| Castle crown wilderness coalition loses court battle
The Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition is "disappointed" by a Court of Appeal decision that Alberta Environment was not required to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before approving the expansion of the Castle Mountain Resort near Pincher Creek.
The coalition asked for a judicial review of Alberta Environment’s decision not to conduct an EIA in 2002. Court of Queen’s Bench justice Colleen Kenny found the government’s decision to be "patently unreasonable" and referred the issue back to government for review, but the government appealed her decision and the ruling has been oveturned
Castle Mountain Resort’s expansion plan includes a town site with 137 additional housing units, a hotel and a hostel, and pubs and restaurants. The resort also plans to build new roads, parking lots and RV lots. The resort is promoting itself as a year-round destination.
Jeff Emmett says the West Castle Valley is an extremely sensitive wilderness area that should be protected.
"The Castle wilderness, remains a very crucial and threatened wilderness in Alberta. The landscape provides the headwaters for southern Alberta’s water, it is an important migratory route, it plays a key role in connectivity of many important species such as grizzly bears and others," he says.
Various environmental groups have been fighting for years to get protection for the area. They’re now calling on the government to create a wildland park in honour of conservationist Andy Russell, who died this year.
Homeless Awareness Week
The last homeless count in Calgary in 2004 revealed there are now 2,597 homeless people in the city, an increase of 23.3 per cent from 2002. Despite the efforts of many dedicated volunteers and employees at social service agencies, the numbers are still rising.
Homeless Awareness Calgary is holding its 10th annual Homeless Awareness Week from September 18 to 24 to try to increase awareness and knowledge about homeless issues. A new initiative this year gives Calgarians the chance to experience what’s it’s like to be homeless through a program called Street Survivor. Other events include: public tours of shelters and social service agencies; a screening of a new movie on homelessness, produced by Homeless Awareness Calgary; and an expert panel on addiction.
Homeless Awareness Calgary chairperson Carrie Neilson says the city has made progress on homelessness because it is now "moving more and more toward a model of cure rather than care."
But she says there are still a lot of issues that need to be addressed, such as affordable housing, the long waiting list for addications treatment beds, and rising family homelessness.
For more information on Homeless Awareness Week events, go to www.homeless-awareness.com.
Take back the night
The annual Take Back the Night march and rally, an international protest against violence against women, will take place on September 17 at 7:30 p.m. The event will begin at Central Memorial Park (1221 - 2 St. S.W.) the a rally and speeches, followed by the march at 8 p.m.
For more information call the Women’s Centre of Calgary at 264-1155. |
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