Sylvan Lake News

April 25, 2008

Take time to celebrate those who give time and energy

Dear Editor,

April 27-May 3 is National Volunteer Week. This week is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the energy and commitment of our community volunteers across Canada.
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is extremely fortunate to enjoy the time and energy devoted to us by 8,000 capable and dedicated volunteers.
DUC has a long history of volunteerism dating back to 1938, our year of incorporation. Our original volunteers, called Kee-Men, were the goodwill ambassadors of the organization. They embraced the DUC program and did an outstanding job of publicizing and explaining the objectives of the new company while keeping an eye on and reporting waterfowl populations in their neck of the prairies.
Today, exactly 70 years later, we still share the passion, dedication and steadfast fortitude that our earliest volunteers and founders displayed. Our volunteers have expanded their repertoire to include fundraising through community dinners and auctions, sealed bid auctions and special events.
They also teach our youth about the many values of wetlands, such as their ability to filter water, to moderate the effects of droughts, floods, climate change, and erosion, to provide essential habitat for 600 species of Canadian wildlife, and much more. This is tangible proof that the conservation spirit is still very much as relevant now as it was in the very beginning.
When you consider that up to 70 per cent of Canada’s wetlands have already disappeared in settled areas of Canada, the need for volunteer support has never been greater. That’s why it’s humbling to know that so many people are willing to take a stand for wetlands.
Ducks Unlimited Canada was founded upon the hope that wetlands, and all the many benefits that wetlands have to offer, will be there for future generations to enjoy. And if our volunteers have anything to say about it, it’ll happen. They’ve continuously proven that they are willing to do everything in their power to help make a difference.
This week, take the time to celebrate the hardworking volunteers in your community who are giving their time and energy to so many worthwhile causes. Their efforts benefit us all.

April 18, 2008

Review crash test ratings

Dear Editor,

In light of the fatal school bus crash on April 9th, east of Rimbey, I think it’s time for a serious review of the actual crash test ratings for many of our current school buses.
Having seen, firsthand, what is left of this bus, one must conclude that these vehicles are of a very low standard when it comes to protecting it’s occupants.
Consider, if you will, the norm for regular bus transportation companies, such as Red Arrow, Greyhound, and Red Deer city buses. These are all rear engine, diesel driven units, that by virtue of the engine mass in the rear, provide excellent protection from rear end crashes.
Not so with the majority of our current school buses. Why then do the school boards insist upon using the cheapest “tin cans” to transport our students around the province. A new SUV will generally make a five star rear end crash test. After seeing what’s left of the rear end of this bus, I doubt that it’s even a 1.5.
Come on school board trustees, these young people are our future, don’t treat their lives with such shallow disregard!

April 11, 2008

Let’s get real on health care delivery

Dear Editor,

Health Minister Ron Liepert’s comments in the Edmonton Journal April 6 regarding health reforms under scrutiny and the “pretty strong mandate” allowing him to dismantle the public health care infrastructure yet again, aren’t anywhere close to reality when it comes to public support for our public health system.
When the abysmal voter turn out of 41 per cent is then again broken down to actual PC votes that “pretty strong mandate” boils down to about 22 per cent of the voting public. Can that be called a mandate?
In fact, the recent election platform was so ‘lean’ and quiet on health reform or privatization issues, the public was probably feeling ‘safe’ regarding health care delivery, what with all those promises of new long term care beds, foreign search and education of health professionals, building world class facilities to attract researchers and so on.
Mr. Stelmach may have said the Third Way is DOA but the monster is simply morphing into some other dragon that still wants to gobble up health care in the form of privatization and then foist the costs on to the sick and unhealthy turning them into profit centres for private business.
Our public health care system does not need the destabilization that will result from the potential changes being bandied about such as one super board. Or maybe that’s the whole idea. Create upheaval and chaos and then before anyone can figure it out, move in privatization reforms and save the day!
The government may be spending $13.1 billion on health care or roughly 36 per cent, but out of context the figures are meaningless. Spending is still 7.4 per cent of GDP in 2007, pretty much where it has been for two decades. Although health spending has risen somewhat, significant contributors to this are inflation, overtime cost due to staff shortages, mark ups by private for profit providers, new technologies and procedures and the costs of prescription drugs.
“Albertans bought into it,” Liepert says of reforms in the 1990s. Right, when provincial deficit still existed and economic growth teetered up and down. Now, with billions of dollars of surplus in the coffers, corporate tax cuts in place and illogical royalty rates on foreign owned oil investments in the tar sands, I wouldn’t count on the public ‘buying into it’ this time, especially when it will come from their own pockets.

