Community input to be sought via survey and social media

Residents will be asked to share their ideas about the future of the Municipal District of Bonnyville in a brand development initiative devoted to answering the question: What does our sustainable future look like as a community?

Today, the M.D. can be appreciated for its Ukrainian, French, and Indigenous (including Cree, Denesųłiné, and Métis) roots; its diverse economy with the energy, agriculture, tourism, and defence sectors; relative affordability and low business costs, and recreational opportunities. Council’s Strategic Plan expresses a desire to be a forward-thinking leader and innovator in pursuit of a sustainable, prosperous, business-friendly, and safe future that inspires future generations to “make their lives here.” Ambitious Strategic Plan goals focus on economic development including economic diversification, the Bonnyville Regional Airport, and Kinosoo Ridge Resort destination development; environmental protection; access to utilities (including water and natural gas); recreation; and public safety.

A dynamic new brand to support economic development initiatives is identified as a need in the 2022-2027 Council Strategic Plan.

“This initiative provides the M.D. of Bonnyville with a chance to have residents look back on 2023 as a year we stepped toward an ambitious future for the M.D., and started to make it happen,” said Reeve Barry Kalinski. Reeve Kalinski notes that this project isn’t about re-inventing the M.D.; it’s about interpreting existing plans and engaging residents in their community and economic development ideas to tell a compelling story of the future to come for the municipality.

“Imagine taking a vacation and you are asked ‘What is the M.D. of Bonnyville all about?’” said Reeve Kalinski. “We want to have the words and images that talk about a dynamic and ambitious future. That conversation can lead to a local business expansion, or a new resident, business investment, or visitor to the community, which helps the M.D. to step into its full potential.”

Background

The brand development initiative – anticipated to be completed by the end of August, will also see community input via a community survey and the M.D.’s Facebook page, and contribution from a Brand Key Stakeholder Group via a set of workshops. The M.D. of Bonnyville, who is leading the initiative, has retained Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta-based Unfussy (www.unfussybrands.com) to complete the initiative.