Before we dive into the news, I want to take a moment to share something personal.

I would like to thank Mayor Craig Copeland, who was always encouraging of Lakeland Connect—long before most people believed in what we were building. He helped me connect with locals, gave me tips, and made sure I was taken as seriously as any traditional media outlet. He introduced me to key regional players and was always open, honest, transparent, and above all else, kind.

I don’t know where this business would be without him helping me in those key early months—and throughout the years since. He never made me feel like I wasn’t going to succeed or that I wasn’t valued.

And don’t tell him—but some of those calls I made, very early on, were from the bathroom, with the door locked, so my toddlers wouldn’t interrupt us.

Craig, thank you for believing in me, in Lakeland Connect, and in what local media could be. You set the bar for leadership that’s human, humble, and community-first. – Jena Colbourne

Cold Lake will pick a new mayor on Monday, October 20, 2025. Before he hangs up the chain, Craig Copeland took one last lap on The Morning After—and he didn’t coast.

I was just minding my own business when the Cold Lake Hospital turned into a Tuesday night rodeo. Copeland was there with family and watched nurses, protective services, and RCMP handle a situation that was way past any job description. His first order of business: a shout-out to third-floor staff who kept calm while the whole floor shook like a Kinosoo spring thaw. Not glamorous, not easy, but absolutely necessary.

That set the tone—real life first, politics second.

Write-offs, Rumours, and Reality Checks

Council approved its routine list of unpaid bills to collections. Not the fun part of city work, but part of the job. The chatter online? It’s loud—especially around the Cold Lake Arrows file. Copeland reminded everyone it’s under police investigation. Translation: Facebook hot takes aren’t facts. Let the justice system do its job.

“If you’ve got a bone to pick, get involved. Volunteer. Run. Don’t just bark from behind a screen.”

Why the Energy Centre Hosts Tattoo Shows (and Your Ice Time Stays Sane)

If you like low user fees and shiny arenas, then, yes, sometimes the Energy Centre is going to host trade shows, concerts, university games—even a tattoo expo—at full rate. That revenue trims the recreation deficit so kids’ ice time doesn’t jump to beer-league-at-11-p.m. prices.

And about those 6 a.m. practices the big cities love? Not here—Cold Lake has four rinks. If the three city barns are packed, JJ Parr on base is sitting there like the extra sheet no one calls until playoffs. Book it.

Lakeshore Drive: Soft Open Now, Signature Feature Soon

Call it a “soft opening” if you want, but Phase 1 on Lakeshore is already showing its bones—stainless rails, new pilings, and a pathway that will eventually run from the MD Park through Kinosoo Beach and into the marina. It’s been two years of heavy pounding (the construction kind), and neighbours felt every thump. The end result? A boardwalk that makes you forget you’re five minutes from a Canadian Tire, not an ocean pier.

Target: substantial completion by the end of October, with a few final touches to follow. Credit to the design team and a pile of local contractors who muscled it through.

Housing Crunch: Chasing Multi-Family, Not Dreams

Rent’s tight. Council knows it, and they’re pushing hard for multi-family builds with incentives—think $10,000 per door to get shovels in the ground. Rural construction costs run higher than the big city, which doesn’t help. The City took a run at a federal grant and came up short (conditions mattered), but the work continues because the base is ramping up and the local economy is warming the bus. If the boom shows up, people need somewhere to live.

Big Games, Big Crowd, Big Picture

Cold Lake loves a show, and the U of A vs. U of S tilt delivered again—eight to nine hundred fans, elite hockey, and an easy drive for local parents with kids on the roster. The deal’s simple: the City covers hotels and meals, the community gets top-tier entertainment, and the barn proves it’s more than a practice sheet. It’s part of the same equation as trade shows and concerts—variety that keeps the lights on and the vibe up.

Election Day: Your Turn at the Wheel

The candidates had their forum, the views are in the thousands, and if you still haven’t made up your mind, you’ve got until Monday, October 20 to get there. Watch the forum replay, call a candidate, go to a coffee night. Then vote. Copeland played Switzerland on picks, but he didn’t mince words on effort: the new crew will be drinking from a fire hose all November. Administration’s got binders, calendars, and no time for warm-up laps.

“The seven who get in are making the calls for everyone. Respect the seat. Respect the work. And if you don’t—put your name in.”

The Parting Shot

From hospital hallways to boardwalk railings, this last Morning After felt like a full Cold Lake tour: a reminder that cities run on people, not posts; that budgets balance better when the barn earns its keep; that housing isn’t a press release, it’s permits and cranes; and that volunteering is the fastest way to learn what’s really going on.

We’re lining up one more with the Mayor before the new council takes the ice—a greatest-hits, biggest-bruises episode. Until then, Monday’s your moment. Be a voter, not a keyboard warrior.

Button: If you’ve got enough time to argue online, you’ve got enough time to stack chairs at a fundraiser. See you at the polls.