Editor:
I am very surprised to read that Carol Picard who has a history of socialist views and public criticisms of the Canmore business community would be behind plans to convert public school lands into residential housing.
The property in question is nice and flat and beautifully situated next to Lawrence Grassi Middle School and close to Centennial Park. It also borders the more recent additions of the Roundhouse daycare, the air cadets building and the school gardens.
Ms. Picard rightly pointed out that “the land is one of the last, large intact parcels of undeveloped property in the middle of the community.”
Once that property is turned over to housing, it is gone for good. No more space for additional recreation fields, classrooms, gardens or other community projects.
After the construction dust settles and the funds have dried up following the all too common public mismanagement, what are the children and our community really left with?
If the school division is concerned about housing their teachers, they should get in touch with Canmore Community Housing. I know of one teacher who is very happy living in one of their new projects. We do not need to duplicate services.
Before the school division gets into the business of property development and management, I suggest they get their financial house in order.
Work with the funding they receive, as all other Alberta school divisions are doing, before selling off their assets to cover their operating budget.
What Canadian Rockies School Division is proposing is nothing more than more residential housing.
There is nothing “Parc” about it. I doubt this is what the Canmore Mine Company envisioned when it gave the school division that land.
Unless there is a direct physical benefit to our students and our community, I say no to Colliery Parc.
Doug McConnery,
Canmore
