A discretionary use application by Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch to establish a five-bed youth care home for children 11 years old and younger on its 60-hectare property southeast of Dalmeny was voted down by a narrow margin at Corman Park council during its meeting on Monday, March 20.
The council chambers gallery was filled to capacity when the item came up for discussion during the meeting. Landowners whose property is in the vicinity of the Eagle’s Nest site spoke strongly against the proposal. Their primary concerns included depreciation of property values and the potential for crime.
For the past decade, Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch has operated an equine therapy facility on the property. The organization, which has a youth care home in Saskatoon, buses children and youth in its care to the Corman Park property for day programs.
Back In 2012, Eagle’s Nest had applied to Corman Park council for a discretionary use for a ten-bed youth care home for youth between the ages of 12-16 on the property. That application was denied at the time by council, largely on the basis of the strong opposition of neighbours. The case was subsequently taken to court, and a decision was made to allow Eagle’s Nest to operate a day program on the property, but not to have a full-time care home.
The discretionary use application voted on by council at the March 20 meeting stated that Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch would have five children 11 years old and under living at the residence, while another 15 youth would still be bussed to the facility for day programs. The youth living at the facility would be supervised by three full-time day staff and two full-time night staff, as well as a program manager. The youth taking part in the day programs would be supervised by additional staff accompanying them.
Corman Park Reeve Judy Harwood said the opposition of neighbours in the vicinity was a clear indication the type of facility requested by Eagle’s Nest was not a good fit. “I can support the day program,” she said. “But not an overnight residence. There is already a facility for these kids in the city.”
Corman Park Division 3 councillor Lyndon Haduik said he favoured the application, noting that young people who get into trouble need the opportunity to experience a different type of environment, away from bad influences. “These are 11-year-olds,” said Haduik. “If they’re kept busy they stay out of trouble. They need a chance. The city is no good for them because they’ll just go back to their bad friends.”
Division 5 councillor Art Pruim also supported the application, saying these youth “come from homes that are not great. We need to help kids have a better life. I’ts hard to believe young kids will be a hardship to neighbours.”
But Division 8 councillor Wendy Trask said it’s not that simple. “I’ve been inundated with phone calls and emails from ratepayers opposed to this,” she said. “We know what 11-year-olds who belong to gangs in the city are capable of. They are already allowed to come out during the day. Our job is to represent ratepayers, the people who pay taxes to live in Corman Park, and it’s clear what the ratepayers want.”
Division 7 councillor Calvin Vaandrager said he also supported the ratepayers who opposed the application. “It’s a question of safety,” he said. “These kids have a history, to put it mildly.”
Division 6 councillor Bas Froese-Kooijenga said that while he voted in favour of the original Eagle’s Nest application ten years ago, he has since changed his mind. He noted that Eagle’s Nest has had a decade to bring neighbours on-side, but has failed to do so.
“This is not an ordinary discretionary use application,” said Froese-Kooijenga. “It’s easy to take the moral high ground if you live farther away, but the people who live close to this facility are not in favour, and I have to support them. I don’t live there. These people do.”