Updated August 2021: The membership voted at the AGM to change the league bylaws to extend its western boundary.

RCL members will vote at the league’s AGM August 26 on a motion to expand the league’s physical boundary.

If the general membership approves of this bylaw change, and no objections arise from the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues or the CIty of Edmonton, the change will give the league oversight over future development in what is already a rapidly transforming area.

Once an important commercial hub that gave way to mostly light industrial development, West Ritchie is now attracting high-density residential developments. If CPR eventually decides to leave the lands it has gradually been decommissioning, there may be even more development. Ritchie wants to have a say over what happens, explains Allan Bolstad, Ritchie’s civics director who proposed the change.

Of immediate concern are new residents of Station Park, a seven-storey residential building planned south of the historic rail station with access off 103 Street. The city rezoned that parcel of land in June to allow the development to proceed. This area does not lie within an existing league boundary, however, so future residents will not have a league to represent them. As RCL is closest, it makes sense that Ritchie push its boundary west in order to do so.

This move will also see the league take oversight of lands between 102 Street and the railway tracks, where another large apartment block was built a few years ago. Ritchie’s adoption of this area, from which we have been welcoming members for the past few years, is long overdue.

Incorporation of all of these lands will result in an increase in Ritchie’s annual operating grant from the city, which is based on a formula where every league gets a base grant of $5,000 and approximately $2 per capita to help cover its basic operating costs.

Ritchie’s bylaws require the board to give league members proper notice of any change to our bylaws. Changes need to be voted on at a properly constituted meeting, like the AGM, where all members are welcome to attend and take part.

Staff at the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues have been notified of RCL’s interest in this area and have been asked to make sure we would not be infringing on the territory of any other league. Ritchie will need to similarly inform the City of Edmonton.