NEWS of the Red Deer Region - July 1-15, 2006

 
News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and summaries of news reports from local media (primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express).
July 2006 Part 1

July 15, 2006
Alberta Summer Games Facilities Ready
The quality and quantity of city and area facilities had a lot to do with Red Deer winning the bid for the 2006 Alberta Summer Games. The games begin Thursday July 27 with the Opening Ceremonies in the Centrium and continue over the following three days at the various venues. Over 3,000 athletes from all over the province are expected to compete accompanied by around 1,000 coaches and chaperones. The Legion Track and the BMX track have been upgraded and the other venues including Great Chief Park, Michener Centre Pool, Red Deer College, Three Mile Bend and several others are ready to go. (venues and events)

July 14, 2006
Springbrook One of Four Still in Running for Police College
Red Deer County learned today that Springbrook is one of four out of an original 30 communities in the province that have been short-listed for the provincial police college. The County's bid involves the co-operation of the City and Red Deer College. The police academy will train existing police officers and recruits as well as prison guards, sheriffs, special constables, and conservation and wildlife officers. Other communities in Central Alberta have been eliminated, including Penhold, Stettler, Three Hills and Rocky Mountain House. Lacombe and Olds were eliminated in an earlier round. The three other Alberta communities reported to be competing in the final round for the college are Camrose, Fort MacLeod and Lac La Biche.
Horse Race Track Proposed Near Lacombe
A proposal to build a seven furlong horse race track near Lacombe, longer than the tracks in Edmonton or Calgary, has been submitted to Lacombe County Council. The $10 million project on a 200 acre site would also include entertainment facilities, an RV camping area, paddocks and turnout areas for the horses. The proposed site is south of Highway 12 and east of Highway 2. If the proposal is approved, construction could start as early as fall and be operational by the fall of 2007. Two previous attempts have been made to locate in the Red Deer area.
Historic Arches Proposed for Downtown Red Deer
The Central Alberta Historic Society is presenting to City Council Monday a proposal to build a row of eight arches depicting Red Deer's history near the old CPR fountain at Centennial Park and Alexander Way in the western part of the downtown. Although some funds are available to the Society for the project, additional fundraising will need to be done before construction can begin.
Economic Partnership Reveals Opportunity Profiles
The Central Alberta Economic Partnership, an alliance of several municipalities of the region, revealed six opportunity profiles that have strong viable economic potential in Central Alberta at a meeting of 100 municipal and provincial representatives in Stettler yesterday. The opportunities include biogas, biolubricants, functional foods and nutraceuticals, greenhouses and horticulture, large-shape plastic products, and meat snacks and ready meals. The profiles are either agriculture or petrochemical related industries that could be developed anywhere in the region.
Ponoka Considering Several Enhancements
A master plan for enhancing and revitalizing downtown Ponoka is being developed by the town. Phase I is being presented to the public Saturday. In the meantime, Town Council is applying for infrastructure grants to develop a longer trail system, a new reservoir, a yard waste recycling program and an electronic tourist message board. The proposed expansion of the trail system would increase its length by about 50% and would eventually connect with the Trans Canada Trail system.

July 13, 2006
Health Region Capital Requests Include Parkade and Stettler Redevelopment
The David Thompson Health Region has submitted a list of 14 capital projects to the province for future development, including a $12.5 million expansion of the outpatients department and a feasibility plan for a parkade at the Red Deer hospital, improvements to the nursing home portion of Lacombe hospital and a $24.9 million redevelopment of the Stettler Health Centre.
Health Region Seeks Approval for Seniors Housing Project
The David Thompson Health Region expects quick approval of a public-private partnership to build and operate a seniors housing project on Michener Centre land in east Red Deer. The health authority has partnered with Extendicare Canada that runs several nursing homes in Alberta and has approved the sale of the provincial land to the company. Construction of 'Michener Hill Village' is expected to begin next spring and be completed in 2008.
Adult Condo Project with Park Proposed for Sylvan Lake
Jarvis Bay Developments is proposing to build a four-storey, 49-unit upscale adult apartment-style condominium project on the northwest side of the town of Sylvan Lake. Part of the proposal is to purchase a rarely used municipal reserve for a park for residents. If approved, the area would be rezoned high density residential from urban reserve.
Commercial Development Proposed for Former Rocky High School Site
Western Gateway Developments has purchased the 6.6 acre Rocky Mountain House site of the former Will Sinclair High School located near Highway 11 that was demolished in February. Possible commercial development on the prime property could include a hotel or motel, restaurant and/or bank.

