BARRHEAD-The Town of Barrhead has received another accolade for its participation in the Barrhead Area Regional Crime Coalition (BARCC), a 2020 Sustainability in Collaboration Award from the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA).
Chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc informed councillors of the good news at their Aug. 11 meeting. The municipality learned about the award through a letter from AUMA president Barry Morishita.
The award is given to municipalities, which have demonstrated excellence in implementing sustainability plans and achieving measurable outcomes related to social sustainability.
BARCC is a partnership between Woodlands County, the Town of Barrhead and the County of Barrhead, as well as the Barrhead RCMP and Rural Crime Watch.
It was formed in the spring of 2018, in part due to discussions Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen had with all parties in to come up with initiatives to combat rural crime.
As part of the initiative, BARCC has set up a software-based system that allows the municipalities, Rural Crime Watch and the RCMP broadcast messages via automated phone calls, e-mails, and texts, about items of public interest.
It was the messaging abilities which specifically caught the attention of the AUMA.
"The Town of Barrhead was selected for recognition of the Barrhead and Area Regional Crime Coalition for its BARCC connect system that allows municipalities and local RCMP detachments to send out accurate, real-time information from a credible source to regional residents," Morishita stated.
LeBlanc noted that the award is truly a collaborative effort with their municipal partners, the RCMP and Rural Crime Watch and that it was disappointing that due to the coronavirus the municipality would not be able to be recognized in-person.
Normally the award is presented at the AUMA fall convention, which is now being held virtually.
"However, at the 2021 convention, I will ask that our award be presented so Barrhead's name can be heard province-wide," he said.
Mayor Dave McKenzie interjected that might not be necessary.
"By then BARCC will have done something else great that will be recognized," he said.
In September 2019, Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Mandu presented the BARCC partners with the Outstanding Achievement Award as part of their efforts to reduce regional crime.
The Town of Westlock, Westlock County and the Village of Clyde are also working on creating their own version of BARCC for their region.
