New Hope Equine Ministries forced to close camp due to zoning violations

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This article was published 02/08/2012 (4860 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New Hope Equine Ministries is scrambling to find a new, permanent home for its summer day camp after it was shut down by the city earlier this week.

Fran Henderson has been running the pony camps for children on and off for nearly a decade at temporary locations in and around Brandon.

This season of free day camp kicked off July 2, and was being run on a portion of land east of The Green Spot.

On Monday, a bylaw officer told Henderson she had to shut it down, due to zoning violations.

“I thought I had all my ducks in a row this time,” Henderson said. “Every year we run into pretty well the same kind of problem.”

Since 2003, New Hope has rescued ponies and horses that have been neglected, abused or just not wanted anymore. The day camps are for children ages six to 12, and Henderson said it is an opportunity to mentor children on how to communicate and work with animals.

“I was a latchkey kid from a single-parent home and every year I would go out to Melita to a family friend’s farm and they would buy me a pony for the summer,” Henderson said. “It made a big difference in my life.”

Henderson’s own experience as a child inspired her to start the camps for children. She said working with animals can be therapeutic, and she has seen children gain self-confidence, teamwork and better communication skills after participating in her camps.

Ryan Nickel, the city’s acting senior planner, said while the location at The Green Spot is zoned agricultural, the land is also within the flood plain, which does not allow for a riding academy and stable.

Nickel added that Henderson has not received the proper business approvals to run the camp.

“You have to find a location that fits the zoning bylaw requirements,” Nickel said. “And then when she does find a location that fits, she needs to come in and get the required development permit through our department and a business licence, which in my understanding has never been completed for any site she’s been at within the city.”

Nickel said there are places within the city where this type of operation can be successful, such as the Keystone Centre.

“It’s just finding the right location and then going through the appropriate approvals, just like any other use,” he said.

Henderson said she is disappointed and doesn’t feel it’s necessary to get a business permit, when she’s a not-for-profit organization. She added that she did get a business licence a few years ago, but that led to more costs.

“We don’t charge, so we’re not a business,” she said. “Why would we need to spend $400 for a business licence … for something that’s not a business … I’ve really worked hard trying to get this up and running and went through so many different hoops.”

Nickel said the fact that it’s a non-profit camp, doesn’t change anything.

“If the business is making tons of money or no money at all, it’s still a use that has to meet the requirements,” he said.

Henderson hopes to find a suitable location in Brandon or on the outskirts, to continue pursuing her passion.

“If people in Brandon think this a good thing I would love people to come alongside,” she said. “I’ve taken it as far as I can with the abilities that I have … I desperately want to continue this. I think it’s a real viable thing not only for Westman but for Manitoba.”

» jaustin@brandonsun.com