Please note that the Flagstaff County office and shop will be closed Tuesday, May 6 as our staff participate in important health and safety training.

We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

No matter your fitness level, you can join the annual Flagstaff Fitness Challenge by downloading the Strava app onto your smartphone and searching “Flagstaff Fitness Challenge“.

Here, participants can share their activities, cheer on others and compete on the weekly leaderboards.

All participants who log at least one workout in a week will have their name entered in a draw for that week’s weekly prize package (the challenge runs for six weeks). Please note that participants are only eligible for one weekly prize pack.

If you log at least one activity in all six weeks, your name will be entered into the grand prize draw! It’s that easy!

This year, the Flagstaff Fitness Challenge starts June 2, 2025. We urge you to rise to the challenge!

General Guidelines

• Participants do not have to live in Flagstaff County to take part in the Flagstaff Fitness Challenge.
• Winners are responsible for prize pickup at the Flagstaff County Administration Building.
• A photograph of each winner will be taken when picking up a prize.
• All participants are encouraged to cheer on your fellow fitness enthusiasts through Strava, while also sharing photos and feedback from your workouts.
• And most importantly, all participants are encouraged to have fun!  

2025 Weekly Prizes

Each week, any participant who has logged at least one activity in our group on Strava will be entered into our weekly draw! The weekly prize package includes:

💪 TBA

Note: Participants are only eligible for one weekly prize pack. Flagstaff County Communications Coordinator Cary Castagna will reach out via email (ccastagna@flagstaff.ab.ca) to each week’s winner to confirm pickup details.

• Week 6 Winner

  TBD

   

• Week 5 Winner

  TBD

• Week 4 Winner

  TBD

• Week 3 Winner

  TBD

• Week 2 Winner

  TBD

• Week 1 Winner

  TBD

2025 Grand Prize Draw

If you log at least one activity in all six weeks, your name will be entered into the grand prize draw

2025 Grand Prize

TBD.

Flagstaff County will also be giving out Flagstaff Bucks as part of the grand prize!

Grand Prize Winner

TBD.

Sponsors

The following local businesses are generously sponsoring prizes:

• BAM Fitness
• HOM of Well Being

History of the Flagstaff Fitness Challenge

The Flagstaff Bike Challenge was established in the summer of 2020 as a way to encourage the region’s residents to get outside, get active and feel connected to the area in a safe manner during the pandemic. It was designed for participants of ALL ages and abilities. The Flagstaff Bike Challenge continued in 2021 with a few minor tweaks.

In 2022, the challenge was expanded to include a variety of activities, including walking, running, hiking, swimming, weight training, yoga and much more! It was rebranded the Flagstaff Fitness Challenge. The aim of the Flagstaff Fitness Challenge is to encourage residents to move more, resulting in a healthier region!

About Strava

Nominating a child in Flagstaff for a positive ticket just got easier.

Now you can do it online HERE.

Positive tickets are issued for positive behaviour such as practicing personal safety, being a community hero and making smart choices. Our peace officer wants to be notified by teachers, coaches, friends and neighbours throughout the Flagstaff Region who have witnessed a child doing a positive or helpful deed, or performing a safe act that would be worthy of receiving a positive ticket.

You can also contact Officer Skyler Zelinski if you know of a deserving youth! Officer Skyler can be reached by phone at 780-384-4100 or via email at szelinski@flagstaff.ab.ca.

Positive tickets come with a $10 coupon that can be redeemed at participating businesses, as well as a bracelet for a free swim at the Killam Regional Aquatic Centre.

Let’s acknowledge the good that our young people are doing right here in Flagstaff!

By Nick Dunn

The agricultural community in Alberta is voicing concerns over Bill C-293, the Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness Act. While the bill is intended to bolster Canada’s ability to respond to future pandemics, producers fear it could have unintended consequences for the livestock and food production industries.

Bill C-293 was introduced as a proactive measure to enhance Canada’s response to global health crises. The legislation proposes frameworks for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response by identifying potential risks and vulnerabilities within various sectors, including agriculture. While ensuring public health is undeniably important, the bill’s broad language has raised alarms among Alberta’s farmers, ranchers, and Agricultural Service Boards. During the last Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation fall Town Hall meeting with Minister RJ. Sigurdson, boards were asked to write their Senators and voice the opinion of Albertan producers. With an increased volume of letters, these mutual concerns will have a greater impact in the Senate and ensure nothing is pushed under the rug.

While attending our annual Agricultural Service Board Conference last January, the provincial committee expressed that many Albertan municipalities have written letters to the Senators of Canada expressing the concerns of the bill’s criteria if passed. This includes a letter from Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Service Board Chairman that was sent in December 2024.