Sylvan a gem if time taken to plan; slow and steady wins

Dear Editor,

I have read with interest recent articles regarding the development of Sylvan Lake and have decided to give my opinion on the topic.
Our family moved to Sylvan Lake just over a year ago after having spent several years in the Okanagan. I spent most of my youth living in Penticton, then as a married couple my husband, children and I lived in Peachland.
When I first lived in Penticton there were two sets of waterslides, many campgrounds and special events for families. Over the years I watched as the campgrounds were sold to be developed into condos and the waterslides were taken down to make room for even more condos. The main focus of development turned from being geared towards families to being geared towards seniors, wealthy vacationers and wine connoisseurs.
When we first lived in Peachland it was a small town with less than 5,000 people with mainly peach and cherry orchards. Over the seven years we lived there we watched as the old affordable homes were torn down to make room for high-end homes and the focus again went to developing condos and town homes for retiring seniors and baby-boomers.
One of the two campgrounds across from the lake was developed into high-priced condos which were definitely not family friendly, so again were geared to the aging population. The only public playground in town was an old wooden structure with a sign stating that it was suitable for children six years and up.
At that time I joined the parks committee to try to work on getting a new playground installed. This was a struggle since most of the people on the committee were seniors. Their interest was in developing walking trails for locals and visitors and they couldn’t get over the cost of playground equipment. The town did get a new town planner shortly thereafter who immediately saw to it that a new playground was installed.
When development of the community led to business expansion the question of parking spaces came into play which led to businesses now being allowed to expand and pay a fine if they couldn’t provide parking spaces. Traffic lights were not installed as the town grew and therefore this led to accidents and much frustration when trying to get onto the highway from the new neighbourhood developments.
Another city to look at is Kelowna — the way the roads were designed, it is easy to see that there was no forethought in the plan. The Okanagan grew and no one figured out how to create better traffic flow — now to solve the traffic congestion they are spending millions of dollars on a new bridge. Guess what? The bridge isn’t the problem, the main highway going through the town is the problem.
When my husband decided to start a company in Red Deer we thought that living in Sylvan Lake would be sort of like being back in the Okanagan of the good old days — waterslides, go carts, mini-golf, the lake — all the family-oriented type of things the Okanagan once offered to its locals and visitors.
We soon realized that things were going to start changing. When the developer who owns the waterslides wanted to build a new golf attraction it was met with the response by the Town of Sylvan Lake that it doesn’t want to have development which will be only usable in summer. This response has now cost the town a major investor who has chosen to get the heck out of Sylvan with all his money! Now the focus will turn to building a hotel to replace the waterslides as well as tearing down mobile home parks leaving their tenants virtually homeless.
I understand that development must take place when growth demands it but let’s pause a moment, slow down and take a look at other towns who have made mistakes in their development and learn from those mistakes.
Some examples of this would be: if we allow businesses to pay fines for lack of parking space, then where do we have people park when it is already a problem; are we taking away all affordable homes or are we making sure to demand developers provide affordable housing as well; are we planning the town only for tourists or also for the residents who pay taxes and call this town home all year?
I feel that it would be far better to table a development issue until some research has been done rather that just shout out “no” to everything that comes up if the immediate value can’t be seen. To send investors high-tailing it out of Sylvan Lake is not the direction we need to take.
I believe that all members of the community need to be taken into account when any development ideas are brought to the table and I believe this can be done while still maintaining the tourist appeal of Sylvan Lake.
Perhaps town council can arrange a trip to the Okanagan or a tele-conference with members of council in the Okanagan so that they may learn from the things that were done wrong there and try to avoid the same mistakes here in this lovely town of Sylvan Lake.
At this point Sylvan Lake could be a real gem if care is taken to plan for the future instead of being overwhelmed and overzealous in the development. Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

March 28, 2008

Money back guarantee requested for energy taxes

The following was forwarded to MP Bob Mills and copied to The Sylvan Lake News in response to an article in last week’s issue.

