Municipal Enforcement
The Municipal Enforcement department of the Town of Wainwright is committed to upholding and improving public safety and community standards through:
1. Enforcement of Town bylaws and applicable provincial statutes,
2. Educational efforts to inform residents and businesses about bylaws and provincial statutes, and
3. Working with community stakeholders and other law enforcement agencies in Town.
The Town employs the services of one Community Peace Officer (CPO) to enforce municipal bylaws and provincial statutes. The CPO proactively patrols the community for violations. Provincial statues enforced by the CPO include the:
Animal Protection Act
Dangerous Dogs Act
Environmental Protection & Enhancement Act
Gaming & Liquor Act
Petty Trespass Act
Prevention of Youth Tobacco Use Act
Provincial Offences Procedures Act
Stray Animals Act
Tobacco Reduction Act
Traffic Safety Act
Trespass to Premises Act
Weed Control Act
The Town of Wainwright's bylaws can be viewed by following the link. Provincial statutes can be viewed by following the link.
Complaints
The complaint form can be downloaded and sent to the Town, either personally, by mail or by fax. You can also phone in or e-mail a complaint to the phone numbers and e-mail address below, or you can come into the Town Office and make a complaint personally.
If the CPO is not in the office, please leave a voicemail. The CPO tries to return phone calls within 3 business days. Anonymous complaints will not be accepted.
Phone: (780) 842-3384
Cell: (780) 842-7119
Fax: (780) 842-2898
Email: enforcement@wainwright.ca
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 16:30pm
Address: 1018 - 2 Avenue (Town Office)
Animal Control
Dog and cat complaints can be made during regular office hours by contacting the Town Office or Community Peace Officer directly. Animals that are picked up by the CPO are immediately impounded at the Town’s facility unless there are special circumstances.
Stray dogs and cats that are not aggressive, not injured, or that otherwise are not a public safety concern, do not have priority status and residents are discouraged from taking in stray dogs and cats unless prepared to keep them until the next business day.
Dogs and cats are required to be licensed in the Town of Wainwright. An annual license tag is $20.00, and a lifetime license tag is $60.00. License tags can be purchased at the Town Office during regular business hours.
Urgent after hours or weekend complaints, such as dog bites, can be made to the RCMP.
Impounded Animals
Animal Control Response Guidelines Policy
Animal Pound Operation Policy
Nuisance & Unsightly Properties
Both residences and businesses are expected to maintain their property in an acceptable fashion. Please click to find out more information about the Nuisance Bylaw.
Off Highway Vehicles
The Town is one of few municipalities in Alberta that allow off highway vehicles to be operated within the community. Please click to find out more information about the OHV Bylaw.
Traffic, Streets and Public Places
Vehicles can only be left up to a maximum of 72 hours on a highway (street), including the highway (street) in front of your house.
Vehicles left longer than 72 hours can be ticketed and/or towed at the owner’s expense.
Parking within 5 meters of a stop sign, a yield sign, a fire hydrant or a marked crosswalk is illegal.
Parking the right-hand side of your vehicle more than 500 mm. from the curb is illegal. This includes parking the opposite direction of traffic on a two-way street or perpendicular to the curb in a cul-de-sac.
Parking and driving on parkland, walking trails and green spaces owned by the Town is illegal.
All property owners and tenants are responsible for clearing the snow off the sidewalks adjacent to their properties within 48 hours of the completion of a snowfall. Failure to remove snow off of a sidewalk can results in fines and penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I found a dead animal on the road. Who do I call?
A: Please contact the Public Works department at (780) 842-3381.
Q: I have stray cats on my property. Will you capture them for me?
A: Usually no. In most circumstances, we ask the property owner or tenant to come to the Town Office to rent a cat trap.
Q: I have a skunk/muskrat/other wild animal on my property. Will you capture them for me?
A: No. The CPO only deals with domestic dog and cat complaints. Please contact Fish and Wildlife at the phone number listed below. Alternatively, please contact the Wainwright RCMP for urgent complaints.
Q: I found a dog at large in the MD of Wainwright/Village of Irma/Chauvin/Edgerton. Who do I contact?
A: Please contact your respective MD/Village municipal office. The CPO only deals with complaints within the Town of Wainwright.
Q: I have a speeding complaint. Who do I call?
A: Please contact the Wainwright RCMP.
Q: I want to appeal a ticket. How do I appeal a ticket?
A: A bylaw tag written for a bylaw offence can be appealed by coming into the Town Office and filling out an appeal form. All other tickets must be contested in court.
Municipal Enforcement Statistics
Year-End 2011 report
Year-End 2010 report
Tickets
Bylaw tags can be paid at the Town Office (1018 - 2 Avenue) during regular business hours. A bylaw tag must be paid within 14 days of the tag being issued, or a Provincial Violation Ticket will be issued. A Provincial Violation Ticket (pink or yellow ticket) issued for any offence, including a bylaw offence, cannot be paid at Town Hall. They must be paid as directed on the Provincial Violation Ticket, and can be contested in court.
RCMP
All complaints of a criminal nature are dealt with by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Emergency: 911
Non urgent complaints: (780) 842-4461
Office: (780) 842-4463
Address: 826 – 3 Avenue (next to the Fire Hall)
Other Important Phone Numbers
CN Railway Police (Emergency) – 1-800-465-9239
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (Wainwright) – (780) 842-7532
Fish and Wildlife (Vermilion) – (780) 853-8137
Military Police (CFB Wainwright) – (780) 842-1700
Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 – (780) 842-4454
SPCA Alberta Peace Officers – 1-800-455-9003
SPCA Wainwright – (780) 806-9676 / Website
