Wheatland County Subdivision Appeal Board (SDAB) has upheld the decision of the county’s Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) to approve the discretionary use of a retail cannabis store in the hamlet of Gleichen following an appeal hearing on Wednesday, May 25.
The development was approved by the MPC in April 2022 for a two-year term with conditions; shortly afterwards, the SDAB received a notice of appeal from an adjacent business owner citing negative impacts the development would have on the community and urging them to overturn the decision.
Among the concerns raised in opposition letters received by the SDAB is the proximity of the proposed facility to both the Gleichen library and community centre. It was also noted the community has been struggling with intoxicated loiterers and vandalism, and there were concerns a retail cannabis store could further promote this behaviour.
However, in a letter from the applicant it was noted the proposed location is currently vacant, which has “promoted people to hang there without any restriction” and that a business operating out of the building would not only help deter loitering, but also help control it. The applicant also shared they had canvassed residents of both Gleichen and the nearby neighbouring Siksika Nation to query interest in the development.
A total of 31 letters of support, including 17 from Siksika residents, from this canvassing and a total of 106 residents from both the hamlet and Siksika Nation had shown support for the proposed development.
The SDAB submitted a written decision on May 31 to uphold the development’s approval for a two-year term ending in April 2024 with conditions.

Two electricity policy resolutions the Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce (DDCC) co-sponsored with the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce have been approved by members of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC).
The resolutions, Alberta’s Electricity System: A Balanced and Fair Playing Field for All Customers and Electrifying Alberta’s Grid were presented on May 28 at the ACC Annual General Meeting & Policy Session in Lethbridge.
Both resolutions received strong support and will now be included in the ACC’s policy book for the next three years. The Alberta Chamber will advocate to the province for the recommendations put forward in the policy resolutions.
DDCC President, Deana Hannem noted, “The cost of electricity, specifically distribution and transmission fees, have been a recurring complaint from our business community. We are excited to have these policy resolutions adopted and hope changes will be made with continued advocacy to the provincial government by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce.”
The DDCC previously put forward a similar policy resolution on distribution and transmission fees in September 2020 to the ACC, but it was not adopted. The Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce worked with the Grande Prairie Chamber to revise the policy recommendations based on feedback received in the fall of 2020.
DDCC Executive Director Heather Bitz reported, “Approval of the policy by members of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce is a major policy win for a small Chamber of Commerce like ours. We are thankful for the support of the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce in helping us create the policy and ultimately getting it approved.”
To read the policy resolutions, visit the Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce website drumheller
chamber.com