2023 COUNTY OF NEWELL Quality of Life Snapshot. Grasslands Regional FCSS released the Brooks-Newell Region Quality of Life Report. This is a summary of the results for the County of Newell.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA

• 2021 population was 7,465.

• 2016 population was 7,524.

• 0.8% decrease in population.

• The County of Newell has a land area of 5,810/km2.

• population density of 1.3/ km2.

• 2,642 private dwellings.

• 2,404 private dwellings are occupied.

AGE RANGE

• The median age was 39.2 years in 2021

• 6.4% of the County of Newell’s population is over the age of 65.

• 30.1% of the population in The County of Newell is under the age of 19.

ETHNO-CULTURAL DIVERSITY (Mother Tongue) *Statistics Canada 2021

• English 5,585

• French 40

• Non-official Languages 1,660

• Other languages spoken are:

  • Tagalog (5)

  • Russian (5)

  • Japanese (5)

  • Chinese (5)

  • Hungarian (5)

  • Slovak (10)

  • Danish (10)

  • Ukrainian (10)

  • Spanish (85)

  • Low German (210)

  • High German (1,270)

FAMILY STRUCTURES

• 68.2% of persons 15 years and older are married or living common-law.

• There are 125 lone-parent families.

• 780 couple families with children.

• 780 couple families without children.

• Average size of census families is 2.7.

• Brooks-Newell Region's average size of census families is 3.04.

HOUSING - (2021 Census Data, Newell Housing Foundation)

• Average value of a single-detached dwelling $441,000.

• The average number of persons per household is 2.7.

• Total number of occupied dwellings 2,405

• Single-detached houses 2,015

• Semi-detached house 5

• Row house 0

• Apartment in a duplex-style building 5

• Apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys 5

• Movable dwellings 375

COMMUNITY SATISFACTION

• In 2022, 81% expressed Overall Satisfaction with the Community.

• 79% in 2017

• 82% in 2013

Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association (SAEWA) is a coalition of municipalities committed to the research and implementation of ENERGY RECOVERY from non-recyclable waste that will REDUCE long-term reliance on landfills. The SAEWA 2023 annual general meeting is coming up and they are seeking nominations for the President/Chair position. Brooks City Councillor Ray Juska has been a member of SAEWA since its formal inception in 2009 and on the Executive since 2018. With the proposed location of the facility being within the Brooks region and the knowledge and experience Councillor Juska has with the Association, it would be a benefit to both SAEWA and the region to have him as the President/Chair.

Recent uptick in stolen vehicles and property crime in Brooks, County of Newell and the surrounding area. Brooks RCMP undertook a project with the Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit which identified two individuals responsible for a significant amount of the crimes. Those individuals were located and arrested in a stolen RV south of Raymond. A third member or the crime ring was arrested in SK Monday.

Alberta RCMP APP Online crime reporting offers a convenient way for citizens to report non-emergent crimes to Alberta RCMP from their computer or smartphone without having to phone or visit the police detachment. Apple App Store or Google Play

Here are some reasons why online reporting of non-urgent crimes matters:

• Alberta RCMP police officers in the Call Back Unit are responsible for investigating online crime reports, thus reducing the need for frontline police officers to respond.

• Frontline officers have an opportunity to spend more of their time on proactive policing activities in the community.

• Has the potential to reduce non-urgent phone calls to 911.

• Leverages reliable data to identify patterns and trends in criminal activities in our communities.

• Use this intelligence to distribute resources strategically and ensure that police officers are deployed where they are most needed.

Forecasted costs of RCMP have increased considerably due to the increase from 19 to 21 members. There is an anticipated negative variance of approximately $248,200 for the 2023 year. It will be offset by $99,198 because the retro pay cost was lower than budgeted for 2015 - 2021. The City's share of retro pay for these years was budgeted for $727,730 out of the stabilization reserve. Due to considerable increases in interest rates, investment income is higher than budgeted this year. “Considering the negative variances that we are expecting from Municipal Policing, which would also be funded from the stabilization reserve, this additional interest is a welcome offset.” -Shelley Thomas, Manager of Finance for the City of Brooks

Grant revenue received by the Province for Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is anticipated to be $19,753 higher than budgeted. This increase was announced in the Province's 2023 budget. Grasslands Regional FCSS provides funding to agencies wishing to offer preventive programming. 

Funding Must:

• Be of a preventative nature

• Help people develop:

  • Independence and coping skills

  • An awareness of social needs

  • Interpersonal and group skills

  • Provide supports that help sustain people as active participants in their communities.
    

Funding Must Not:

• Be primarily recreational programs/services

• Duplicate services provided by government or government agencies.

For more information please call FCSS Executive Director at (403) 362-4549 or grasslandsregional.fcss@telus.net. Application due date is Sept 8 .

Heritage Fall Fair at the Brooks and District Museum. Saturday, September 9, 11- 4PM. All ages are welcome to participate. Categories range from arts & crafts to baking, to hobbies and gardening. The Fall Fair is an event for participants to enter for judging. Local community members will judge entries. An antique tractor parade will take place on the grounds at 12PM. If you’d like to enter an item to be judged please get in touch with the museum museum@bdmhs.ca for details. The Brooks Farmers Market will also be part of the event, to be a vendor selling items apply through Brooks Farmers’ Market.