NEWS RELEASES
VOCAL 2011 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Please join us for the upcoming VOCAL Annual General Meeting, 7:30pm, April 20th, 2011 at Bardo Hall. Our guest speaker for the evening will be John Pattison. We look forward to seeing you to there! Click Here to view a downloadable poster ad for this meeting.
PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
February 16th, 2011 - 7:30pm
Meeting will be held at 'the house' - 5830-51st Street Tofield, AB.
VOCAL is sponsoring a public information meeting regarding the ATCO Eastern Alberta HVDC Transmission Line Project. This meeting will feature special guest, Joe Anglin, B.A., M. Ed, a landowner advocate and EXPERT on Alberta's Electrical Transmission System. Click Here to view a downloadable poster ad for this meeting.
Click Here to view our January 12, 2011 Board of Director's Meeting minutes.
==========PROJECT UPDATE==========
January 12, 2011
As of December 29, 2010, the status of the Sherritt Dodds-Roundhill Coal Gasification remains unchanged. As per the Alberta Environment website, the Final Terms Reference were issued for this project on November 5, 2007 and the project remains on hold while the company evaluates options. The next step would be the submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment. You can follow any changes in the status of the project at any time by clicking on the above link. The Alberta Environment website is updated regularly.
FYI - The Sturgeon Blueline Group started in July, 2009, as a group of concerned citizens who had been notified that their land and property (alternate route) would potentially be affected by the proposed Bill 50 Heartland Transmission Line. Since that time "Landowners Against Bills" (which the Sturgeon Blueline Group is a part of) has been born and has assumed the goal of keeping Albetans informed on the recent legislation of Bill's 19, 36, and 50. It is their intent to expose this legislation and inform Albertans about the state of our future. Click Here to view their website for more information on this group and what they are doing to keep Albertans united and informed on these issues.
Click Here to view our November 17, 2010 Board of Director's Meeting minutes.
Click Here to view our June 9, 2010 Board of Director's Meeting minutes.
VOCAL Annual General Meeting
April 21, 2010 at Bardo Hall 7:30 pm
Twp Road 500 & Hwy #834
This year we are excited to have the Environmental Law Center returning with another great presentation. This Guest speaker Laura Bowman will address the following for us:
--> What happens while "the dragon" sleeps?
--> Issues while the situation with the proposed project is on hold?
--> What to expect if Sherritt/EPCOR decided start up the project again?
--> Is there an expiration for the current EIA?
--> Would a change in the project proposal require a new EIA?
Come an find out the answers to these questions and more!
"Say No to Sherritt" lawn signs and VOCAL memberships will also be for sale at the AGM. We hope to see you there!
Click Here to view Sherritt's "Community Newsletter January 2010 Issue #10" for a brief project update from Sherritt's point of view.
Click Here to read our January 13, 2010 Board of Director's meeting minutes.
Click here to read our April 22, 2009 Board of Director's meeting minutes.
Click here to read our March 25, 2009 Board of Director's meeting minutes.
March 26, 2009 - 9am to 4pm --> Attend the Best Management Practices for the Agricultural Climate of Tomorrow Workshop in Vegreville, Alberta.
Get enlightened on topics such as Climate Trends, Farm Energy Alternatives, Manure Management, Carbon Sequestration, Water Quality, and Holistic Management. There will also be Dinner and Entertainment from 6pm to 9pm. Registration is required and you may call 780-764-3927 or email nickwolanski@gmail.com to do so. You can also click here to view a poster with more information regarding this event.
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BILL 19
ATTENTION ALBERTANS! - Have you heard of Bill 19? Do you know how Bill 19 will affect you and your property? Your property rights, as they currently exist, may be in jeopardy. Click here to read LAND BILL ENRAGES ALBERTA OWNERS, an article from the Edmonton Journal on Bill 19. Click here to read PROPERTY RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK, an article from the Calgary Herald on Bill 19. This is cause for major concern...WHAT CAN YOU DO? You can write personal letters to Premiere Stelmach and local MLA'S to put increased pressure on them to reconsider the negative impacts of this Bill on rural Albertans (Click here to see a sample letter sent by one of our Board Members). Please help VOCAL raise the profile of this issue and protect your rights!!