Dear Mr. Mills,

This is a comment on your Viewpoint “Agreement on climate change document close” that was published in the Mar. 20 edition of the Sylvan Lake News.
I understand the hard work that you and other members of the G8+5 Climate Change Dialogue Committee have devoted to creating climate change solutions acceptable to member nations and thank you for your efforts.
As a retired scientist I follow the details of climate analysis and projections of the UN’s IPCC team, and those of the expert critics, with considerable interest. In particular I note that the recent organized external scientific review of the closed-shop IPCC project has started to probe and reveal the weak points of the official IPCC assessments and forecasts. There is no dispute about the fact that climate has changed and the efforts of academic and government researchers to document that history is commendable. However, that task is trivial and easy.
In my view the failure of state-of-the-art climate models and the coupled climate-economics models to provide a reliable basis for political decision-making is disturbing. The imaginary future predicted by the IPCC computer models is highly questionable as the disagreements between model simulations and real experimental data show.
I draw your attention to the comparable failure of computer models to reliably predict the stability of the new Maple medical isotope nuclear reactors at Chalk River Laboratory to which your government has committed significant funding. The same modeling principles have been used to predict the future performance of both the highly complex Earth and the relatively well-defined reactor cores. When the best efforts of physicists cannot predict reactor core stability, I wonder how they can provide us with confidence in the evolution of the planet’s thin boundary layer. Furthermore, when global energy-use economic analyses are driven by the output from those same questionable climate models, I’d say that we taxpayers have a problem with governments that have blind faith in those predictions.
If the direction of your G8+5 committee is to recommend the introduction of a standard international carbon tax on GHG emissions, then Maurice Strong’s socialist mission will be complete. A carbon tax will obviously be a tax on energy production and therefore on GDP. A tax on the intrinsic GDP performance of national or regional economies, combined with wealth transfer to other poorer collectives, will simply serve to transfer Denmark’s recent unfortunate carbon tax experience to the rest of the world.
Climate change has proceeded steadily since Red Deer was covered by a couple of kilometres of glacial ice. The ice has disappeared, neither because of the flatulence of woolly mammoths nor the emissions of the industrial age, but because equatorial countries like President Lula da Silva’s have continued to heat up the Earth over millennia. We, in Canada, owe Brazil nothing. Brazil should give us our ice back.
I hope that your G8+5 committee will include a money-back guarantee for any international scheme to tax energy use. I know that I’d like my carbon tax payments back if they have no measurable impact on climate change. As you are likely aware, some solar experts consider that the Earth may cease to warm as those IPCC climate models have predicted. Providing a mechanism to disassociate one’s nation from faulty climate change fantasies would be very high on my priority list.
I look forward to learning about the recommendations of your G8+5 committee. Please let me know if there will be an opportunity for public comment on your deliberations before conclusions are final.

Dear Editor,
I have a few things I would like to bring up in regards to the multiplex arena.
When there are hockey games or other events at the multiplex arena, why is the upstairs viewing area always closed off? What is the sense of having such a nice area if you cannot use it.
On Sunday a group of parents came to watch our children play hockey and found it was not taped off. We thought this was great and went upstairs to watch. When we came down at the end of the first period, the tape was across the bottom of the stairs. A multiplex employee was asked why it was always closed. She responded, “Because it is too much hassle to clean it!” Whenever I have been at the multiplex, it seems there is always two or three employees sitting in the office, not looking too busy.
Sylvan Lake is hosting the Midget Cup tryouts on the weekend of Apr. 11-12, but only in the old arena side. The multiplex closes Mar. 31. Why? There will be 180 or more midget aged teams at the tryouts. Why did we fundraise to build this beautiful arena if we are not using it for events like this?
The upper level in the multiplex is so nice and wide it seems like the perfect place for the hockey players of every level to do short sprints to warm up before games, but they are not allowed. There really is no way they could fall from there. Please tell me why we are not using this area to its fullest potential.
Parking is atrocious on the old arena side. We now have flower beds and very narrow roads. As well what parking we have is very inconvenient to get in and out of, especially when hauling equipment back and forth. Planning was definitely not done with the users in mind.
The main reason I am writing this letter is that, with all the time and effort that was put into getting this wonderful multiplex, it seems a real shame that it is not being used to its fullest.

