JANUARY
STONEY NAKODA – Individual expenses for elected officials running Stoney Nakoda First Nation reached an all time high of $1.4 million in 2018, according to financial records quietly released in late November under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.The increase in individual expenditures was on top of a two per cent salary increase the politicians received in 2017 and came as the nation grappled with a larger than expected deficit of $13 million. It was the fourth straight deficit the band recorded since it first began publishing its financial statements in 2014 and not the first time its spending practices were scrutinized.
FEBRUARY
DEAD MAN’S FLATS – In February the province revealed plans were in the works to build a new wildlife overpass over the Trans-Canada Highway east of Canmore. While the project was not listed in Alberta Transportation’s three-year capital plan, department officials said they were in the process of putting out a request for proposals for the design of the overpass. The overpass is expected to be built somewhere between Las Des Arcs and Highway 1X. A consultant is also currently working on the design of an animal detection system for the same area to alert drivers of wildlife along the highway.
STONEY NAKODA – A petition was launched by a group of Stoney Nakoda residents calling on the federal government to temporarily suspend the nation’s three-chief electoral system. The petition asked the government to uphold the results of a referendum held nearly 45 years ago that should have united the Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley bands under one chief and council.
The petition was launched by a grassroots organization called the Concerned Citizens Committee, which said its main concern was the soaring costs to pay for three chiefs and 12 councillors as well as the four administrations running the reserve.
STONEY NAKODA – Members of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation narrowly rejected a referendum on Feb. 15, 2018, which would have seen nearly 3,000 hectares of land re-zoned for commercial use. While many Nakoda members were relieved that the proposed land designation was rejected, the Stoney Tribal Council vowed to hold a similar referendum in the future, which was held in October and rejected again. According to the final tally, 653 people voted ‘no’ counting for 53.7 per cent of the final vote, while 558 voted ‘yes.’
BIGHORN – In a bid to attract new businesses and increase its tax revenue, councillors with the Municipal District of Bighorn unanimously voted in favour of rezoning an area for light industrial use in the east end of Dead Man’s Flats, Feb. 13. By rezoning the area, the MD of Bighorn hopes to attract light manufacturing companies to the area, as well as auto repair shops, offices and warehousing businesses. The new bylaw included several recommendations to mitigate and reduce human/wildlife interaction, including a wildlife fence close to where a wildlife underpass currently exists.
MARCH
MORLEY – Ten months after McDougall Memorial United Church was lost in a suspicious fire, the society responsible for the historic building said it was weighing its options for the future of the historic church. Brenda McQueen, president of the McDougall Stoney Mission Society, confirmed in March the society was working closely with Alberta Culture and Tourism and recently had met with an architect to discuss the future of the charred building. She said the society was considering three options for the site, including rebuilding the church, rebuilding something different, such as a memorial, or leaving the site as is.
APRIL
MORLEY – A four-month-old girl died and 14 others were taken to hospital after a mysterious illness at a residence in Morley on April 4. Cochrane RCMP and the major crimes unit launched an investigation, however it was never confirmed what caused the illness. Paramedics initially said the illness appeared to be “influenza like symptoms,” however Alberta Health Services later confirmed several of the children were suffering from a variety of respiratory viruses. All of the children were eventually released from the hospital. An autopsy performed on the four-month-old girl failed to determine a cause of death.
STONEY NAKODA – An outspoken critic from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation was told he was being sued for defamation by the Stoney Tribal Council for a Facebook post and a document he posted in the administration building critical of his elected leaders.According to the statement of claim, Greg Twoyoungmen posted a comment in a Facebook group on Jan. 25 critical of an upcoming land referendum held on Feb. 15. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
MAY
KANANASKIS – Volunteer programs that operated in provincial parks were suspended by the province in May until it completed a health and safety review of each organization following the death of a volunteer from Cochrane in September 2017. The news caught many volunteer organizations off guard, including the Friends of Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley Biosphere Institute, both of which rely on volunteers to carry out projects and programs in nearby provincial parks. Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) confirmed a stop order was issued in September 2017 for all “high risk” volunteer activities and expanded the order in May to include all volunteer partners it works with, so it could ensure across-the-board safety training and standards.The stop-work order issued to the Friends of Kananaskis Country was lifted about a month later after the non-profit organization put together a health and safety program for its volunteers.
BIGHORN – The Municipal District of Bighorn received $3.3 million from the province to help reduce the risk of flooding along Exshaw Creek. The funding, announced on May 1, will be used for phase two of the project to create a sediment trap for soil and debris, beef up berms along the creek’s edge and reinforce its banks using large boulders, also known as armouring. In October, the federal government announced it would provide an additional $1.9 million for the project, while Lafarge committed $3.7 million for the project in material and land. The Municipal District of Bighorn is expected to cover the remaining costs of the $10.7 million project, which is expected to be out for tender early next year with the bulk of the work being completed by the end of 2019.
JUNE
EXSHAW – For the first time in its history, a woman was put in charge of Lafarge’s Exshaw cement plant. Kate Strachan officially became the plant manager at the beginning of June becoming the first female to run Canada’s largest cement plant.
She replaced Jim Bachmann, who managed the plant for the past five years.
