The last week or so has certainly been filled with events of import here in our Bow Valley.
The most immediate, of course, and the one that will likely have the greatest and longest lasting impact, is Canmore council giving third reading on both the Old Daycare Lands and Moustache Lands affordable housing projects.
What’s next remains to be seen as the process moves through planning, design and development stages. In the end, though, and we’ve stated in this space that little would happen affordable housing-wise in our valley until our municipal government leaders took it upon themselves to make it happen on their own land, the projects are now moving forward.
Of note is that while the projects have the go signal from the municipal government, the Town will now have to look outside the valley, certainly in the case of the Moustache Lands, for partners to build the actual housing.
Details, of course, are imminent, such as how many trees may have to come down, a la the reason Councillor Ed Russell couldn’t support the Daycare Lands decision.
The critical component of council’s Tuesday (Feb. 7) decision is that more affordable housing – the topic of so many studies, public consultations, on-street discussions and pleas by small business owners – will be coming on line. Also importantly, this will include housing for purchase and housing for rent, which is keeping in line with what both the citizen community and business community have been calling for – to ensure Canmore is inclusive and in order to attract and retain staff.
To the north in Banff National Park, a project of less social significance, but more historical significance, has also occurred, as 16 plains bison now find themselves at home in the Panther River region after more than a century’s absence.
Day to day, the fact that bison are back on the ground in Park’s Canada’s flagship national park likely won’t have great resonance with Canadians, but it shows that the federal department has taken steps to ensure its wildlife, ecological and environmental mandates are met.
The fact bison are back somewhat counterbalances the fact that caribou numbers were allowed to dwindle until the last remnants were wiped out in a single avalanche in Banff. With bison back on the ground, we imagine, it will likely take years until the project can be labeled a success, but then perhaps the focus will shift to caribou in future.
Finally, while we’re not enamoured with what came about as a result of the five-year, $1 million joint CP/Parks grizzly bear study, there may be glimpses of progress in protecting our bears and other wildlife from train-caused death on the tracks.
In this space some years ago, we suggested the idea of a drone-type rail unit that could be programmed to run ahead of trains moving through the park, complete with lights, sirens, alarms, etc. to scare bears off the tracks prior to the arrival of the train itself. After all, man has been on the moon and probed the deepest reaches of the oceans …
At any rate, a bear warning system (page 12) may have possibilities, but it remains to be seen if grain on the tracks, clearly the greatest problem, can be properly addressed.
