Fire Advisory In Effect – July 16, 2026
Prohibited
- No new permits will be issued, existing permits are suspended
Permitted
- Wood, briquette and propane/natural gas fires within fire pits, outdoor portable fire receptacles, and outdoor fireplaces.
- CSA or UL standard approved:
- Portable propane fire pits when placed within designated fire pits
- Liquid or gas fueled lanterns (enclosed flame)
- Liquid or gas fueled stoves and BBQs designed for cooking
Summer Village of Waiparous Contact Information
587-574-0744
PO BOX 806, COCHRANE, AB, T4C 1B8
Next Meeting of the Summer Village of Waiparous Council
Organizational Meeting of Council
Saturday, July 18 at 9:30am
Location – Waiparous Community Building, Summer Village of Waiparous
July 18, 2026 Organizational Meeting of Council Agenda
If you would like to formally address Council on a specific item, please email Administration at admin@waiparous.ca at least one week prior to the regular meeting explaining the item you wish to discuss in order to be placed on the agenda.
Important Dates:
July 18 at 10:00am – SVW Community Meeting & Annual Picnic at the SVW Picnic Grounds
July 25 – Wood Chipping Day
August 8 – SVW Bench Maintenance Day
September 26 – GWTA Fall Work Bee
SVW Community Meeting & Annual Picnic
The Community Meeting will start at 10:00am at the Picnic Grounds followed by the Picnic. We will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Summer Village of Waiparous being Incorporated! Please reach out to past residents you are still in contact with and invite them to our celebration! Are you interested in sharing stories of the Village history or showing your memorabilia and photos? There will be a table set up at the picnic for people to display photos and memorabilia from years gone by and if you would like an opportunity to share a story or two please let me know. There will be a prize draw at the picnic this year. We are excited to welcome MP William Stevenson, MLA Sarah Elmeligi and Brendan Kowalenko from Alberta Forestry & Parks to speak at the meeting. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
Highway 40 Bridge
UPDATE July 16, 2026
Alberta Transportation & Economic Corridors has sent a Project Summary and a Display Board showing the location of the new Highway 40 Bridge. We have requested they hold an Open House so residents can ask any questions they have on the project, no date for this has been set. The plan is still to tender the project in the Fall of 2026 with construction to begin in 2027.
July 2026 Waiparous Bridge Info – Alberta Transportation & Economic Corridors
July 2026 Display Board – Waiparous Bridge
UPDATE May 28, 2026
All work has been completed on the temporary bridge and all weight restrictions have returned to normal.
| Current | |
| single unit trucks | 19 t |
| semi-trailer trucks | 33 t |
| truck trains | 47 t |
The current schedule for the construction of a new bridge is to have the design completed and tenders out in the fall of 2026 with construction to begin spring of 2027. This is the current plan but until the work is tendered, a construction timeline of 2027 can not be committed to. It is anticipated a Public House will be held in the summer of 2026 for the new bridge project.
Wood Chipping Day – July 25, 2026
Our contractor will be in the Village on July 25, 2026 to complete the wood chipping. Please make sure you have piled your branches in a neat pile adjacent to the roadway. Only branches should be in the pile, no stumps or large trunks should be in the pile as these cannot be chipped and are your responsibility to dispose of. Also, please make sure there is not rocks and dirt in your piles.
Community Building Project
The construction fence is up and things have started on the construction of the new storage building!! Once the new building is completed work will start on the renovations to the existing building. It is anticipated to be complete by mid December.
GWTA – Back 40 Trail Cameras
This year the GWTA received a grant from the MD of Bighorn to install three wildlife trail cameras in the Back 40, to help learn more about the animals that live in and travel through the trail system. The first video footage is now available for viewing!
Check it out at https://youtu.be/U6xmsJGaGGo
It’s a good reminder that we share our trails with all kinds of wildlife. When hiking in the Back 40, please make sure you are following good bear (and other wildlife) awareness practices: carry bearspray, keep dogs on a leash, and travel in groups.
They plan to share links to video compilations with residents at least two or three times a year
Waiparous Community Association
For many years, our Village had an active Community Association. In addition to our annual summer picnic, the Association organized other events and activities throughout the year, helping to bring the community together and foster a sense of belonging. Eventually the association disbanded, although the annual picnic continued thanks to dedicated volunteers.
Now, we are pleased to announce that the Waiparous Communality Association (WCA) is making a comeback! Why now? Exciting changes coming to the Community Building will make it much more accessible and usable for social gatherings and events. Also, as more and more residents are living in Waiparous full time or spending more time here, a revived WCA creates additional opportunities for us to connect and strengthen our special community.
Our enthusiastic team of volunteers are: Iona Parsons (President), Laura Newcombe (Vice President), Sandra Barker (Treasurer), Libby Graham (Secretary), Cheryl Wauthier (Director and Liaison to the Village Council), Gwen Moncayo, and Jodie Grisdale (Directors), and Suzanne Gaida (Village Chief Administrative Officer and general support).
We are still in the process of being registered as a non-profit organization while we continue important background preparation work. In the meantime, fun and inspiring ideas for community‑strengthening events are taking shape, and we look forward to hearing from residents as spring and summer unfold. While the Take It or Leave It event will be deferred until warmer weather and the completion of the Community Building, this time allows us to plan thoughtfully and build momentum for vibrant and engaging times ahead.
Waiparous Community Association
EXPOSED Wildlife Conservancy Trail Camera Review
John E. Marriott and the Exposed Wildlife Conservancy team presented and reviewed the best trail camera footage captured from Exposed’s Cougar Coexistence Trail Camera pilot project in Waiparous and the Back 40 from January 2023-December 2024.
Waiparous in the news!