Gun range to host ribbon-cutting at ‘Shooter’s Hall’

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Sept. 20 at 12 p.m. the Municipal District of Taber Sport Shooting Complex will host a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion of ‘Shooter’s Hall,’ a new building constructed to accommodate gatherings and group events.

 Local outdoorsman and retired school teacher Allen Herbst described the role the range plays in the local scene. “Shooting sports, just in general, are very much a part of the recreation in this area and deserve some attention.”

 He said that since it was built, the shooting range has been referred to by many as a world class facility. “This summer, the range hosted the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) nationals. We had over 450 competitors from across Canada who attended and that was a huge, two-week long event out there.”

 Top marksmen came from across the country and “they were in awe of that facility,” Herbst said.

 “We just constructed what we’re calling the ‘Shooter’s Hall,’” he continued. “It’s a gathering space and a new building that we put up out there for when there’s an event out there; a place where they can do registrations and everything else.”

 The building was funded entirely by government grants and local donations. MLA Grant Hunter is expected to be at the ribbon-cutting along with representatives from the Town and MD.

 “Plus all the donors that reached in their pocket and brought out money to support that,” Herbst said of the attendees. “It’s important for us, because people see that and think, ‘Oh, I didn’t know Taber had a big range like that.’”

 He said the event will be a couple of hours at most and include lunch, a few speakers, and a tour. While MLA Hunter is on site, Herbst wants to pitch another range project to the Alberta government. He didn’t specify, but said, “We’ll see what Grant says when he takes a look at it, if it’s feasible.”

 “If you haven’t seen that range, you need to come out there anyway, because it is a world class facility, and very unique,” he said. “People were in awe. Now we’ve got this other facility that we just built, which is amazing. You’d look at it and say that would be the ultimate man cave.”

The MD of Taber Sport Shooting Complex is located just north of Taber on Highway 864.