For the second consecutive year, the City of Cold Lake is being recognized by the Alberta Public Works Association (APWA).
The city's efforts during National Public Works Week in May have once again earned them the Community Celebration Public Works Week Award from the APWA.
“It's amazing to see such recognition for the work that our public works staff do. They work extremely hard throughout the year and National Public Works Week is a chance for the community to come out and see all of the different tasks public works is responsible for,” said Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland.
General manager of infrastructure services Azam Khan and transportation services manager George Urlacher accepted the award earlier this month at the American Public Works Association Alberta Chapter's annual general meeting.
After building on last year's National Public Works Week festivities, city officials once again threw their hat into the ring, looking to claim the prize for back-to-back years.
“We applied for the award after expanding on our celebrations from last year. To be named the winner really goes to show how appreciated our staff's efforts are in the community,” noted Khan.
The city went all out for this year's Public Works Week, with a plethora of demonstrations, activities, and initiatives.
A flag raising ceremony kicked off the week long celebration that included a colouring contest for kids, a paint the plow event at two local schools, a food drive, and a toxic round-up.
Students from local schools took part in a community cleanup, and were invited for a tour of the water treatment plant in Cold Lake. The city also held an open house at the Cold Lake Energy Centre, where each area of the public works department was on display.
“I think it's great they won two years in a row. It was sort of unexpected that they would get a second award this year, but it just speaks to the program the staff has built. They seem to have done a great job expanding it. I'm really proud of them,” said Copeland.
One of the factors that sets Cold Lake's celebrations above the rest is the effort staff puts into getting kids involved in National Public Works Week. Every school in Cold Lake participated in nearly every event offered during the celebrations.
“We really try to get the youth engaged in Cold Lake, so getting them involved in Public Works is a lot of fun. I try to get all of the classes to come out to the public works shop,” explained Copeland. “The teachers really enjoy it because the employees do a great job of teaching the children everything from recycling to how to do a sewer dig.”
National Public Works Week takes place in May, and staff are already hard at work putting together a plan for the 2018 celebrations.
While they're not divulging details just yet, Cold Lake public works is setting their sights on another successful Public Works Week.
“The staff handles the planning for this, and nobody has heard anything yet, but I expect they'll be cooking something good up like they always do,” expressed Copeland.
