Some Cochrane and District Ag Society members are pushing for members and users of the facility to advocate for the county to stop the recreational lands from a potential future sale. Mother and daughter, Carol and Alicia Berger, are longtime society and Pony Club members who are hopeful Rocky View County will see a council chambers packed full on July 10 of supporters for Couns. Crystal Kissel and Kevin Hanson’s joint motion to remove the society lands from the county’s disposal list and go back to the public to consult for what is in the community’s best interests for those lands. “We know that the Ag Society has some big dreams but we want to ensure that no matter what happens, the land itself and current user groups are safe from development and that we have an opportunity to make that happen,” said Carol. ”Not only does this land represent our agricultural history but also the opportunity to support healthy lifestyles of future generations. We would hate to be the generation that lost this land.” The pair are also advocating for people to speak out and send their concerns in to county councillors ahead of the July 10 meeting. The potential sale of the 146-acre parcel of recreational lands located at the northwest corner of the 1A/22 highways has been a thorn in the side of many members of the non-profit and the respective user groups, such as Cochrane BMX, horse trials and pony clubs, who rely on the facility and grounds to practice and compete. “We truly believe that those land should be kept as recreational lands and not sold for further development around Cochrane ,” said Alicia. She added that the status of the site - donated some 20 years ago by the province to the county in trust for recreational use, with a long-term lease to the society that expires in 2025 and within the Town of Cochrane boundaries - has always made the situation “complex.” It was over two years ago that the county opted to explore the sale of the lands to a “suitable buyer,” citing that the county had “surplus lands” to dispose of. At that time, a petition to stop the sale of the lands was circulated by Pony Club member Daria Holden, gathering over 1,000 signatures. While the matter made headlines, the county did not produce any potential suitable buyers and the lands have yet to be listed, leaving the future of the site and the society in limbo. Ag Society president Justin Burwash has expressed concern of the price tag to service the existing site - required for the bustling facility to expand and accommodate growth. To stay, Burwash said it would cost more than double (around $33 million) versus move to a new, serviced site due to levies and site servicing costs. Alicia said she and her mother question these figures and are concerned over where the monies will come from, as the price tag far exceeds the county’s total annual recreation budget - as does longtime county resident and equine community member, Ken Blair. “When Lord Stanley gifted Stanley Park to the citizens of Vancouver over a hundred years ago, some city councillors suggested they had enough public lands and refused the gift. Now Stanley Park is iconic in North America and shows vision for the community and visitors,” said Blair. “Why would we want to force recreational groups including the Ag Society to move, and sell public lands that were gifted to the people for recreation from the Queen via Alberta Government in 1999. The land title documents are public knowledge, and Mr. Burwash’s analysis of costs to move or sale are as valid as the Alberta Government’s on the Springbank Dam versus McLean Creek.” Alicia feels the onus is on society and club members and supporters to speak up and if there is a failure to do so, she is not convinced they “will be so lucky a second time around.” It was at the June 12 county council meeting that Couns. Kissel and Hanson brought forward the motion in an effort to allow the relatively new council to examine the case through a fresh lens and to allow for public consultation. “I would like to hit the reset button – to engage the public and make a plan as to how move forward,” said Kissel in a previous interview. “The Municipal Government Act now mandates us to provide recreational spaces … my biggest fear is they (the Ag Society) could end up with nowhere to go.” Burwash has indicated the 160-acre parcel the Town of Cochrane is currently annexing from the county north of Heritage Hills - of which around 30 acres would be used for a future high school site - would be an ideal site to relocate the society. He has also indicated the the society expansion plans could incorporate recreational facilities identified as a need for Cochrane and area sport and recreation groups. Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung has said that while he is aware of the society’s interest in the site, he is concerned that there are currently so many demands from Cochrane user groups that he is unsure of whether or not that site could accommodate the society. Genung said he is interested to see the outcome on July 10 and that at this time, Cochrane is supportive of the current land use of the society lands. [email protected]
