Don Kochan – Division 2
RVC Division 2 news items for your information:
RR 33 Interchange – construction of the new four-lane bridge at Range Road 33 and Highway 1 continues to advance at a strong pace. A major milestone was reached with the installation of the bridge’s girder spans, allowing the structure to begin taking shape. Notably, these spans are among the longest of their kind in Alberta. The bridge remains on track for completion by the end of this year. This new bridge represents a key component of the off-site infrastructure improvements associated with the Bingham Crossing development, enhancing both safety and accessibility for the surrounding area. Further progress is also being made across the interchange, with the new westbound entrance ramp in the northeast quadrant which is now open to traffic.
Weed Control – RVC weed inspectors will be working throughout the summer to identify and monitor invasive species listed under Alberta’s Weed Control Act.
The county noted that prohibited noxious weeds, such as nodding thistle and bighead knapweed, must be fully destroyed to prevent establishment. In contrast, noxious weeds such as Canada thistle, black henbane and perennial sow-thistle must be controlled to limit their spread. Landowners are responsible for managing and controlling the spread of regulated invasive species on their property. Weed spraying for noxious weeds will be undertaken this summer in Division 2 along roadsides and MR’s.
Customer Satisfaction Survey – Rocky View County (RVC) residents rate their quality of life metric as 89 per cent, representing a good or very good quality of life, which is well above the Alberta benchmark of 68 per cent.
This finding comes from the 2026 Citizen Satisfaction Survey, conducted by RVC in partnership with market research firm Leger, which provides an essential overview of residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards life, services, and governance within the County.
With the key takeaway being the quality of life metric, RVC noted in its findings that there were some variations within divisions, with Division 2 having a quality of life rating of 95 per cent of which is 6 percentage points higher compared to the County overall.
Engagement results were also positive, with 64 per cent of respondents participating in at least one public engagement event in the last three years.
Concerns are increasingly focused on growth management, planning, and development pressures. Residents responded strongly about the perception of the County prioritizing growth over maintaining its rural character. Respondents felt that growth was not always matched with the infrastructure, safety measures, and service planning needed to support it.
The full results can be seen at www.rockyview.ca/media/3180
952 Royal Canadian Air Cadets – On June 13th I had the pleasure of being part of the 952 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron ceremony and providing congratulatory remarks to the graduates and award recipients of the program. Approximately 150 cadets from Springbank, Bearspaw and Calgary provided some impressive marching parade drills as part of the ceremony.
Rocky View County 2026 Stampede Farm Family – On July 6, the Calgary Stampede, in partnership with BMO, was proud to announce the 19 recipients of the 2026 BMO Farm Family Awards, marking 30 years of recognizing southern Alberta farm families at the Calgary Stampede.
Since 1996, the BMO Farm Family Awards have honored hundreds of outstanding families whose contributions reach far beyond the farm gate. This year’s recipients represent the people at the heart of Alberta agriculture: families who help feed our communities, strengthen rural life and carry forward the values that have shaped the province’s agricultural story for generations. On July 6th Travis Ekland and myself (Agriculture Service Board members) attended the BMO Stampede Farm Family Awards for municipalities from southern Alberta. The Minister of Agriculture and the Stampede President were there to be part of the awards ceremony. Honorees are nominated by municipalities throughout southern Alberta and are selected based on their commitment to agriculture, community service, environmental stewardship and innovation. The families are leaders in their fields, with many representing multi- generational legacies, and embracing new technologies and practices. This year’s award recipients for RVC were the Ralston- Norregaard Family, a multi-generational family farming in the eastern side of RVC.
Don Kochan
Division 2 Councillor
kochandiv2@gmail.com
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