Needs of the riding
By Leela Sharon Aheer Chestermere-Strathmore MLA
Hello Chestermere-Strathmore readers
I wanted to chat this week about some of the transportation and infrastructure needs of the riding. We have put some ideas forward with the help and collaboration of our municipal partners. I thought it would be a good idea to share those with you as we do every year, and if you have any input, please share it with our office.
I will not be running in the next election, so we have a few more months together to get some projects started and finished or show you our progress.
• The intersection of 22X Highway 791 requires an acceleration lane when traffic is turning west. It is very dangerous during heavy traffic times.
• The twinning of Highway 1A (17th Ave.) between Calgary and Chestermere.
• The twinning of Hwy #560 (Glenmore Trial) between Calgary and Langdon.
• Highway 560 and RR 283 – RR 283 requires a sign that the right-hand lane on Highway 560 is a through lane. Highway 560 requires a sign that traffic is turning onto Highway 560 from RR 283. Highway 560 requires an acceleration lane for traffic turning west from RR 283. This is a dangerous intersection, especially during heavy traffic times.
• Overpass on Highway #1 at RR 284 (near Conrich).
How do we build a school? It is a question that we hear every day. Let me share the process with you. I want to thank Rocky View and Golden Hills School authorities for their incredible work and advocacy on behalf of our growing families. These School Boards are focused on our kids and teachers. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you working to build our communities.
Here is the process:
1) Rocky View/Golden Hills school authorities (Trustees and Superintendents) will identify the need for a school.
2) The municipality will prepare the site (in-ground services, enough space for the school, parking, level, stormwater management, and other services that must be fulfilled by the municipality).
3) The school authority sets the school as a priority.
4) Province approves funding.
5) Design of school.
6) Construction of school.
7) School opens.
Let me share some numbers with you about our area of Chestermere-Strathmore. This area serves over 35,000 students, with increased enrolments year over year. This is fantastic; our communities are growing so fast that it is hard to keep up. There has been 91% growth in our area from 2001-2021! New schools are critical and portables as well. We have been unable to secure portables across the province for many reasons, one being procurement. The products used to build them are in short supply, and we have been behind on building them for 20 years, so the backlog is huge. I am working closely with the school boards to help secure portables as they become available.
So here is where we are at:
The Langdon school is under construction, and we are so excited to have this school built. The opening should happen sometime in 2024, so fingers crossed we are on our way. This school has been a project for many of us for over ten years. It is a privilege for me to see this critical school built for our community.
Chestermere is at a bit of a standstill. The services are being put in, and I want to thank our Chestermere City Council for their commitment and agreement in moving this phase forward as fast as possible for both the elementary and high school that are critical for this rapidly growing city. Chestermere has grown in population by 429% since 2001. The City of Chestermere and the Rocky View School authority are coordinating the following issues:
Extra land is needed (approximately six acres) for the high schools designated Under the Municipal Government Act.
“Regular meetings regarding allocation, planning, development, use and maintenance of reserve lands for school purposes.” (Reserve land agreements document)
The quick allocation of expanded needed lands required to build a school. This is necessary as all municipalities either provide extra land or give dollars to school authorities in lieu of land to purchase the needed land.
We look forward to seeing step two resolved as soon as possible by the City of Chestermere to fulfill their obligation to the High School. We are honoured to see their commitment to their growing community and the kiddos in this area. We haven’t had a school site ready since 2014, so we thank the City of Chestermere for their amazing work. The elementary schools are almost ready to go!
As always, we love to hear from you!
(Leela Sharon Aheer is the MLA Elect for Chestermere-Strathmore)