Dear Editor,
The Alberta election forum organized by the chamber of commerce and the Sylvan Lake Heart of Town Association Feb. 20 was an occasion that raised more questions than answers for electors wanting information from candidates as to their policy intentions for the next four years in Alberta. The welcome was friendly and the candidates were arranged right to left at the front of the room facing the electors.
In some aspects the event seemed like a pep rally for a team and its quarterback. Is it due to the reality that the provincial government both collects the taxes and under the present municipal governance decides what portions of these public funds will be returned to municipalities for projects chosen by the provincial government? This is a formidable arrangement.
Do people believe that this provincial power obligates them to support a continuous line of party-in-power representative or is it a need to belong that explains why the sitting member had such a following at the event?
I wonder how many present at the forum realize that the biggest department of the present government is the Public Affairs Bureau? This bureau reports directly to the premier, writes and issues all the public information of each government department and speaks for all MLAs, civil servants and government cabinet ministers. This is a monolithic structure that makes real dialogue between citizens and government members almost impossible.
I attended the forum to ask for the following information from all candidates. “Do you agree that is time to stop new tar sands approvals and lease sales and deal with the environmental and social problems caused by what has already happened in the tar sands area and how it has affected all Albertan’s?” The chair of the forum chose to alter the wording of this question. I wonder why and under whose instructions she chose to reword the question.

Police encouraged to write school zone tickets

Dear Editor
As a mother and a taxpayer I am disappointed in the police and the citizens of Sylvan Lake. Where are the police during the time our children are going to or coming home from school?
I took my children to school this morning and counted four out of five people who were going well over the 30km/hr speed limit. Then I pull out of the drop off area and three people were on my backside within five seconds. And they were at the top of the hill when I pulled out.
The ‘funny’ thing is most of the speeders are the parents dropping off or picking their own children. Don’t get me wrong I do see the police parked and waiting, but it’s usually only two or three times a month (at my children’s school). Why are the police letting a lot of the people off with a warning? It’s a school-playground zone!
I see people going over crosswalks when the children are still in them. You are supposed to be stopped until they are completely out of them. It’s like people forget the ‘rules’ of the road. These are our children, people, we have to take care of them and keep them safe. PLEASE SLOW DOWN!
And for the police, please give tickets to these drivers not warn them. Because, you know, it will be one of MY children that get hit by one of these idiots.

Dear Editor,
Last week Mrs. Schirru (the leading opponent to the soccer training wall location) quoted me as saying “the location (of the soccer training wall) did not matter as long as the kids were able to practice on it.” This allegation is not true. Never would I say the location doesn’t matter, the location is the key component of utilizing it. The minutes for the Jan 14th town council meeting can be viewed at: http://www.town.sylvan-lake.ab.ca/councilminutes08/A-14-01-2008.pdf
There has been an agreement to work together to determine an alternate site for the soccer training wall that is acceptable to all. I agreed to look around Sylvan Lake again; however recreation department personnel and I had already walked very extensively, every location in Sylvan Lake many months ago and deliberated over all possible locations. It’s through this process that the current location was chosen.
The resident speaks of a win-win situation. There has been indication that if the best spot for the soccer training wall is at its current location, the resident is going to try and take her issue further. From our perspective this is not right and a concern.
There have been many win-win situations presented to the resident by the recreation board. The recreation board has offered to help paint a mural on the front side of it, insulate it for potential noise, leave it for a year and see how it works, plant trees behind the house etc. None seem to be acceptable to the resident.
Regarding the concerns about raising awareness to the soccer membership on registration night, the soccer training wall situation was thoroughly presented as well as many other topics. (This same process happens every year — relevant soccer topics are addressed at a soccer meeting before registrations are taken.)
The association wanted to ask its membership if there was support for the soccer training wall. Over 100 people signed a simple letter of support for the soccer training wall, its location and for the players who donated the money for it. Then we were accused of poor sportsmanship and leadership by the resident in an article to the Sylvan Lake News. These statements are in poor taste and not necessary.
The resident exposed her issue to the media before contacting the soccer association. We did not realize there was an issue between the soccer association and the resident until a Red Deer Advocate reporter called to get information about the “controversy” between the soccer association and the resident. Earlier that week, when we attended the recreation board meeting with her, we understood she was taking up her issue with town council; not us or the media. Later came multiple radio messages and an article with a zoomed-in picture of the soccer training wall and the resident in front of it with her message of “Neighbours take kick at soccer wall.” Keep in mind this was well after the soccer training wall was already paid for, approved and built.
Everyone is open to finding a “so-called” better location. If such time the current location is determined to be the best then the expectation would be to leave it where it is. No more radio and newspaper interviews, I think people have heard enough about this, I know I have.

