Peace River Town Council covered a wide range of topics during its most recent meeting on Monday, January 12, including emergency services funding, staffing levels, community programs, policy updates, and its policing study.
Council heard from Glenda Farnden, Senior Municipal Relations Liaison with STARS Air Ambulance, who presented mission statistics for the Peace Region and asked Council to consider increasing the Town’s contribution from 75 cents per resident to $2 per resident through a graduated approach over the next council term. Council will consider the request at a future meeting.
Council accepted a briefing note addressing public discussion around staffing levels, confirming the Town’s overall staffing increased by just 2.8 full-time equivalent positions over the previous term, which takes into account the opening of the Baytex Energy Centre and the return of the Community Peace Officer program.
Health and safety was also highlighted as Council accepted the Town’s 2025 Certificate of Recognition (COR) audit results. The Town passed the audit with an overall score of 84 per cent and is expected to receive a Workers’ Compensation and Benefits premium refund of $28,837, which will be reinvested into health and safety initiatives.
Council accepted, for information, a briefing note on the Navigation Centre Pop-Up, a collaborative initiative offering supports related to mental health, addictions, housing, domestic violence, and food security. The Centre Pop-Up will operate January 22, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sagitawa Friendship Society gymnasium, downtown.
Several policies were referred back to administration for further discussion, including the Offsite Levy Policy, Snow Dump Policy, Council Social Media Use guideline, and Council Remuneration, Travel and Expense Policy. Council also directed administration to contact the Peace Regional Mental Health Task Force with concerns regarding committee structure.
Council adopted an amended Business Grants Program Policy clarifying eligibility requirements, and approved a 4% increase to Northern Sunrise County’s ICF funding contribution for 2026.
Council also adopted the Municipal Policing Model Study completed by BLU Alliance. The study reviewed crime trends, policing costs, and service coverage, and looked at options to improve public safety. It showed crime has increased since 2021, with mischief, property crime, and mental-health-related calls among the most common. Recommendations from the study included for the Town to bolster its Community Peace Officer program and actively petition the provincial government and RCMP for enhanced Community Peace Officer authorities, which could offload non-urgent calls from the RCMP.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
