Summer Village of South Baptiste

FIRE BAN ISSUED MAY 1, 2025

FIRE CONTROL ORDER #2025-03 FIRE BAN In accordance with Athabasca County Fire Services Bylaw015-2023 section 8, a Fire Control Order (Fire Ban) is now in effect for lands within Athabasca County located outside the Forest Protection Area. Due to increasing wildfire risk a complete Fire Ban is now in effect and all fires must be extinguished. Under this Ban:

The issuance of new fire permits is prohibited.
All existing permits are suspended.
The lighting of outdoor fires is prohibited.
Including all open fires, campfires, fires used for cooking, briquette barbecues, burning barrels, chimeneas and portable wood burning fire pits.
The discharge of fireworks and use of exploding targets is prohibited.
The use of Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs) is prohibited on public lands. This OHV restriction does not apply to OHVs operated as part of emergency response operations.

For greater clarity, this Restriction does not include:

Fires which are contained in CSA approved cooking appliances which are fueled by liquid fuel (propane, natural gas, or camping fuel) such as Barbecues or Camping Stoves;
Internal household fireplaces with approved spark arrester or screen used to prevent sparks from leaving the chimney;
CSA approved portable fire pits, radiant heaters, and other appliances which are fueled solely by liquid fuel;
and Electrically operated pellet smokers where combustion is contained within an engineered firebox.

Athabasca County has already been impacted by wildfires this season. Wildfire responses can tax local emergency services creating greater risk in the region. Grass and other light fuels are currently very dry, resulting in rapidly spreading fires that require significant resources to extinguish. At this time of year, most fires are human caused and are preventable. Failure to comply with this control order will result in enforcement action which may include fines, municipal orders, and/or the levying of fees associated with fire control and extinguishment. This Fire Control Order comes into effect at 10 o’clock a.m. on the 1st day of May 2025 and will remain in effect until amended or revoked by the proper authority of Athabasca County.

SUMMER VILLAGE OF SOUTH BAPTISTE MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2025

This is an Election Year!

Dear Residents of the Summer Village of South Baptiste,

As we welcome another exciting year in our beautiful community, we want to keep you informed about the upcoming 2025 Municipal Election. Your participation is essential in shaping the future of South Baptiste, and we encourage all eligible residents to get involved!

Key Election Details

📅 Nomination Day: June 28, 2025 – 10 AM to Noon – #28 Baptiste Drive (Use driveway for #27 Baptiste Drive and then please follow the signs)

🗳 Election Date: July 26, 2025
📍 Voting Location: West Baptiste Fire Hall
🗳 Advance Voting: July 19 at Annual Resident Meeting – West Fire Hall

Who Can Vote?

To be eligible to vote, you must be:

✔️ At least 18 years of age on Election Day
✔️ A Canadian citizen
✔️ Named on a Certificate of Title within the Summer Village, OR be the spouse or Adult Interdependent Partner of a person named on a Certificate of Title, OR reside permanently at a property located within the Summer Village

Interested in Running for Council?

If you’re passionate about your community and want to make a difference, consider running for Council!

Candidates must:

✔️ Be eligible to vote in the Summer Village
✔️ Have resided in or owned property in Alberta for at least twelve months prior to the election
✔️ Submit a completed nomination package before the deadline

For nomination forms, please contact Linda at 780-938-4141 or southbaptiste@gmail.com

The Summer Village of South Baptiste

The Summer Village of South Baptiste is a small municipality located approximately 170 KM north of Edmonton, Alberta on the South West shore of Baptiste Lake. Baptiste Lake is a medium-sized lake located within the County of Athabasca in Northern Alberta. South Baptiste is located approximately twenty kilometres west of the town of Athabasca.

Baptiste Lake has two basins joined by the Narrows. Both basins are similar in size; the deepest area of the south basin is approximately 28 m, whereas the north basin is shallow at about 16 m deep.

The lake was named after Baptiste Majeau, an early Metis settler in the area. The first permanent native settlement on Baptiste Lake was established in the 1880's by a group of people from Saskatchewan. They lived on long, narrow lake-front lots.
In the early 1900's farming had begun in the area surrounding the Lake, and by 1930 most of the land that was not already settled was available for homesteaders.

Baptiste Lake is a good setting for power boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing and canoeing. Snowmobiling, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing are enjoyed during the winter months. The area around the Lake is a conservationists paradise, with rolling hills and forests filled with wildlife including deer, moose, and many other birds and animals.

The Summer Village of South Baptiste is a combination of full time residents and part time enthusiasts who all share their love for the lake. The residents are proud of the serenity of the lake, and encourage all residents and visitors to take care of the lake they love.