Residents along the Elbow River are working together to restore a sense of community in the area, after the flooding in 2013 devastated the area. A meeting was held June 14 to give residents a chance to learn more about the Elbow River Corridor Project.
“This is really a community-based project that grew out of a number of people in Bragg Creek talking about the need to look at everything from flood protection to community development, and how to revitalize the community – while really focusing around what’s happening with the river,” said Carole Stark, facilitator of the Bragg Creek Revitalization Plan’s Implementation Committee.
According to Stark, the project’s goal is community education and engagement around flood protection, restoration and improvements to the area along the Elbow River corridor. The focus is primarily on public lands, and gives an opportunity for residents to offer feedback on what they’d like to see developed in the area.
The project has received financial support from The Calgary Foundation and the Rick Butler Leadership Fund, as well as support from Area Councillor Liz Breakey, who Stark said has been “very active” in connecting people from the area to move the project forward.
“It’s not really a new organization or a new initiative starting up, this is more of a dialogue process that people can participate in to share their opinions and learn more,” she said. “This information can then be shared with Rocky View County (RVC), Redwood Meadows and any other groups or initiatives that are moving forward.”
The first meeting saw nearly 50 residents participating in workshop discussions and listening to presentations. A report on watershed health was provided by Flora Giesbrecht with Elbow River Watershed Partnership, and an update on RVC’s flood mitigation project was given by AMEC – the engineering firm hired by the County.
“We wanted to closely align with the County’s timing and content, so that we are working in parallel and giving residents the opportunity to learn more in a public place,” Stark said. “There are a lot of things going on right now in these communities, and this is a way to kind of put it all in perspective.”
A future forum in mid-September will provide an opportunity to hear the priorities identified by residents during these first meetings, and how that will link with where the revitalization and flood mitigation plans are at, at that time.
“There has really been a clear voice over the last year and half from residents saying we need to be moving forward and co-ordinating efforts,” Stark said. “I think the biggest thing is that people do want a chance to say how they feel about things, and at the same time expand their knowledge of what it’s going on within their community. The whole point is to just keep that conversation going.”
