It’s January which means it’s time to reflect not only on the year that was, but to look forward.
Provincially the biggest news was the election as for the first time more than 40 years the Progressive Conservatives tasted defeat.
Who would have ever thought it was possible that Albertans would elect not only an NDP government, but an NDP majority?
And then came the federal election.
We certainly had a feeling that Stephen Harper’s days were numbered as prime minister, but how many expected the down-and-out Liberals to make such a stunning recovery?
And just for good measure, Westlock residents went to the polls in October for a byelection which was won by 20-something Murtaza Jamaly.
But elections were only part of the story of 2015.
We watched as Westlock County decided the time was right to sell Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill and saw the community divided over the decision.
We saw a group of residents stand up against Alberta PowerLine to stop the Fort McMurray West 500-kV Transmission Project.
And we experienced the worst drought in years and witnessed heated debated over the Lord’s Prayer’s at Busby School.
In short, it was quite a year.
The New Year will bring plenty more news to cover and topics to debate.
We expect some resolution as to whether the Village of Clyde remains its own municipality, or if it becomes a hamlet within the borders of Westlock County.
And regardless of that decision, we’ll see plenty of change in the county as Div. 3 residents go to the polls (barring acclamation) this February in a byelection to replace Jim Wiese. In addition the municipality is currently in the process of hiring a new CAO to take over for the departing Peter Kelly.
Meanwhile the Town of Westlock celebrates its 100th anniversary on March 11 and a number of special events are planned throughout the year, the first was the New Year’s Eve party featured on Page 1 of this week’s Westlock News.
And there’s much more to look forward to — issues that will continue to simmer and ones we have yet to tackle.
So here’s to a New Year, a fresh start and new chapter in the history of the Westlock area.
