ST. PAUL – Approval of a proposal brought before County of St. Paul council could mean further development of the Westcove Municipal Recreation Area (WMRA), which could potentially mean more tourism in the St. Paul region.
During a delegation at the County’s regular council meeting on Oct. 9, the Lakeland Cross Country Ski Club (LCCSC) proposed a draft three-year plan to upgrade trails at Westcove, invest in state-of-the-art grooming equipment, and install two-in-one signage that would inform visitors of areas used both for snowshoeing in winter and hiking in summer.
The request comes at the same time as the club’s request to approve a new, three-year term Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with the Count. The agreement is between the LCCSC and the County in order to develop the WMRA as an Alberta Nordic ski tourist destination.
Currently, signage at Westcove is difficult to see, Pierre Lamoureux, the ski club’s president, told council. “They’re green and they mix nicely with the greenery, but they’re hard to see,” he said.
LCCSC also asked for the County’s support to form a basic preparation site, which would include split wood, picnic tables, and a porta potty.
Coun. Dale Hedrick suggested a sign with a QR code that has an actual map of all the trails at the WMRA.
Lamoureux said that currently, people can sign in through a QR code at Westcove, “But the QR code for a map is a great idea . . . to show where you are.”
The LCCSC is looking at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre as a model of what the club envisions the Westcove area can be.
For now, the priority is improvement of signage to allow people to better find their way around, he explained.
Coun. Maxine Fodness said there was also some discussion about acquiring a casino license in the past. “I’m just wondering how you fundraised and how you cover costs for your operations.”
Lamoureux said operations are financed through memberships and donations, and the club has no gaming license. A lack of volunteers is sometimes an issue. “So, mindful of that, we don’t yet have a gaming license.”
“I think we do a lot of community outreach, and some businesses have come through with important donations in the past. That's where we are,” added Lamoureux.
Fodness asked if the club is still interested in acquiring a gaming license, or if the idea is off the table.
Lamoureux said the club works closely with the St. Paul Tennis Club and that organization has a gaming license.
Fodness then asked what the long-term vision is - looking five or 10 years down the road.
“I use the model of again, the Strathcona Wilderness Center,” that serves a significant population base, replied Lamoureux. But, offering professionally groomed trails comes at a price, with equipment that costs upwards of $100,000.
Ultimately, the idea is for people to view the WMRA similar to Strathcona Wilderness Centre, where they would expect expertly managed and maintained tracks, says Lamoureux.
“So again, my vision would be a permanent structure with heated infrastructure of some kind, with state-of-the-art grooming equipment that would easily be able to maintain 12 to 15 kilometers of trail.”
Lamoureux recognized it could take a long time to achieve that vision.
Coun. Ross Krekoski said he believes that LCCSC having conversations with the STEP Economic Development Alliance to further the vision to enhance tourism prospects in the region is a good idea.
Council will further discuss the club's proposal in the future.