NEWS - Top 10 Stories of 2006

Top News Stories and Runners-up of the year
 
Growth and expansion were the key words that created opportunity and challenges throughout the region in 2006. Communities close to the Edmonton-Calgary corridor were the primary beneficiaries. But growth created challenges in infrastructure, labour, housing and intermunicipal relations.

It was also a great year for volunteerism, amateur sport, business, tourism, preserving the past, planning for the future and the variety of festivals in the region.
 
1. Competitive Growth Creates Challenges
     for County and City
The city of Red Deer found itself with a population boom and short on industrial land available for development. The county, on the other hand, had industrial land on the city's fringe ripe for development, creating a competitive situation that caused a little friction between the two municipalities. The catalyst for much of the friction at the beginning of the year was the County's refusal to allow the city to purchase land in the County for industrial development west of Highway 2 that was part of an annexation plan. The county wanted renegotiation of the Intermunicipal Development Plan prior to approving annexation or purchase of land by the city. During the year, the city initiated several disputes including industrial zoning on the city's southern boundary, the Springbrook-Gasoline Area Structure Plan and the county's new Land Use Bylaw. There was also stress over garbage and water supply to Gasoline Alley. At the end of the year, the conflict heated up even more when the city announced its intention to annex Gasoline Alley. The county took the position that it would do anything necessary to prevent that from happening, including legal action.
 
2. Unexpected Population Growth Initiates
     'Future Directions' Concept Strategy
Partly as a result of faster population growth than expected, partly in response to the county's strategic plan and partly to counter the county's qualified proposal to offer land for growth to the city in exchange for never annexing Gasoline Alley, the city decided to create a growth strategy for a population of 300,000, projected to be attained in 45 to 75 years into the future. The result was a 'Future Directions' discussion paper in September followed by public input and culminating in a growth strategic plan adopted by city council in December. The strategy maintains downtown as the geographic centre, balanced residential and industrial growth, provides for higher housing densities, continues the expansion of parks and green space and attempts to shut out the county from fringe development.
 
3. County Consults With Stakeholders to
     Create Gasoline Alley Concept Plan
In a bold and imaginative move, the county decided to create a community and themed commercial area in Gasoline Alley south of the city by consulting with the businesses and other stakeholders in that area. A residential zone on the west side, tentatively called 'Liberty Crossing', provided for an eventual residential population of 5,000-8,000, trails and open spaces and other community amenities. The plan for the commercial area focused on a retro automobile theme, expanding on the historical significance of Gasoline Alley. The city, however, saw the plan to be in conflict with city aspirations on the fringe and a potential drain on city resources.
 
4. Area Towns Benefit From
     Regional Economic Expansion
Several towns close to the Highway 2 corridor benefitted from the general economic growth in the region and some even benefitted from the tension between the city and the county. Blackfalds and Sylvan Lake saw population explosions and several other communities experienced or planned for future residential expansion. Annexations were approved for Sylvan Lake, Innisfail and Penhold and are pending in Blackfalds and Lacombe. Sylvan Lake saw increased industrial and commercial growth as a result of the completion of the twinning of Highway 11. In July, Blackfalds got a boost with the announcement of Schlumberger building their Alberta-Saskatchewan headquarters in the town. Lacombe County, in partnership with Blackfalds and Lacombe, started the planning for a residential and commercial corridor between the two towns. Other towns also experienced growth, including Ponoka, Eckville, Bowden, Stettler, Alix and Delburne.
 
5. Red Deer College Begins
     Multi-Million Dollar Expansion
Construction started on an expansion of Red Deer College that will double its size in the next five years. Originally thought to be a $60 million expansion, 'Building Communities Through Learning' has turned into a $110 million project that will include new buildings and renovation to existing buildings. The first phase will include a new Centre for Trades and Technology, Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing, Centre for Business Enterprise and Centre for Visual Arts, expected to be completed in 2008. The second phase will include a Centre for Regional Sport and Wellness and a Centre for Health Education, expected to be open in 2010.
 
6. Amateur Athletes Focus of
     Alberta Summer Games and Winter Olympics
Two major events, one provincial and the other international, put a lot of focus on regional amateur athletics. In July, Red Deer was the 2006 host city for 3,000 athletes for the Alberta Summer Games, considered by all to be highly successful generating a surplus that was to be distributed to sport and wellness groups. One of the highlights was a downtown streetscape cultural gala. In February, on the other side of the world in Turin, Red Deer and area athletes competed in the Winter Olympic Games. Steven Elm won a silver medal in the men's speed skating pursuit and Melissa Hollingsworth-Richards of Eckville won bronze in the women's skeleton. Jeremy Wotherspoon (speedskating), Regan Lauscher (luge) and Grant Albrecht (luge) placed in the top ten in their events. Five other Central Albertans competed, including Deidre Dionne (freestyle aerials), bronze medal winner in 2002, who showed tremendous courage and tenacity by competing after sustaining a major neck and spinal injury while training in 2005.
 
7. River Water Diversion Proposals Create
    Awareness of Finite Supply
Two major plans to draw water from the Red Deer River and not send it back created awareness of the future limits of the watershed. One of three rivers in the South Saskatchewan River basin, the Red Deer River has the smallest exposure to glacial melt and mountain runoff. It also has the least amount of water commitments, raising its profile for projects that need water. One proposal sees river water being used for a major irrigation project on the east side of the province that would suck up 3.4% of the river's annual flow and up to 40% would not be returned. Several municipalities along the river have opposed the plan. In November, residents became aware of a massive race track and commercial development at Balzac that plans to pump Red Deer River water from Drumheller because they couldn't get a licence to take water from the Bow River and couldn't negotiate a deal with Calgary.
 
8. Summer Hail and Wind Storm One of
     Canada's Top Weather Stories
On August 10, a major hail and wind storm 30 km long and 12 km wide cut a swath of destruction between the Spruce View-Markerville area to Springbrook and Gasoline Alley. Hail stones the size of golf balls and winds gusting between 100-150 km per hour flattened crops and did millions of dollars of property damage. Virtually all 400 homes in Springbrook sustained damage, with shingles being blown off, siding punctured with hail, windows broken and trees denuded. Fortunately there were no major injuries. Three cadets in training had minor injuries. The event made the top 10 national weather stories of the year by Environment Canada. Five months after the storm, only about 75% of the damage has been repaired, mostly due to a shortage of tradespeople available to do the work. Once repairs are completed, however, Springbrook will look like a brand new town.
 
9. City Council Wrestles With
     Massive Capital Budget
In December, Red Deer city council was faced with major infrastructure upgrades and new capital projects required for a growing city. Some weren't expected to be needed for several years down the road and others were the result of postponing projects in the 1990's. But with rapid residential growth and commercial and industrial demand, several needs were identified for immediate consideration. In the end, council approval a $600 million 5-year capital budget requiring the city to borrow $300 million. It's the first time in 20 years that the city will be in debt. Major projects include civic yard relocation from downtown to Riverside Industrial ($115 million), water and wastewater treatment plant upgrades ($50 million), new river bridge and northeast roadway ($50 million), city hall expansion ($31 million), new police building ($23 million), G.H. Dawe Community Centre and pool renovations ($17 million) and several other smaller projects. A proposed culture and heritage centre was dropped, possibly to be replaced by a new archives building and existing museum renovations. The matter will be reviewed in January.
 
10. Region Experiences Record Building
       Permits and Escalating Property Values
In spite of a shortage of city serviced industrial land, the city of Red Deer set an all-time record for building permits, mostly due to the high demand for housing. Sylvan Lake, Blackfalds and Lacombe were also on track to break previous building permit activity. In the meantime, property values, especially residential, rose substantially. In Sylvan Lake, an average home on lakefront property exceeded one million dollars. In Red Deer and the immediate area, residential properties increased by 30% or more. (as this is a year-end story, this will be updated next week).
 
Runner-Up stories:
 
11. Regional Water Lines Built
       and Planned
Two regional water lines were established this year with more on the way. In May, a new line connecting the towns of Ponoka, Lacombe and Blackfalds with the Red Deer water treatment plant was completed in 2006. In September, another line connecting Alix with Stettler was completed with extensions connecting Mirror, Clive and Bashaw planned in the future. Another line connecting the communities around Sylvan Lake is being planned. The Anthony Henday line connecting Innisfail, Bowden, Olds, Didsbury and Carstairs may be twinned and possibly expanded to Penhold and Gasoline Alley. Meanwhile, a regional wastewater system is planned between Innisfail, Penhold and Sylvan Lake with other communities connecting to it in the future.
 
12. Twinning of Highway 11 Completed
The twinning of Highway 11 between Red Deer and Sylvan Lake, creating a divided four-lane road, was finally completed this year and opened in October. The thoroughfare between Highways QE2 and 20 has been eagerly awaited for several years to improve safety and accommodate the steadily increasing traffic.
 
13. Rehabilitation Begins on Historic
       Michener Centre Administration Building
The David Thompson Health Region took on the rehabilitation of the historic administration building at Michener Centre this year in order to use it as the health region's headquarters employing 170 staff. It was severely damaged by fire in 2003 when struck by lightening. Once completed in 2008, the 94-year-old building will be restored to resemble the way it looked when it was the first ladies college in Alberta.

14. City Downtown Excited by
       Three New Building Proposals
Three announcements in 2006 have created some excitement for Red Deer's downtown. In March, it was announced that the 5-storey Millenium Centre will be adding two more floors with construction to start in 2007. In November, an affordable housing and commercial building using green technology was announced, again with construction expected to start in 2007 after demolition of the existing building. In December, a 12-storey commercial building was announced for the prime location of 49 Ave. and Ross St. on the former CIBC site. In addition to the three commercial projects, city hall will likely be expanded within the next three years.

15. Passenger Service Expands at
       Red Deer Regional Airport
Early in the year, Peace Air expanded its passenger service by offering direct flights from Red Deer to Grande Prairie. In December, a new scheduled air service, Northwestern Air, began with flights to Saskatoon with extensions to Fort McMurray and Yellowknife.


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