Rocky View County is hosting an information session for a new emergency facility at the Balzac Community Centre from 4 to 8 p.m., June 10.
County staff and fire personnel will be present to answer questions and gain public input about the facility, which will be located on Rocky View County’s municipal campus, to be built in the east Balzac area.
Rocky View is hoping to complete the facility, which will be home to 12 firefighters and two provincial EMS, by the end of 2011.
The public is encouraged to view renderings of the facility’s initial design, and find out exactly where the emergency centre will be located.
“We are excited to have people come out and see some of the initial information about the emergency centre,” said Drew Hyndman of Rocky View County. “It is the gateway of our future municipal campus. We want people to have input.”
At more than 15,000 square feet, the Balzac Emergency Centre will be the largest in the county and will feature natural lighting, low-flow water fixtures and low maintenance landscaping.
“It is the first phase in a multi-phase development,” said Hyndman. “For the first time in our history, we will have a physical presence. It is a fairly important building.”
Unprecedented growth in the Balzac area coupled with the City of Calgary’s inability to maintain primary response to the area prompted the need for the facility.
“Council’s mandate is to provide safe communities for all residences,” said Hyndman.
“The onus is on us to be self sufficient. We need our guys and we need them trained.”
Local emergency services are currently located in a temporary facility on the north side of Highway 566, just east of Balzac.
The centre is being relocated this summer to another temporary site just north of Bucars RV Centre until its permanent home is ready.
