A group of Cochrane-area residents with a passion for western heritage are asking the provincial government to reconsider their application to rename a portion of the Cowboy Trail.
Eric Gunderson, Don Hepburn and Doug Bateman are three members of a small group working to have a portion of Highway 8 named after famed rodeo star and area rancher Clem Gardner. The portion in question is a 17-kilometre stretch that runs from the Calgary city boundary to Highway 22.
The group has been pursuing the endeavour for several years but has been turned down by the provincial transportation ministry on two occasions.
Gunderson and company said they want to rename the roadway after Gardner to restore some of the lost glory of the Cowboy Trail and to commemorate Gardner, who was instrumental in the development of the Calgary Stampede and whose former ranch property runs along the Highway 8 corridor.
“We see it as a flagship project for a larger idea,” Gunderson said. “It’s one clear connector road to the Cowboy Trail … we want to see it named along the theme of many of the roads and highways around Calgary. We want to see it called the Clem Gardner Trail.”
Gunderson imagines a future where a number of the range and side roads connecting to the Cowboy Trail might be named after regional historical figures like Gardner.
“There are a lot of numbered side roads along the route. Roads like Range Road 29,” Gunderson said. “That doesn’t stick in your memory and it doesn’t mean a lot.”
Gunderson said if successful, the group would push for other names to be added that included a diverse set of historical figures.
“There is no way we want to exclude women and Indigenous people who are a strong part of the area heritage,” Gunderson said.
According to the transportation ministry, renaming highways must meet a specific set of criteria.
“When it comes to re-naming highways, the highway should have historical significance,” said Rob Williams, a press secretary with the ministry. “Letters of support are required from municipalities along the route and from MLAs who represent the area.”
Also required is a plan to promote the route submitted to Alberta Transportation for review.
Gunderson said the group has received widespread support for the proposal, collecting hundreds of signatures petitioning in favour of the proposal and numerous letters of support from community groups, politicians and associations.
Gunderson said he believes there is more at play than just showing public support for the project.
“Politically, we’re at a time there’s so much politically sensitivity,” he said. “They don’t want to name something after someone that someone else might find fault with.”
Gunderson said the group has tried to act diligently to address those concerns but has not discovered anything they believe would be considered problematic about Gardner.
“We’ve looked for something wrong with Clem Gardner,” he said. “We’ve left the door open. Is there a reason why Clem should not be named? Was there a negative aspect to him? He’s apparently a universally well-thought-of community member.”
While the Town of Cochrane and Rocky View County have not formally pledged their support for the idea, Gunderson said the group plans to address council in the future about the idea and is encouraging residents to reach out to their MLA and various levels of government expressing support for the project.
