Being that both Banff and the MD of Bighorn are on board with providing funding for a Bow River Lodge expansion which will keep seniors from all communities in the valley, it’s disappointing that Canmore council balked at doing the same thing.
Arguably, lodge expansion would have a greater impact for Canmore being that the lodge is located in the community and may be seen as having greater benefit for Canmorites – due to spinoffs like attracting more staff to the community, etc.
When the project is slowed up over boilerplate wording in a grant application, however, it goes against what both Councillor Ed Russell and Bow Valley Regional Housing CAO Ian Wilson have stated – that the need for the expansion is now.
Should the grant application process now be held up for a couple of years, that’s a couple more years area seniors and their families can’t look forward to increased health care for parents, mothers and fathers and grandparents who possibly spent their entire lives living and making a difference in their community – only to be forced to leave in order to receive health care support in another community.
Not exactly a highlight in a full, well-lived life of giving and loving. A shortage of suitable housing puts pressure on seniors themselves, as well as family members who may not be equipped, financially or emotionally, to care for them.
As Councillor Jim Ridley pointed out, wording related to future debt servicing is more or less a standard clause for grant applications.
While it’s easy to get caught up in proposed percentage increases when it comes to tax rates, when you look at the cost per household ($60 per year) it doesn’t seem overly onerous. One would hope that anyone who balks at a similar increase never frivolously tosses cash at things like cigarettes, high end coffee or a round of drinks.
It’s bear-ly spring; let’s be careful out there
You think you weren’t happy with the heavier snowfall of the past winter and an accompanying late, rainy, cool spring?
How do you think our bears feel? Having snoozed the winter away in their dens, bears are now out and about – ravenous – and, due to snow still being found at elevation, have been kept out of their traditional early season feeding areas.
Snow at elevation means the good eats are lower in the Valley, which is keeping bruins, both grizzly and black, more in our midst than usual.
This means that when recreating and dog walking, etc. it’s more incumbent on those of us who get around on two legs to paid more heed to those on all fours.
We may hate the sight of all the dandelions that have sprung up with spring rains, but they present a salad smorgesbord for bears, along with other early edibles.
Because we can all assume that bears, as well as cougars, can be found anywhere in our valley, along with cloven-hoofed animals that may be with, or protecting, their young, it’s a time to be careful.
When out there, please make your presence known and avoid unfortunate human/wildlife interaction. Carry bear spray, make noise, travel in groups and take appropriate precautions – including slowing down on our highways and byways.
