, etc.) the following laws apply: • The ORV must be registered; • Must be at least 14 years of age to operate an ORV without supervision; • 12-13 year olds must only operate an ORV under the direct supervision (within direct sight) of a parent; • Must be at least 16 years of age and possess a valid driver’s licence in order to operate across a roadway or shoulder; • Must not operate an ORV with more passengers than the ORV is designed to carry; Everyone riding an ORV must wear an approved helmet, unless: • The ORV is equipped with occupant roll-over protection and seat belts, and the seat belts are being used, or • The ORV is being used for farming, commercial fishing, hunting or trapping operations; • Must not operate on roadway or shoulder (see Section 34 of the Off-Road Vehicle Act for exceptions for agricultural purposes) • May only cross a roadway or shoulder at an intersection or designated ORV crossing such as a snowmobile trail crossing, and must hold a valid driver’s licence (see Section 35 of the Off-Road Vehicle Act); • Must not carry open liquor or cannabis; • Must operate the ORV in a safe and prudent manner; • Must have headlights and tail lights on from 30 minutes prior to sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise. When operating on private land (yards, farm land, pasture land, etc.): • Ensure you have permission of the land owner; • While some provincial laws such as the Off-Road Vehicle Act do not apply to private property, the Criminal Code of Canada does. Therefore, operating an ORV while impaired or with a blood alcohol concentration or blood drug concentration over the legal limit is a criminal offence, as is operating an ORV in a dangerous manner.
SNOW CLEARING IN THE RM OF STE. ANNE Did you know? There are 7 different authorities having jurisdiction over the maintenance of roads within the RM of Ste. Anne. Along with our own Operations Department, the Province of Manitoba’s Infrastructure department maintains all provincial highways. We also share roads with 5 other Municipalities and we divide the maintenance of those roads equally between neighbouring municipalities. The map below shows all the roads maintained by others. Roads with no colour are maintained by our Municipality.
Clearing of roads within the Municipality The RM of Ste. Anne maintains 200 miles of roads, including 12 miles of paved roads, and the LUD of Richer. The RM has 2 graders, one that plows the roads south of Municipal Road #42N, and the other grader plows the roads North of Municipal Road #42N. The grader clearing the north section will start at the west side of the municipality on the first snowfall clean up, and then on the east side on the second snowfall. The grader clearing the south section will start
on the east side on the first snowfall clean up, and then on the west on the second snowfall clean up. Our goal is
to get all the roads cleared and open within 2 days, however with heavier snowfalls it could take longer.
OBSTRUCTION OF MUNICIPAL LAND BY-LAW REMINDER
Pushing Snow on Roadways: This is a friendly reminder that pushing snow across public roads is not allowed in the RM of Ste. Anne as it creates hazards to motorists and municipal equipment. Please go to the rmofsteanne.com website to view the Obstruction of Municipal Land By-Law #2023-17 (the pdf download is located under the “Resources” menu tab, Bylaws and Policies page and titled “Obstruction of Municipal Land” in the By-laws list).
2024 BUDGET Council and Administration are working hard on the 2024 budget, with a focus on keeping taxes consistent while still offering the same quantity and quality of services and programs. If you’d like to know where your tax dollars go, come and join us this Spring 2024 for our Financial Plan Presentation. We will post notices on our website and Facebook page, and the full draft documents will also be made available ahead of time for your review. You are invited to ask our staff questions in advance, or to join us during this Public Hearing to pose your questions to Council.
FARMLAND SCHOOL TAX REBATE DEADLINE The Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation requires all 2023 Farmland School Tax Rebate applications be completed, signed and returned to their Steinbach Office by March 31, 2024. All property taxes must be paid in full in order to be eligible for this farmland rebate. If you need a copy of your receipt emailed to you, please email your request to general@rmofsteanne.com. This rebate covers up to 50% of the school taxes owing, that being less than in previous years due to the increasing amounts of the Education Property Tax Rebate cheques that were mailed out by the Province of Manitoba in October 2023. Visit www.masc.mb.ca for more information on this program.
