| COP expansion
A massive expansion project planned for Canada Olympic Park has some conservationists worried the environment and cultural heritage of the Paskapoo Slopes will be paved over by recreation facilities.
The $260-million project, announced earlier this week, includes a new multi-sport indoor training complex, festival area and other tourist attractions. It also includes proposals for hiking and mountain biking trails on lands adjacent to the current COP, which have been purchased by the Canada Olympic Development Organization (CODA) over the past several years.
Some of that land, however, has been identified as ecologically and culturally significant. The Paskapoo Slopes have been identified by Calgary Parks and Recreation as an important wildlife corridor that houses deer, coyotes and a number of bird species.
The area was once a bison kill and processing site for Natives – it contains at least 49 individual sites of archaeological significance, many of which are located near COP, according to the Paskapoo Slopes Preservation Society.
CODA officials say they recognize the importance of the area and plan to take that into consideration.
According to a CODA statement, the project will proceed when adequate funding is available, and so far, no formal requests for government funding have been made.
Human rights ruling
The Alberta government has been ordered to change legislation to allow same sex couples equal family health care coverage. The Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission made the ruling based on a complaint from Calgarian Keith Purdy, who said he was being discriminated against because he wasn’t eligible for common-law family status with his longtime male partner.
The commission ruled in Purdy’s favour and ordered the Alberta government to allow same-sex partners to register for Alberta Health Care Premiums as dependents if their partners meet the definition for common-law spouse.
Mountains at risk
Mountainous areas all over the world are threatened by war, pollution and over-development, according to a new report from the United Nations University.
Written with the help of Canadian scientists, the report was put together as part of the United Nations International Year of the Mountains, and precedes an important symposium on mountain conservation and human use in Tokyo.
The study says everything from global warming to overuse by humans and illegal animal poaching is threatening mountain areas by destroying their natural environments. The Japanese symposium will take a closer look at the issues and examine ways humans can better manage their use of the mountains.
Save Nine Lives
A new program to vaccinate, identify, spay and neuter cats and dogs at no charge has been started to help make pet control affordable for all city owners.
Through the Save Nine Lives program, more than 20 Calgary veterinarians will offer the services for free to needy Calgarians, and then be partially reimbursed by grants from the charitable Zero E Foundation.
The goal of the initiative is to reduce unwanted pet litters and promote responsible pet ownership. It is also hoped the program will help cut down the number of abandoned dogs and cats euthanized in Calgary each year. For more information phone 239-5794. |
