What is rural, really? This question is not necessarily simple to answer but it is a vitally important one. While wide open spaces and low population density are indeed characteristics of many rural areas, we lose so much context and understanding when those alone anchor our definition. In conjunction with our spring convention, RMA launched our new “Rural Is…” campaign that seeks to broaden the scope of the definition of what it means to be “rural.” We’ve focused our lens on seven key characteristics that we believe help define rural, including: local solutions, planning, perseverance, grit, foundation, connection, and resourcefulness. To learn more, visit our new campaign website: vist.ly/4vhx7 What does “rural” mean to you? Comment below or use the hashtag #RuralIs when posting your own content. View the campaign video on YouTube: vist.ly/4vhx5

This Rural Health Week, our Rural Municipalities of Alberta Board of Directors join so many others across this province in recognizing and celebrating the dedicated, hard-working rural healthcare professionals and volunteers who help keep our communities strong, every day. To you, we are thankful. @AlbertaRhPAP #ABRuralHealthcareMatters

"What is rural, really?" That's the question we started asking earlier this year. Grit is undoubtedly one clear part of the answer. Across rural Alberta, the work that powers key industries doesn’t stop. It happens early, late, and often under pressure — shaped by long distances, weather, and the realities of people working hard in dispersed regions. But that effort doesn’t stand alone. It depends on rural infrastructure that can carry the load. Roads that move heavy equipment and product. Utilities that keep operations running. Systems that are asked to do more, across more ground, with fewer people. In fact, 41% of Alberta's public and private investment occurs in rural Alberta, and 28% of Alberta's GDP comes from activity within RMA member municipalities. When that balance holds, production stays steady and Alberta’s economy benefits. When it doesn’t, the impacts move quickly beyond rural communities. Rural grit is not an empty slogan. It is the effort that keeps things moving. Learn more about Grit in Action and the full #RuralIs campaign: presentations.rmalberta.com/…

Alberta’s bridges and culverts are the quiet workhorses of our economy — and they’re wearing out faster than municipalities can afford to replace them. These structures aren’t optional. They’re essential for schools, emergency response, and daily travel. They are also the backbone of industries like agriculture, forestry, and energy that rely on safe, reliable transportation networks to keep goods moving across the province. Across rural Alberta, these assets are aging, deteriorating, and becoming increasingly expensive to maintain. Municipalities are doing everything they can to stretch limited dollars, yet the current system can prevent them from accessing the funding tools needed to keep this critical infrastructure functioning. Through Resolution 2-26S, RMA members are calling on the Government of Alberta to investigate bridge replacement and maintenance options to improve the current system. A modernized approach can unlock cost effective replacement options, reduce red tape, and help ensure municipalities are not left carrying the full cost of infrastructure that supports the broader provincial economy. Rural Alberta keeps this province moving. Ensuring its bridges and culverts remain safe, functional, and properly funded is not only a municipal responsibility, but a shared provincial priority. Learn more about Resolution 2-26S: vist.ly/54w24

Applications are now open for the 2026 RMA Post‑Secondary Scholarship Program! This year, the program has been increased in order to make six (6) scholarships available in the amount of $1,500 each! RMA is proud to provide this program, which is intended to support students from rural Alberta in their pursuit of a post‑secondary education, while also recognizing the important role rural communities play in shaping Alberta’s future workforce and leaders. If you are a student residing within an RMA member municipality and planning to attend a post‑secondary institution, you may be eligible to apply. Full eligibility details and application requirements can be found on the RMA website. Applications are open and will close August 28, 2026. Learn more and apply here: rmalberta.com/about/awards-r…