The primary concern with Bill C-293 among Alberta’s agricultural industry is the possibility of increased restrictions and hindrance on industrial animal agriculture. Although the Bill has good intentions, as it is worded today, it imposes significant risks due to broad statements such as: “regulate commercial activities that can contribute to pandemic risk, including industrial animal agriculture”; “promote commercial activities that can help reduce pandemic risk, including the production of alternative proteins” and “phase out commercial activities that disproportionately contribute to pandemic risk, including activities that involve high-risk species”. The creators of the bill have not considered what Canadian Producers currently have in place for risk management today. We have an effective biosecurity system that monitors zoonotic diseases – which can spread between animals and humans – such as the Canadian On-Farm Beef Cattle Biosecurity Standard. The bill has been brought forward from our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, a foreign disease that does not resemble how livestock is handled in Canada. Many Albertan producers will be impacted by this bill; about 40% of Alberta’s farm cash receipts are from livestock production contributing over $10 billion in 2023.

While disease prevention is crucial, many farmers worry that overly strict policies could disrupt traditional farming practices, impose unnecessary restrictions on livestock movement, and negatively impact food production. The wording in the Bill threatens Canada’s agricultural industry and increases the control the federal government has over our producers and their livelihood.

Currently the bill is at the second reading in the Senate. The most recent activity was the debate on October 22, 2024, and it has yet to be rescheduled for discussion.

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.

We asked you to complete our 2026 Business Plan Survey online or in print by February 4, 2025. Now here’s a look at what we heard.

Scroll down for survey results, or click HERE to download a PDF.

(Please keep in mind that these survey results, along with the ideas submitted to our online Brainstorm Board and all feedback from our Coffee with your Councillor event, will be evaluated by Council during the review of the Program and Services Priorities on March 24 and will be considered by Council in the development of the 2026 Business Plan and Budget.)

County and hamlet residents, there are three ways to earn an entry in our February draw for $500 in Flagstaff Bucks! In fact, it’s as easy as ABC!

A) Another Survey

Complete our 25-question, multiple-choice 2026 Business Plan Survey and you’ll earn an entry in our draw for $500 in Flagstaff Bucks! Plus, your valued input will be considered in the development of the 2026 Business Plan.

To take the survey, click HERE. Thank you for your feedback!

B) Brainstorm Board

Got an idea for a new program or service worthy of our online “Brainstorm Board” at: https://www.flagstaff.ca/ideas?

Don’t keep it to yourself! Share it at: https://www.flagstaff.ca/share-your-idea!

Each innovative submission will earn you an entry in our draw for $500 in Flagstaff Bucks!

C) Coffee with your Councillor

Be sure to stop by the Flagstaff County Administration Building between 2 and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4 for Coffee with your Councillor! Each attendee will receive an entry in our draw for $500 in Flagstaff Bucks! Tours of the shop next door will be available.

Click HERE to find out who your councillor is.

More on Flagstaff Bucks

So what are Flagstaff Bucks, anyway?

Well, the Flagstaff Bucks Program allows consumers to spend “Flagstaff Bucks” at participating small businesses in the Flagstaff Region. The program offers denominations of $25 and $50 to be spent at any participating retail location or small business in the Flagstaff Region.

The Flagstaff Bucks Program was created to keep money in our local economy. With every dollar spent locally, a story unfolds as that dollar circulates within the economy. Understanding that story and knowing what you can do as a business owner and individual consumer to keep the most of each dollar here in the Flagstaff Region can make a difference.

If you are a business owner in the Flagstaff Region who wants to participate or learn more about the Flagstaff Bucks Program, email klefsrud@flagstaff.ab.ca.

By Nick Dunn

Shelterbelts are a lot like border protection – they provide security and stability, standing as a barrier against the elements while supporting everything within. Just like borders help safeguard a region, shelterbelts shield farmland, livestock, and ecosystems, offering a wide range of benefits.

Winter may be here, but it’s never too early to start thinking about planting trees for spring. Flagstaff County is once again accepting applications for our Shelterbelt Establishment Program, an initiative that makes planting trees more affordable by covering half the cost for rural residents. Applications are open until the end of January, so there’s still time to plan your shelterbelt project. By purchasing trees in bulk, the county can secure discounted rates for the tree order.

Flagstaff County also offers rental equipment including tree planters and a plastic mulch applicator for weed control, making the process even easier. The county recognizes how valuable trees are for the prairie landscape, offering countless benefits that go beyond aesthetics.

So, what makes planting shelterbelts and windbreaks so worthwhile? The benefits are as diverse as they are practical. For farmers, shelterbelts can boost crop yields by capturing snow in the winter and reducing evapotranspiration losses. In a dry year, that added moisture can make a world of difference. They also create a more stable microclimate, reducing wind speeds across fields and helping crops like winter wheat, barley, rye, and hay stand tall, even in strong winds. And when it comes to spraying, shelterbelts help limit spray drift, keeping inputs right where they’re needed.

Livestock can also benefit from shelterbelts by providing shade from the heat and protection from biting winds, improving cattle health and productivity. They also cut down on dust, noise, and odors, reducing respiratory issues in animals. And let’s not forget the original reason for shelterbelt planting: preventing wind erosion, which remains an issue in many areas.

On the biodiversity front, shelterbelts provide habitat for pollinators, boosting oilseed yields. They also attract birds and beneficial insects, which can help keep pest populations in check.

But for all their benefits, we’ve seen shelterbelts disappearing over the years and ageing. Thankfully, many in our county are still committed to planting and preserving them. Alberta tree expert Toso Bozic recommends planting a diverse mix of tree species in shelterbelts to avoid the risks posed by disease or pests wiping out an entire row. Mixing species can serve as a natural barrier, making it harder for pests or diseases to spread.

If you’re ready to plant trees and reap these incredible benefits, don’t forget to submit your application by January 31, 2025. This program is open to rural residents of the county, and you can apply HERE, or visit the County office to fill out an order in person.

Take advantage of this great program, plant some trees, and give back to the land!

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.

By Nick Dunn

For years, farmers faced a tough question: how to handle agricultural plastic waste. Often, the solution was to bury it, burn it with other farm waste, or stash it away in a shed. But with growing awareness around environmental stewardship, recycling initiatives have become a key priority. Thanks to Cleanfarms’ Bring ’em All Back program that was launched in 2022, farmers have a streamlined way to recycle their agricultural plastics efficiently and responsibly. We are now closing on the Bring ’em All Back pilot project with Flagstaff transitioning to retail jug collection in 2023 and all municipalities to be completed by December 31, 2024.

Cleanfarms, a national non-profit organization, is dedicated to helping Canadian farmers manage their plastic waste sustainably. Their work is tailored to each province, meeting unique recycling needs and addressing logistical challenges across Canada. Partnering with local governments, agricultural groups, and producers, Cleanfarms offers collection and recycling solutions at little to no cost, and for some producers they have turned it into profit.

By participating in this program, you’re actively reducing environmental impact, conserving natural resources, and supporting the production of recycled plastic goods. Shifting away from traditional disposal methods like burning and burying waste cuts down greenhouse gas emissions and keeps our landscapes free of litter. Producers are a major component to the recycling process and when waste materials are handled appropriately, there is circulation that benefits all.

Products can be refilled or re-manufactured like in Nobleford, Alberta. The southern Alberta town is home to Full Circle Plastics, that recycles agricultural plastics by converting them into building materials such as synthetic deck boards, planters, or parking curbs. PolyAg Recycling LTD, a leading Canadian mechanical recycler of agricultural film is in Bashaw, Alberta. Most grain bags in central Alberta are recycled here even if producers bring them to their local landfill.

Cleanfarms accepts a range of agricultural plastics, but it’s essential that the materials be as clean as possible to prevent contamination during the recycling process. To keep it simple, here’s how and where you can recycle agricultural plastics in Flagstaff:

Grain Bags: Completely empty, remove debris, mechanically roll or bale, and return to Flagstaff Waste.

Twine: Remove debris, bag, and return to local 4-H club or Flagstaff Waste.

Silage Wrap and Bale Wrap: Remove debris, compact material, and return to Flagstaff Waste.

Containers up to 23L: Triple rinse, remove cap and label, bag in new Cleanfarms bags provided by retailers, return to ag retailer.

Totes and Drums: Thoroughly rinse, rinse, return to ag retailer.

Seed, Pesticide & Inoculant Bags: Completely empty, remove debris, bag in new Cleanfarms bags provided by retailers, return to ag retailer.

Join Flagstaff in this sustainable step forward by bringing your used plastics to participating collection sites. Your involvement helps reduce your carbon footprint, keeps our farmlands clean, and supports a growing recycling industry that’s making tangible products from recycled agricultural plastics. With local support, this initiative will continue to enhance sustainable waste management in our community.

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.

Please be advised that beginning the week of November 18, Accurate Assessment is conducting 2024 assessment inspections in the following areas of the County:

• All of Range 15;
• Twp 43-16 to Twp 46-16.

The purpose of these inspections is to look for any physical changes to residential (both farm and non-farm) and commercial properties. Physical changes could be exterior renovations, additions, removal of a mobile home, construction of new non-farm buildings without a permit, etc.

Our assessor may also need to assess out buildings on a former farm site that has sold to a non-farm owner (status change).

If the assessor can’t identify changes from the road, he will have to go into the property, where he will talk with the owner if they are home.

There are two assessors. One of the assessors is driving a blue Mazda SUV, while the other assessor is driving a brown GMC Sierra truck. Both vehicles have Flagstaff County logos on the sides.

For more information about assessments, please visit: bit.ly/FlagstaffAssessment.

Flagstaff County advises residents that postal-related County services, including the sending and receiving of any mail correspondence (including bills, payments or notices), may be impacted by the Canada Post strike. 

The County is taking all practical steps to minimize disruptions and provide alternative methods of correspondence; however, residents may expect some delays until the strike is resolved and normal postal service is resumed.  

Residents and companies who typically mail in payments for items such as taxes, utilities or permits can drop off payments in-person Monday to Friday at the Flagstaff County Office from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or leave payment in our secure drop box located near the entrance. 

For online payment options, please visit our Taxation webpage.

To stay up to date with important County news and updates, all residents are encouraged to regularly visit the County website and follow Flagstaff County’s social media channels. 

For more information about the Canada Post strike, please visit the Canada Post website. 

We thank you for your patience and understanding.