An invitation from our friends at Bow Valley Engage to attend an information session about the proposed Silvertip resort gondola on May 5th from 7-9 PM (600 9th St-Seniors Centre):
If you haven’t already heard, the Alberta government is considering a ludicrous proposal from Stone Creek Resorts (Silvertip resort) to put a gondola from the valley bottom up to a high ridge on Mount Lady Macdonald.
The top of the proposed gondola would include dining facilities, a suspension bridge, and an expanded trail network, much of which would pass through prime bighorn sheep habitat. This development would permanently alter the valley’s viewscape and increase human use in the critical wildlife corridors that allow grizzly bears (silvertips ironically) and other animals to move around Canmore on the north side of the Bow Valley.
For this project to advance to the next stage of approval, the boundaries of the Bow Valley Wildland Park would need to be altered, a dangerous precedent that would remove valuable wildlife habitat from an already stressed landscape.
The Bow Valley is one of the major ‘breaks’ in the Yellowstone to Yukon region. It’s the reason why millions of dollars have been spent on wildlife crossing structures across Highway 1 inside and now outside Banff National Park. The proposed gondola will compromise the decades of efforts and capital expenditures made to keep animals moving up and down the Rocky Mountains safely. We are putting at risk what this region is known for worldwide; being leaders in human wildlife coexistence.
We hope you can attend our information session on May 5th from 7-9 PM (600 9th St-Seniors Centre). We’ve lined up a group of experts to share their insights:
Dr. Tony Clevenger (Bow Valley Naturalists) will speak about wildlife movement and the impacts on habitat.
Bill Snow (Stoney Nakoda Nation) will provide an Indigenous perspective.
Adam Linnard (Yellowstone to Yukon) will explain the Alberta government’s public feedback process and impacts on the Y2Y region.
Emma Hoskins (CPAWS) will provide an update on the All Seasons Resort Act, under which this proposal would fall.
We’ll also share Calls to Action so you can get involved and make a difference. Stopping this proposal from proceeding will take a strong, collective approach from all of us, but together we can make a difference and stop this proposal.
Our friends from NOGondola (www.NOGONDOLA.ca) will also be there with signs and bumper stickers.
For more information on the proposed gondola: www.bowvalleyengage.com
As always, thanks for being engaged!
BVE
P.S. Donations gratefully accepted to help pay for hosting the event. Donations are most easily accepted via etransfer to bowvalleyengage@gmail.com. Thanks in advance.