NEWS of the Red Deer Region - June 16-30, 2006

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

June 30, 2006
Red Deer Looks to Expand City Hall Building
Within the next three years, Red Deer's city hall building will likely be much bigger. The city is currently inviting architectural and engineering firms to submit expressions of interest. The most probable alternatives are either adding two more floors to the existing building or expanding westward into the park area. It's anticipated that another 35-40,000 sq. ft. of new space will be required to meet the needs for the next 10-20 years and construction could begin by 2008. Currently the City is leasing space outside of City Hall and will be leasing more by the fall.
Health Centre to be Built in North Red Deer
The David Thompson Health Region expects to start construction this fall on a new community health centre at the corner of Taylor Drive and Jordon Parkway in north Red Deer. The $7.6 million 30,000 sq. ft. project will be two storeys and is expected to be completed by fall of 2007. Most of the staffing for the new centre will come from overcrowded quarters in the two other health centres in the city.
Construction Begins in Clearview Industrial Park
The first of several industrial, commercial and institutional buildings slated for Clearview Industrial Park, south of the city landfill in Red Deer County, is set to begin construction this week. The first and one of the larger projects is the Frac Source 15,000 sq. ft. office and shop which will expand to include a larger shop and corporate offices. Only 3 lots in the quarter section are unsold.

June 29, 2006
Municipalities Protest Proposed Massive Water Transfer Project
Ten municipal leaders in the Red Deer River basin are concerned about a $192 million plan presented to the provincial government for a massive irrigation project that would pipe water from the Red Deer River to east central Alberta. The water would be used to irrigate farmland, water livestock, create wetlands and support recreation in the drought-stricken areas around Hanna, Oyen, Veteran and Consort. The primary concern is that the project would suck up two and a half times the amount of water that the city of Red Deer uses and 25-40% would not be returned to the river. The project would use about 3.4% of the river's annual flow and is supported by several key provincial politicians.

June 28, 2006
Preparations Nearly Ready for Alberta Summer Games
After a year and a half of planning, the 2006 Alberta Summer Games will held in Red Deer and the County from July 27 to 30 with close to 2,000 volunteers catering to 3,000 athletes from all over the province. Housing, transportation, meals, entertainment and organizing 15 sports venues are all coming together for this massive undertaking. Breakfast and dinner for the athletes will be served at the Westerner and lunches at the various venues. It's expected that they will consume 27,000 sandwiches, 800 kg. of hamburger, 288 boxes of bacon, use 19,500 disposable plates and 20,000 knives and forks and generate an economic impact of $5.6 million. The athletes village will be at Red Deer College. A Cityscape Gala on July 28 will feature a large variety of entertainment.
Innisfail Community Has Until September to Save Tower
Innisfail town council has given the community until Sept. 18 for a group to come forward with a plan to save the aging water tower, a 30-metre tall landmark for the town since just after World War II. It hasn't been used for over ten years and would cost about $60,000 to demolish. It would take several hundred thousand dollars to refurbish the structure and put it to some use.

June 27, 2006
City Wants to Renegotiate Water Agreement with County
The City of Red Deer is asking Red Deer County to renegotiate a new water agreement before more industrial development proceeds south of the city. Most of the water in the Gasoline Alley area is currently pumped from wells and topped off with city water as part of the South Hills Water Supply agreement. The water is stored in a reservoir near Costco from where it is distributed to users in the area. However, with all the industrial development proposed just east of the area, the City fears that city water will be diverted from the Gasoline Alley reservoir to the new developments. The County plans to expand the current reservoir, build a new reservoir east of 40 Avenue, pump excess water from a well near Springbrook and extend the water line from Willow Street to 40 Avenue. Meanwhile, the City is asking the County to postpone development south of the Clearview Industrial Park until the dispute over the Springbrook Gasoline Alley Area Structure Plan is resolved.
New Mural Approved for Downtown
The fourth in a series of historic murals and an extension of the Main Street program has been approved for the downtown area by the municipal planning commission. The mural, located at the west end of Alexander Way, will display three scenes including the train station, looking east from the tracks and looking south to the hospital. It is tentatively to be completed by July 18.

June 26, 2006
Residential-Commercial Project Affordable and Green
A $4.4 million four to five storey European-style commercial-residential project proposed for downtown Red Deer will be designed to be both affordable and environmentally friendly. Swerve Living will have commercial space on the ground floor and on the upper floors loft studios and one and two bedroom suites, Twenty-two of the 26 housing units will be rented out at below market value. Artwork on the front of the building is also planned.
Summer Festival Season Under Way
Over the past weekend, two events launched the festival season in Central Alberta with perfect weather. The 59th Annual Highland Games attracted several hundred people to the Westerner Park on Saturday for a day packed with sports and dancing competitions. At Fort Normandeau, a mock battle representing the 1885 Northwest Rebellion pitted Mount Royal Rifles against the Metis. The event was entertaining even though such a battle never took place in this area.

June 24, 2006
Red Deer Takes Annexation Request to Province
The City of Red Deer announced yesterday that it has halted talks with Red Deer County concerning the controversial annexation of 1,300 acres of prime county land west of Highway 2 for industrial use and has gone straight to Alberta Municipal Affairs to make a ruling. The two municipalities spent four months in negotiation and another two months in mediation. On the one side, the County wants a long-term plan for the area around Red Deer but on the other side, the City has run out of industrial land and needs to meet the demand very soon. The County offered 32,000 acres of land around the city including the land the City wants to annex, enough to meet the City's needs for the next 100 years, but with the condition that the County be free to develop the south and southwest without fear of future annexation. The City, currently occupying 17,000 acres, has a number of concerns about the proposal and has turned it down.
Regional Municipalities Among Top Investment Spots in Alberta
Red Deer tied for fourth position on a list of top investment spots by the Real Estate Investment Network of Calgary whose membership holds $1.3 billion of real estate. Sylvan Lake and Lacombe tied for the next position out of 14 Alberta communities ranked. Topping the list were Edmonton, Grande Prairie and Calgary. Sherwood Park (including Strathcona and Sturgeon Counties) tied with Red Deer. Behind the three Central Alberta communities were High River, Okotoks, Fort McMurray, Devon, St. Albert, Cochrane and Lethbridge. The last time a list was produced in 2002, Sylvan Lake ranked third, Red Deer tied for fifth and Lacombe tied for the next spot.

June 23, 2006
Grants Awarded by Community Foundation
The Red Deer and District Community Foundation, a local charitable organization whose goal is to help build a legacy for Central Alberta charities, announced $73,000 in grants to 12 regional groups. The foundation's endowment is worth $8.5 million, contributed by private and corporate donors. The interest is awarded annually in the form of community grant programs.

June 21, 2006
Trail Proposed Between Penhold and Springbrook
A 3.2 km pedestrian-bicycle trail along the old Highway 2A right of way linking the communities of Penhold and Springbrook is being proposed for both recreational and urgent safety reasons, Red Deer County heard Tuesday. The urgency is due to children walking and bicycling along the increasingly busy Highway 2A and occasionally along the railway tracks between the two communities to commute for school or recreation. But to get approval from Alberta Transportation, an operations and maintenance agreement is being requested from the County. The section of trail would ultimately form part of the Trans Canada Trail and link with Red Deer and other central Alberta communities. Representatives of the Springbrook Community Association, Central Alberta Regional Trails Society, Trans Canada Trail Foundation and the Penhold and District Lions Club were in attendance to support the request.
New Red Deer County Waste Transfer Site to Open in July
The Horn Hill Waste Transfer Site east of Penhold and Highway 2 will partially open July 8 and be fully operational this fall. The site, the fourth in the County, will handle the temporary storage of household garbage until moved to a permanent landfill. Extensive landscaping will block the site from view for area residents who had earlier attempted to stall the project. The facility was developed due to the existing contract with the City of Red Deer expiring on the opening date.
Additional Office Space Leased by Red Deer City Hall
The rapid growth of the city has necessitated more staff being moved from City Hall to 3,500 sq. ft. of leased office space nearby. Earlier this year, two departments were moved to the Professional Building across the street. A study is currently underway to determine the long-term needs of housing and expanding city administration.
Rocky Mountain House Approaches 7,000 People
A recent census conducted in Rocky Mountain House indicates the town has grown from 6,584 to 6,972 over the past two years representing an annual growth rate of 2.9%. Expansion in the oilfield servicing industry is credited for the population increase.

June 20, 2006
3C Partnership Launches Website
The City of Red Deer, Red Deer County and Red Deer Chamber of Commerce, the 3C Partnership, launched its new website Monday, designed specifically for businesses to locate or expand in the area.
Bittersweet Stanley Cup Win
Even though the Edmonton Oilers were overpowered by the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh and final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs, not everyone is unhappy. The goalie for the Hurricanes and winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP, Cam Ward, played goalie for the Red Deer Rebels. Another Hurricane player, Glen Wesley, is a native of Red Deer. And the Oilers had a great run, advancing much farther than anyone could anticipate, being the first eighth place team to advance to the final.

June 19, 2006
Record Home Sales Throughout Region
The Red Deer and District Real Estate Board reported home sales in Central Alberta reached an all-time high in May, reaching 556 properties, 17% more than the previous record last month and 31% over May of last year. The city of Red Deer saw a 4% increase, Innisfail 10%, Olds 20%, Sylvan Lake 40% over April. Some smaller centers saw large increases including Eckville at 333% and Trochu at 200%. Median prices for single family residential property in May ranged from $264,900 in Red Deer, $275,500 in Sylvan Lake and $255,450 in Blackfalds to $138,000 in Eckville, $155,000 in Lacombe County and $104,500 in Clearwater County.
Red Deer County Open Spaces Plan Draws Public Input
Over the past week, 65 people attended one of six open houses hosted by Red Deer County in different communities to find out what residents want to see in future parks, natural areas, trails, recreation facilities and other open spaces. There was a strong desire for more linkages (trails or pathways) between communities, facilities and attractions as well as more access to area rivers. Protection of and controlled access to natural areas was a common theme. One of the goals of the workshops was to determine where people would like to walk or bike. The County is being assisted by Dillon Consulting and the University of Calgary Environmental Department in the project. A recommendation report is expected to go before County Council this fall.
Lacombe Mall Rejuvinated
New stores and renovations to existing stores is giving new life to Lacombe Centre Mall located on the west side of Highway 2A in the thriving town of Lacombe. One of the largest stores, Peavey Mart, opened in early June. A hardwood flooring company and a skateboard and snowboard shop are set to open in July. The Employment Services Centre opened earlier this year. A florist and pet shop have expanded and other stores are enjoying the new rejuvination.

June 17, 2006
Red Deer College Has Ambitious and Varied Plans
Construction has started on the largest expansion for Red Deer College since it opened in 1964. The $75 million multi-phase project will take about 5 years to complete and includes a Trades and Technology Centre, Innovation in Manufacturing Centre, Business Enterprise Centre, Visual Arts Centre, Regional Sports and Wellness Centre and a Health Education Centre. Total enrolment is expected to grow to 10,000 full and part-time students by 2010. The college also plans to offer its own degrees in business and liberal arts and to expand continuing education programs.
Chinook's Edge School Division Confirms Expansion and Upgrade Priorities
The three-year capital plan for Chinook's Edge School Division includes new school construction, transfer of existing facilities for other uses or to other school divisions and upgrades to existing schools. The top priorities include new elementary schools for Carstairs, Springbrook and Sylvan Lake, a new regional high school to be located in the Penhold, Springbrook or Gasoline Alley area, transfer of River Glen School in Red Deer to Gateway Christian School, conversion of an elementary school in Olds to a middle school, upgrades of schools in Sylvan Lake, Innisfail, Penhold, Spruce View and Cremona. The division is also working with the Red Deer Catholic School Division to open an elementary school in the Olds-Didsbury area.

June 16, 2006
Culture Groups Add Vitality to Red Deer's Downtown
Several cultural groups have recently made downtown Red Deer their home, much to the excitement of downtown businesses and the general public. The revitalization and renovation of the historic Scott Block by Culture Link brought together three professional theatrical production groups and various other artists into one cultural hub. Combined with new art galleries and restaurants that have opened recently, the pedestrian friendly Alexander Way (48 St.), public art and murals and the 'ghost' project, more people are visiting the downtown to experience the arts, culture and variety of shops and eateries available. The theatrical companies include Prime Stock, Ignition Theatre and Take a Risk Theatre. Nearby art galleries include Harris-Warke Gallery (housed in Sunworks), House Warmings and the new Red Block Artists Gallery which also houses the Red Deer and District Allied Arts Council.
Red Deer Symphony Orchestra Entering 20th Season
Since 1987, the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra has matured from a community orchestra made up of a mix of local and professional musicians to a regional professional orchestra. Last year, five of its six concerts, performed in the Red Deer College Arts Centre, were sell-outs. In addition, the RDSO has performed in schools and runs a Choir Kids program where members of the orchestra perform with school choirs. Twenty schools are now involved in the program. Funding for the orchestra comes from various art foundations, grants, the City, sponsors and ticket sales. The original sponsor was the Red Deer branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Musical director Claude Lapalme has led the orchestra since 1990.
Rural Attractions Focus of Country Drive 2006
"To provide an opportunity for visitors to explore, experience and become educated about agricultural businesses and rural lifestyles in the Red Deer region" is the goal of Country Drive '06, a self-guided tour of 21 operators offering special activities during the weekend of July 15 & 16. Operators on the tour this year include the Danish Canadian National Museum at Dickson, the Dickson Store Museum, Edgar Farms, Glenn's Restaurant, historic Markerville Creamery, Lacombe Corn Maze, Ellis Bird Farm, Parkland Garden Centre, Rolyn Hills B & B and Guest Ranch, Sunnybrook Farm Museum and 11 other rural farms and lifestyle operators. The tour is free this year.


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