July 12, 2006
Bio-Fuel Initiatives to be Discussed
Red Deer College and the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce are initiating discussions with entrepreneurs, investors, government and municipal officials and other interested parties on the prospect of bio-fuels and related industries for the area in the future. The concept being promoted is a bio-refinery using canola and other grains as a base with bio-gas, bio-diesel and bio-lubricant plants in close proximity to one another to feed off each other's waste products.
Red Deer Housing Starts Outpace Last Year
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is reporting that, for the first half of 2006, housing starts in Red Deer have increased by 25% over the same period last year from 526 to 655. Single family detached accounted for 470 of the total compared to 373 in 2005. Multi-family housing units made up 185 starts from 153 last year. Virtually all urban areas in the province saw an increase.

July 11, 2006
Plenty of Jobs But Housing Tight
The economic boom in Central Alberta is creating lots of jobs that are unfilled. It's particularly noticeable in construction, oilfield, retail and the hospitality sectors. Megaprojects in northern Alberta are pulling workers from the oilpatch. The oilpatch is pulling workers from the construction and manufacturing industries who in turn pull workers from the retail and service sectors. As a result, all sectors are looking for more employees, but retail and service jobs are particularly plentiful, especially for students. Some restaurants are reducing hours, lineups are getting longer at stores and some businesses have been sold or closed due to lack of labour. The situation is compounded by the fact that accommodation can't be built fast enough for the current influx of workers and, as a result, is getting harder to find and more expensive. Some employees are camping for the summer until more housing becomes available.
Michener Building Gets Green Light for Reconstruction
The Red Deer Municipal Planning Commission has approved the $11 million renovation and reconstruction of the Michener Centre administration building badly damaged by fire in 2003. The 93-year-old building will be converted into office space for the David Thompson Health Region but maintaining the original Victorian exterior design. Design work will be completed soon and tenders will be called to remove hazardous materials. The project, which is expected to be completed by 2008, will house 170 employees from different locations around the city.
Rimbey Raceway Project Progressing Well
An 80-acre, multi-facility, $3 million raceway project 3 km northeast of Rimbey is well underway with some facilities already in use and others to be phased in over the next five to seven years. The project is being spearheaded by the Rimbey Kinsmen Club with mostly donations, fundraising activities, corporate sponsorship and volunteer help. The long-car dirt oval held its first race in July 2005. The motocross track and quarter-mile drag strip are in construction and should be open this fall. The mud bog will be done next year and the bike oval when funding is complete.
Big Game Museum to Open in Sundre
The Sundre and District Historical Society is the recipient of a big game collection donated by world game hunter Chester Mjolsness. He is paying for a facility that will be attached to the Sundre Reception Centre as a museum to house the trophies from all over the world. The collection includes two lions and a lioness, a hippopotamus, giraffe, buffalo, willd sheep and many others. The game that he shot provided food for the local population. Taxidermists and a local artist are assisting with the project which is expected to be open in October.
Another Industrial Park in Red Deer County Could Start Soon
First reading of a rezoning request from agriculture to light industrial for the McKenzie Industrial Park was approved recently by Red Deer County for a quarter section of land south of the Clearview Industrial Park and east of Range Road 273 (the extension of 40 Avenue). A public hearing and subsequent hearings will occur later but work is expected to begin this fall with preliminary site work as early as next month. About 120 acres will be available for development with lot sizes ranging from 2 to 10 acres. Some lots have already been presold to oilpatch servicing and manufacturing companies.

July 10, 2006
Free Red Deer Gala Event to Celebrate Summer Games
In addition to the opening ceremonies that kick off the Alberta Summer Games the previous night, the city is celebrating the games at City Hall park on Friday, July 28 at 7 pm with one of the largest free entertainment spectacles the city has seen. FLOW - A City Scape Gala, will include a concert, street dance, street performers, clowns, dance numbers and entertainment at five stages and other performance spaces such as rooftops and windows.
Downtown Red Deer CIBC Site May Get New Building
One of the most prominent locations in Red Deer, the corner of Ross St. and 49 Ave., may see the former CIBC building torn down and replaced with a new office building. Several options are being examined by Beca International of Calgary, the new owner of the property. The company controls Bear Developments, owner of Sylvan Lake's Chateau Suites and Wild Rapids Water Slide. One of the options includes demolishing the structure this fall or next spring and developing a new office building within the next two years.