There are 2 local Pubilc Forum's scheduled to address Bill 19 and your concerns...
Round Hill Public Meeting
WHAT : Public Forum regarding Bill 19
WHO : Special guest George Rogers, MLA Leduc-Beaumont-Devon. Member and Chair of the Treasury Board, Capital Region Caucus
WHEN : March 19th - 7:30 pm
WHERE : Round Hill Hall, Round Hill Alberta
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Ryley Public Meeting
WHAT : Public Forum Regarding Bill 19
WHO : Joe Anglin - Rimbey, Alberta - Landowner Advocate and Leader, Alberta Green
Party will be speaking on "Implications of Bill 19 for Rural Albertans"
Edwin Erickson - Buck Lake, Spokesperson Alberta Progress Party Society will be
speaking on "The Future of Democracy in (Rural) Alberta
Other invited speakers include
Minister of Infrastructure - Jack Hayden - MLA Drumheller Stettler
Premiere Ed Stelmach - MLA Fort Saskatchewan Vegreville
George Rogers - MLA Leduc Beaumont Devon
Verlyn Olson - MLA Camrose Wetaskiwin
Doug Griffith - MLA Battle River Wainwright
Representatives of Alberta Liberals, Alberta NDP, and Wild Rose Alliance
Q and A to follow speakers
WHEN : March 23, 2009 7 pm
WHERE : Ryley Community Center (corner of 51st Ave and 49th Street, Ryley, Alberta)
This event is sponsored by
VOCAL (Voice of Community And Land) Society
RH-DAPA (Round Hill-Dodds Agricultural Protective Assoc.)
Alberta Progress Party Society
Please contact Midge at 780-375-2392 for more information
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VOCAL welcomes Lonnie Lauber, Scott Stauffer, and Jane Oracheski to the Board of Directors. The latest members of the board were elected at VOCAL's Annual General Meeting on February 25, 2009
VOCAL would like to thank Owen Forster and Russel Stauffer for all they accomplished while serving on the Board of Directors for the past year. Both withdrew their names from the Board of Directors in March and will be missed as we go forward.
VOCAL Annual General Meeting
Feb.25, 2009 at Bardo Hall 7:30 pm
Twp Road 500 & Hwy #834
Here is what you can expect!
--> Guest Speakers on Using Alternative Energy Sources in Alberta
--> Get updated on the Sherritt proposed project
--> Update on what VOCAL has been doing over the past year
--> Get involved!
--> Buy Memberships and "Say No to Sherritt" lawn signs
Another video, "Julie's Story" has been done in an effort to explain how the Sherrit International and the Ontario Teacher Pension Fund proposal for the Dodds-Roundhill coal gasification plant would effect yet another of the more than 500 residents living East of Edmonton, Alberta who would be displaced and have their farms and acreages destroyed by one of the largest strip mine operations in Canada. Some of these farms are nearing 100 years old and are still in the same family...all of this history and culture would be lost, not to mention the environmental impacts, emissions, watershed issues, groundwater issues, etc. VOCAL would like to thank U of A students Devin Keay and Ryan Mason for their great work on this video!
Click here to view "Julie's Story" on YouTube.
Click here to view our February 5, 2009 Update Newsletter to find out what VOCAL has been up to and what is coming up that you don't want to miss!
Click here to read our February 4, 2009 Board of Director's meeting minutes.
Click here to read our January 13, 2009 Board of Director's meeting minutes.
Click here to read our November 26, 2008 Board of Director's meeting minutes.
As of November 10, 2008, all VOCAL Board of Director's meeting minutes will be posted here on our website. Click Here to view VOCAL's November 10, 2008 Board Meeting minutes.
