Skip to content

Communty league wants to forge its own path

The St. Albert Community League wants to see its hall continue to be a strong part of the future downtown. At a meeting held this week, the group reinforced its independence and desire to decide its own fate in the new downtown vision.

The St. Albert Community League wants to see its hall continue to be a strong part of the future downtown.

At a meeting held this week, the group reinforced its independence and desire to decide its own fate in the new downtown vision.

Earlier this summer, after city council started the work on the downtown area revitalization plan, (DARP) the Art and Heritage Foundation (AHF) proposed an expansion of its own, into the community hall.

The AHF proposal involved expanding its building next door and taking over the hall as a children's art gallery.

The plans stunned community league members and the AHF apologized later for jumping the gun. League president Vic Charlton said Tuesday night's meeting was an opportunity to correct the record.

"We felt like this was presented as a fait accompli. We wanted to make sure that it was clear this is not the case."

He said the group is eager to stay just where they are and be a part of the downtown renewal.

"We don't want someone else telling us what is going to happen to our building. We want to be part of whatever development takes place and it would take part with our blessing, not against our wishes."

Charlton said the hall has been an important landmark in St. Albert for decades and is important, especially to the community's older residents.

"That is where they may have got married. That is where they might have attended a Friday or Saturday night dance. We would like to renew that sort of spirit."

Mayor Nolan Crouse, who attended the meeting, said he was very impressed with the organization and felt members made it clear they want to be a part of a future downtown.

Hearing continues

DARP has generated a lot of interest with several groups coming forward expressing their own visions. The AHF and the library board have both suggested they could add to the proposed plan and the St. Albert Taxpayers Association has started a petition against the proposal.

Crouse said he is not surprised so many groups have an idea about the future of the downtown, which is part of the reason plans for the area have always been difficult.

"It is one of the reasons why it hasn't been dealt with, because it is so complex and invokes so much opinion."

Crouse is hoping to arrange a meeting between the community league and the AHF to sort out the issues between the two groups sometime after this fall's election.

He said the community hall can be an important part of a future downtown, but deciding its role is just one of many things that need to happen.

"There are hundreds of things that need to be done. It is everything from streetscape to growing Rock'n August to making sure the community hall is a part of it. It is one of many, many things."

He said even though some groups have been critical of the plan, the city needs some kind of vision.

"You have an obligation as a leader in the community to make sure that there are plans in place and I am not afraid of it."

The public hearing on DARP continues at 5 p.m. on Monday in council chambers.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks