High River allows urban chickens and bees

Residents of High River can now keep urban chickens and bees, thanks to a bylaw passed by town council Tuesday.

The move comes with responsibilities for prospective urban farmers as the town requires training and an annual licence, and insurance is needed if a bylaw enforcement officer wants to see it.

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Kara Rusk, manager of legislative services for the town, says the idea picked up steam last summer.

"Some young children came to council advocating for chickens and bees. They provided a really cute presentation to council," Rusk said.

The town surveyed public opinion and found 72 per cent support for the idea.

After doing some research into best practices, the town came up with some requirements, Rusk explained.

Licence, training and insurance needed

Residents will have to apply to the province for a premises identification number, which is a requirement for the annual licence they'll need.

Budding urban farmers will also need training, insurance to show a bylaw enforcement officer on request and the consent of neighbours, although the town doesn't need to see that.

"It's a matter of courtesy to let their neighbours know that 'I have chickens' or 'I have bees,'" Rusk said.

"If this becomes an issue, we can always revisit this bylaw with council."

Chicken training June 25

The town is partnering with Cassandra Kirkpatrick on a chicken training course June 25.

Residents who want to keep bees will need to find their own training.

Urban or backyard chickens have been an issue in Calgary for years, despite many other municipalities welcoming them.

Paul Hughes won a bylaw fight in 2010 to allow him to continue to raise hens in his backyard but apilot project proposed last spring was voted down when some city councillors said they wanted more information before moving ahead.

High River is about 40 kilometres south of Calgary.

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