NEWS of the Red Deer Region - May 17-31, 2006

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

May 31, 2006
Bowden Requests Mediation in Annexation Dispute
Wanting 320 acres of land on the east side of Highway 2, the Town of Bowden applied for annexation of those lands in February but is getting frustrated with Red Deer County's lack of movement on the issue, so have made a request to the provincial government for mediation. The land is wanted for much needed industrial and commercial expansion to relieve the residents of the town of some of the taxation burden. The County is questioning the need to expand across Highway 2 which it considers a natural boundary for the town. Bowden is one of six communities within the County looking to annex land totalling about 5,000 acres.
Lacombe Now Tapped into Water Line
The $36 million 62 km. regional water line from Red Deer to Ponoka is now being used by the three communities it was intended to serve. Lacombe joins Ponoka and Blackfalds in getting water from the system eliminating the need to restrict water use. The Montana Band from Hobbema will also be tying into the system in the near future and the Counties of Lacombe and Ponoka have also indicated an interest.
Torrington's Gopher Hole Museum Marks its First Decade
The hamlet that was once a village with its population of 200 people is proudly celebrating the world famous Gopher Hole Museum's tenth anniversary. The museum, which still draws 6,000 visitors a year, houses 47 dioramas depicting several local scenes using 77 stuffed Richardson ground squirrels, more commonly called gophers. When the museum first opened, it drew a lot of international publicity from animal rights groups giving it more publicity than it could ever buy.
Five Regional Communities Still in Running for Police College
The number of communities in Central Alberta vying for the provincial police college has been reduced from eight to five. Penhold, Springbrook, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler and Three Hills are still in the running while Lacombe and Olds are not. The list of hopeful communities is expected to be reduced more around the middle of June with a final selection expected in early summer.

May 30, 2006
City and County Land Dispute Goes to Mediation
A pair of provincial mediators have been called in to help settle annexation and land disputes between the City of Red Deer and Red Deer County. The two municipalities have been meeting without success since January to resolve the conflict over the city's bid to annex about 1,300 acres of County land west of Highway 2 for industrial use. Two mediated meetings have already been held with a third scheduled for June 8. If the mediation process breaks down, the municipalities must advise the municipal government board why the issue is unresolved and apply for a board review and decision. Other land disputes on the fringe of the city are also in process.
Central Alberta Housing Market Among Hottest in Country
CMHC expects record housing starts in Red Deer and area in the coming year, even though housing starts in the rest of the country are slowing down. Alberta led the country last year in housing starts at a rate of 12.5 new homes per 1000 population and the trend is expected to continue for some time. As a result of the hot demand, prices of resale homes are expected to rise 18% this year to $220,000 for an average single family home. In the new home market, prices rose last year 21% for an average of $239,000 per home. Between 2002 and 2005, net in-migration to Alberta was 111,500 people from other provinces and countries representing 40,000 new homes.
CentreFest Expected to be Bigger and Better
The fourth annual CentreFest street festival in downtown Red Deer August 12 and 13 will have more international performers, hands-on fun for children and more local artists than last year's very successful event. Eleven international performers representing six countries (Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, United States and Canada) will participate for the first time at this year's festival. Another new feature this year will be Artist's Avenue. Attendance last year was 15,000 and is expected to be bigger this year.
Innisfail Golf Course Expands to 27 Holes
Golfers in Innisfail now have nine more holes to work with than last year. The Golf Club purchased 88 acres in 2000 for the expansion. The addition is mainly northeast of the other 18 holes, constructed at a cost of $1.7 million. The course was expanded from 9 to 18 in 1987.
Red Deer Chamber Wins Provincial Award
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce at its annual conference selected the Red Deer Chamber for the 2005 Alberta Chamber of the Year Award for organizations with over 300 members. Among other reasons, the Red Deer Chamber was recognized for its role in securing national support for agricultural offset credits to help meet Kyoto targets. The Red Deer Chamber last received the award eight years ago.