University of Alberta Environmental Impact Assessment class
tours Mine area and talks with local residents.
On October 4th, 2008 approximately 20 students led by Dr. Glynnis Hood, Assistant Professor of Environmental Sciences/Studies at the U of A Augustana Campus, took a bus tour through Sherritt's proposed mine plan area. Students from the U of A were able to get a first hand look at what is at stake, the natural beauty of the area, the history, the productive farm land, water courses, the years and years of culture that have helped shape the agricultural community that we enjoy. In addition, the group was able to meet with a few local residents at their homes as well as tour a local farm that would in fact be destroyed if the current mine plan was approved. Some of the students taking this course at the U of A will be involved in reviewing Environmental Impact Assessments in the future and Dr. Hood wanted to make sure that they received a well rounded education on BOTH sides of the issues involved in these Assessments. Students were struck by the fact that under current law, landowners do not have a choice as to whether they want to move, be mined, or have there homes and farms destroyed. This tour was a great success and VOCAL would like to extend many thanks to Dr. Hood and her class for taking the time to come out and have a first hand look at what VOCAL is fighting to protect.
VOCAL Chairman Bill Sears has letter to the editor published in October issue of Canadian Geopgraphic. Click here to view a copy of the article entitled "Feeding the Beast"
VOCAL is pleased to have the Roundhill Dodds Agricultural Protective Association (RH-DAPA) working along side to continue to raise public awareness of the negative impacts of Sherritt Mine proposal. VOCAL and RH-DAPA are continually working together in an effort to preserve our community and prevent this project from destroying the area many of us call home. For more specific information on what RH-DAPA is doing, please visit their website at www.rhdapa.org.
NEWS FLASH! - Kierstin Heiberg will be holding an Open House to talk about her Social Impact Study on Monday, August 18, 7:00PM, at the Bardo School (located at the corner of Hwy 834 and Township Rd. 500.)
Agenda
1.Introduction
2.Social Impact Assessment - What is it?
3.Participatory Research
4.The Interactive Community Forum
Check out our new photos from the Oat's and Notes Music Festival! Click on "Media Gallery" above...
SUMMER UPDATE -VOCAL Executive has been busy over the summer months and is committed to helping people understand what the negative impacts of a project of this magnitude are. The following is a list of what we have been doing in the past few months.
May 16 - Meeting with LEAD International (Leadership for Environment and Development)
May 21 - VOCAL Board of Directors Meeting
May 23 & 24 - Alberta Energy Network Conference, Edmonton
May 27 - Daybreak Rotary Club presentation - Camrose Rotary Club
May 29 - Cumulative Effects Project Meeting - Camrose
May 30 - "Worth More Than its Weight In Coal" Billboard at the entrance to Tofield
May 31 - Premieres Breakfast at the Tofield Sodbuster Rodeo
June 4 - VOCAL Board of Directors Meeting
June 10 - Presentation to Camrose County
June 12 - Meeting with Alberta Environments Andy Lamb regarding the application process and our rights as interveners
June 18 - Strategic Planning session with Leila Darwish of the Sierra Club
June 27 - Meeting with Verlyn Olson - MLA Camrose-Wetaskiwin
June 27, 28, 29 - Wild Oats and Notes Music Festival booth giving information, selling memberships, as well as media interviews with CTV Television, Global Television, Edmonton Sun, CJSR Radio, VUE Weekly Magazine, CHED Radio, Tofield Mercury, Farm and Friends, and Camrose Booster.
July 4 - Presentation and Panel Discussion at the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Conference - Edmonton
July 9 - VOCAL Board of Directors Meeting
July 15 - VOCAL Board of Directors meeting with Sherritt Representatives - Tofield
July 16 - Meeting with Doug Griffiths - MLA Battle River-Wainwright
July 21 - Bill Sears and Jon Kauffman interviewed with Carrie Kelly of the Western Canadian Pipeline Magazine - August Issue
Bill Sears also completed a guest editorial for the VUE Weekly Publication and submitted an article in the Sierra Club newsletter
COMING UP -
August 1 - Meeting with George Rogers - MLA Leduc-Beaumont
August 20 - Meeting with Rachel Notley - Leader of the Alberta NDP
Mid August
- Cumulative Effects Meeting
- Meeting with Ducks Unlimited
- We have also invited Premiere Ed Stelmach for a tour of the proposed mine site area and anticipate him coming out sometime before harvest is underway.
A BIG THANK YOU!! to 'the House' in Tofield for providing with a great meeting place!!
July 15, 2008 - SOCIAL IMPACT STUDY TO BE DONE
What do you have to say about how the Sherritt Coal Mine and Gasification Project could affect your life? You can participate in a discussion group to discuss how the project could affect your way of life and your community. This is part of a Participatory Social Impact Assessment that Kierstin Heiberg is completing as part of her Masters in Rural Development. All you need to do is come to four meetings and share your opinions with the others in the focus groups. And you’ll get the results of the assessment when it’s done. Call Kierstin at 780-662-2538, or 780-318-0004 (cell) or email her at kheiberg@uoguelph.ca if you want more information or want to get involved. This is your chance to have your say. Click here to view an information package regarding this study.
VOCAL is in the News again!!
--- June 29, 2008 - Click on the following link to view the CTV News coverage of VOCAL at the Oats and Notes Music Festical. http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080628/EDM_coal_080628/200
--- June 29, 2008 - Click on the following link to view an Edmonton Sun article regarding VOCAL at the Oats and Notes Music Festival.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2008/06/29/6018311-sun.html
Along with these two sources of media coverage this weekend, VOCAL was also interviewed for CJSR radio, 630 Ched and 880 AM, and VUE Weekly. A big thank you to the Wild Oats and Notes Festival for helping us raise awareness of the proposed Sherritt Mine Plan!
--- VOCAL would like to thank Cheryl McCartney of Cheryl McCartney Photography for donating the EXCELLENT photograph for our billboard advertisment in Tofield.
--- May 30, 2008 - Mark June 28, 29, and 30th on your calendar's!!! The Wild Oats and Notes music festival is back and the net proceeds from this year's festival go to VOCAL. For more information on the what this Tofield Area festival is about, go to oatsandnotes.blogspot.com.
--- May 27, 2008 - Click Here to view our May newsletter for an update on what VOCAL has been doing recently.
---May 26, 2008 - You can now watch the "Jon's Story" video on YouTube...just click on the following link. Share this video with your friends and help us get the message out that the project is about FAR more than money for those who will be displaced from their homes!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8IdnJdzERo
--- May 23, 2008. "Sherritt gasification plan stalls" Globe and Mail.
The Friday, May 23rd, 2008 issue of the Globe and Mail explains that, for the time being, the Sherritt Dodds-Roundhill coal gasification proposal is on hold. Click on the following link to read the article. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080523.wrsherritt23/BNStory/energy/home
Read VOCAL Chairman, Bill Sears comments on the article...
"We, of course, are ecstatic about the announcement that Sherritt has put the project on hold, at least for now. However, I think we probably have only given ourselves a short reprieve at best. As long as industry and government see coal as the answer to our future energy needs our homes, farms and community will continue to be under the threat of being destroyed by strip mining. It becomes even more important for VOCAL to put foreword the question, when do we switch our focus from putting or research and investment dollars into fossil fuels and instead recognize that the future is in conservation, increasing efficiencies, and researching and developing renewable energy sources?
--- Look for our billboard at the entrance to Tofield!! A big thanks to Cheryl from Cheryl McCartney Photography for donating this excellent photograph!!
---"An interesting point of view..." The following email was sent to VOCAL and speaks volumes...
"Message: I am pleased to have purchased a membership and signage in support of this worthy cause. Though some of my reasons for joining differ from the rest, I feel there are probably many here in the town that would agree with me. I have seen first hand what a project of this magnitude can do to the environment and to the surrounding towns. I am a Boilermaker. We are the ones who build these plants and maintain them. I've seen the devastation in Ft.McMurray, socially and environmentally. Many do not understand the impact that will befall the towns of Tofield, Ryley and Camrose should this project receive the green light. I could say nothing and make plenty of money working right here, home every night for a change. But I cannot ignore the facts. I could go on and on. Glad to be aboard.
Lonni Jack
---PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING - Coming up on May 1st, 7:30pm, join us at the Bardo Community Center (corner of Hwy 834 and Township Road 500) for a public information meeting. Jodie Hierlemier from the Environmental Law Center will speak on issues like application process, intervenor status, how VOCAL can be involved in the process etc. If you have questions regarding these issues there will be time allotted for Q & A so come prepared. As usual, signs and memberships will be for sale at this meeting so don't forget your wallet!!
---April 16 2008. 4 Board members from VOCAL met with both Premiere Ed Stelmach and the Minister of Environment, Rob Renner. We were very pleased to have been given a full hour to voice our concerns regarding the Round Hill-Dodds mine project. VOCAL felt well received and after presenting what VOCAL is and is about, we had a good informal discussion regarding some of the key issues we see with this project. We felt very much that we were heard, and are very pleased that there is a commitment from the Government to work with us and help us through the process going forward.
--- April 10, 2008. The Power of the Pen - Put your pen to work and write letters to key government officials registering your concerns regarding the Dodds Round Hill Coal Gasification project. Click here to view our Letter Writing Information Package and get ideas for letter writing strategies, what to write, who to write to etc.
--- April 10, 2008. Click here to read our April newsletter for an update on what VOCAL has been up to.
--- April 3, 2008. Click here to read our "Goals".
--- April 1, 2008. 12"X24" "Say No to Sherritt" lawn signs are now available for a minimum donation of $10.00. Get yours and help us get the message out! Send us your creative ways of displaying your signs and we'll post them on our website. Please contact us to find the nearest pickup location nearest you.
--- March 25, 2008. The Power of the Pen Letter Writing Evening. Join VOCAL at the Beaverhill Nature Center/Tofield Museum Complex from 7pm to 9pm. Share ideas, get inspired, and have fun writing letters to government officials, etc. to raise awareness of our concerns regarding the proposed Coal Gasification project.
--- Feb 20, 2008. Board meeting.
Election of Officers
Russell Stauffer - Vice Chair
Norma Williams - Secretary
Robert Janzen - Treasurer
- There was also discussion with our Environmental Lawyer as to what our strategies should be going forward.
- Communications committee was formed and will meet Wed. Feb 27 to form an information package/presentation that we will present to various groups including affected town councils, the Premiere of Alberta, our local MLA, County of Beaver, County of Camrose etc.
- Discussion regarding retaining a media consulting firm to help us refine our presentation to be the most effective that it can be.
--- Feb 16, 2008. Edmonton Journal's article regarding VOCAL's organizational meeting. Click on the following link to view the article. http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/
--- Feb. 15, 2008 - CBC Toronto radio interview with Chairman of VOCAL, Bill Sears, on the "As It Happens" radio show. Click on the link to listen, then click "Listen to part 3 of As it happens" and fast forward to about 12:53.
http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAP
--- Feb. 14, 2008 - CBC Radio interview with Chairman of VOCAL, Bill Sears, on the the "Wild Rose Country" radio show. Go to the following link to listen.
http://www.cbc.ca/wildrosecountry/
--- Here is a link to the Edmonton Journal article Jan. 13, 2008
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/
--- Organizational meeting held at Bardo School Wednesday February 13th to elect the Board of Directors.
Chairman Bill Sears
Russell Stauffer
Norma Williams
Julie Ishida
Clayton Maurer
Robert Janzen
Brian Schultz
Owen Forster
Jon Kauffman