This is the full story about the Historic Bearspaw School and the 2004 election. Around 2003, the local Lions Club applied for a demolition permit to remove the old school which was a derelict and in need of a lot of TLC. I had the demolition permit suspended and found a nearby Municipal Reserve and the Historic Bearspaw school was moved. I also knew the landowner where the teacherage and barn were located and I approached him and he generously donated them to the Historical Society. The teacherage was also moved next to the school but the barn was beyond restoration and was eventually replicated on the site. The restoration was started by boarding up the windows after removing them for repair and the siding was removed so that rotting boards could be replaced, modern safe wiring installed and insulation with vapour barrier installed without damaging the interior plaster. While this was happening the school looked very disreputable, especially in a very beautiful upscale neighbourhood in Bearspaw. The neighbours were very upset and it was then that the election happened. This was a major factor in my losing the 2004 election by 29 votes. The restoration was completed and now children come from the new Bearspaw School over to have lessons in the Historic School, Family and Community Social Services (FCSS) have an office in the building and clubs, art organizations, service organizations as well as other local groups use the building for meetings. It has become a centre of activity in the Community and is now a loved jewel of an asset. If you were to try and remove the Historic School now, you would have a fight on your hands. While the Councillor has to be listening to the residents and respond to their needs, sometime leadership is required. I have always made my decisions based on what I thought was best for the community 20 years from now and not for the next election cycle. I see no reason to change that concept.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 18:07:09 +0000
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