We wrap up our Meet the Board series this week by introducing Gene Hrabec. Gene serves on the RMA Board as the Director for District 5, following seven years as the RMA District Chair. As part of his work with the RMA, Gene represents rural municipal interests through several external committees, including the Alberta Interim Police Advisory Board, the Drought and Excessive Moisture Advisory Group, and the @AlbertaEFP Advisory Committee. This is in addition to his work contributing to RMA policy and advocacy, as well as its business services such as Genesis Reciprocal. Gene has served @BeaverCountyAB for 11 years, including eight years as Deputy Reeve and now as Reeve. He chairs the Beaver Foundation, a key provider of seniors housing and hospitality services, and has advanced work that supported provincial changes improving rural access to Nurse Practitioners. His ongoing focus includes strengthening lodge care and home care services for rural residents. Gene also chairs the Beaver Emergency Services Commission, Alberta’s first regional emergency services commission, and was involved in the formation of @ClaystoneWaste as a municipally controlled corporation. Before entering municipal government, Gene spent nearly 38 years with the @edmontonpolice Service as a civilian Special Constable. He remains active in community organizations, including the local Holden Agriculture Society and the Holden Legion Branch 56. Learn more about Gene and the full RMA Board on our website: vist.ly/4zkfn

Municipal campgrounds provide vital recreational opportunities for residents and visitors while supporting local economies and community well‑being. At the same time, campground operations introduce a range of risks, including public safety concerns, liability exposure, environmental impacts, wildfire risk, and operational pressures. The latest bulletin from the team at RMA Insurance highlights key risk management considerations and practical steps municipalities can take to reduce exposure, meet regulatory requirements, and support safe, sustainable campground operations. Learn more: rmalberta.com/news/municipal…

We continue our Meet the Board series this week by introducing Karen Rosvold, Director for District 4. Karen Rosvold was elected to the RMA Board of Directors in November 2022 and represents District 4. Through her role on the Board, she contributes to advocacy, governance, and committee work supporting rural municipalities across Alberta, while also helping with oversight of RMA's business services such as Genesis Reciprocal. As part of her work with RMA, Karen represents rural municipal interests through external committees including, but not limited to, the @CleanAirSA, @ASCHA__'s Affordable Housing Task Force, and the Power and Natural Gas Consumers Panel under Alberta’s Utilities Consumer Advocate. Karen has served as a Councillor for the County of Grande Prairie since 2016, first elected through a by‑election. During that time, she concurrently served on the board of the Family Community Support Services Association of Alberta and continues to serve on several local and regional boards, including the County of Grande Prairie Library and Grande Spirit Foundation Karen lives near La Glace, where she farms with her husband and family. Learn more about Karen and the full RMA Board on our website: vist.ly/4yg9j Learn more about Genesis Reciprocal: vist.ly/4yg9m

National Volunteer Week (April 19 - 25) feels like one of the most fitting times to explore local solutions, and to recognize the volunteers who help keep rural communities strong. “Rural is…” is RMA’s new campaign seeking to broaden how we define rural Alberta. We've used seven characteristics that we feel best reflects daily life across rural municipalities. One of those key characteristics is what we refer to as "Local Solutions in Action." Local solutions are the practical, community-led efforts that keep things running when capacity is limited and services are spread out. They show up in the organizations and volunteers who organize, maintain, respond, and adapt, using local knowledge to meet local needs. Learn more about how we define this characteristic in the images below or scroll down to visit our full campaign website. To continue sharing the message behind "Local Solutions in Action," starting this week we’ll be launching a new series on social media that will highlight volunteer-powered and locally organized efforts that are making a difference, particularly within rural municipalities across Alberta. Learn more about Local Solutions in Action and the full "Rural Is..." campaign here: presentations.rmalberta.com/… CC: @VolunteerCanada #RuralIs #RMAlberta

🟨 NEW WEBINAR & RELEASE OF RMA ANALYSIS: Bill 28 🟨 The provincial government recently announced Bill 28, the Municipal Affairs and Housing Statues Amendment Act, 2026, which proposes significant amendments to several key pieces of legislation, including the Municipal Government Act, the Alberta Housing Act, and the Libraries Act. These amendments reflect a trend towards increased provincial oversight in areas that have traditionally been part of municipal decision-making. These amendments fit across seven key themes: • Enabling Growth and Housing • Assessment and Property Tax • Aggregate Pits • Seniors Lodges • Governance and Accountability • Municipal Transparency • Public Institutions To assist members in understanding the potential implications, RMA has developed a detailed analysis document found here: vist.ly/4z566 💻WEBINAR💻 To further support members, RMA has announced a webinar on Bill 28 for Wednesday Apr 29. The session will feature RMA President Kara Westerlund and senior RMA staff, who will walk through RMA’s analysis, highlight key considerations for members, and provide an opportunity for questions. This webinar is open to RMA members only. Click here to register: vist.ly/4z563

