‘Unstoppable’ projects underway

to transform community

By Glen Mazza
Editor

A community transformation initiative continues to move forward in the region.

There were initial meetings in November with Unstoppable Conversations which, according its CEO Kevin Gangel, is a company working with local volunteers and officials to define problems and help the community find the underlying cause of failure of collaboration.

The Rocky Chamber is covering 50 per cent of the cost of the initiative and the Town of Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County councils approved 25 per cent each. The total cost is $43,350.

“The chamber is the community connecter between Unstoppables and the community. When the opportunity first presented itself, the chamber looked at the opportunity, decided they were in favour, and became that community connection, collaborator. And then we started talking to businesses as to what they were looking for. We talked to board members, we talked to organizations, and then we went to the town and county as the delegation,” explained Rocky Chamber executive director Michelle Meatheringham.

There are four impact projects identified including business/municipal relationships, youth, housing and non-profit collaboration. Teams are meeting regularly to move forward in those areas in the community.

Gangel highlighted the significance of a community initiative that started with a diverse group of leaders and has since expanded to include new individuals and organizations, fostering innovation at the local level. He is particularly excited about exploring a nonprofit collaboration project to establish a community foundation in Rocky, which could provide sustainable funding for various services and initiatives. Additionally, he noted a positive shift in communication between business and government leaders, emphasizing how improved dialogue strengthens collaboration and long-term planning. This enhanced engagement between sectors reflects a broader effort to build a more connected and forward-thinking community.

“The unstoppable initiative is a unique, community movement,” said chamber vice president Tim Hoven. “With people all over the region working together in big and small ways to improve the town and county towards a new vision.”

“One of the things that I’ve heard from many business owners and people in the community is there seems to be a more positive outlook and feeling in the community. And these people attributed that to the work that the Unstoppable Conversations has been doing. People are thinking about what kind of community they want to live in, and then they’re taking action and behaving differently to make that vision come alive,” explained Hoven.
The formal phase of the program is nearing its end, with about a month remaining. In recent months, the focus has been on project groups, where leadership development is tied to tangible outcomes. These groups are now capable of continuing independently, equipped with strong relationships, structured plans and measurable goals. While the initial phases are concluding, additional provincial funding may provide opportunities for new initiatives.

Hoven said anyone interested in getting involved can still join and they should contact the chamber office.