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Bashaw council denies Bashaw Retreat Centre development application

Councillors unanimously reject development application
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By Kevin J. Sabo

For the Bashaw Star

Bashaw’s town council voted to deny a development application for the Bashaw Retreat Centre during their regular meeting on July 8.

The Bashaw Retreat Centre is a direct control-zoned property in a residential area in Bashaw. Under the current zoning provisions, the property has been allowed to operate as a seniors living centre and has also been used as a venue for weddings. The development application submitted to town was to turn the space into a 37-bed family treatment centre for a group operating in Maskwacis.

The group, Young Spirit Winds, has operated a day-treatment program in Maskwacis since the mid-2000s. Their program is aimed at Indigenous youth in the community who are having issues with gangs, drugs, or mental health-related issues.

If the 37-bed treatment centre had been allowed in Bashaw, it would have operated in partnership between the Bashaw Retreat Centre and Young Spirit Winds, and would have been a place for a youth, and their support network, consisting of parents and extended family to gather away from the problem causing environment and help the youth re-connect with their heritage.

“Right now, with the information I have, I’m not in favour of it,” said Deputy Mayor Rosella Peterman.

“Treatment centres should not be so close to a residential area,” she said.

“If you look at other treatment centres, they are away from residential areas.”

The rest of council agreed with Peterman, with her motion to deny the application passing unanimously.

Council Code of Conduct

Also discussed during the July 8 meeting was an update to the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw. With the municipal election occurring this fall, administration felt it prudent to review the document with council members, particularly the section about councillor training.

The current phrasing around councillor training says that a newly elected councillor “must make every effort” to attend an orientation session within 90 days of taking office. A proposed change to the section of the bylaw would be amended to say that new councillors “must” attend the orientation.

“I think orientation training is a must,” said Peterman.

Administration made note of the requested changes and will bring the bylaw amendments back to a subsequent meeting to be passed. The document is a requirement under the Alberta Municipal Government Act.

The next regular meeting of Bashaw town council will take place on July 22, 2021.



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I’m Emily Jaycox, the editor of Ponoka News and the Bashaw Star. I’ve lived in Ponoka since 2015 and have over seven years of experience working as a journalist in central Alberta communities.
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