The Lacombe Research and Development Centre has delivered high-value, unbiased agricultural research that has been vital to Alberta and Canada’s agricultural sector for over 100 years. The recent decision to close this centre will have significant impacts on local Alberta communities and on the agricultural sector’s ability to adapt to challenges like food insecurity and climate change impacts. Resolution 12-26S calls for the federal government to reverse this decision to support agricultural prosperity, innovation and growth. Learn more about Resolution 12-26S: rmalberta.com/resolutions/12…

Last month we started to pose the question: "what is rural, really?" One clear characteristic that we believe is often associated with rural life is resourcefulness. While wide, open spaces aren't the only thing that defines rural, it is true that Alberta's rural municipalities span large landscapes, with fewer people than urban centres, and longer distances between services. Put into numbers: rural Alberta has, on average, 3.31 residents per square kilometre versus more than 380 residents per square kilometre in urban municipalities. In some regions, that number falls below one. Yet, rural communities find practical ways to make daily life work. This rural resourcefulness should be viewed simultaneously as a strength of character, but also often obligatory — not a result of choice. Resourcefulness is simply a response to how rural communities are structured and supported. Learn more about what resourcefulness in action means and why it matters, and the full #RuralIs campaign here: presentations.rmalberta.com/…

Rural municipalities are often limited in their ability to participate in development approval processes that directly affect their communities, particularly in the ability to implement land use tools such as municipal bylaws to help manage the impacts of confined feeding operations. Through Resolution 6-26S, RMA is calling on the Government of Alberta to mandate that quasi-judicial agencies involve municipalities throughout the approval process for proposed developments within their boundaries. Early and ongoing municipal involvement supports transparency between all stakeholders and the public and helps rural municipalities better anticipate and manage development risks at a community level. Learn more about Resolution 6-26S: rmalberta.com/resolutions/6-…

We continue our Meet the Board series this week by introducing Josh Bishop, Director for District 3. Josh Bishop was elected to the RMA Board as the Director for District 3 in November 2024. As a Board member, he is involved in advocacy, strategic planning, and budget oversight, and supports the growth and governance of the RMA group of companies, through roles such as his seat on the Board of Genesis Reciprocal. He further serves the advocacy and governance processes by his work on the Finance & Audit and Policy Review committees. Josh also represents rural municipal interests through several external roles, including (but not limited to) the @ABWaterCouncil and the Alberta Climate Leader Peer Network — a peer network delivered collaboratively by the Community Energy Association and @MCCAC_Alberta. Josh is the Reeve of the County of Wetaskiwin and has served as an elected official for the County since 2017. In this role, he brings a strong focus on community, agriculture, and rural development, while advocating for residents across the region. With a background in small business ownership and volunteer boards, Josh brings practical experience and a collaborative approach to municipal leadership. Learn more about Josh and the full RMA Board on our website: rmalberta.com/about/board-of… Learn more about Genesis Reciprocal: genesis.rmainsurance.com/

It is vital that the provincial government meet all Albertans where they are. RMA members want to ensure rural communities aren’t left behind when accessing provincial services, whether the barrier is distance or outdated administrative rules. Addressing these challenges helps ensure provincial programs function effectively across all parts of Alberta. Through member endorsed resolutions, RMA is encouraging practical adjustments to how certain GoA services are delivered, such as enabling the service of bylaw offence notices by ordinary mail and locating more provincial offices in rural communities. These changes support more efficient service delivery, reduce administrative burden, and improve accessibility for residents and municipal staff alike. Strengthening service delivery in this way supports rural economies and ensures provincial programs truly meet all Albertans where they live. For more on resolution 16-25S: vist.ly/4x457 For more on resolution 12-25S: 12-25S: vist.ly/4x453

