[northlands]

Yeah, that’s a good example of something that should have been provided for in the lease. Required public access for cross country skiing.

It is in the lease:

Skiers, councillor want better access to public trails at Royal Mayfair Golf Club

Citizens and a city councillor are expressing concern over accessibility to public cross-country skiing trails at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

www.ctvnews.ca

The club grooms trails on the golf course for skiers, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the club’s general manager.

According to Janz, this is the latest issue in a list of problems the general public has reported to city council about accessing land available for public use.

“I’m receiving a number of complaints from residents who are being told or discouraged or gated from coming to ski at what is supposed to be the city’s ski spot,” said Janz. “So the golf course is not keeping up their side of the deal and they are ostensibly discouraging skiers from coming and participating in what should be theirs and it’s very frustrating and city council’s going to need to take a look at this.”

A few months after the city and the club signed the revised lease agreement in 2019, members of the public had issues booking a tee time in the summer. The agreement says about one in 12 rounds of golf should be available to the public.

“We need to enforce fairness and we need to enforce transparency. Edmontonians have a right to ski on this course, they have a right to ski at predictable hours, with fair conditions and accessible parking,” said Janz. “What the club is continuing to do is enshrine their personal privilege ahead of the public interest and that’s a problem.

 

[David A]

Back to my earlier point about snooty, perhaps over zealous, management. It seems to me if Mayfair is not honoring the terms then they are potentially jeopardizing their 43 year lease.

 

[ADob]

Interesting! I'll pass that on to my dad! Whom do you complain to if you do get booted out? 311 or direct to your friendly neighbourhood Councilor?

 

[northlands]

Interesting! I'll pass that on to my dad! Whom do you complain to if you do get booted out? 311 or direct to your friendly neighbourhood Councilor?

Ask Janz for a copy of the lease and throw it in their face. lol

 

[Oilers99]

The Mayfair allows public cross country skiing. You're creating a narrative that isn't true. Additionally, there is more than enough park space within the river valley, Edmonton needs to have some nice things to attract and retain talent. Mayfair is one of those things. Every major city has elite golf courses and clubs, Edmonton should be no different.

 

[TAS]

The Mayfair allows public cross country skiing. You're creating a narrative that isn't true. Additionally, there is more than enough park space within the river valley, Edmonton needs to have some nice things to attract and retain talent. Mayfair is one of those things. Every major city has elite golf courses and clubs, Edmonton should be no different.

Original post was broader than just Mayfair. It was questioning the consecutive string of golf courses - Mayfair, Victoria, Riverside, Highlands (6 in all I think through our river valley was noted).

The lease rate for Mayfair is certainly an additional, separate issue that is a concern for some.

 

[David A]

I'm sure there are developers salivating at the thought of turning these places with desirable river valley locations into upscale housing and probably willing to bank roll any councilor who goes along with it.

Many of these are municipally owned, so easier to go after than a private one with a long term lease, however politically there would be a lot of push back to this because they are also used more by the public.

However, IMO until we develop all the existing empty or underutilized space in our river valley such as in Rossdale and elsewhere, the demand or need for housing argument is a bit of a red herring.

 

[thommyjo]

I'm sure there are developers salivating at the thought of turning these places with desirable river valley locations into upscale housing and probably willing to bank roll any councilor who goes along with it.

Many of these are municipally owned, so easier to go after than a private one with a long term lease, however politically there would be a lot of push back to this because they are also used more by the public.

However, IMO until we develop all the existing empty or underutilized space in our river valley such as in Rossdale and elsewhere, the demand or need for housing argument is a bit of a red herring.

Yeah. The golf course thing is such a red herring imo. Most of these areas aren’t even great for connectivity with transit, walkability, or road networks. So I wouldn’t even see them as ideal spots for housing, especially not dense housing, without massive infrastructure investments.

Let’s focus on massive brownfield sites and TOD first.

 

[Wax]

The idea would not be to turn them into housing, but for more “public amenities” like a park or outdoor pool…

 

[kcantor]

Edify May 2026

edifyedmonton.com

Are we an oil and gas town, or is it time to become Canada's defense city?

Say what???

Let me see, off the top of my head, we've already been Canada's City of Champions, Canada’s Festival City, Canada's Gateway to the North, Canada’s Education City, Canada’s Health City, Canada’s Smart City, Canada's River City, the Oil Capital of Canada, and the Volunteer Capital of Canada…

I’m sure I’m missing more than a few so you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t get all excited about calling Edmonton Canada’s Defence City.

It’s in what we do, not what we call ourselves (whether we actually do it or not) that's important.

 

[Gronk!]

Edify May 2026

edifyedmonton.com

Are we an oil and gas town, or is it time to become Canada's defense city?

Say what???

Let me see, off the top of my head, we've already been Canada's City of Champions, Canada’s Festival City, Canada's Gateway to the North, Canada’s Education City, Canada’s Health City, Canada’s Smart City, Canada's River City, the Oil Capital of Canada, and the Volunteer Capital of Canada…

I’m sure I’m missing more than a few so you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t get all excited about calling Edmonton Canada’s Defence City.

It’s in what we do, not what we call ourselves (whether we actually do it or not) that's important.

There is such a thing called "diversity". And Edmonton's economy needs to diversify: oil & gas, defense, tourism, AI, hydrogen, startups, finance, agriculture, forestry, art, film & TV, music, higher education, health care, transportation, sports, our beloved river valley, etc.

 

[thommyjo]

The idea would not be to turn them into housing, but for more “public amenities” like a park or outdoor pool…

I mean, that’s literally what Janz and most of the people speaking out about this have suggested. So maybe you don’t think that, but I’m calling it out because that IS the argument most are making.

 

[Wax]

Ah, that makes more sense…

 

[TAS]

I mean, that’s literally what Janz and most of the people speaking out about this have suggested. So maybe you don’t think that, but I’m calling it out because that IS the argument most are making.

Are you sure?

"How do we make sure that these spaces are like Central Park in New York or other prominent world parks?” said Janz, who wants to discuss the future use of the sites during upcoming conversations for city council’s recreation amenity strategy. “How do we make sure that they can be playgrounds for everyone and for nature and for our animals, not just for a few people chasing a ball?”

‘Playgrounds for everyone’: City councillors ponder use of river valley green spaces for golf courses

With golf season underway in Edmonton, at least two municipal politicians are mulling the future of city-owned courses in Edmonton’s river valley.

www.ctvnews.ca

Should Edmonton Get Out of the Golf Business? | Urban Affairs

Coun. Michael Janz says it’s time to re-start the conversations about how to best use the lands in the river valley

urbanaffairs.ca

 

[thommyjo]

Are you sure?

"How do we make sure that these spaces are like Central Park in New York or other prominent world parks?” said Janz, who wants to discuss the future use of the sites during upcoming conversations for city council’s recreation amenity strategy. “How do we make sure that they can be playgrounds for everyone and for nature and for our animals, not just for a few people chasing a ball?”

‘Playgrounds for everyone’: City councillors ponder use of river valley green spaces for golf courses

With golf season underway in Edmonton, at least two municipal politicians are mulling the future of city-owned courses in Edmonton’s river valley.

www.ctvnews.ca

Should Edmonton Get Out of the Golf Business? | Urban Affairs

Coun. Michael Janz says it’s time to re-start the conversations about how to best use the lands in the river valley

urbanaffairs.ca

Very sure. We’ve had dms about it and he’s reposted numerous IG stories from urbanist accounts in the US talking about golf courses and housing.

I think he’s also smart enough to know that the “sports fields” talking point lands better in the current climate. Which I agree with.