Dear Mr. Schmidt,
I am a property owner in the West Village High Residential District and would like to provide my comments of support on proposed Bylaw #1451/2007.
Firstly, I would like to commend the Town of Sylvan Lake for establishing the West Village High Density Residential Area through the Waterfront Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP). I wholeheartedly support the vision, planning principles, goals and land uses for the West Village Area as set out in the ARP.
I also fully support the Pattern Book as a document to help achieve the vision for the West Village Area. The Pattern Book follows tried and true New Urbanism principles as used in other progressive towns and cities in Canada and the U.S. The New Urbanism approach of using a detailed Urban Code provides for much more focused control over architectural design than does a typical zoning document.
While the Sylvan Lake Pattern Book seems to be rather limited in the types of architectural designs it allows, I appreciate that it provides for a number of options. At the same time, it recognizes the need to encourage designers to explore new design concepts and contemporary design modifications which may be complimentary to the Cape Cod or nautical style of design. I believe this type of land use regulation will help ensure a high quality of development in the neighbourhood as a whole and that developers will see the benefits in building to a higher standard than the norm.
I strongly support the Pattern Book’s parking regulations, and the requirement to provide underground parking structures in most cases. While underground parking is more expensive for developers to build, this has been balanced by providing for slightly reduced parking space requirements. Developers have the option to provide more spaces in accordance with market demand. This combined approach will help achieve the key planning principles as outlined in the ARP, including: promote mixed use, emphasize compactness, foster intensity and promote walkability. In other words, the parking regulations match the vision for the area as a pedestrian-friendly, walkable neighbourhood - a neighbourhood where the car is de-emphasized.
I have worked as a practising professional planner in Alberta for over 35 years. I am impressed with the commitment of the Town of Sylvan Lake to achieve Smart Growth in this manner and I encourage Town Council to adopt the Pattern Book in its current form.

Editor’s Note: The letter below was forwarded to the town as part of the public hearing regarding incorporation of the Pattern Book as the standard for development in West Village. It’s published to provide an alternate view to that expressed by Anna Smith at the public hearing (as reported last week).

Dear Editor,
The other day I had the bitter sweet experience to read in your paper about somebody who had lost a photo album from Norway. This was me. I had no idea that we had lost a photo album since it was out of a parcel stolen from our mail box.
I’d like to thank everybody who took the effort and care to try to return the album to us. This is the spirit and caring which made me stay in Alberta some twenty years ago. Again, thank you for your efforts.
As far as for the person who stole my mail, you just do not realize by doing so you took something away from yourself, namely the trust you like others to have in you.

Dear Editor,
Ideas do have consequences and nothing illustrates this more clearly than our Canadian health care system. The idea — no cost need be applied to access the system — has plagued us since its inception some 50 years ago. Waiting times get longer, newly trained nurses go south to the U.S. and our doctors are overworked and going bankrupt.
Free medicare does not work.
Are you, the Canadian citizen, interested in supporting change to restore Canadian health care? Change to support our nurses, support our doctors? We need to get serious about our health and install economic ideas that work, as proven by human action over the centuries.
You can help effect change by making health care an economic priority. You do this by supporting a $20 per appointment fee and obligation to your doctor. Discretion for service made by the doctor. It’s not anticipated anyone would go without medicare.
Canadians need to back their medicare with sound economic principles. With our perceived free medicare to all, the demand side is unlimited yet the supply side is limited by the government’s ability to tax. No business would be able supply the market on this very inefficient model.
Let’s you and I get serious and support a reasonable per visit fee.
An idea who’s time has come.

Dear Editor,
What is happening to Sylvan Lake, the so called ‘family town’ and ‘summer resort’?!
Apparently the water slides are for sale. They were just renovated recently. The water slides are a huge tourist attraction.
I realize that the sale of the water slides has nothing to do with the town, but the town nixed Bert Messier’s ‘golf centre’. They nixed what was to be called “Noah’s Ark”, which would have housed a kids centre similar to moonwalker with laser tag and other activities. This was nixed because of its proximity to the highway. Then put a set of traffic lights there, as it is already a dangerous intersection!
Let’s sell to all the developers who will be building hotels and condos, for what?
If this town and others continue with this kind of action, there will not be anyone staying at the hotels because Sylvan Lake will have nothing left to offer to families, tourists or the people of Sylvan Lake.
The sale of the water slide would be very, very disappointing.
Come on developers … move on in and just take over what used to be a family friendly town.

