Page 47 - 03_April-2025

Dream Developments new
Beaumont subdivision, Élan
best of both worlds — you get that idyllic, small-town living
with unparalleled access to the city,” says Mendonça.
Not only does it exude a French vibe with red brick
walkways, unique architecture, and a church from the
late 1800s, it’s one of four municipalities in Alberta that’s
officially bilingual. Many schools offer French immersion
or Francophone curricula, and that’s obviously a draw for
many French-speaking Albertans.
“
 IT DOES REALLY EMBODY THIS
RICH SPIRIT, AND AUTHENTIC-
SMALL-TOWN-VALUES KIND OF
PLACE, WHERE PEOPLE CAN
STILL WALK THEIR KIDS TO
SCHOOL, AND AFTERWARDS
GRAB A COFFEE, AND GET A
PASTRY FROM CHARTIER.”
—  Catharina Mendonça, marketing manager of Dream Developments’ new Beaumont subdivision, Élan
Meanwhile, Macleans magazine has named the city
one of the safest places to live in the province several
times, as its crime rate is 30 per cent lower than the
national average. There is a lot of green space and
Mendonça says there are diverse housing options —
everything from townhomes to luxury homes. And, she
says, the city is proactive and developer-friendly.
Mike Berezowsky, director of communications for
Beaumont, says that while residential developers are really
interested in building in Beaumont, he’s also seen an
increase in non-residential construction.
That increase is beneficial because historically the city,
as a bedroom community, has been heavily reliant on
residential taxes. With a steady influx of citizens,
Berezowsky says it’s been a challenge to keep up with
community infrastructure, while maintaining reasonable
tax rates. This year, council approved a 5.01 per cent
tax increase, leaving it in the middle of the pack
comparatively for the top 20 Alberta communities,
says Berezowsky.
But along with attracting commercial development,
city council is focused on coming up with innovative
approaches to dealing with inflation
and increased demand for services. It’s
ensured that there is land available for a
new high school when needed.
Beaumont’s rapid growth, combined
with neighbourhood development meant
it didn’t have a suitable parcel of reserve
land that could fit a high school project
and be ready to meet the timelines for
consideration by the Alberta government,
says Berezowsky. So, the city worked with
a developer and purchased land so it
could have a shovel-ready site for a high
school space. “It involved our council and
administration being nimble and open to
opportunity to make this happen quickly,”
he says.
“We want it to be a community of
choice and for people to want to live here.
And that’s not going to stop. So, we have
our work cut out for us. But we’re also up
for the challenge,” says Berezowsky. ED.
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