Jeff Reeder discusses the site plans with the media. The property is located roughly 30km. west of Prince Albert in the Rural Municipality of Duck Lake. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community project

Media provided look at proposed retreat site amidst community objections

Jun 7, 2019 | 2:00 PM

While nothing has been finalized, including where even the drive way might be built, the media was invited Thursday to take a look at the site which could be home someday to a special retreat for first responders, veterans, RCMP, and Corrections Workers who may be suffering from operational stress injuries (OSI).

Michelle McKeaveney and Jeff Reeder have essentially been the two figureheads behind the proposed River Valley Resilience Retreat since it was first announced earlier this year. McKeaveney said the purpose of the tour was to spread awareness about the project for the community, and help clear up any misinformation.

“We want to show people what we are hoping to do, not we are doing. We don’t even know what that is still,” she said.

The proposed plans include Equine Therapy. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

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The project, which could include cabins, equine therapy, a meditation area, and possibly even a boat launch area, is estimated to cost upwards of $4 million. Landowners in the Rural Municipality of Duck Lake have already offered to donate a section of their land for the facility. Despite no official plans or approval from the rural municipality beyond a bylaw ammendment , a petition has been started by neighbours who have raised a number of objections. McKeaveney, also a land owner in the area, fought back tears as she described her struggle with some community members.

“So to have them not understand the concepts or give us an opportunity to explain what the concept is before the judgment happened and this petition started, that makes me feel bad but I understand they are within their rights,” she said.

Reeder said he too has tried on multiple occasions to reach out and talk in person with some of the more vocal of the opponents, only to receive no replies. Before the project can go ahead or even a public information meeting can be held, a number of hurdles have to be cleared including a geotechnics report, and meeting other bylaw requirements.

The petition

Lyle and Claudette Wilkinson live next door to the proposed site, and are two of the local community members who have publicly voiced their concerns. When asked why they would voice opposition at this stage, Claudette said they felt it was the right time.

“I’ve talked to many people for advice and they’ve said yes. You’ve got to do this before it goes too far, because it will be even harder to try and stop something later on,” she said.

Claudette emphasized she and her family were not opposed to the concept or the idea for the retreat, but rather had concerns related to the location such as where the driveway would be situated, and if there would be increased traffic on the road.

“It’s a concern that our lives will be disrupted because we have a nice quiet community right now, that’s why you move out to the country right, and so if an R.M. approves something like this, that sets a precedence for anywhere in the R.M.,” she said.

The petition which opposes the land location of the proposed facility, has over 100 signatures according to Lyle Wilkison. paNOW has requested to see the document but it has not been submitted to us yet.

“This is not just somebody sub-dividing and a home being built, this is 10 cabins, main house, riding stable. That’s something that the community needs to know is potentially being built in their community,” Claudette said.

Lyle Wilkinson, who was raised in the area, said the majority of people he has talked too feel everything was done very secretively.

“The thing is when something like this does happen, the community should actually be involved,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell