A public hearing has been held before Mountain View County council regarding a proposed facility for the promotion of Aboriginal culture and heritage.
The $2-million Fallentimber Rediscovery Centre would be located on 157 acres in the Elkton/Rugby area 17 kilometres northwest of Cremona on the Fallentimber Creek.
Mountain View County councillors gave first reading to the bylaw redesignating the lands for the project from agriculture district to direct control district in December.
The public hearing into the bylaw was held on Feb. 13 in council chambers, with organizers outlining details of the proposal.
The bylaw read: "The purpose of this district is for the development of the Fallentimber Rediscovery Centre, to support the delivery of educational and training programs which focuses on Indigenous culture and natural heritage.
"The Fallentimber Rediscovery Centre shall be operated for the exclusive use of clients of the Ghost River Rediscovery Society (GRRS) and shall not be made commercially available to the general public.î
The facility would include a number of traditional cultural education buildings, including a West Coast Big House, Kekuli or Earth Lodge, Eastern Iroquois Longhouse, Nordic cabins, Prairie tipi, and a Sweat Lodge, council heard. "Cultural education buildings shall be used for educational or ceremonial purposes and shall not be used for any form of habitation or overnight accommodation,î the bylaw states.
The GRRS is a Calgary-based charitable foundation with two leased recreation camps already in operation in the Ghost-Waiprous area outside Cochrane.
Programs offered by the society include wilderness outdoor activities, leadership training and education initiatives focused on cultural awareness, according to a concept plan presented to councillors.
Programs at the centre would take place from March to June, and in September and October. As well, some one-day educational programs will be held year-round.
The centre is not an alcohol or drug addiction treatment facility, council heard.
The MVC municipal development plan bylaw requires the preparation of concept plans to support large or unique development applications, such as the proposed Fallentimber facility.
Based on the development concept presented to council, the maximum occupancy of the facility would be 60 adults and youths, in addition to about 15 staff members.
Letters of support for the project from Chinook's Edge School Division and Rocky View School Division were presented to council.
During last week's public hearing no one came forward in opposition to the project.
"I'm very impressed with the amount of public consultation they have done,î said Deputy Reeve Patricia McKean.
A number of public open houses have been held into the project prior to last week's hearing.
Coun. Kevin Good said the project is worthwhile for the county.
"It is definitely heading in the right direction,î said Good.
Coun. Paddy Munro and ATCO spokesperson Darcy Dumont also spoke in support of the project
Following the hearing, councillors passed second and third reading to the bylaw.
Councillors defeated a motion calling for the refund of $7,150 for planning and development costs, with Coun. Al Kemmere being the only councillor voting for that motion.
The project now goes to the development application process.
There is no timeline yet in place for the opening of the centre, executive director Simon Ross said following the hearing.
