Spruce Grove Gun Club

09/13/2017

Parkland County Council Moves Closer to Shutting Down the SGGC

On September 12th, after a full day of hearing public input, Parkland County council passed the second reading of a land-use bylaw amendment that would prohibit outdoor gun ranges in areas zoned for residential development with a vote of 6-1 and the bylaw will move forward for a third and final reading.

If passed the Spruce Grove Gun Club (SGGC) will be permanently barred from operating from its location of 45 years.

During the public hearing yesterday, SGGC directors and a number of others spoke to the benefits SGGC offers to the community, its safety record and councillors were provided with details regarding the $600,000 in infrastructure investments over the past decade to enhance safety and muffle noise. The club continues to meets and exceeds all requirements set out by the federal Chief Fi****ms Officer and the federal Fi****ms Act.

Club representatives also emphasized SGGC’s willingness to work with all stakeholders to find a fair and reasonable solution. We do not want to see a Facility worth over Two Million Dollars be confiscated without compensation to the club or its members.

The SGGC will continue to work to find a solution to provide our members with a safe range.

Please continue to make your voices heard. We need all of our supporters to continue to call, email and write Parkland County councillors. We have template letters you can use and all the contact information you need on our website (www.sggc.ca). With your help we can still save the club.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support us.

09/08/2017

We need your help!

The county is now accepting your feedback VIA EMAIL!! Until now, a person either had to attend in Council or attend a Public House to have their opinions/feedback accepted by the County and included in Public Hearings or permit applications.

It has been brought to our attention that a number of people who are OPPOSED to the operation of the SGGC and failed to attend our Open House have emailed the County advising they were not comfortable attending but that they want their feedback included with our development permit application and at the Public Hearing on Sept 12/17.

Since we are now aware that the County will accept feedback via email we encourage EVERYONE to copy the text below and send TWO SEPARATE emails it to the County (it’s important that these two emails be sent SEPERATELY as they are separate issues).

You don’t need to live in the County to provide your feedback. If you support this Club – please send take a couple minutes and send these emails:

FIRST (most urgent)
Public Hearing on September 12th Regarding Land Use Amendment.

TO: [email protected]

Re: September 12 2017 Public Hearing Land Use Bylaw Amendment

I want to see the SGGC operate. It is a safe, educational, family oriented facility. It provides many benefits to the people in Parkland County and surrounding communities. Please include my opinion for the Public Hearing regarding the Land Use Bylaw Amendment on September 12, 2017.

***AND****

SECOND
SGGC Development Permit Application

TO: [email protected]

Re: SGGC Development Permit Application

I want to see the SGGC operate. It is a safe, educational, family oriented facility. It provides many benefits to the people in Parkland County and surrounding communities. Please include my opinion with the SGGC’s Development Permit Application.

09/08/2017

Spruce Grove Gun Club is once again making an appeal to you.

The Public Hearing for the Land Use Bylaw amendment that would prohibit outdoor gun ranges in areas zoned for country residential development will be taking place:

When: 0900h Tuesday, September 12th 2017

Where: Parkland County Admin Building at 53109A Highway 779

OF GREAT IMPORTANCE is your attendance and participation at this Parkland County Council meeting.

This Council meeting is a Public Hearing required by the Municipal Government Act and is YOUR opportunity to voice Support for the SGGC and Speak AGAINST the Amendment to the Land Use Bylaw that would prohibit the SGGC Range from ever re-opening.

Affected persons from outside the County should be heard as your message has and will make a difference. This is proven from SGGC has learned from previous events.

Be assured Opponents of the SGGC will be there. Supporters of the Spruce Grove Gun Club need to be there too! Can SGGC count on you?

The SGGC has composed speeches for its Directors and those that have Volunteered to speak on pertinent topics about the SGGC during this Hearing.

Additional speakers are welcome!!