JULY
EXSHAW – After spending nearly four decades working in the public realm of municipal politics, Martin Buckley announced he intended to retire by the end of the year. The chief administrative officer for the municipal district officially tendered his resignation letter on July 10, capping off a 36.5 year career in the municipal administration field – 17.5 of which were spent with the MD of Bighorn. In November, the MD announced Rob Ellis, director of planning services, will take over from Ellis in the new year.
KANANASKIS – A broken rope used by a Cochrane climber was said to be the cause of a fatal fall on Mount Yamnuska on July 29, according to Kananaskis Public Safety. Around 3:30 p.m. RCMP responded to a call for two climbers in distress while climbing a popular route on the mountain. A 28-year-old man from Cochrane was identified as the victim of the climbing accident. Jeremy McKenzie, with Kananaskis Public Safety, said rope failures are rare, however the incident was accidental. The second climber was uninjured and rescued from the mountain.
AUGUST
KANANSKIS – Two men died in a twin-engine plane crash near Rae Glacier in Kananaskis Country on Aug. 1. Several people hiking and ski touring in the area witnessed the plane crash. One eyewitness said the plane exploded on impact sending flames a hundred feet in the air. The RCMP confirmed Kananaskis Public Safety officers recovered two bodies, which were identified as the pilot and a survey technician for Eagles Mapping, an aerial mapping company. They were the sole occupants of the plane.
MORLEY – A German tourist who was travelling with his family was rushed to hospital after being shot in the head in a drive by shooting west of Morley, Aug. 2. Police initially believed the shooting was a case of road rage, but later said it was likely a case of mistaken identity. According to police, the 60-year-old man was travelling along Highway 1A from Banff to Calgary when he was shot in the head by a passing vehicle just west of the Goodstoney Rodeo Centre. Following the shooting the RCMP seized a Chrysler Sebring and arrested a man in Cochrane on Aug. 3, however, both the vehicle and the man were cleared and released. The victim was first taken to Calgary hospital before being flown back to Germany to undergo further surgery. The RCMP said he would have “life-altering” injuries. Following an intensive investigation, a 16-year-old boy was arrested and charged with attempted murder. The teenage boy, who can not be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was released on bail on Nov. 1.
SEPTEMBER
KANANASKIS – Visitors to Kananaskis will soon be able to enjoy enhanced recreation activities thanks to a $5.2 million investment from the province.The money will be used to redevelop the Lower Kananaskis River and Barrier Lake area, including upgrades to several day use areas, a group campsite and a new white-water training facility at Canoe Meadows. The redevelopment plan was scaled back from an original plan proposed in 2011, after a comprehensive ecological review conducted by Alberta Parks raised significant concerns with the scope of the plan. Concerns included potential effects on wildlife movement, loss of rare habitat and the increased risk of human-wildlife conflict if the proposed plan, which initially included two new campsites, was approved. In addition, public consultations that wrapped up last year showed a high level of public support for facility upgrades and improvement, but less support for the proposed expansion of campgrounds in the area and a disc golf course. Included in the plan is a commercial opportunity to build small-scale overnight accommodation at Barrier Lake such as cabins, yurts or an eco-lodge. Construction will take place in phases with redevelopment starting next year 2021.
OCTOBER
MORLEY – Dozens of residents from Stoney Nakoda First Nation braved cold weather and strong winds to protest against a land referendum being held on Oct. 18. The protesters marched along Morley Road from the Chiniki Gas Bar to the Stoney Nakoda First Nation Administration building to get their message across. The modest-sized group held signs reading “Vote No,” and “Take care of Mother Earth” in opposition to a land referendum to designate 3,000 hectares of land for commercialization. Stoney Nakoda chief and council promised that if the referendum passed it would lead to new business opportunities, jobs and prosperity for the Nation, which currently depends on its declining oil and gas royalties.
STONEY NAKODA – For the second time in a year Stoney Nakoda residents rejected a referendum that would have seen nearly 3,000 hectares of land re-zoned for commercial development. The result was a serious blow to the Stoney Tribal Council, which previously vowed to continue to hold referendums until it passed. Voter turn out was slightly lower this time around, however, a larger percentage of voters rejected the ballot question on Oct. 18. According to the final tally, 675 people voted ‘no’ counting for 56 per cent of the final vote, while 511 voted ‘yes.’ A total of 1,205 of 3,233 eligible voters cast a ballot.
NOVEMBER
STONEY NAKODA – Less than a year after the Chiniki Cultural Centre and Stones Restaurant reopened it doors to the public, the landmark building on the Stoney Nakoda First Nation unexpectedly closed this summer. A note on the front door stated the Stones Restaurant closed on July 31 for “renovations and remodeling.” It’s unclear when it will reopen and the website no longer exists.Chiniki councillor Jordie Mark said there were many problems with the building, which was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2012 caused $1.1 million in damages.
BIGHORN – The Municipal District of Bighorn was the latest municipality in the Bow Valley to ban the public consumption of cannabis. Councillors unanimously passed all three readings of the bylaw in six-and-a-half minutes on Nov. 13. The bylaw bans smoking, vaping and consuming cannabis in any public place, including in the hamlets of Harvie Heights, Dead Man’s Flats, Lac Des Arcs and Exshaw.
