‍As you may have seen – or perhaps struggled to see – Heidelberg has erected a sign on the Scott property formally identifying it as the “proposed site” of its gravel pit.

The sign is there, tucked in the bushes, easy to miss as you navigate our rural roads and pass the wildlife crossing signage just ahead of it. Whether you are focused on deer, cyclists, or oncoming traffic, their sign is hardly front and centre. It may satisfy a regulatory requirement, but it does little to genuinely inform the community.

This sign is part of Heidelberg’s application to the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB). It does not mean approval is imminent, but it confirms one thing: 

The threat to Bearspaw is active and real. Heidelberg is moving full steam ahead.

For more than 30 years, Bearspaw residents fought a proposed gravel pit on these lands and defeated it three times at Rocky View County.  Our community is proud of that track record.  But let’s be honest: many of us are exhausted.  Tired of fighting the same battle over and over.  Tired of defending what should already be protected.  Tired of having to prove, repeatedly, that heavy industrial development does not belong in our rural residential community.

This time it is different.

This time, we must send a clear message to the Province. We have done the work at the County level. We now have strong policy that recognizes and protects Bearspaw’s country residential character. But, the decision now sits at the provincial level and we need to stand up for what’s right.

This is a quasi-judicial, evidence-based process before the NRCB. This decision will rely solely on expert testimony, technical reports, and experienced legal advocacy.  Passion alone will not win.  Preparation will.

That’s why your Coalition’s steering committee has been working diligently behind the scenes, securing respected technical and legal experts to ensure Bearspaw is fully and professionally represented.  This level of representation comes at a significant cost.

That said, the cost of losing our groundwater, our air quality, our road safety, our property values, and the rural character we chose when we moved here is far greater.  

Resources matter in a process like this.  We need your financial support now.

Every contribution directly strengthens our ability to defend Bearspaw at the NRCB.  If you have not yet contributed, please send a secure e-transfer to noscottpit@gmail.com. If you prefer to donate by cheque, contact us and we will arrange the details.  No amount is too small. 

We also need visible unity.  A strong showing of signed consent forms demonstrates that the Coalition is not a small group – that we are an entire community standing together.

If you have not yet filled out and signed the consent form authorizing the Coalition to represent you at the NRCB hearing, please do so immediately.

We have defended Bearspaw before. We can do it again.

Stand with your neighbours.  Donate.  Sign the consent form.  Make your voice count.

We hope you are enjoying our wintery weather.  Before the holiday season begins, we want to provide an update on Heidelberg’s Scott pit application to the NRCB and highlight your role in our fight against that application.

Coalition’s role and next steps

The Coalition’s steering committee has been actively preparing for the NRCB hearing.  We met with NRCB staff to confirm the expected timeline and to reinforce the Coalition’s role as a key participant in the hearing.  NRCB staff confirmed that, once Heidelberg files its formal application (expected in the first half of 2026), the Coalition will have time to review Heidelberg’s application and its technical studies. After that, the NRCB will hold a pre-hearing conference to define major issues and address procedural matters, followed by scheduling the formal public hearing.

In terms of Heidelberg’s activities, they are currently collecting data at the Scott property for their technical studies.  This work will continue, and possibly intensify, over the next few months.  To confuse matters, Calgary and Rocky View are doing drainage work nearby that is unrelated to Heidelberg’s application.

Bearspaw’s Future is on the Line – Act NOW!

Heidelberg’s Scott pit application threatens the very character and safety of our community.  The Coalition is fighting back with top experts and legal professionals, but we cannot win this battle without you. 

We all call Bearspaw home for a reason. If we do not act together, we risk losing what makes our community special.  Your involvement is essential.

Your Immediate Actions Matter

Sign and return the consent form:  You must sign up with the Coalition to have your opposition count at the NRCB.  Every signature is a blow against the pit application   If you haven’t already signed and returned the attached consent form, please do so now.  Rally your neighbours!  Show the NRCB that Bearspaw residents are united and will not be ignored.

Volunteer for outreach:  In mid-January, our outreach team will mobilize to reach every household. We need people to help us hit every door.  Step up now!  Don’t wait for someone else – your participation could make the difference.  Many hands truly make light work, so please respond to confirm your availability.

Fund the fight:  Every dollar counts.  Expert support is expensive, but losing our community would cost far more.  If you haven’t already done so, send a secure e-transfer to noscottpit@gmail.com.  Your support fuels our success.

This is our chance to shape the future of Bearspaw. Stand up, Speak out. Take action.  Together we can stop the Scott pit and protect Bearspaw for generations to come.

We’re reaching out to thank you for being part of the Bearspaw Community Coalition email list.  For your voice to count in this fight, you need to sign the attached consent form authorizing the Coalition to speak on your behalf at the NRCB’s hearing on Heidelberg’s Scott pit application.  Being on our email list is not enough.

The NRCB hearing will not be like Rocky View’s public hearings.  Writing individual letters of opposition and having many residents make presentations will not work at the NRCB like it did the three times we convinced the County to refuse Heidelberg’s applications.

Defeating Heidelberg this time requires a completely different approach.  The NRCB expects residents to be represented by a single spokesperson.  As a result, for you and the Bearspaw community to participate in the NRCB hearing on Heidelberg’s application, we need one collective voice to represent us as a group of affected stakeholders with common interests.  That is why the Bearspaw Community Coalition was formed – to be the community’s representative with standing at the NRCB hearing.

The NRCB’s hearing will be a provincial level quasi-judicial hearing to determine whether the Scott pit is in the public interest.  Its hearings concentrate on technical evidence.  As the spokesperson for Bearspaw residents at the NRCB hearing, the Coalition is already starting to coordinate technical experts to challenge Heidelberg’s application.  This is critical and not something any of us can do on our own.

The Coalition has put significant effort into establishing standing with the NRCB.  The NRCB accepted our submission identifying recommended changes to their draft application requirements and incorporated many of our recommendations into the final requirements for Heidelberg’s application. 

To maximize the effectiveness of our collective voice, the NRCB needs current evidence of support from a substantial fraction of affected Bearspaw residents.  Being on our email list or having participated in earlier Rocky View public hearings on the Scott pit is not enough.  This is why it is so important for you to sign the consent form. 

Thanks in advance for demonstrating your support in this important and tangible way.  If you have any questions, please be sure to ask.

Heidelberg advises that they are undertaking technical studies in support of the NRCB application. In their virtual information session, Heidelberg indicated they expect to file their formal application with NRCB in Q1/Q2 2026. The Coalition is engaging independent experts to review technical studies to support the residents’ input into the process, and Bearspaw residents can support this effort.

Heidelberg hosted a virtual information session - the presentation can be found here. Questions were asked by participants, and answers have been provided by Heidelberg here. Note that some of the answers provided in the document differ from those provided verbally during the virtual session. Heidelberg confirms that if the pit is approved, blasting and crushing will occur at the site.