Nestled in the rolling hills west of Coleman, the
Bohomolec Ranch property sits as an important wildlife corridor between Highway 3 and the forest reserve. Over the years its owners have resisted efforts from multiple fronts to exploit the land for natural resources, and now the property will be protected into the future thanks to the Government of Canada and the
Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).
The 160-acre property was purchased by the NCC in 2008, as part of the Government of Canada’s $225 million
Natural Areas Conservation Program. On Wednesday, June 24, NCC celebrated with local and regional supporters and the land’s former owners, marking the preservation of this property as NCC’s 2009 Gift to Canadians in Alberta.
“It’s a wonderful piece of property,” said Bob Demulder, NCC’s Regional Vice President for Alberta. “It’s a critical area for conservation.”
Rick Casson, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, attended on behalf of Minister of the Environment
Jim Prentice and Macleod M.P.
Ted Menzies. The government, said Casson, is committed to the long term conservation of land, because the country’s natural beauty defines Canada more than any man-made monuments.
“Canadians identify with these places,” said Casson.
The Keith and Berretti families, who owned the property for over 30 years, also attended the event. Serena Mellen (nee Berretti) reminisced about her childhood days riding her pony around the land.
“It brings back a lot of memories being up on this hillside today,” she said. “It’s so special for me that this is going to stay this way forever.”
Peter Keith spoke about the property’s history, noting that even when the family sold off other pieces of the larger ranch over the years, they always held onto the piece surrounding Iron Ridge.
“Holding onto this property has not been exactly easy,” said Keith.
He noted several attempts over the years from developers and others to use the land, all resisted by the family. In the 1980s, he said, the provincial government planned to expropriate the property for a rock quarry. The property has been targeted by mining investors, wind farm developers, and more.
