Next steps for Dewberry after dissolving

The Village of Dewberry has unofficially dissolved, but will remain operating until sometime next year before things are transferred over to the County of Vermilion River (CVR).

Their viability report showed that the community was established in 1907, when Eli Sweet created a stopping house and post office, naming it after the dewberries growing in the area.

In 1957, the province incorporated it as a village, and in 2016 their population was 186.

Dewberry will now join the other seven hamlets within the county including Blackfoot, Clandonald, Islay, McLaughlin, Rivercourse, Streamstown, and Tulliby Lake.

“Over 70 per cent of residents from the Village of Dewberry voted to dissolve,” said Justin Marshall, press secretary for the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

“Given the results of the vote, the Minister of Municipal Affairs is now obligated to recommend dissolution under the Municipal Government Act. Alberta’s government will continue to be available to provide advice and support to the municipal officials and the public before and after joining the County of Vermilion River.”

The Alberta Government states dissolution may be beneficial if a municipality is struggling financially, if they have difficulty filling council positions, if another municipality has more resources to provide services to residents, or if another is able to provide services to a larger area more efficiently (such as emergency or utility services).

Dewberry gets to look forward to receiving assistance from the CVR, in part by way of having access to a bylaw officer.

For residents or municipalities seeking support on items such as bylaws and protective services, finance, property assessment and taxation, as well as ongoing infrastructure and utilities, they can reach out to Alberta Municipal Affairs, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, or the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.