Owners of a Trans Canada Trail extension project are asking Rocky View County (RVC) for help and input by including a senior administration member in the planning process.
The Trail extension will become part of the 28,000-kilometre Trans Canada Trail Network and add to the existing network of trails currently available to Albertans.
The Trail Owners Council previously partnered with the Town of Cochrane and the City of Calgary in 2022 to proceed with work on Phase 1, identifying a route that connects Calgary to Cochrane through the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.
Now, the project seeks to connect the Town of Cochrane to the Town of Canmore by trail, in what is called Phase 2 of the extension plan.
The Rotary Club of Canmore is requesting RVC to provide a senior member of Administration to join the Trail Owners Council for Phase 2 of the Trail project.
The County received a similar request from the Rotary Club of Cochrane in 2022 to participate in the Ownership Council of Phase 1 of this project, Council reviewed this request, but did not appoint a senior Administration member.
Keagan Andrew, Intergovernmental Advisor with RVC, confirmed Administration met with representatives from the Rotary Club of Cochrane in January.
"Leadership on this project is divided into two teams, the Core Team and the Trail Owners Council," Andrew explained. "The Core Team consists of voluntary representatives from local organizations and serves to chair the Trail Owners Council as stewards of the project. The Core Team does not have decision-making authority."
Other proposed members of Phase 2 of the Ownership Council include the M.D. of Big Horn, the Town of Cochrane, the Town of Canmore, Alberta Forestry, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, and the Stoney Nakoda Nation.
The Trail Owners Council will provide decision-making authority on the development, approval, and coordination of the work required to build a trail connecting the two towns.
Andrew's report encouraged RVC involvement, but cautioned that involvement might set a precedent for other similar groups and projects.
There is currently no proposed route for Phase 2. The Trail Owners Council intends to work with local landowners and affected jurisdictions to identify the preferred route to achieve this goal. Assembling an advisory board and planning is expected to take a one to two year process.
At the Tuesday, April 8, meeting, RVC council directed Administration to proceed.
