'Quite disheartening': The Alice Sanctuary no longer allowed tours, events, volunteer program

A southern Alberta sanctuary that's home to around 200 rescued farm animals is receiving an outpouring of support from people around the world after it was told it's no longer allowed to host tours, events or its volunteer program.

The Alice Sanctuary has been caring for animals for nearly 10 years — seven of which were in its current location in Wheatland County, about an hour northeast of Calgary.

Then the county received complaints from neighbours about parking and road access.

"They got in contact with us and said, 'It sounds like you're doing an operation like a business,'" said sanctuary founder Janneane Madill. "'Let's rectify the situation and let's build a permit application around this.'"

First, the county suggested a rezoning permit until they realized a "home based business type 3" permit fit better. So Madill applied and requested the approval of 14 summer tours and two events annually, on a two-year term.

But last Tuesday, Wheatland County's municipal planning commission denied the permit — and added that the sanctuary can no longer host volunteers, either.

"It feels kind of heartbreaking because I know how much the sanctuary impacts people on a very personal level," said Madill.

"Having that taken away is really quite disheartening … Not being able to provide that space for people who I know are attracted and need it — it feels like one of my lungs has been chopped off."

The committee's conversation about the permit started Feb. 14, when Madill submitted the application. It turned into a larger conversation about the sanctuary's existence in the county, and the committee agreed to defer the decision to Mar. 14.

In February, they voted to give Madill and her neighbour, who filed the complaint, a chance to speak at the March meeting.

But they never got that opportunity. The committee voted 3-2 to deny the permit.

After CBC News requested interviews with each member of council, county reeve Amber Link and the sanctuary's division councillor, Scott Klassen, emailed CBC News the following reasons for the permit refusal:

Link said in her email that the permit was denied after "fulsome debate and consideration."

Madill says she felt some committee members misrepresented what the sanctuary is and does — like that they care more about fundraising than the animals, and she says the complaints about the sanctuary are outdated and are made to seem more severe than they actually are.