News

Have a case of the Winter Blues? Tired of SNOW? Just want it to be summer already? Here's a list of things you (and your family and friends!) can do together to beat the #WinterBlues:

• Get out and go for a walk. Even if it's for your coffee break! Bundle up, soak up the sun and get some fresh air.
• Take up a new hobby or join a club! There's bound to be a hobby or sport you've wanted to try. Maybe you want to join a local organization and give back to the community?
• Have a snowball fight! You're Never too old.
• Go Skiing! Never learned how? No worries, line up a teacher at your local ski hill.
• Take in the stars and the northern lights. Fill a thermos with some coffee, tea or hot chocolate and do some serious star gazing.
• Snuggle up and READ! Grab a book from the 'Must Read' pile on your nightstand or visit your local library to find a real page turner!
• And of course.....get a head start on making your summer plans! Include places you haven't been to or have never seen before.

Did you know that County of Northern Lights has two Recreation Boards? Using funds allotted by Council, Recreation Boards dispense the provided funds through an application process. Groups/Event Organizers can apply to the recreation boards to help cover, or offset, the cost of hosting various recreational and cultural events, organization/group start up costs and travel coverage to Regional, Provincial and National events. This funding is not only available to groups within the County, but groups in the towns of Grimshaw, Peace River and Manning are also able to apply! More information about Recreation Boards and a funding application can be on the County of Northern Lights website under‘Recreation & Culture’

A whole new section has been launched on Explore County of Northern Lights website, an entire page dedicated to Volunteering! On the page you will find:

• Volunteer Sign Up: a section for community members interested in volunteering to submit their info and be connected to organizations looking for volunteers
• Volunteer Call Out: Organizations looking for volunteers to join their board/organization or help with an event. Your volunteer opportunity will be advertised in the Explore and County media channels (website, Facebook, newsletter, etc.)
• Volunteer Recognition Submission: The goal is to recognize our community volunteers through-out the year. Organizations and community members can submit an individual or group of people to receive a special recognition. The individual/group will be featured in the County Newsletter and Explore Facebook page. Because this program is new, it is in the growing stage! I am open to suggestions/ideas on how to expand it 😊
• Volunteer Resources: All of the non-profit/volunteer training & resources that were under Community Resources page is also on this page (Not new, but still awesome!)
• Events & Organizations Needing Volunteers: Towards the bottom of the page, you will see lists of organizations and events that are currently looking for volunteers.

Other features:

• Event & Organizations listings can now be enabled to display ‘This Organization/Event is looking for Volunteers!’
• The page link is embedded into a homepage button at the top of the web-page, for easy access across the website.

You can access the page at www.explorecountyofnorthernlights.com/volunteer

This page, resources, and features are all open to community members and organizations that are in the County and Towns of Manning, Peace River and Grimshaw.