To: All Persons Who Love Waterton Park

2016 March 15

TO: ALL PERSONS WHO LOVE WATERTON PARK

SUBJECT: NEW VISITOR RECEPTION CENTRE [VRC] - On Windflower Ave - in a play-field South of the Play Park; Block 39 Lots 4, 5, 6 and 7. {Map page 4}

SUMMARY

The News Release and Backgrounder issued by Parks Canada - Waterton on 2016 March 7 are attached. Also attached, is the 2010 Community Plan [CP] which has been appropriately highlighted and with “sticky note” annotations using pdf tools (click on orange squares). References to the Community Plan [CP] are in {page xx} format.

This proposed location for the VRC goes contrary to the spirit and detail of the 2000 Community Plan [CP]. The Park Management Plan 2010 [MP] restates that the 2000 CP is the Guideline. The MP also emphasizes the engagement of the public, stakeholders and lessees in management of the Park. The CP was tabled in Parliament by the Minister of the Environment {Page 3}.

There has been no genuine Public Consultation or Input as mandated in the CP and the MP and as recommended by the Working Committee (initiated by the Park Superintendent in 2015 October) [WC] {page 26}. The vast majority of the stakeholders, including lessees, and some on the ID#4 Council, are opposed to the location. Several other locations proposed by the WC have been dismissed without explanation. Many of the Park staff are also opposed to the planned location.

The last paragraph of the “Backgrounder” refers to third party review. However, it was senior Park staff who determined the 13 criteria, along with their consequent weighting, upon which the consultants were instructed to make their assessment. The WC questioned this and noted the need for public consultation. The Park responded that a decision was needed before 2016 January 31 or lose funding. This contrasts with the March 7th News Release and time frames therein stated.

THERE IS TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND REVIEW OF THE LOCATION. YOU ARE INVITED TO MAKE YOU OWN ASSESSMENT ASAP AND MAKE YOUR WISHES KNOWN.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL PERSONS INVOLVED!

DETAIL:

● This play-field, where the VRC is slated to be built, has been used by children, young adults (often employed in the Park), families, tourists and wildlife for generations. It is adjacent to an excellent play and water park, built and financed by the community. The facility will likely need expansion. Additionally, the Rotary Club of Canada refurbished the community tennis courts through its own fund-raising efforts.

● The VRC will constitute a net NEGATIVE Human and Wildlife Environmental Impact {pages 4, 29, 42, 50}.

● The CP Zones the land as Environmental Reserve in one place {page 12} and Recreational Reserve in others places {pages 13, 29 and 73}. In either case, in the spirit and intent of the CP; it is not appropriate for the use that Parks Canada has chosen for its VRC.

● The Waterton townsite is a tiny very congested village. {Page 7}. The area around the planned VRC site is perhaps the most congested part of the townsite, as evidenced by CP decision to build additional parking in the Campground near the entrance {pages 34 and 37}. Day use visitors vie for parking for their children to use the play park and the play field. Any parking at the planned VRC will likely be used by day use visitors to park for the day {page 33}. The added congestion will be a significant hazard to any pedestrian traffic in the area.

● The CP envisioned the VRC location to be on Institutional Land. {Page 54}. There is sufficient Institutional land space; particularly if the Park adheres to the CP statement that administrative functions will be moved to the Compound (including housing for non-townsite temporary seasonal staff) {page 28}. The Park is planning high density staff housing in much - but not all - available Institutional land {see low density vision page 3}. To do this the Park will demolish existing low density staff housing that they have spent much money to repair and upgrade in recent years. The Park has indicated verbally that the existing housing at the Compound for temporary seasonal staff will be demolished. This verbal information was given informally at a hastily announced, poorly advertised post-season, Open House dealing with staff housing and other infrastructure. The VRC was not discussed.

● It is anticipated that the VRC will be larger than necessary for VRC services in order to house senior administrative staff in addition to the Municipal Officers {page 28}. One of the options, at the above Open House, was to demolish the existing historic Administration building {page 28} which currently houses both staff groups to expand parking at the marina.

● The Campground is the largest block of land (10.3 hectares) in the townsite {page 25}. It has adequate open spaces that would be suitable for the VRC.

● See other highlighted details in the CP. This is a classic case of the Park doing things TO people and not WITH people {page 55} - a situation that the CP states to be avoided.

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Suggested individual contacts:

Waterton Park Superintendent: Ifan Thomas

P.O. Box 200, Waterton Park AB T0K 2MO

Waterton External Relations: Doreen McGillis

CEO Parks Canada - Ottawa: Daniel Watson

30 Victoria Street, Gatineau PG J8X 0B3

M.P. for Waterton - John Barlow

@JohnBarlowMP (Twitter)

Leader of the Opposition - Rona Ambrose

@RonaAmbrose (Twitter)

Minister of the Environment - Catherine McKenna

@ec_minister (Twitter)

Suggested other contacts:

All politicians: Name M.P, House of Commons, Ottawa ON, K1A 0A6 (postage free in Canada)

Google “Find You Own MP” by Postal Code – and find all contact information

Suggest all electronic mail be followed up by Canada Post or USPS

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