Rotarians and project partners take in the view at Slack Slough. (rdnewsNOW/Ashley Lavallee-Koenig)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

250 ACRES OF PROTECTED LAND

Rotary Club of Red Deer is far from slacking in conservation efforts

Jun 17, 2024 | 5:14 PM

The Rotary Club of Red Deer officially celebrated the completion of phase one of its Centennial Legacy Project, a large-scale conservation of the Slack Slough wetland just southeast of Gasoline Alley.

On June 17, partners of the project and Rotarians alike gathered at the Gasoline Alley Farmer’s Market for a celebratory luncheon before heading to the project site.

Phase one of the Slack Slough conservation project included securing a conservation easement for the land, restoring it, and installing a few commemorative benches for people to enjoy the view.

“If some developer ultimately buys it from our estate or something, I know what will happen. One way of preserving it forever, so that nobody can touch it, is getting the conservation easement. That’s what we have, so nobody can do any development there, it’s permanent,” shared Bob Mills, a Rotary Club committee member who also happens to own the farm directly adjacent to the slough, Mills Gardenia.

Although the conservation easement initially applied primarily to Mills’ parcel of land and the immediate surrounding area, he confirmed that the provincial government has agreed to acknowledge and honour that protection on additional surrounding parcels as well, resulting in about 250 acres of protected land.

Last seen Nov. 28

Missing: Jimmy Eagle, 27, of Maskwacis

12h ago

the situation is dire

Two deaths, possibly from cold exposure, raise alarm amid Red Deer shelter situation and plight of homeless community

Dec 12, 2025

Lace-'Em Up!

Red Deer's outdoor rinks returning for another season

Dec 12, 2025

“You need the zones around the wetland to preserve it. You need places where birds and animals feel comfortable. We had a bear two weeks ago, we have resident moose and deer, and it’s a major migratory site. We had over 200,000 geese there last fall,” said Mills.

The easement was secured with the assistance of one of the project’s partners, the Legacy Land Trust Society. Ducks Unlimited Canada then played a vital role in restoring the area.

“Historic documents show that Slack Slough was recognized as a critically important wetland over a century ago,” said Rebecca Nielsen, executive director of the Legacy Land Trust Society. “This 96 acre slough supports 94 reported bird species as well as mammals and amphibians. It matters.”

Another partner of the project was Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), who can assist with research efforts in the area to the benefit of its students.

“As part of Red Deer Polytechnic’s bachelor of science in biological sciences, we have students who do a lot of field work, conservation work, and wildlife monitoring; who are excited that they have this opportunity and space right near the Red Deer Polytechnic,” Robbie Halonen, dean of the Donald School of Business, Science, and Computing at RDP.

The second, third, and fourth phases of the project will focus on implementing a short trail system that connects to the rest of Red Deer’s trails, a lookout point, and eventually, a nature centre.

The conservation effort was chosen as the club’s 100-year celebration project, the planning for which began in 2018 before being slowed by the Covid-19 pandemic. A sign featuring the project’s partners was raised as a marker of phase one’s completion in February this year, but the celebration was held in June due to weather considerations.

—

Subscribe to our FREE newsletter, and download the rdnewsNOW mobile app on Google Play and the Apple App Store for all the latest updates on this and other stories.