2022 was a blur!
Our First Win
Our first win came at the end of last year with the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets Engagement.
Ward 3 Councillor Mian has agreed to push the administration to investigate how Calgary can get onto the National Urban Park list. This is a step towards achieving our goal of National Urban Park designation for the Nose Creek Valley.
One-on-one with the Province
At the end of last 2022, we sat down with Minister Rajan Sawhney, MLA Calgary - North East. Minister Sawhney was intrigued by our efforts and requested we send her a proposal for her to present to relevant provincial Ministers and the Premier.
Our proposal was condensed into two requests:
Re-evaluate the Provincial 6-metre setbacks set for Nose Creek in the Municipal Government Plan.
Work with the Municipalities and Stakeholders of Calgary, Rockyview County and Airdrie to vision-cast a Nose Creek cross-municipal park system.
Making “Friends”
Our committee connected with the Friends of Nose Creek. They’ve been volunteering to restore Nose Creek by monitoring invasive species, planting native plants, and cleaning up garbage along the banks.
They showed us that the current costs to Municipalities to manage Nose Creek come from poor decisions made in the past. A tour of the Greenview area shows how channelling the creek is being thwarted by meanders because creeks are meant to move and change their shape.
As the meanders grow, they threaten the buildings, infrastructure and properties around the creek. The creek is also due for its 1 in a 100-year flood event, and the current channelling won’t be able to manage the overflow as a natural creek system would.
The Greenview area and the natural meandering that will threaten the development surrounding Nose Creek.
The key takeaway: Our efforts to Save Nose Creek north of Greenview will save Municipalities from costly maintenance like this down the road.
In the NEWS
Crossborder Podcast Episode 484, Dec. 8, 2022
Calgary Herald Opinion Article, Dec. 10, 2022
Global Calgary Country Hills Blvd, Jan. 16, 2022
2023
This year our committee is working to:
Increase awareness for Nose Creek.
Create a Nose Creek Preservation Society and grow a membership.
Create momentum on a Federal level to benefit from a Federal Urban Park designation.
Motivate Municipalities and Provincial ministers to revisit the setback policy for Nose Creek.
What's Next
We are waiting to hear whether or not we can present to the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board. Nothing has been confirmed, but fingers crossed we can present before the end of the year.
How Can You Help?
Forward this post to your friends and family in Airdrie, Rockyview County and North Central Calgary.
Sign up for future updates.
We are looking for volunteers passionate about setting up a Not-Profit "Preservation Society."
Because not everyone is on social media, we’re looking for Save Nose Creek Champions to door-knocking and volunteer at local events. Email us if you are keen to help us get the word out.
Write your government Representatives and tell them you want a Provincial or Urban National Park from Calgary to Airdrie along the Nose Creek Valley.
Read our Official Park Proposal, and if you have feedback, we’d love to hear from you.
