Vote for Rising Bearspaw Basketball Star to Win Canada's Best High School Post Player

At only 17, Bearspaw resident Dallin Bachynski is one of Canada's most talented rising basketball stars. Coming in at an impressive 6'11" and weighing 225lbs, Bachynski has garnered attention North America-wide and has signed on to play at an NCAA Division 1 school in the United States next year.

Currently a player for the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs, Bachynski has an overall 92-7 high school record. He is a great kid with a bright future and as the son of one of Willow Creek's partners we wish him the very best as he moves forward with his dream of playing in the NBA.

Help Dallin as he heats up the court and vote for him to win Canada's Best High School Post Player. Visit http://www.phase1basketball.com/ and click the "Polls" link on the top of the page.

Dallin is the only player from Western Canada nominated for this award.

South Pond Work Shaping Up!

Our South Ponds are coming along nicely. We are trying to keep the water levels down while work is underway but once complete and filled, the ponds will be an impressive feature of Willow Creek.

There are 7 lots still available backing onto the ponds. All are suitable for South walkout basements and have great views & topography. Just ask Astoria Homes...they could see the potential more than a year ago and secured lots 31 and 32. We can't wait to see the gorgeous homes they will build on these magnificent home sites!

...the geese love the ponds too!

Entrance Feature Progression

Willow Creek's entrance feature is one step closer to completion. We now have the metal letters mounted on the wood structure with recessed lighting below. This piece will attach to a large stone selected at a quarry in B.C. by local artist Kevin Elliot of Set In Stone and will be placed at the main entrance on Woodland Road later this summer. If you would like to come by and have a look at the progress to date the feature is in front of the sales office. You just might get a friendly welcome from our office dog Jax too!

Rendering of the proposed finished product

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park moving ahead as planned

According to an article in the Cochrane Eagle April 22, 2009 the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is going forward despite rumours that its opening had been delayed.
Tim Harvie, who's family sold the land to the province says that the opening is still a few years away, with highway access, parking and placement of the footpaths all proving to be challenges for the project.
Although Bearspaw residents will have to stand-by for a definitive date for its opening and additional information, the park will protect the ecosystem along the Bow River and serve as a major hub for recreation and conservationism...in our opinion it will be well worth the wait!

To read the full article by Sarah Junkin, click the following link: http://www.cochraneeagle.com/index.php?content=news&action=fullnews&id=5896

Willow Creek Builders Shine at SAM Awards

Willow Creek would like to congratulate our builder's group on their successes at the Canadian Homebuilder's Association- Calgary Region annual SAM Awards held April 18, 2009.

McKinley Masters won the Builder of Merit award for the 7th time in the last 8 years! They also took home awards in the following categories:

• Winner Best New Home $1,500,000 - $1,999,999 (Davies Residence)
• Winner Best New Home $2,000,000 and over (Markham Residence)
• Winner Best Renovator's Choice Renovation (Legends of the Fall, Bearspaw)
• Finalist Best New Home $1,000,000 - $1,499,999

Astoria Homes took home honours in the following categories:

• Winner Best Home Renovation (without Addition) (Hall Residence)
• Finalist Best New Home $750,000-$999,999 (Beveridge/Magnuson Residence)
• Finalist Best Home Renovation (with Addition) (Froese Residence & Kane Residence)

Laratta achieved success in the following categories:

• Finalist Best New Home $1,500,000 - $1,999,999 (Casa Bella)
• Finalist Best New Home $2,000,000 and over (Legg Residence)

For a complete list of the 2008 winners, please visit the SAM Awards Website: http://www.samawards.com/forms/2008/08_SAM_WinnersPressRelease.pdf.

Last of the 2 Acre Developments in Bearspaw?

It's possible.... With the departure from the current Area Structure Plan in Bearspaw and a shift to area-specific, design based planning at the M.D. of Rocky View along with the province's new Land Use Framework, the lots of Willow Creek at Bearspaw may very well be the last in a subdivision of all 2 acre parcels.

Alberta's Minister of Sustainable Resources Development, Ted Morton has said it himself that "the era of the acreage is ending". In the future Morton says that the government will encourage municipalities to develop in clusters and corridors, as opposed to traditional rural subdivisions with larger lots.

What does this mean for Bearspaw and its residents? The answer at this point is still unclear with no final documents yet released from "Imagine Bearspaw" and the resulting Community Development Strategy, Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan and Site Development Framework. What we do know however is the landscape of this area is changing. There is only a limited amount of land to be developed in Bearspaw, and with the City creeping closer, securing a large parcel of land now may be an opportunity not available in the future.

Stone Address Markers

Each home at Willow Creek will have a stone address marker at the driveway entrance. The stones have been hand selected by local artist, Kevin Elliot and engraved and painted with each address name and number.

The markers will be a beautiful and lasting addition to each lot at Willow Creek. To view a sample please visit our sales office.

For more information about Kevin Elliot and his work visit http://www.set-in-stone.ca/.