Cold Lake, AB – City Council has found a home for the Cold Lake Sailing Association at Kinosoo Beach.

After hearing from the association about its future plans at a council meeting delegation, City Council directed administration to work with the group to identify a suitable location for the association to store its boats and equipment. The Cold Lake Sailing Association is planning to hold sailing lessons and requested a space where the boats, equipment and other supplies could be stored.

“This association has big plans and council wanted to support them in a way that could get them started and see their efforts grow,” Mayor Craig Copeland said. “We hope that the location we’ve arrived at gives the club a visible location to provide lessons while keeping their assets and equipment safe when not in use. We feel that a chance for our youth to learn to sail while being visible to users of Kinosoo Beach will give the association the exposure they need to grow. The Cold Lake Sailing Association is a passionate group with a great vision for its future and we hope that this start will prove to the be foundation they need to build upon.”

Council passed a motion to enter into a licence agreement with the Cold Lake Sailing Association to place two sea cans on the beach for storage. They will be placed next to the water treatment building and the treed area on the west side of the beach, to minimize the public’s view of the structures and the effect that the temporary storage shelters will have on the aesthetics in the area. The placement is subject to the sailing association securing a development permit once the lease agreement has been signed.

“We know that there may be some concern about the aesthetics, but the location minimizes the visibility of the storage area and ultimately, council felt that the aesthetics of having youth on the lake learning to sail outweighed any negatives,” Copeland said. “It’s also important to note that this is a starting point for the association. It will give them the chance to launch their classes and build for their future while providing a service that families throughout the region can enjoy. It’s another great way to enjoy our community’s greatest asset.”

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