NEWS of the Red Deer Region - March 16-31, 2006

 
News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and summaries of news reports from local media (primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express)
March 2006 Part 2

Mar. 31, 2006
Local Business Contributes to Red Deer College Expansion
Bruins Plumbing and Heating contributed $250,000 to Red Deer College's $75 million Building Communities Through Learning expansion project. Among several objectives, the expansion is expected to help meet the labour market demand for pipe-fitters, plumbers, electricians, welders and heavy equipment technicians. The Bruin contribution will be matched by the provincial government which has already contributed $29 million. A few months ago, Nova Chemicals contributed another $1 million.

Mar. 29, 2006
Red Deer College and Olds College Increase Student Spaces
Alberta government funding is providing for more students being accepted in certain programs at two Central Alberta colleges. At Red Deer College, 34 new practical nursing spots will be created and 43 existing financial services places will be funded. At Olds College, 20 new animal technology and 30 new land administration spots will be created.
Red Deer County Close to Rezoning More Industrial Land
Sixty acres west of Burnt Lake Business Park is slated for rezoning from agricultural to light industrial in the near future. Council has given 2nd reading to a bylaw for the development and will likely give 3rd reading once some details are worked out with the developer. 13 lots, most ranging from four to six acres, are expected to be developed in a few months.

Mar. 28, 2006
Millennium Centre Plans to Add Two More Floors
One of the largest commercial buildings in downtown Red Deer, the 5-storey Millennium Centre, is planning to add two more storeys. The $3.5 million expansion will add another 3,600 sq. metres to the 9,540 sq. metre building, making room for six to seven more tenants. Nova Chemicals is currently the largest of several tenants. The site is the former 2 storey Bay building on which 3 floors were added in 2000. Prior to the Bay constructing the building in 1961, Knox Presbyterian Church occupied the site.

Mar. 27, 2006
Community Savings Plans to Expand into Calgary
Alberta's 2nd largest credit union, Community Savings, based in Red Deer, plans major expansion over the next five years. That includes five outlets in Calgary and 7 to 10 new branches in central and southern Alberta. An additional branch in Red Deer and new branches in Sylvan Lake and Ponoka are expected in the next two to three years. A new branch was recently constructed in Medicine Hat and two more are planned for Lethbridge. The Calgary branches will be the first in either of the two largest cities in the province.

Mar. 25, 2006
Study Places Red Deer 9th in the World for Low Business Costs
In the 2006 KPMG LL analysis of business operating costs, Red Deer placed 9th in a field of 128 industrialized world cities and 9th in a field of 49 Canadian cities. In Alberta, Red Deer tied with Lethbridge for 2nd place, close behind Medicine Hat. 27 cost components were considered including labour, taxes, real estate and utilities in the assessment of starting and operating 17 types of businesses. Red Deer excelled particularly in agri-food processing, software and website design, chemicals and telecommunications.

Mar. 24, 2006
Kurt Browning in World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
Caroline native Kurt Browning was honoured in Calgary Thursday at the World Figure Skating championships with a ceremony for his new membership in the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. He was the first skater to land a four revolution jump in competition in 1988 in Budapest. Although he never won a medal at the Olympics, Kurt won the world championship in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993.

Mar. 22, 2006
Village of Elnora Looking to Annex Land from Red Deer County
Interest in a proposed industrial site at the north-east side of Elnora is prompting the village to consider annexing 40 acres which would include a buffer area between the site and the residents. Elnora is the seventh incorporated municipality within the County interested in annexation. Others include Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Innisfail, Bowden, Penhold and Delburne.
New Red Deer Subdivision Planned for Southeast
An Area Structure Plan for the new Vanier Park residential subdivision in the south east corner of Red Deer has been approved by the City Municipal Planning Commission and now goes to City Council. When built out, it will have around 800 residential units covering an area of 158 acres including single family, semi-detached and apartments. It will also have considerable open space including a preserved wetland and a stand of aspen trees. It is located east of 30 Ave. and north of Delburne Road (19 St.).

Mar. 21, 2006
Red Deer Boat Manufacturer Ships Around the World
Outlaw Eagle Manufacturing of Red Deer and Red Deer County stands out in the world of boat manufacturing for its quality jet racing boats used by the top international boat racers. Thirteen of the past 15 world racing championships have used Eagle boats. The company also manufactures boats for a variety of uses including performance, fishing and hunting, police, firefighting and oilfield reclamation. The company started 20 years ago in Red Deer as Outlaw Marine.
Red Deer County Open Houses Get Public Input on Plans
Monday's open houses at Red Deer County Centre were the last of several similar events in various parts of the County over the past week. About 200 people attended the displays about the proposed Land Use Bylaw, Municipal Development Plan, the Springbrook Gasoline Alley Area Structure Plan and a proposed Redistribution of Electoral Boundaries within the County.
City Disputes Another County Development Project
The proposed Gateway Park industrial plan immediately south of Red Deer and west of the landfill has been delayed as a result of the Red Deer municipal planning commission objecting to it on Monday. The proposed project consists of 15 light industrial lots, a recreational facility lot and two environmental reserve lots on 55 acres on the west side of 40 Ave.

Mar. 20, 2006
Red Deer Diversity Group Launches Fund to Fight Racism
In its celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination event at Festival Hall on Sunday, the Central Alberta Diversity Association launched a special fund to assist people who have been victims of racism in the area. Although the reported incidents of racism have gone down over the past several years, there are still isolated cases of obvious discrimination. The fund will help victims paint over racial graffiti, repair vandalism and other outward manifestations of racism. Sunday's event featured cultural dance, displays, ethnic food and a variety of speakers. The region's cultural diversity has been expanding significantly over the past few years.

Mar. 17, 2006
Eckville Olympic Medallist Returns Home
Olympic bronze medallist and World Cup champion skeleton racer Melissa Hollingsworth-Richards visited schools and businesses and was honoured today at the Eckville Community Centre. The celebration was attended by political and local dignitaries and 250 residents of the community and area. Donations were collected for the food bank.

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