News

Due to a staff shortage, the office will be closing at 2:00PM today – Thursday, August 21, 2025. If you have an emergency and need assistance, please call the office at (780) 864-3500.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Join us for a 120th Birthday Party for our beautiful province, on 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵 from 𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬𝗔𝗠 𝘁𝗼 𝟯:𝟬𝟬𝗣𝗠, at the 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 where the MD of Spirit River will be hosting a BBQ, music, and family-friendly activities for everyone.

𝘈𝘭𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥.

Hope to see you there!!

The 2025 Tax Notices for the 2024 assessment year are due by the end of business day on September 16, 2025.

If you have NOT received your notice(s), please contact the MD office at (780) 864-3500. Notices were mailed on May 16, 2025 through Canada Post.

On August 14, 2025, the Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133 announced it has officially declared an Agricultural Disaster due to severe and ongoing drought conditions across the region. This decision, effective August 6, 2025, reflects the dire state of the local agricultural sector.

Precipitation and soil moisture levels in the Peace Region have been consistently low to extremely low, with some areas receiving as little as 30% of their average rainfall this growing season. “Consequently, crop conditions in the Peace Region are rated at 22% good to excellent compared to the regions 10-year average of 66.9%, provincially, the remainder of the province is 68.8% good to excellent,” stated MD of Spirit River Reeve Tony van Rootselaar. Poor pasture conditions are also a major concern for the livestock industry, raising fears about feed availability for the fall and winter. The district also noted moderate to severe grasshopper infestations, which are further stressing crops.

“This crisis has put many producers, particularly livestock producers, in a difficult position forcing them to make tough decisions about the future of their operation,” Reeve van Rootselaar expressed. “The municipality recognizes and is concerned about the economic and mental health impacts multiple years of drought is having on producers.”

In solidarity with other regional municipalities facing similar issues, the district urges both the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada to recognize the severity of this situation and implement a coordinated strategy to support this vital industry and its producers.

The Municipal District of Spirit River No. 133 is committed to advocating for the well-being and prosperity of its agricultural community. The district has contacted the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food to request that producers be made eligible for all available assistance and support programs, including the federal Livestock Tax Deferral program.

Producers needing assistance or support are encouraged to contact the Agricultural Services Department at samting@mdspiritriver.ab.ca or (780) 864-3500 ext. 218.

With the 2025 Municipal Elections coming up on October 20^th, the deadline for registering to vote is fast approaching.

All voters in the MD of Spirit River MUST be on the permanent Electors Registry to vote. To register or check your registration status, go to www.voterlink.ab.ca by August 15, 2025.

The MD of Spirit River receives its list of eligible voters from Voterlink, so please confirm that your information is correct to ensure you’re ready to vote.

If you do not register beforehand, you will be required to register at the voting station on Election Day. Pre-registering simply makes the voting process faster.