May 29, 2006
Proposed Regional Sewer System Goes to Next Stage
Community representatives have formed a steering committee to develop a $400 million regional sewer system that would include a core area including Sylvan Lake, Lacombe and Olds and possibly extend north to Ponoka and south to Crossfield. The project would transfer wastewater to a new state-of-the-art treatment facility downstream of Red Deer. Although the overall project would take several years to build, it is hoped that the first leg from Innisfail to Penhold will be built next year. The province has pledged to fund 90% of the pipeline costs and up to 100% of new plants or plant upgrades. The Town of Innisfail is the managing partner for the project.
Blackfalds Top Baby Maker in Central Alberta Again
Provincial statistics for 2004 released recently indicate that Blackfalds had the highest birthrate in Central Alberta and fifth highest in the province at 28.33 per 1000 people, a slight decrease from the 29.38 rate in 2003. Red Deer's birthrate was 13.99 in 2004. Rimbey, on the other hand, had the highest death rate in Central Alberta at 27.31 per 1000. Red Deer's death rate was 6.15.
Red Deer's Outdoor Pool Closed for Summer
Due to the reconstruction of the Recreation Centre this year, the outdoor pool will not be open this summer. Splash pools will be available downtown near the Sierra condominiums and at Kin Kanyon. An outdoor water park at Discovery Canyon near Riverbend Golf and Recreation Area is also open. Indoor pools available to swimmers in Red Deer include the Dawe Centre, Collicutt Centre and Michener Centre.

May 27, 2006
Red Deer Population Increases 5% in Last Year
The recent census conducted by the City of Red Deer shows that the population increased by almost 4,000, a rate of 4.92%, over the past year from 79,082 to 82,971. At a growth rate of around 4%, the City will have a population of 100,000 in five years. In 1999, Red Deer had a population of just over 60,000. As expected, most of the growth occurred in the east and southeast part of the city.
Exercise Based at Red Deer Airport Searches for Survivors of 'Missing' Plane
In a simulation of four people who went missing after doing survey work somewhere between Coronation and Revelstoke, BC, military and civilian personnel will cover 13,000 sq. km. of terrain, some mountainous, to 'find' them. Personnel from as far away as Florida, military personnel from Winnipeg and search and rescue personnel from Alberta and Saskatchewan are taking part in the exercise with the Red Deer Regional Airport as home base. Equipment includes two Hercules aircraft (one U.S. and one Canadian) and 15 civilian planes. The survivors will be 'found' at a remote area near Sundre, treated and transferred out.
Another Red Deer Subdivision Gets Approval
Red Deer City Council held a special meeting Friday to approve Phase 11 of the Lonsdale residential subdivision. There are currently 400 homes in the area and once built out will have 800. Construction will start almost immediately on developing the 126 lots.

May 26, 2006
Province Delays Closure of Red Deer Michener Centre Pool
Due to current renovations to the Red Deer Recreation Centre which will keep that pool closed until April of next year, the province will keep the Michener Centre pool open until the renovations are complete. The Michener Centre pool was scheduled to close in September as a result of the regional Persons with Developmental Disabilities board declared last year that it was withdrawing its funding for the facility. There are also negotiations underway with the possibility that the City will take over operation of the pool after next April.
Olds High School Project Officially Starts Construction
The Community Learning Campus, a joint project between Olds College and Chinook's Edge School Division, was officially started Wednesday with the sod-turning for the first of five buildings that will include a grade 9-12 high school for 750 students. The province will invest $38 million toward the $52.3 million project. The students' association also contributed $1 million. The campus, located on the Olds College grounds, is expected to be open in 2008 and will encourage interaction between students and resources of the school and the college.
Regional Economic Partnership Outlines Marketing Plan
The Central Alberta Economic Partnership, consisting of 42 member communities, outlined its marketing plan at a meeting in Red Deer recently. The three goals include: to promote Central Alberta as a region of opportunity, to help communities prepare for economic opportunity, and to portray CAEP as an effective regional alliance.

