The Nose Creek Preservation Society is disappointed in the loss of a potential piece of geological history in the area. A Glacial Erratic, located east of Coventry hills, which the Nose Creek Valley runs through has layers upon layers of graffiti on it. 

Glacial erratics are large boulders which have been moved by glaciers in the last ice age. This particular boulder, made of Quartzite hails from the Jasper area, over 400 kilometres from Calgary. Andrew Yule, President of the society said that he is learning about the history of the erratic.

ddThe Nose Creek Preservation Society is disappointed in the loss of a potential piece of geological history in the area. A Glacial Erratic, located east of Coventry hills, which the Nose Creek Valley runs through has layers upon layers of graffiti on it. (Photo provided by Nose Creek Preservation Society / Andrew Yule)

"It's got a huge crater that's been created by historic bison; there are bison bones up and down this creek because this is where a lot of First Nations would come and process their bison," he said. " In some of the geological reports that we read, there were indications that there were pictographs on this rock; so, it is disappointing that the graffiti that was discovered [on] this rock has meant the loss of any trace from prehistoric man."

Yule explained that because the erratic is on private property and because attempts to reach the property owner have been unsuccessful there is little the society can do.

"We're looking for levels of government to help us to figure out how we can restore that and maybe we can, we can find those old pictographs, but it's highly unlikely. If we can get onto this land, I have teams of people who want to help restore this rock."

Yule said that there is also an element of public education that should be tackled, one that should focus on the importance of the erratics to Alberta's geological history.

"Our goal as a society is to speak for Nose Creek and the more we do that, the more that we can hopefully gain protections through park spaces, through [the] interconnected green belt. Our big goal is to create a green belt from Calgary to Airdrie," Yule added. "I think the more that we can create space for biodiversity, the watershed, the green space; there's so much history in this valley - Airdrie has a museum dedicated to the Nose Creek because of that history."

Yule said that while the group's advocacy efforts continue, he is hopeful that more voices will join the cause, including municipalities around the Nose Creek area.

"We need more people talking about Nose Creek and the elements along it like [the] glacial erratic so that we can do something about it. It is a prime location for an Urban Provincial Park, and we do need more voices telling all levels of government that this is what we want," Yule added. "It's the citizens that need to come out and say they want a park system that goes from Calgary to Airdrie." 

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