Connection is a key characteristic that comes to mind when we think of the question "what is rural, really?" Connection is reflective of how rural residents reach services; how local economies are intrinsically supported; and how Albertan's are kept moving. 🟩More than 31,400 km of rural roads connect residents and industries. 🟩Over 4,800 bridges and interchanges support travel and economic movement. Yet a previous RMA campaign showed that the rural municipal infrastructure deficit is projected to hit $40.7B by 2028 if funding methods don't change. Declining infrastructure has immediate effects and with limited infrastructure redundancy, a single failure can isolate a community or generate major strain. Rural connects the entire province, but these connections cannot be ignored. Learn more about Connection in Action and RMA's "Rural is…" campaign: presentations.rmalberta.com/… Revisit RMA's "Closing the Gap" campaign, which dives deep into the rural municipal infrastructure deficit: presentations.rmalberta.com/… #RuralIs

Everyone must pay their taxes. However, in recent years, gaps within Alberta’s regulatory framework have contributed to the accumulation of over $250 million in unpaid municipal property taxes from the oil and gas sector. Taxes that could have supported the communities that help drive Alberta’s economy. Guided by member endorsed resolutions, RMA has worked collaboratively with the Government of Alberta, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), industry representatives, and municipal partners to develop the Property Tax Accountability Strategy (PTAS). This joint effort reflects a shared understanding of the issue and a commitment to strengthening accountability moving forward. The final PTAS report includes 17 recommendations that provide the opportunity for a clear path forward by: ✔ Closing long standing loopholes ✔ Giving the AER the authority and tools needed to enforce payment ✔ Strengthening data collection and transparency ✔ Preventing future arrears ✔ Rebuilding a fair, accountable relationship between industry and municipalities RMA looks forward to continuing this work with the province and the AER to support implementation of the PTAS recommendations and the strengthening of property tax accountability across Alberta. Learn more about the joint PTAS announcement, and access the full, final report: vist.ly/4wupt

We return to our Meet the Board series this week by introducing Larry Clarke, Director for District 2. Larry was elected to the RMA Board in November 2025 and represents District 2. He also supports oversight of RMA’s associated companies, including RMA Insurance and Genesis Reciprocal. He further represents RMA through numerous external roles, including the @AER_news Multi‑Stakeholder Engagement Advisory Committee and @CowsandFish. Larry has served the @StettlerCounty since 2017 as both Councillor and Reeve and is now in his ninth year of municipal leadership. A fourth‑generation resident of the Botha‑Gadsby area, he brings deep local roots to his work. Larry’s civic and community experience includes extensive work in regional infrastructure and essential services. He serves as Chair of the Shirley McClellan Regional Water Commission, is a founding Chair of the Gadsby Water Co‑op, and has contributed to regional fire services transitions and physician recruitment efforts. Learn more about Larry and the full RMA Board on our website: vist.ly/4wt8n Learn more about Genesis Reciprocal: vist.ly/4wt8r

Library funding does not reflect inflation, population growth, or increasing library usage across Alberta. As funding is cost shared between the Government of Alberta and municipalities, any underfunding places additional pressure on libraries to fill the gap in order to continue providing services for the community. Rural libraries provide free access to resources, programming, education, and community gathering space, serving as essential community hubs. Through Resolution 5-25F, RMA is advocating for the Government of Alberta to increase the per capita library funding component and ensure funding is regularly adjusted to reflect Alberta’s growing population and rising costs. Learn more about Resolution 5-25F: vist.ly/4w4ud

What is rural, really? That question kicked off our #RuralIs campaign, which aims to broaden how we define “rural” in Alberta. At RMA’s 2026 Spring Convention, we invited members, guests, and visiting ministers to share what rural means to them. The responses were thoughtful, varied, and grounded in lived experience. They reinforced how much rural shapes daily life, community strength, and Alberta’s future. We’re excited to share more of what we heard in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, explore the campaign and the characteristics that we believe are a hallmark of rural life: vist.ly/4vzyi What does rural mean to you?

Today, I had a blast sharing insights and my take on what is driving public opinion in Canada and Alberta with @RuralMA’s Spring Convention. Thanks @TimTierney for the photo! Great to see you representing @FCM_online.