The then council of the RM of Buckland heard from many residents who opposed the application from Ryan Bernard (right) to have a convenience store with liquor sales next to Hwy. 2 and Cloarec Road. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Rezoning denied

Buckland council votes down gas station/liquor store plan

Feb 10, 2025 | 4:26 PM

The decision to not allow an applicant to build a gas station and liquor store at Cloarec Road and Highway 2 north was dealt with quickly by the RM of Buckland council Monday afternoon.

Council voted against changes to two different bylaws that would have needed to go ahead in order for Ryan Bernard’s business concept to go ahead.

The first bylaw, labeled 10/2024, would have amended the District Official Community Plan but was defeated at second reading.

The second bylaw, labeled 12/2024, would have allowed Bernard to re-zone the land so he could put a commercial business there. That was also defeated at second reading.

His plan was to build a convenience store that would also sell alcohol, but area residents were strongly opposed.

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When the public hearing was held in October of 2024, about 50 residents packed into the RM’s office in Prince Albert to voice their opposition. Their biggest concern was safety.

Residents said there was a school nearby and stated that the intersection is already dangerous without adding more traffic into the mix.

Several weeks ago Chief Christine Longjohn of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation posted publicly that her government is also opposed to the application from Bernard.

“Given the significant concerns raised by our Nation and the broader community, we strongly urge the RM of Buckland to reject this rezoning application. Public safety must come before commercial expansion, especially when the risks—crime, impaired driving, and social harm—outweigh any economic benefit,” she said.

The Spruce Home School is nearby and many Sturgeon Lake band members are students there.

Longjohn said that research shows that having liquor stores near school normalizes alcohol consumption which increases the risk of early alcohol use by children and youth.

The final vote on the matter was four councillors opposed to allowing the rezoning and only two in favour.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On Bluesky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social