Dear Editor,
As an artist in this town, it’s been my sole purpose to bring beauty into this part of the world.
It’s my understanding that business owners in our downtown community are reluctant to “take the leap” and change their business storefronts with various theme ideas.
One very economical solution to create change and bring harmony to our downtown core … is COLOUR! Imagine entering our town from the hill and seeing a town of colour. A rainbow in the prairies, a feeling of Mexico in Alberta. It would be festive, bright, bold and beautiful. Each building would have its own unique colour scheme (or chosen from a palette of colours). This would be an experience that people would be drawn to come visit … colourful downtown!
You can paint anything and everything: stucco, brick, metal, wood and stone.
We have one of the best paint stores in the area with The Paint Stop.
On Lakeshore businesses such as the Moo and Pete’s At The Beach have the right idea to attract! Now if we can carry that energy and those colours around the corner to the downtown … it would be totally unique from any other resort town!
Imagine Sylvan Lake … a town of colour.

Criminals burglarizing homes during daytime
Dear Editor,
I thought the readers and residents of Sylvan Lake and surrounding areas should know of the recent crime spree that appears to be going on which the public is not being informed about. Being a recent victim of this crime has definitely opened my eyes to my surroundings and especially my neighbourhood.
Worthless criminals are now coming out in the daylight. It appears that these ‘scum’ knock on your door and when no one answers, they simply kick it in and clean you out. They have taken electronics, firearms, even bear rugs and anything else they can get their grubby hands on in mere minutes.
I ask that residents be aware of your neighbours and watch for suspicious activity. Just because its mid-morning does not mean that criminal activity is not happening.
I also ask that if anyone knows anything about the recent burglaries in Sylvan Lake and area, to please contact the RCMP.

Editor’s Note: We carried two stories about daytime burglaries in last week’s newspaper. This letter was received after our deadline for the issue, but before the paper was on the street.

Dear Editor,
As a farmer, very involved with the 500 kV export power line proposed to run between Edmonton and Calgary, I know many landowners may not realize that the Stelmach government, using Bill 46, has effectively stripped them of their legal right to the peaceful enjoyment of their property. In spite of very vocal protests across the province, Stelmach rammed through Bill 46 at three in the morning so people would not see his amendments to the bill actually made things worse for landowners.
Bill 46 means that if you are not within 800 metres of an energy development, you have no right to have intervener costs for lawyers, etc., refunded to you. At least under the old system, that was a possibility. This means if 20 storey electrical towers and power lines are 801 metres from your property line, it will cost you between $25-70,000 to hire a lawyer to attend weeks of public hearings run by Conservative appointees with a record of bias against landowners.
Stelmach promised that Bill 46 would not be used to abuse landowners. However, the Conservatives are still refusing to honour their obligations to pay landowner costs from the last hearing where the AEUB was caught spying on citizens and their lawyers. So much for Stelmach’s assurances they would never abuse the powers of Bill 46.
Community groups are no longer entitled to intervener status either, so landowners are on their own, thanks to Stelmach. Worse, under Bill 46, the czars who run the show do not have to give any notice if it is decided the need for the project is urgent. You could wake up one morning with crews building a project beside your fence, and you would have no right to express your concerns.
Adding insult to injury, Stelmach’s Conservatives provide government mandated rates of return to electrical companies. This means everyone in Alberta with an electrical meter must pay for these projects, over and over again, even if they never carry a single watt of electricity.
Compensation? Don’t make me laugh. Stelmach and the Conservatives have written the laws and stacked the Surface Rights Board with their cronies to make sure industry is taken care of first.
Stelmach pushed this bill through with the help of our local Conservative MLA. Bill 46 shows the Alberta government has no respect for landowners, property rights, or the pocket book of consumers.

