Editor's note: This article has been updated to provide clarification.
ATHABASCA — Athabasca County will reopen its campgrounds this spring despite being put on blast by a concerned ratepayer.
At their Feb. 25 meeting councillors were presented with a series of e-mails dating back from last spring from a county resident who expressed concerns about having private campgrounds, specifically in the Wandering River area, open during the pandemic dating back to last spring.
“Now that we have a crisis with the virus and I was informed that this is really big deal to shut these campgrounds down,” he wrote April 17, 2020. “Now all of a sudden, the county is worried if they shut the campers down, they might get sued. This is such a crock, the county didn’t need government approval to approve these campsites, but all of a sudden the government is brought into the picture about temporarily shutting them down.”
Athabasca County does not have the jurisdiction to close privately-owned campgrounds for public health reasons; that falls to the provincial government. Private campgrounds were allowed to be open in 202 with restrictions set by the province, allowing for a lot of people in urban areas to escape to private campgrounds including the ones in the Wandering River area so, he brought the issue back to council in a Feb. 17 email.
“The county decided a few months ago to make it mandatory to wear a face mask which violates our rights. I had this discussion with our county manager last spring to keep these campers at home and I was basically laughed at,” he said. “The county can shove these masks in our face, there is no doubt in my mind that these campers can stay home.”
Coun. Penny Stewart agreed with the concerns, saying camping is non-essential travel.
“It's a non-essential business, we shouldn’t be doing non-essential travel. I think their concern of spreading COVID is legit,” Stewart said. “We as a council, all of us are scared to meet, let alone bringing 2,000 people into a small community. I mean, I know people love to camp, but we should only be doing it when it's safe.”
Coun. Doris Splane asked if there had been issues associated with Athabasca County run campgrounds last summer and Maier said not to his knowledge, noting extra cleaning was done and other measures taken.
“Just to follow up on the question about the province and what they're doing,” said Maier. “Their campgrounds are open for 2021. They are taking reservations starting, I think it's March 4. There are some COVID restrictions they put in place like they're not opening any of their shower facilities and they're not opening any of their group camping sites.”
The rest of council felt the Athabasca County campgrounds should be open to help with mental and emotional health after being shut indoors to avoid COVID-19.
“The feedback I'm getting is that the people want these campsites open, and they're a little stir crazy, and they want to have a place to go, and whether it's just to walk around for the day or camp or whatever,” said Coun. Kevin Haines.
Coun. Doris Splane said council needs to be cognizant of people's mental health and should open the municipal campgrounds.
“I think the health issue overall which has become more and more apparent (is) people that aren't able to get out and even see nature are definitely having problems with depression and all sorts of health manifestations,” she said.”
Coun. Dennis Willcott also noted there is a big difference between indoor activities like restaurants and camping outdoors.
“There's a big difference between inside of a restaurant in a closed place and out in the open too,” he said. “So, you're allowed now I think it's 10 people (outside) spread out.”
Council chose to allow County campgrounds to open following Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines.