2024 GRANT APPLICATIONS
This is a reminder that the Grant Application deadline of February 29th, 2024 is approaching. DID YOU KNOW? The RM of Ste. Anne and LUD of Richer provide annual grants to various individuals and organizations in and around the Ste. Anne area? By funding these organizations, it allows our taxpayers access to these amenities, services, and funding opportunities. Here are some grants we’ve given over the years: • Town of Ste. Anne Library - $15,000 - provides RM residents with a free annual membership • Jake Epp Library Membership - Annual $60 rebate to residents towards their membership dues • Swimming lesson rebate - $35/child, per level, per year (up to 14 years old) • STARS • Enfant Jesus Heritage Site (Dawson Trail Museum) • Bursaries to graduating students from the RM of Ste. Anne • Accueil Kateri Centre Food Bank • Richer Community Club & Richer Recreation Committee • Dawson Trail Arts & Heritage Tour • Ste. Anne Curling Club • Seine River Services for Seniors • Greenland Private School • Kidsport • Mennonite Heritage Village • Navy League of Canada • Southeast Manitoba Ducks Unlimited • Operation Red Nose • Comite Culturel • Richer Daycare Centre • St. Labre 200 • Children of the Universe Daycare • Agriculture in the Community • And more… The Grant Policy and Application forms can be found on the RM website under the Resources Tab in By-laws and Policies. To find out more information on how to apply for a community grant or a swimming/library rebate, please contact accounts@rmofsteanne.com or 204 422 5929.
I NEVER GOT MY TAX BILL/RECEIPT! Unfortunately, it happens all too often that tax bills or receipts don’t get to their intended recipients. This can lead to unpaid taxes resulting in penalties, and even tax sales if the problem goes unresolved for too long. To avoid this issue, please ensure our office has your correct contact information. Mailing addresses, phone numbers and emails are very helpful for our office staff to be able to contact you should we get returned mail in your name. By providing us with your email address, we can automatically email your tax receipt whenever payments are received. If you would like a copy of your Tax Statements and/or receipt, please email us at general@rmofsteanne.com and we will gladly send you an electronic copy at no charge. The Premier Tech Multiplex in Richer offers recreational opportunities year round.
RM OF STE ANNE MUNICIPAL OFFICE: 395 Traverse Road (Physical address) Box 6, Grp 50, RR 1 (Mailing address), Ste. Anne, MB R5H 1R1 Telephone: (204) 422-5929 Fax: (204) 422-9723 general@rmofsteanne.com | www.rmofsteanne.com Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Closed on Holidays For specific inquiries, the following Administrative Staff may be contacted: Chief Administrative Officer - Mike McLennan cao@rmofsteanne.com Legislative Officer - Nadine Vielfaure legislative@rmofsteanne.com Operations Manager - Kevin Medeiros pw@rmofsteanne.com Finance Officer - Tiana Bohemier finance@rmofsteanne.com Finance Administrative Assistant - Colleen Maurice accounts@rmofsteanne.com Development Officer - Hadiseh Bajelan development@rmofsteanne.com Planning Assistant - Colette Martens planning@rmofsteanne.com Administrative Assistant - Julia Levesque reception@rmofsteanne.com Receptionist – Ashley Poiron general@rmofsteanne.com Municipal Emergency Coordinator - Chrissy Bohemier mec@rmofsteanne.com RM OF STE. ANNE COUNCIL Reeve: Richard Pelletier - 204-371-7756 reevepelletier@rmofsteanne.com Councillors: Ward 1 - Sarah Normandeau ward1sarah@outlook.com / 204-392-6900 Ward 2 - Kyle Waczko councillorwaczko@rmofsteanne.com / 204-510-4968 Ward 3 & LUD Council Rep – Patrick Stolwyk councillorstolwyk@rmofsteanne.com / 204-223-2570 Ward 4 - Brad Ingles ward4rmsteannebrad.i@gmail.com / 204-793-0671 Ward 5 - Robert Sarrasin robert.rm.steanne@gmail.com / 204-791-7735 Ward 6 - Randy Eros - reros@mts.net / 204-371-2959 LUD COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Chair John Lenton - 204-422-8496 / 204-371-1674 Norm Bremaud - 204-371-9282 normbremaud8@gmail.com Jessica Ostrowski - 204-355-8245 / jostrowski@live.com RCMP: Steinbach Detachment - 204-326-4452 During an emergency, dial 911 / 204-326-1234 RAMS Animal Control Officer: 204-223-5521 RICHER FIRE DEPARTMENT: For questions on burn bans or burn permits - Richer Fire Chief Chris Wilkins richerchief@rmofsteanne.com / 204-422-5966
MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY COORDINATION UPDATE Valued Residents of the RM of Ste Anne, Happy New Year to all of you! The holiday season is coming to a close and it was a beautiful and mild one. While we’ve seen beautiful mild temperatures and very little snow so far, we cannot let that fool us into thinking that the weather won’t change to bring us the typical winter storms that we usually see. This is when we need to make sure that we are prepared in the event of a blizzard or ice storm that can affect us all and our community. As your Municipal Emergency Coordinator, I want to ensure that you have access to tools that can keep you and your family safe in an emergency. We have two great resources available to provide you with important information during an emergency event: The RM of Ste Anne Connect Alert system: Are you registered for Connect? Once you register, the alert system allows you to stay up to date with all the latest news and upcoming events for the RM. It also includes emergency alert messaging from Canada’s national emergency alerting system (Alert Ready), and severe weather alerts for the Ste. Anne Municipality. You can choose what type of information you want to receive as well as how you receive it (email/text etc.) Please go to the RM website at www.rmofsteanne.com and register to get the most current information (the link can be found on the home page). The Family 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Guide: There is also a link on the website to the Family 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Guide. You can access this guide through the Resources Link at the top of the web page and then select Emergency Services. This guide will help you and your family plan for an emergency. There is information to help you create a 72hour kit for your family. The items listed can help keep you safe and comfortable during a power outage, blizzard, or any other emergency that might happen. Remember the more prepared you are as a family the less stressful an emergency event will be to deal with. If you do not have access to a printer or the website, hard copies of the Emergency Preparedness Guide will soon be available at the Municipal Office. WE’RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS! We are still looking for volunteers to join our Emergency Response Group. These volunteers are who the RM would call on if there were to ever be a disaster that required us to evacuate residents or open up an Emergency Reception Center for any reason.
There are various volunteer positions to be filled, and we will match those to people with interest and/or skills where possible. We are currently looking for volunteers to work in either the Reception Centre or the Emergency Operations Centre doing some of the following types of tasks: Administrative tasks, registration, Pet Registration and care, food services, providing information to residents, handing out supplies, parking, security, transportation, and so much more. There are many roles to fill in an emergency which requires help as many of you in the community as we can get. We provide quarterly training sessions, and mock emergency exercises, to help prepare our teams in case they are ever needed. To assist with recruitment, we will be hosting drop in sessions for those who would like more information or have questions about the roles. Please come see us on any of the following dates, or you can fill out a volunteer application on the RM website at anytime. Volunteer Drop In Sessions - All to be held at the Emergency Operations Center, located in the Public Works building at 383 Traverse Road (behind the Administrative Offices): Thursday January 25th from 5pm-7pm Saturday January 27th from 1pm-3pm Saturday February 10th from 10am-12pm Sunday February 11th from 2pm-4pm You can always reach out to me at mec@rmofsteanne.com should you have any questions. Regards, Chrissy Bohemier Municipal Emergency Coordinator