Gimli council approved a request from a local sheep farm to host a small outdoor market and expand the range of products the farm is allowed to sell in its store.
Luckystone Acres’ owners Zoe and Craig Bailey had originally applied for permission in October to host an outdoor market during special events on the farm, as well as sell products produced by other artisans in its farm store. Council had tabled the request pending more information.
“We will only have a maximum of five select vendors at events (with a possibility for two food trucks),” said Zoe Bailey after council approved the application during its Nov. 15 regular meeting. “We also clarified that we won’t be hosting a weekly farmer’s market but that this permit is to allow us to sell local goods from other producers and artists at our store, as well as host events where we can invite a few vendors.”
The farm raises Icelandic sheep and sells products such as sheepskins, yarn, felted crafts and woodworking items produced on the farm. The Baileys plan to expand store merchandise with products such as pottery, knitwear, art, honey and produce, and have had several local artists and a knitter from Iceland reach out to them to inquire about having their products in the store. They’ve been offering workshops to teach people how to make decorations with Icelandic sheep wool.
“We’re really excited to add new items from local artists and producers to our store,” said Bailey.
Luckystone will be partnering with Gimli’s Flatland Coffee for a gnome needle-felting workshop on Dec. 3 with two time slots from 10-12 and 1-3. The workshop costs $60 and includes materials, instructions and a Flatland beverage. The farm has ample parking.
The farm store is open by appointment only. People can call Craig at (204) 990-4670 or Zoe at (204) 979-0588 to book a shopping appointment.
Other council news:
- Council held a public hearing Nov. 15 to consider an application for an excess animal permit. A property owner with 2.2 acres in the Camp Morton area asked for permission to keep eight dogs for a recreational dog sled team. In her application the owner said she’ll be building a house on the lot and would like to set up an adjacent area for the sled dogs.
Assistant CAO Kristin Strachan said council tabled its decision and then the applicant decided to withdraw the request.
- The Gimli Chamber of Commerce’s Beautification Committee submitted a letter to council saying it “continues to be concerned about the state of our downtown and entrances into Gimli.”
The committee had asked council in March 2021 to consider a number of enhancements to the business core.
In its letter dated Oct. 8, 2023, the committee said past municipal practices lacked a strategy for basic maintenance and timeliness, and the committee is hoping that new service standards promised by the municipality will address maintenance issues and enhance the visual appeal of the business core, especially during the height of the tourist season in summer.
“We feel that addressing these basic maintenance issues on a regular schedule will do much to enhance our downtown,” wrote the committee.
The committee asked council to consider washing streets and sidewalks weekly, paint curbs and parking lines before the summer season, remove weeds on First Avenue and Centre Street and along the harbour and boardwalk areas, collect garbage in a timely fashion, mow ditches regularly, maintain existing flower gardens at public spaces, remove derelict signs, fix or replace broken and crooked municipal signs, manage garbage in the business district to a higher standard (e.g., DQ has a fenced-in dumpster) and have the RM’s bylaw officer proactively enforce the neat and tidy bylaw rather than “ignore blatant unsightly property until residents/visitors get frustrated and complain.”
Suggestions for long-term maintenance projects include paving gravel boulevards in the business district, beautifying Centre and Highway 9 (the main entrance to town) and beautifying the entrance to the harbour.
The committee included photos in its submission, including those showing a broken light standard surrounded by weeds, dumpsters in a back lane that connects the town’s public parking lot on Second Avenue with First Avenue, and areas with lots of weed growth.
Coun. Thora Palson said council is working on improving services within the parameters of the budget and with consideration of major public works projects such as upgrading water lines.
“We do want to enhance the visual appeal of the town,” she said.
- Council approved by resolution a location for the proposed Gimli Youth Hub (youth recreation centre). A standalone building was approved for the north side of Centennial Road (same side as the RCMP building), said the assistant CAO.
A volunteer committee that’s fundraising to build the youth centre reported in its minutes of Sept. 7, 2023, that it had raised $1,695 towards the building project. The committee is applying for grants.
- Rogers Communications is proposing to build a communications tower in Sandy Hook to improve wireless coverage and is seeking feedback by Dec. 8 from residents and businesses.
The proposed tower will be 95 metres high, include antennas, a lightning rod and obstruction light, and will be located along Road 20E and Mosfel Circle in Sandy Hook.
“An equipment shelter will also be installed at the base of the proposed tower and the entire site will be surrounded by a security fence with a locked gated access point,” said Rogers in its proposal.
Those wishing to comment on the proposed tower can send a letter to the following:
Reference: W6733 Husavik; LandSolutions Inc.; David Zacher VP, Telecommunications; 1420, 333 11th Ave. SW Calgary, AB T2R 1L9; Telephone: 1-866-834-0008 Email: comments@landsolutions.ca
- Work to address non-compliance issues at the Gimli Airport were completed in the last few months, according to airport manager Brian Renaud in his August and September reports to council.
Issues were flagged by Transport Canada during an inspection audit.
Public Works staff relocated 1,700 running feet of chain link fencing along the southeast perimeter fence of the airport, wrote Renaud. In August a contractor completed asphalt patching of the main apron (north end) and along the edge of the main runway.
“Asphalt patching must continue annually to this same extent if we are to keep ahead of airport surface breaks due age and weather,” wrote Renaud.
The painting of landing zone touchdown lines on the runway began in mid-September and were expected to be completed in October.
Some runway signs that had not been lighted at night will be provided with power, and extensive planning and work on reducing the size of the main apron were addressed.
“Solar powered taxiway lights were ordered … [and] aircraft tie-down locations were moved to conform to the new apron size. New yellow taxi lines were painted on all areas of the apron to conform to the new apron reduced size. The apron’s reduced size and new solar edge lights project were completed on 29 September,” wrote Renaud.