May 25, 2006
Plan Calls For Reorganizing, Closure and Building of Schools
The Red Deer Public School District Board has agreed to a plan that would close one school, redesignate another, build two new elementary schools and re-shuffle students throughout the City. New residential growth in some areas, shifts in young populations in older parts of the city and having five elementary schools located in adjacent quarter sections prompted the Board to look at several options. The option chosen includes closing Pines Community School, moving students from the Pines to Normandeau or Grandview, relocating Gateway Christian School to G.W. Smith Elementary in Sunnybrook, moving Sunnybrook students to Mountview, construct a new K-5 school in Timberstone for northeast Red Deer, construct a new K-5 school in Aspen Ridge for Anders and Inglewood students, modernize Aspen Heights in north Red Deer, designate Vanier Woods students to Mattie McCullough, reshuffle other students to other schools and acquire River Glen from Red Deer County for a Christian Alternative grade 6-9 program. The three-year capital program will be forwarded to the provincial government June 2.
Red Deer County to Construct New Water Line South of the City
A $2.6 million water line connecting Springbrook, Gasoline Alley and Petrolia Industrial Park will be built this year in anticipation of future growth in all three areas. Current water supplies are sufficient for existing development but major expansion, especially in Gasoline Alley, will require an assured supply so Red Deer County has decided to interconnect the three areas. Gasoline Alley currently gets it water from Red Deer and nearby wells and Springbrook has two strong wells.
Adult Manufactured Home Park Set to Go at Sylvan Lake
This summer, a new adult community called Lighthouse Pointe is set to be developed east of Highway 20 at Sylvan Lake. The first phase consists of 51 lots with manufactured homes being built by Winalta with strict architectural controls. Phase 2 will generate another 40 lots. Once complete, the community is expected to consist of 350 factory-built modular homes, a 250-275 lot cottage/RV park and 30 acres of man-made lakes. A seniors complex is also being considered.

May 24, 2006
New Red Deer Subdivision Gets Zoning Approved
Red Deer City Council unanimously voted to rezone 49 acres of land on the corner of 30 Ave. and Delburne Road (19 St.) consisting of 172 residential lots for Phase 1 of the Vanier Woods subdivision. Once all four phases, which will include three multi-family projects, are built, the subdivision will have a higher than average density of 14.86 housing units per hectare. Phase 1 will have 144 single family lots and 28 duplex lots as well as five municipal reserve lots and four public utility lots. Due to the lower density of the first phase, Red Deer County had expressed some concerns about urban sprawl in good agricultural land.
Red Deer County Okays Neighbours' Residential Expansion
Five different residential expansions representing 418 new housing lots in Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Penhold and Bowden, within areas where there are intermunicipal agreements in place, all received the blessing of Red Deer County Tuesday. The first phase of Sylvan Lake's new Ryder Ridge is adding 162 new lots at the southeastern corner of town. Red Deer's Lonsdale subdivision on the east side of the city is adding 126 lots and Inglewood East is increasing density from 56 to 64 lots. The first phase of Penhold's new Hawkridge Estates is adding 45 new lots and Bowden is adding 21 lots. Both Red Deer and Sylvan Lake were commended on their efforts to increase density in residential developments. The County currently has annexation proposals on the table for all six municipalities within its boundaries.
Three Red Deer Community Agencies Join Forces
The United Way of Central Alberta, Red Deer and District Community Foundation and the Leadership Centre will be working more closely after moving in together in an office on Alexander Way (48 St.) called Alexander Village. The three non-profit organizations will offer greater input and support for each other and expect to save operation dollars by being in one office. The partnership has 3,600 sq. ft. on the main floor while other businesses occupy the second floor.
Industrial Parks Being Developed South of Red Deer
Two light industrial parks, each a quarter section in size, are currently being marketed south of Red Deer's landfill east of Range Road 273 (extension of Red Deer's 40 Ave.) and north of McKenzie Road. Clearview Industrial Park is already under development and only one lot is left to be sold. The other, named McKenzie Industrial Park, is going to Red Deer County Council June 20 for rezoning and subdivision approval. Several prospective lots have already been presold in the 120 acre development and there is a lot of interest in the remainder. Both industrial parks fall outside the Intermunicipal Development Plan and therefore do not require the approval of the City of Red Deer. Other developments west of the two are temporarily stalled as they do fall under the IDP.

May 23, 2006
Homeless in Red Deer Counted
The first count of Red Deer's homeless population has been completed but results won't be released until a second count is done in the fall. The Red Deer Housing Committee and the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness spearheaded the count. The task force was set up in hopes of eliminating homelessness within 10 years.
Red Deer Farmers Market Launches 36th Season
About 200 vendors set up shop on the Red Deer parking lot Saturday to launch the 36th season of the Red Deer Farmers Market to one of the largest opening crowds ever, stated organizer Dennis Moffat. The successful weekly event runs every Saturday morning from 8 to 12:30 until the Thanksgiving weekend, attracting vendors from all over western Canada.
Woody's Marathon Draws Close to 1,200
The eighth annual Woody's RV World Marathon and Half Marathon was held Saturday along the trails of Waskasoo Park with 284 marathon runners and 878 half marathon runners as well as 300 volunteers. The 42.2 km Marathon winner was Jack Cook of Edmonton in a time of 2 hours, 49 minutes and 30 seconds. The women's title went to Ayano Hird of Calgary who completed the route in 3 hours, 24 minutes, 28 seconds, just ahead of Red Deer's Janet Spafford. The half marathon was won by Ken Myers of Calgary. The race is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

May 20, 2006
Red Deer Film Maker Wins National Award
One of local filmmaker Harley Hay's short films won Best of Festival in the one-minute movie category at the Mobile Film Festival in Toronto recently. The movie, called 'Regurgitation', is designed to play on cell phones, but will also be shown on Air Canada flights this summer and on the cable TV channel Movieola.
Sylvan Lake Cinema Set to Open Next Week
The $2.4 million 3-screen Silver Lake Cinema is set to open next Friday in Sylvan Lake's Beju Industrial/Commercial Park. In addition to two 100-seat screening rooms and a 200-seat room, the cinema will have an arcade and concession area.

May 19, 2006
Red Deer Casino Expansion Gets Final Approval
The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission approved a $1.5 million expansion of the Jackpot Casino after the casino promised to add 101 more parking stalls in spite of long standing opposition by local residents. Several charitable organizations that count on the casino for much of their income support the expansion. Plans call for a 4,300 sq. ft. addition to the 20,000 sq. ft. building. Construction is expected to begin in July and be complete by early 2007.
Lacombe Looking for Local Funding for New Library and Community Centre
A campaign to raise $1.5 million from local citizens and corporations toward the $7 million Lacombe Regional Centennial Centre was launched Thursday. Of that amount, $766,000 has already been raised. The project involves rebuilding the Memorial Centre to include a new community centre, public library and Family and Community Support Services office. Construction is already underway.

May 18, 2006
Highway Projects Set to Go
Four major highway projects in the Red Deer region will soon be under way. The completion and paving of the twinning of Highway 11 from Red Deer to Sylvan Lake will open the road before the end of this year's construction season. The 14 km stretch of highway will ease the traffic situation considerably as a four-lane divided highway, a project that was carried over from last year. Eventually, the highway will be twinned farther west but there are no immediate plans to do so. Another major project is the widening and repaving of 23.5 km of the Delburne Road (Hwy. 595) from Hwy. 808 to Delburne.  A new overlay will be constucted on Highway 22 from Hwy. 11 to the Mud Creek bridge, a distance of 15 km. And the province is contributing $1 million toward Red Deer's improvement of the intersection of Hwy. 2A and 11A.
Gasoline Alley Business Park Selling More Lots
Ventana Properties has developed 85 acres south of McKenzie Road in the vicinity of and including Leon's Furniture and Crimtech Services. Two more businesses set to locate there include Robco Cabinets with 5 acres and McCoy Corporation with 7. Other lots have also been sold and there is a strong interest in the remainder.

May 17, 2006
Red Deer North Taylor Plaza Progressing Well
A new commercial centre at the corner of Taylor Drive and 67 Street is taking shape with construction well under way and two businesses getting approval from the Red Deer Planning Commission. The overall site development was approved last August. Community Savings and A & W Restaurants received approval for location, architectural treatment, landscaping and parking. Some tenants of the project are expected to take possession in July. A Co-op gas bar, convenience store and car wash are expected to be completed by fall and a Co-op liquour store is set to open prior to then. Other businesses in the centre include Starbucks, Subway, OPA, The Tanning Zone, an oil change business and a chiropractic business.

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