Should you wish to speak as a Volunteer please contact Theresa at [email protected] as soon as possible

Should you wish to speak as an affected person please state you are AGAINST this Land Use Bylaw Amendment and that you SUPPORT the SGGC very clearly at the beginning our your talk. If you wish to cite why you support the SGGC in two or three sentences you may add that. A short talk is all that is required. Keep it simple. Emotion is good, but no profanity please.

If you want SGGC to help you with your words please ask Theresa

Thanks very much for your continued support of the club!

09/08/2017

Dane Lloyd, who's in the Conservative nomination race for the Sturgeon River-Parkland County riding came out to SGGC's Open House last night. We invited our neighbours to the club to see what we're all about. Great to meet and talk with Dane and all our neighbours who attended about SGGC.

Check out Dane's page and get involved in the upcoming byelection!

07/21/2017

88.1 FM The One, July 21, 2017
https://soundcloud.com/user-11014804/881-fm-july-21

Listen to 88.1 FM July 21 by User 11014804 on

07/21/2017

http://www.sprucegroveexaminer.com/2017/07/20/gun-club-sues-parkland-county-mayor

The Spruce Grove Gun Club (SGGC) has begun a defamation lawsuit, by filing a statement of claim, against Parkland County Mayor Rod Shaigec.

07/14/2017

County votes on bylaw amendment jeopardizing gun club

07/12/2017

“Chambers were packed as everyone who was there for the only item on the agenda. The Land Use Bylaw Amendment removing Outdoor Gun Ranges.

Public input had been extended to 45 minutes but at the end of the marker there were still a number of people wanting to speak to the bylaw so input was extended another 40 minutes.

The room was literally divided as on one half sat those in favour and on the other half sat those against the bylaw. In total 21 people spoke to the bylaw with 9 in favour and 12 against.

Many of those for the bylaw argued the area has grown too much for the gun club to operate safely anymore. As one resident said “more people means more danger”. While those against responded saying the clubs operations are done so beyond municipal and federal bylaws and regulations and wants to find a way to co-exist.

First reading was carried in a 5 to 2 vote with Councillors McNab and Melnyk voting against it. On September 12th at 9:30am a Public Hearing will be held for the bylaw.”

https://soundcloud.com/user-11014804/881fm-july-12-2

Listen to SGGC 88.1fm July 12 (2) by User 11014804 on

07/12/2017

“The Land Use Bylaw Amendment removing Outdoor Gun Ranges from Outdoor Participation and Recreation Services was the only item on the agenda and it was a packed house as the bylaw received its first reading.

Public input lasted over an hour as 21 people spoke to the bylaw, with the majority speaking against it. One speaker against the bylaw even asked for Mayor Rod Shagic to recuse himself, saying the Mayor has shown bias in the past. Mayor Shagic responded saying he wouldn’t be recusing himself having shown no bias in his 7 years on council. He’ll continue with showing no bias and hearing the issue out.

Council announced they wouldn’t be accepting any letters or reports at this time but will allow the public to do so at the Public Hearing which has been scheduled for September 12 at 9:30am to allow the public to further comment on the bylaw.

The bylaws first reading was carried with a vote of 5 to 2 with Councillors McNab and Melnyk voting against it.”

https://soundcloud.com/user-11014804/sggc-news-881fm-july-12-1

Listen to SGGC News 88.1fm July 12 (1) by User 11014804 on

07/11/2017

REMINDER

Tomorrow, July 11th @ 5:00pm at Parkland County offices, this bylaw will be brought forward for first reading.

Please attend!

Those wishing to speak at Public Input at the Special Meeting on July 11 may do so from 5:30 p.m.. to 5:45 p.m., and are asked to register by email to [email protected] or by phone at 780-968-8405.

07/03/2017

SGGC Provides Info To Council

07/03/2017

Those wishing to speak at Public Input at the Special Meeting on July 11 may do so from 5:30 p.m.. to 5:45 p.m., and are asked to register by email to [email protected] or by phone at 780-968-8405.