Kneehill County council heard that a proposed Horseshoe Canyon master plan was visionary in nature, and any proposed projects at the tourist attraction would come to council separately.
The Horseshoe Canyon Master Plan was approved at the Sept. 10 regular meeting of council.
Councillors heard a presentation by staff describing the master plan and changes council requested to the draft after their July 23 regular council meeting.
“…The 2024 (plan) will provide administration and industry with the direction needed to bring forward initiatives that support council’s vision for the site as well as council’s strategic plans for the county,” stated the staff memo to council.
Staff noted the draft master plan combined input from various council meetings and 2021 focus group recommendations.
It was noted that recommendations made at the July 23 council meeting included references to engagement with residents and community members throughout the summary and introduction sections, additions to outcomes, the addition of community involvement to the guiding principles section, addition of “& community members” to Strategy 4, which would alter action 4.3 to “Seek partnerships with tourism organizations to enhance the visitor experience at Horseshoe Canyon while not harming the natural qualities of the site,” and moving Strategy 11 “Consult, engage, and develop an area structure plan for further development” from a secondary strategy to an initial strategy while also adding “Engage” as part of the strategy.
Readers should note some Kneehill County residents have been vocal in the past about their opposition to taxpayer involvement in Horseshoe Canyon projects; some members of past councils also voiced concern or opposition to spending taxpayer money on Horseshoe Canyon.
During discussion Coun. Laura Lee Machell-Cunningham asked if by voting in favour of the proposed master plan she was in effect voting in favour of a visitor pavilion at Horseshoe Canyon.
Staff responded that approving the master plan was not an approval of any project at the canyon.
Machell-Cunningham replied she was glad to hear that because there are differences of opinion on what that would look like.
The councillor also asked if over $1 million was earmarked for such a project.
Director of Community Services Kevin Gannon responded that some funds are earmarked for possible projects beginning in 2025 once a feasibility report comes forward; he further added he wasn’t sure how much money was earmarked, “…but it was millions, I believe.”
He then added that the feasibility study would be affected by the proposed master plan council was considering.
Coun. Machell-Cunningham noted that she wanted to be clear that by voting in favour of the master plan she wasn’t voting in favour of that visitor centre.
Gannon answered that the master plan is a visionary document and that any proposed project, such as a visitor centre, would have to come to a council meeting for approval.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mike Haugen stated that a few years ago council allocated about $2 million for a Horseshoe Canyon reserve fund and that those funds can only be spent by direct council approval.
Reeve Ken King agreed with Haugen’s summary, and further clarified that anything to do with development at Horseshoe Canyon must come to council first for approval.
Councillors unanimously passed a resolution adopting the 2024 Horseshoe Canyon Master Plan.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