Dear Editor,
When we retired 18 years ago, we searched the country for a place to settle in our retirement years (away from the big city). We’d had a cottage on Sylvan Lake for many years and the decision to settle on Sylvan was made largely because of the people we had met in Central Alberta. We described them to friends as the “Salt of the Earth”. A recent circumstance reinforced this decision.
Last evening (Wed. Feb. 6) about 6 o’clock my wife was returning from Red Deer via Highway 11A when suddenly a tire on her car blew out. She pulled over and engaged her flashers then called me on her cell phone.
While she was waiting for me to arrive, a young lady named Tammy with children in her car stopped and offered assistance. When my wife advised her that I was on my way, she offered to wait with her. My wife said that this was not necessary and thanked her for her concern.
Shortly after this another car stopped to help. It was Jim Mulek of Rimbey on his way home from work. Jim elected to wait by the side of the road with her until I arrived, whereupon he helped me relocate the car to effect a tire change. He then proceeded to take over and make the tire change for us.
I was most appreciative and offered to give him something for his valuable assistance. He declined and suggested that if I felt so inclined I could give the money to a family in need.
This wonderful selfless act on the part of Jim, coupled with the concern of Tammy, should not go unrecognized. Thank you again Tammy and Jim.
We have always supported the Sylvan Lake Food Bank, but this year we were away and it got overlooked. Thanks to Jim and Tammy this will immediately be rectified.

Dear Editor,
I feel the need to once again address the facts surrounding the infamous soccer wall behind our house. I have recently read letters to the editor and feel that the public needs to be informed of the facts.
The soccer wall issue was taken to council on Jan. 14th and as a result council unanimously agreed that all three parties involved, the soccer association, the parks and rec department and the affected residents of Herder Drive must come to an agreement before soccer season starts, to find a more suitable location in the community for this wall.
The parks and rec department is currently working on establishing the criteria for this wall in order to ensure that everyone’s needs are met and so that we can come up with a win-win situation.
Todd Alexander, of Sylvan Lake Soccer Association, even stated at the council meeting that the location did not matter as long as the kids were able to use it to practice on. Why then, at soccer registration night, before allowing parents to register their kids, did they feel the need to carry on, at great length, about an issue that has been resolved at council. Where is the leadership and display of good sportsmanship that goes along with the sport of soccer?
There are other soccer walls of this type in Alberta, according to the Alberta Soccer Association, but they are a minimum distance of 600 feet from any houses, out of respect for homeowners and because of noise and aesthetics. This wall is a mere 150 feet from our fence and this is the main reason why we are upset.
If moving the wall (at no expense to the soccer association I might add) has been agreed upon then why can’t we all come together as adults and work to find a better spot?
Let’s put this issue to rest for the sake of all kids involved including mine. I’d like my kids to want to play soccer this season and not feel apprehensive because of the negativity surrounding this practice wall.
No one is taking anything away from the kids who raised the money to build it, nor is anyone taking anything away from the kids who will use it. Can we please move on.

Dear Editor,
Sylvan’s Great Wall … the soccer wall in Four Seasons Park.
Though the controversy exists with the fate of this now infamous wall, how well is the inception of the wall known by residents?
In 2006, a talented and generous group of young boys from Sylvan Lake achieved many milestones together in their U14 soccer careers. One of their “goals” was to provide the people of Sylvan Lake, both young and old, with a soccer wall. With the same hard work, determination and integrity shown both on and off the field, this group of young boys donated much of their time and raised money for the cause. Their effort culminated when the soccer wall eventually came to fruition.
Generous contributions from local businesses assisted the team in fulfilling their desire, for Sylvan Lake to have a soccer wall of its own.
With the location still to be determined, a vast commitment of time was given by town and soccer individuals respectively, to walk about and thoroughly give consideration to every potential location.
The decision to build the donated soccer wall in a sports and recreation park, where many sport disciplines are conjoined, was only after many months of planning, deliberation and approval.
With the majority of outdoor soccer being practiced AND played at Four Season’s Park, what better venue for the soccer wall? The water-filled, swampy ditches that border the soccer fields and plague the players would now be less of a hassle!
As the boards surrounding the ice rink stop the puck and tennis balls … chain link stops the erratic fly balls … thus the soccer wall will allow young and old alike to have the ball returned!
Recently, an announcement was made to the young men responsible for so much of the fund raising to finance the soccer wall, that they are to appear for a picture in front of the now infamous wall, in recognition of their effort. Amid the soccer wall controversy, the once applauded boys now have a sense of trepidation appearing next to it. Why? Are they being held in contempt for their generosity to their home town? What message is the community of Sylvan Lake sending these selfless young men?
A four season recreation park is for recreation by all, whether it adjoins a homeowner’s backyard or not. To take away the soccer wall from the largest soccer fields is preposterous! Sylvan Lake may remain steadfast in maintaining a town status, but our population in excess of 10,000 says we are a city, a rapidly growing young community. Providing the citizens with recreational outlets is one opportunity for the town council to give back to its community.
Incidentally, the recent press coverage showing pictures of the ired homeowner’s backyard being extremely close to the soccer wall was, well, extremely exaggerated. One stroll to Four Season’s Park will visually demonstrate the fair distance from their fence line.
As a resident of Sylvan Lake who also lives adjacent to a recreational field utilized by many, I take pride in knowing our youth had the integrity to contribute to the growth and continuum of soccer in our community.
Taking from thousands to appease the few? Now THAT is obscene!!
Keep the soccer wall where it stands.

