Up until about 1997 or so, Calgary had a military base. In 1997-98, the Army units making their home here moved to Edmonton and the Base itself was turned over to the Canada Lands Company (CLC).My first experience with CLC was due to the fact that I was living in Private Married Quarters (PMQs) at the time - rent was cheap for military members. As soon as CLC took over the Base, they sent letters to everyone that our rules of occupancy were about to change. In 1997, I was paying about $400 a month to rent a tiny duplex. Yes, that was a great price, but the house was built in 194x, had very little insulation and the wiring was literally crumbling apart. You could use our bedroom closet as a fridge in winter-time. Our gas heating bills were staggering - the furnace barely turned off. Under the CLC's new rules, I would have to pay $800 a month, get rid of my pets, shed, fence (if there was one) and be on notice to vacate with 3 month's notice. Only after I submitted my official notice that I was leaving did they respond that I could keep my pets, shed and fence if that was the problem.
Let's face it, CLC is a crown corporation with a public facade and it has one mission - make as much money as possible from the acquisition of former Crown land. They intended to turn the Base into new, trendy neighbourhoods in phases, starting with the area we had been living in. Now, to their credit, Garrison Woods is a beautiful development. But it did not go cheaply my friends. Oh no. In some cases, old PMQs were moved (closer together of course), gutted on the inside leaving only the original framing and wood flooring, and refurbished. There were also many new homes built in a colonial style with porches along with brownstone style town homes surrounding a military monument. The families that used to live here would barely recognize the place.
Now the CLC is getting ready to develop the last phase of their development plan where the old base housed some of its units and barracks, an area currently being used for assorted businesses. It will be getting a face lift that will include a European style commercial district and new homes where there were none before.
One of the old businesses that is getting the heave-ho is the Calgary Farmer's Market. The market took over the old hangar in the base formerly occupied by the Field Ambulance unit. It hosted many little family run vendor stalls selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, to organic meats, bakery selections and crafts. A letter writing campaign and Facebook group trying to save the market didn't succeed and it must move by 2010. The market hopes to find a new home by then.
CLC's official position on the eviction: "Having a large-scale public market that requires significant infrastructure to support it does not meet CLC's criteria of a complete and sustainable community." I understand that the CLC is a business, but understand that these lands were already owned by the federal government, so everything they've sold is pure profit after development costs.
Heartless bastards.
