COLD LAKE - The Cold Lake Sailing Association is seeking additional space at Kinosoo Beach to accommodate newly donated boats. The request was brought forward by representative Colin Declercq during the City of Cold Lake’s Corporate Priorities Committee meeting on Feb. 18.
“We were asking for some additional space down at Kinosoo Beach. The reason for that is that we have been donated four dinghy class boats to the Cold Lake Sailing Association for the purpose of letting the community use these boats,” said Declercq.
The existing storage yard does not have enough room to accommodate the additional vessels. Declercq explained the association’s request aims to nearly double the space it currently occupies, and they are flexible regarding the final allocation.
“I realized that it's always better to ask for what you want or a little bit more and be willing to settle for less rather than asking for less and then wanting more. So that's why the area that you see highlighted on the sketch to the staff report is basically doubling our size,” he said.
The Sailing Association does not require the full requested space at the moment but is asking for it due to the modular nature of their 9'6" temporary fencing sections.
Declercq noted that the association would be satisfied with a smaller expansion if needed.
“We would be happy to settle for even two additional sections so we could house our boats and make them available to the public to use if they join the club and show competency in their sailing skills.”
The Cold Lake Sailing Association’s previous licence agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2024, and did not include an extension period. The group is seeking to renew the agreement and secure additional space at the northwest corner of Kinosoo Beach to store boats, equipment, and supplies.
“The Cold Lake Sailing Association's license to occupy space at Kinosoo Beach has drawn to an end,” said Andrew Serba, the City’s Manager of Economic Development, speaking at the Corporate Priorities committee meeting. “And the Association is requesting for another agreement to continue its storage and operations there.”
He confirmed the requested expansion covers just under 130 square meters.
“The administration is looking for direction from the committee as to whether it wishes to continue offering space for the association and if so whether that footprint should be increased,” Serba said. “It sounds like four new boats have been gifted to the association and need to be stored. That information, it sounds like, was given to administration at some point, but admittedly did not make its way to me and was not considered during the creation of this report.”
Coun. Chris Vining inquired about the specifics of the expansion, asking if there were any new building or structures that would be added to the area.
Serba confirmed that only temporary fencing would be added, with no new structures planned.
Mayor Craig Copeland supported the request but inquired about the area's history, noting past plans for the Cold Lake Canoe Club and previous land clearing efforts nearby.
Serba confirmed the location and noted that some vegetation has been cleared.
“I did visit the site. It looks like a bit of brushing has been done there. It is covered in snow right now. It looks like a bit of scrub brush, but it's significantly away from the forested area,” Serba said.
Council passed a motion to support the continuation of the Cold Lake Sailing Association's leased area at Kinosoo Beach, including the proposed expansion.