Dear Editor,
I love soccer. I’ve have loved and been involved in soccer for a long time. As a player I can, without a doubt, say that the “controversial” soccer wall in Four Season’s Park will definitely get used by kids of all age groups. Even for the younger ones, it will be a great advantage on the field.
When I was in U4 to U10 soccer I would always practice kicking the ball at the little soccer goals or at the chain fence
at Four Season’s Park. When the ball would go through the little goals it would then roll into the swamp. I can tell you from experience that it’s not fun going in and out of the swamp to get your ball. If there was a soccer wall there eight years ago I would have saved my mom lots of loads of laundry.
When I kicked the ball at the chain fence it would make a big sound, not come back to me or go over the fence. If there was a soccer wall there six years ago it would have reduced noise and I would not have had to climb over the fence to get the ball.
This year I am going onto the U14 girl’s competitive team. I was absolutely stoked that this wall was being put up. I was so excited to be able to use it in just three short months.
On Jan. 18th I saw a “letter to the editor” in the Sylvan Lake News by Mrs. Shirru. In the letter she said that the soccer wall was obscene and that no one would use it. She also said she wasn’t against the soccer association that build it. I agree. I feel that she is against the soccer players.
Mrs. Shirru I respectfully ask you to please leave our soccer wall alone.

Dear Editor,
I hope you will allow me to clarify. I have no concerns with residents, my concerns are in regards to developers who feel they can steal established value from the homeowners of Sylvan Lake.
I also have concerns that the educated people who represent them on council allow developers to come to town and steal value. Home values decrease when an apartment building or narrow lots are adjacent. Each family, who trusted this town when they bought here, may lose between $20,000 and $100,000 in home value if the applications are approved. It has nothing to do with prejudice.
In regards to the trailer park, I am making an offer to purchase that would allow most of the existing residents to remain for an additional five years. The offer will require the Town of Sylvan Lake to allow for the transition from 43 trailers to 43 single family homes.
I am hoping this council can try to establish a vision that adds value to Sylvan Lake.

Dear Editor,
So the latest word on the street is that the population of Sylvan Lake is planned to grow to 60,000. I imagine that town administrators, and probably town council, have known this for some time, so will already be taking this fact into consideration when planning for the future.
Most of this council were returned, on the basis that they wanted to see several projects through that they had started in their first term of office.
To the best of my recollection the projects that were mentioned during their campaign for re-election were 1. Waterfront Redevelopment Plan, 2. Affordable Housing, 3. Business Development and 4. Infrastructure — all worthwhile projects. There may have been other projects mentioned, however I do not recollect building the new police station on green space, as being one of those projects you wished to see through. I respectfully suggest that you do not have either the implied or direct approval from the community for this project to proceed.
It may save the town up to $1,000,000, in the short term, if you build the police station on green space; however, this amount pales into insignificance when you consider the future potential population of 60,000. More open land and facilities are needed for a growing population, not less.
One of the sales points promoted by housing developers is a media room, a great facility. However what happens when the family decides that there are better things to life than sitting indoors. Will there be recreational facilities in the town for them to enjoy or space to develop them? Or will they be forced to move to another location where they had a progressive council and provided these facilities.
Please listen to the residents, people will come to your open house and look at what you have on offer. However, at the end of the day I question that you will have their support to build on the old CP lands.