Town of Hanna recently issued the following announcement.
Council has approved a request from students at JC Charyk School for a trial project. The request is from their Project Based Learning Group and proposes to teach entrepreneurship skills, how to operate a small business, and the proper raising of animals.
On March 8, 2022 a group of students from JC Charyk Junior High attended the Town Council meeting to request a bylaw amendment permitting them to raise and care for chickens on the school property. The students will purchase approximately 30 chicks and raise them for 8-10 weeks, starting in April, at which time they will be taken offsite for butchering at an approved facility and then sold through the school.
The students answered many questions from Councillors ranging from how the chickens would be contained and secured, how they will be fed and cleaned up after, and where they will be located. The students indicated that they plan to contain the birds using a chicken tractor. A chicken tractor is a small, moveable chicken house/coop without a floor.
While the project does contravene the Town of Hanna Animal Control Bylaw #808, Council was impressed with the initiative the students showed and felt comfortable providing permission as a trial project to run from April to June 2022. The following resolution was passed:
That Council provide approval to JC Charyk School and the Project Based Learning Group to care for and raise 30 birds for meat raising purposes on JC Charyk School property between the months of April and June 2022 under the following conditions.
- This approval will be for a trial project for the period of April to June 2022 only.
- The students will be responsible to ensure the birds will not materially affect the neighboring residents through odor, noise, etc.
- The students will respond satisfactorily to any concerns that may be raised regarding the care and raising of the birds.
- The students will provide a letter to residents of the neighboring properties surrounding JC Charyk School advising them of their project and to address any concerns the residetns may have to the school.
In the event that you, as a neighboring resident, have concerns regarding the project please contact the school or the Town Office to have your concerns addressed or registered as part of the evaluation for any future project approvals.
Original source can be found here.
