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West Central Stakeholders Group

The West Central Stakeholders Group formed in the spring of 2002 after a number of efforts to establish a multi-stakeholder group for the greater Rocky Mountain House region. 

The West Central Stakeholders is a true multi-stakeholder organization with members from the public, industry, various levels of government and regulatory agencies.

The activities of the West Central Stakeholders are co-ordinated by an organizing team with members from the public, the oil & gas industry and various levels of government. The team includes representatives from Clearwater County, Town of Rocky Mountain House, Sunchild First Nation, Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and 12 oil and gas companies, as well as approximately 12 other community members. The team meets eight to ten times a year to set direction for the group and plan forums for public discussion such as Information Nights. 

WCS monthly meetings are held on a Tuesday (usually the second Tuesday of the month) in Rocky Mountain House at various locations. Occasionally, WCS holds special meetings at oil and gas facilities in the area (i.e. Keyera Energy gas plant tour in June 2007.)

Our Misson:
Our Mission is to provide an open forum for the people of West Central Alberta to present and discuss information related to the oil and gas industry.

Our Vision:
A lasting relationship based on trust, honesty and respect by way of mutual education, sharing information and assisting in resolution of issues to benefit members of the community: public, oil and gas industry and government.

Next Meeting

  • Regular meeting   Tuesday, September 14, 5:30 supper, 6:00 pm meeting at the Walking Eagle (Clearwater Room). Please RSVP to Krista westcentral@synergyalberta.ca if attending.

Notes from recent meetings (in PDF format):

Community

Clearwater County covers some 7704 sq. miles (12320 sq. kilometers) beginning a little west of Eckville, north of Sundre and extending west to the Banff Park Border and north of Rocky Mountain House.

This area includes the Village or Caroline and the Town of Rocky Mountain House, as well as the communities of Leslieville, Condor and Nordegg which are overseen by Clearwater County.

The region encompassed by Clearwater County is known for farming and ranching operations as well as abundant recreation opportunities in the West County and along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains including camping, hunting, hiking, riding off highway vehicles and fishing.

Contact Us

For more information on WCS and its activities, please contact:

  • Krista Waters, facilitator/administrator, (403)722-3996
  • Miles Nielsen, co-chair, industry, (403) 845-8414
  • Gerald Knopp, co-chair, community, (403) 729-2663

Or e-mail westcentral@synergyalberta.ca

We also want to hear from you what issues WCS can help resolve, topics for future Information Nights or other suggestions.

Members

Approximately 35 members regularly participate on the WCS organizing team.

Approximately 10 community representatives, the Energy Resources Conservation Board, Clearwater County, Town of Rocky Mountain House, Sunchild First Nation, Alberta Sustainable Resources Development, two youth members and 16 industry members. 

Participating oil and gas companies for 2010: Anderson Energy, Apache Canada, Bonavista Energy, Compton, ConocoPhillips Canada, Devon Energy, EnCana, Husky Energy, Imperial Oil, Keyera Energy, PennWest, Shell Canada, Suncor, Talisman, TAQA North and TransCanada Pipelines.

Location / Direction / Maps

West Central Stakeholders operates in Clearwater County including the communities of Nordegg, Rocky Mountain House, Caroline and Leslieville. [See Map]

Accomplishments

INFORMATION NIGHTS:
West Central Stakeholders puts on public Information Nights approximately twice per year to provide information on a wide variety of relevant topics. These events are a major part of the group's activities every year.

Everyone is welcome to attend our Information Nights.  These events often include a panel discussion and efforts are made to ensure that community, industry and government are all represented on the panel.

Previous topics include:

  • Energy Development on My Land
    Information to assist landowners in dealing with oil and gas development
  • What Happens When You Say "No" to Oil and Gas Activities on Your Land
    Information on the various options available when a landowner does not agree with proposed oil and gas development
  • Oil and Gas Development in the West Country
    Information on the process for oil and gas development on Public Land, the issues involved and how the public can provide input on this process.
  • Before you Sign: Negotiating the Surface Lease Agreement
    Information and a forum for discussion about Surface Lease Agreements.
  • Trying to Mix Oil and Water: How Alberta's "Water for Life" Strategy Relates to the Oil and Gas Industry and Your Community.
    Information on the "Water for Life" strategy and a forum for discussion of issues related to water usage by the oil and gas industry, agriculture and the community.
  • Flaring: Impacts, Regulations and Trends
    Information on current flaring impacts and regulations, improvements that have been made and targets for the future.
  • Who's Who in the Zoo
    An opportunity to meet the oil and gas operators in Clearwater County and to learn about the activities these companies are involved with.
  • Cleaning up our Act: Site Reclamation after Oil and Gas.
    Information on the process for reclaiming oil and gas sites including procedures, regulations, monitoring, enforcement and landowner's rights.
  • Encumbrances on Agricultural Land: Dealing with the cumulative effects of Oil and gas development.
    Information on current encumbrances on agricultural land resulting from petroleum industry development and what can be done to improve the situation.
  • Cumulative Effects of Multiple Land Uses: Seeking a balance between industry, recreation, agriculture and ecological integrity.
    Information and a forum for discussion on how human activity has changed our landscape over time and what can be done to achieve balance between development and ecological sustainability.
  • Emergency Preparedness
    This event featured speakers from Alberta Emergency Management Agency, Clearwater County, the EUB, Keyera Energy, mutual aid groups and the David Thompson Health Region. In addition to brief presentations from each speaker about their organization's role in possible emergencies and what the public can do to be informed and prepared, audience questions were answered by a panel of all the speakers.
  • Understanding Agriculture
    This interactive evening aimed to increase co-operation between agriculture and oil & gas industries by sharing information to increase understanding and improve the working relationships of these two vital industries.

Best Management Practices Guide

"Lead by example, set a high standard, create expectation and others will follow."
In respectful memory of Cal Broadhurst, a dedicated member of the West Central Stakeholders
Group and Best Practices Sub-Committee, who was committed to resolving differences by working together in a respectful and honest manner. Cal, who passed away suddenly in mid-2007, believed that using responsible best practices would demonstrate leadership, setting a high standard and expectation for others to follow.

Youth Bursary

West Central is now entering its third year of offering bursaries to local students to encourage youth involvement in West Central Stakeholders.

For the 2009/2010 year bursaries were earned by Brett Godwin and Morgan Spooner, both of Caroline School. Brett and Morgan will receive their $500 cheques at the upcoming Caroline School Fall Awards.

This initiative aims to increase youth awareness of the oil and gas industry, the synergy movement as well as bring a youth perspective to West Central Stakeholders.

E-mail or call for more information.

News and Events

WCS Landowner Guide: Understanding Pipelines, Setbacks [Download]

More than 130 people attended the Pipelines Information Night held in Rocky on March 22, 2010.  Speakers from the National Energy Board (NEB) and the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) explained setbacks, different statuses of pipelines, ground disturbance and abandonment.

Copies of the presentations are available by clicking on the links below or contacts WCS directly.

 

 

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