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Special thank-you to Wayne Bensen, for the decades of service he has provided to the Pigeon Lake region. SPLFD Chief Wayne Benson received an Outstanding Service Award from the Summer Villages of Pigeon Lake. Shaela Dansereau/ Pipestone Flyer. Presentation to Fire Chief Wayne Benson by Clinton Boyda, Director of Emergency Management representing all the Summer Villages of Pigeon Lake. Wayne Benson’s Story – written by Faye Benson: Wayne’s Birthday is April 30, 1953. He started firefighting September 1974 in Oyen and was Training Officer and Deputy Fire Chief there when we moved. He has served for 45 years last Sept. We moved to Mulhurst in 1998 and he joined the Fire Department, within 2 months he was promoted from Firefighter to Deputy Fire Chief and Training Office.  He was hired as Fire Chief in 2000 by the Mulhurst Fire Department Board of Directors, and served as Mulhurst Fire Chief until 2014. In the fall of 2014 he joined SPLFD as Training Officer. February he was hired as Fire Chief of South Pigeon Lake Fire Departmetn (SPLFD) by the County of Wetaskiwin.  When we first arrived here the County Fire Departments did not respond to motor vehicle accidents. Wayne worked with Fire Chief Stew Raven to purchase Jaws and get County approval. He then set up and taught a Vehicle Extrication training. He has encouraged public relations and fund raising in the County to enable the purchase of additional fire apparatus some of which he built and or modified personally. He has worked hard with his areas to promote fire awareness and the Fire Smart program. During his time as Fire Chief, Wayne has worked diligently to improve the safety of both firefighters with improved training and the public with fire awareness, Firefighters Medical First Response, Fire search and rescue for snowmobilers and ATV/ motorbikes, Residential and urban Fire Smart programs, among many more initiatives. Wayne has been instrumental to the emergency response capabilities we have today; including working with CAO’s to ensure they have the best fire coverage, supported the creation of a Disaster Preparedness organization, and several projects to increase firefighter moral, recruitment, and mental health.  One of Wayne’s greatest accomplishments has been water safety which he has worked endlessly to initiate, promote, organize, and train for. Also seen in the Pipestone Flyer

We know parents are struggling to balance work, child care and self-care while keeping worries — both your children’s and your own — under control. You don’t have to do it alone. The Child Mind Institute is open and available for you and your child during this crisis. Click here to learn about our telehealth evaluations and treatment for ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders and learning disorders. Click here to read our COVID-19 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Tipsheet. Please visit https://childmind.org/coping-during-covid-19-resources-for-parents/ to navigate to each section:

If you would like to help in our region please contact our Pigeon Lake Agency. The Alberta Emergency Management Agency Unsolicited Offers Program has also been set up in response to growing offers of generosity from individuals and organizations to help with the challenges many Albertans are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those wanting to help our province can go to alberta.ca/COVID19offersprogram for more information. Thank you. #AlbertaCares

FREE WEBINAR from the Business Development Bank of Canada Free online webinar How to cope with the impacts of COVID-19 on your business March 25, 2020 12:00 p.m. (EDT) (10AM MST) The spread of COVID-19 poses important challenges to Canadian businesses. With the situation constantly evolving, you need to be prepared for any disruptions. Join BDC experts as they share short-term economic perspectives and advice on how to manage through the crisis. Who should watch? Every Canadian entrepreneur Our expertPierre ClérouxPierre Cléroux Vice President, Research and Chief Economist Pierre Cléroux leads a team of experts who analyze economic data to identify business and sector trends impacting Canadian entrepreneurs. Mr. Cléroux is also responsible for providing economic analysis and advice to the Bank’s senior management team, and supervises all marketing and industry research activities. Over his 25-year career as an economist, he has held several influential positions that had a direct impact on entrepreneurs in Canada and abroad. A seasoned speaker, he regularly travels across the country to help business owners understand the risks and opportunities presented by the economic environment.View full bio

TO ALL RESIDENTS: In view of the current Coronavirus situation the Emergency Advisory Committee has voted to unanimously approve the partial activation of Regional Emergency Management Program to keep the public informed, monitor the situation, follow provincial requests and plan for business continuity to protect vital municipal services with our virtual Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC). This committee includes representatives from each of the ten Summer Villages around Pigeon Lake. Thank you all for your cooperation in this new “social-distancing” era. March 17 2020 REMP Activation

The Economic Developers Association of Alberta wants to help communities and businesses looking for information on how to prepare and plan for business resiliency through this situation. As economic development professionals it is in our best interest to make preparedness and resiliency a priority, and that is why this is a core part of our programming. Specifically there is a FREE webinar this Wednesday:Are you looking for business and economic response and recovery tools to help you navigate through the #COVID-19 disaster in your community? Then join us for this free online luncheon webinar. EDA’s CEO Leann Hackman-Carty will provide participants with some ideas, and resources to equip you in order to accelerate your business and economic recovery. She will be joined by: please register at http://www.edaalberta.ca/event-3792600 to attend the FREE webinar on Wednesday March 18th. Additional Information for businesses is available: http://www.edaalberta.ca/page-1635680