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OPINION: Rural roots

This past week Rocky View County council made the decision to revert its chief elected officials' titles back to the traditional Reeve and Deputy Reeve from Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
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Last week, Rocky View County council made the decision to revert its chief elected officials' titles back to the traditional 'Reeve' and 'Deputy Reeve' after changing these titles to Mayor and Deputy Mayor at the end of 2020.

Changing these titles back not only acknowledges the rural character of Rocky View County, but also gives a strong nod to the continuing importance of the agriculture sector to the foundational success of the municipality. 

Rocky View communities, while increasingly urbanized, continue to deeply value that agricultural, rural tradition, and repeatedly highlight that one of the greatest things about living in the county as opposed to Calgary, for example, is the strong presence of the natural world near where they live.

In some ways, it could be argued, Rocky View County has been the victim of its own success. Sacrificing much of its pastoral and rural character for the allure of rapid country residential development, new subdivisions, and vast industrial complexes.

While these developments have filled up the tax coffers to new heights, they've come at a cost. Some long-time local residents lament at the vast changes these developments have wrought.

It is wonderful RVC has continued to experience strong residential and commercial growth as it makes its way forward into the third decade of the 21st century, but the County must not forget, at heart, it remains a vital rural district where residents value the solitude of nature, and the ever-changing sights of native prairie life all around.

Is there a more beautiful sight than a golden wheat field standing in the fall? Or the lush green of the distant hills as the prairie awakens from its winter slumber? Or the flash of meandering waters as the county’s creeks and little rivers run through natural grasslands, croplands or communities? 

We think not. Rocky View residents relish in these sights, and take pride in that rural perspective. 

And now it seems this elected council does too – acknowledged once again firmly by its use of the Reeve and Deputy Reeve titles.

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