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Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee (BBOC)
Purpose
The Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee (BBOC) was established to enhance communication between Administration and the community on matters relating to the Beaver Boardwalk. BBOC considers the varying needs and perspectives of Hinton residents, with the purpose of ensuring that the Beaver Boardwalk Vision is maintained, transcending Council and Administrative staffing changes.
The BBOC objectives are ensuring Boardwalk safety, sustainability, and fostering environmental stewardship of the valuable wetland area, Town Council, Administration, and the BBOC will work collectively to ensure that input from all demographics is meaningfully represented when planning for future programming, maintenance, and capital projects related to the Boardwalk.
The BBOC Vision Statement:
"The Beaver Boardwalk represents the heart of Hinton’s natural heritage, bridging the gap between urban and wild land by safely bringing citizens and visitors into the unique Maxwell Lake wetland. By presenting an educational and recreational experience, the ecological integrity is preserved for present and future generations."
Serving from July 2021 to June 2023:
Community Members
- Kevin Gedling (Maxwell Lake Area Resident Representative)
- Doug Lamb (Maxwell Lake Area Resident Representative)
- Tom Marshall (Town of Hinton Resident at Large Representative)
- Trevor Boutilier (Town of Hinton Resident at Large Representative)
- Jan Vassbotn (Recreation and Tourism Representative)
- Beth MacCallum (Educational Representative)
- Joehn Torres (Youth Representative)
- William Descalchuk (Indigenous Representative)
Council Members
- Councillor Albert Ostashek, aostashek@hinton.ca
Town Administration
- Heather Waye, Parks, Recreation & Culture Manager, hwaye@hinton.ca
- Chad Oshanyk, Arena & Parks Supervisor, coshanyk@hinton.ca
Vacant Positions
- Environment Representative
Find information on how to apply for this position under the 'How to Become a Member' tab above.
In July 2019, the Beaver Boardwalk Committee (BeBo Committee) was established to gather, study and discuss all relevant information regarding the Beaver Boardwalk condition and rehabilitation project in order to provide Council recommendations and to facilitate Council in making informed and transparent decisions regarding the Beaver Boardwalk’s future.
This committee comprised of two Town Council representatives, the Mayor and up to three Town Administration representatives; and used public engagement opportunities to gather input from the community on plans for the Beaver Boardwalk.
The BeBo Committee was replaced by the Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee (BBOC) in July 2021 to create a direct line of communication between Administration and the community by including residents on the committee.
The new BBOC is expected to meet quarterly and its annual deliverables include:
- Working collaboratively with Administration to create and review a 5-year capital plan for the Boardwalk that upholds the recommendations set forth by the Beaver Boardwalk Committee and endorsed by Council,
- Assisting Administration in conducting engagement activities related to the 5-year capital plan for the Boardwalk,
- Collaborating with Administration regarding the design and implementation or construction methods applied to achieve any approved capital projects,
- Assisting Administration in conducting engagement activities related to proposed programming, construction methods, and design features of proposed projects; and
- Using community connections, assist in researching and acquiring grant funds to support maintenance or capital works related to the Boardwalk.
The BBOC is governed by Bylaw No. 1138-1.
View information about maintenance activities undertaken at the Beaver Boardwalk since 2018 here.
The Beaver Boardwalk Community Oversight Committee (BBOC) is comprised of:
- One Town of Hinton Council representative and one alternate
- The Arena Parks Supervisor
- One Administrative Town of Hinton Support Staff
- Nine community members representing the following stakeholder groups:
- Maxwell Lake Area Resident (two members)
- Town of Hinton Resident at Large (two members)
- Educational Representative (one member)
- Recreation and Tourism Representative (one member)
- Environment Representative (one member)
- Youth Representative (one member)
- Indigenous Representative (one member)
Each BBOC Member must be appointed for a two-year term. If one or more of the above representative roles is not filled, the BBOC may continue to conduct its business and will seek to fill the position via Council appointment as soon as possible.
Applicants should complete the Boards and Committees Application form, indicating which representative or resident role(s) they wish to fill. Applicants may apply for multiple representative or resident roles but may only hold one representative or resident role.
Contact Information
For general enquiries, contact Heather Waye, Parks, Recreation & Culture Manager, at 780-865-6032 or email hwaye@hinton.ca.