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A well-liked household attraction north of Edmonton has been compelled to halt operations.
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Prairie Gardens Journey Farm has briefly shut down all of its agri-tourism actions after Sturgeon County served it a discover {that a} cease order issued in October of 2021 is now in impact.
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“It’s sort of heartbreaking throughout, particularly this time of yr. We’ve grown crops all summer season and the u-pick apples are virtually prepared and the u-pick pumpkins are lovely this yr and we are able to’t provide u-pick in any respect,” mentioned Tam Andersen, proprietor and farmer of Prairie Backyard Adventures Farm.
In line with a launch on the Sturgeon County web site, the cease order was put into full pressure attributable to “non-compliance with a forbearance settlement between the 2 events.”
The discharge went on to say that the discover was given “attributable to ongoing and important public security considerations and the failure to adjust to submission deadlines, occupancy limits throughout outlined hours, and necessities to verify parking, site visitors, and entry enhancements.”
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Andersen pointed to capability restrict points and site visitors impacts as two elements that led to the cease order. She says the farm had a capability restrict of 300 individuals and it was accused of exceeding it throughout Alberta Open Farm Days. Additionally, the county wished a site visitors impression examine, which Andersen says they employed a marketing consultant really helpful by Sturgeon County, nonetheless the marketing consultant missed the submission deadline.
In consequence, new restrictions have been put into place for the farm, together with a restrict of 100 guests, restricted hours, no pedestrian exercise on roadways and no occasions permitted, together with u-pick, hayrides and corn maze.
The farm was compelled to close down as a result of 100-visitor restrict being unsustainable, says Andersen, including they’re persevering with to work with the county are ready to see what occurs subsequent.
“We’re very, very inspired by all the general public assist. We’ve had so many messages from those who have recognized us … we have been actually touched by that,” Andersen mentioned.
Andersen was notably dissatisfied attributable to this yr’s corn maze theme being Each Little one Issues.
“We labored with an elder and labored actually laborious to incorporate the seven teachings … we wished to face in assist of our First Nations group,” mentioned Andersen.
Prairie Gardens is situated 25 km north of Edmonton.