July 8, 2006
Schlumberger to Build Largest World Facility in Blackfalds
The oilfield services giant Schlumberger is proposing to build its administration centre for Alberta and Saskatchewan in Blackfalds. Four buildings, including a 150,000 sq. ft. office building, a bulk plant, a shop and a wash bay, will result in the project being the company's largest facility in the world. It is expected that by 2010, 500 people will be employed at the 70-acre parcel, increasing from the 340 current employees in Central Alberta who will be consolidated in the development. The project will be developed in an area now used for farming west of Highway 2A, east of the CPR rail line and north of Highway 597. Construction may start this fall with completion slated for 2008. Adjacent to the site, a new park, fire hall and rural RCMP detachment are also expected to be built. A public hearing is scheduled by Blackfalds Town Council Aug. 8 for second and third reading of a bylaw to rezone the property.
Sylvan Lake May Build New RCMP Building
A report will be presented to Sylvan Lake Town Council in October to determine whether to expand or replace the aging RCMP facility in town. The current facility is becoming too small to handle the increasing number of officers and responsibilities of a rapidly growing community. Council has already put aside $1.5 million for the project and it is hoped that construction can be completed by 2008.

July 7, 2006
Permolex Adds to Red Deer Expansion Plans
With construction already underway on expanding ethanol production at its Red Deer plant from 12 million litres a year to 40 million litres a year, Permolex has announced it wants to expand further to produce 100 million litres a year in Red Deer and build an additional Alberta plant and a bio-refinery in New York state. With the current $8 million expansion expected to be complete by fall, the additional expansion will take another 15 months. The new project would make the Red Deer plant the largest ethanol operation in Western Canada and the company the fourth largest ethanol producer in North America.
Buffalo Lake Campground Expands For Temporary Industrial Housing
Ol' MacDonalds Campground on Buffalo Lake near Stettler has entered into a joint project with Midwest General Contractors who are building a natural gas pipeline between Bashaw and Gadsby. The campground wanted to expand and the contractor needed some temporary housing for 100 of its 275 employees working on the pipeline so the contractor has invested $75,000 to add 89 full-service lots that the campground will be able to rent out once the pipeline project is complete.
Red Deer May Take Over Operation of Michener Pool
The city of Red Deer, Alberta Infrastructure and the board for Persons with Developmental Disabilities announced it has agreed on a deal to keep the indoor Michener Centre swimming pool open until March 31, 2007 when the Recreation Centre pool is expected to reopen after several months of renovation. Because the Dawe Centre pool is expected to be closed next year for renovations, the city is looking at taking over operations of the Michener pool indefinitely depending upon costs and usage. The Michener facility had originally been scheduled to close this coming September.

July 6, 2006
Red Deer Construction Outpaces Last Year
The City of Red Deer issued 327 building permits in June compared to 273 during the same month last year. The value of permits was $22.6 million compared to last June's $18.7 million. For the first six months of 2006, the city has issued 1,486 permits valued at $121.1 million, 281 permits and $5.2 million more than the same period last year. Residential construction accounted for $14.2 million in June compared to $13.8 million a year earlier. Industrial permits jumped from $1.5 million in June 2005 to $7.8 million this year.

July 5, 2006
Proposed Red Deer Culture Centre to Get Public Input
Red Deer City Council has approved a recommendation by administration that more public consultation be encouraged before proceeding with a proposed $46 million culture centre that would include a museum, archives, art gallery, interactive displays, classrooms and social gathering spaces. A public campaign that would receive input from local citizens and groups, provide information on the options and conduct market research was given a budget of $195,000. The process will delay the physical planning of the facility for a couple of years. It has been suggested that the culture centre could be a city centennial project to open in 2013. Meanwhile, the current museum and archives is rapidly becoming too small to house the multitude of historical artifacts in its possession and is inadequate for protecting sensitive items.
Electoral Changes in Red Deer County Move Step Closer
First reading of a bylaw to reduce the number of electoral divisions from seven to six has been given approval by Red Deer County Council. This is necessary in order for a reeve to be elected at large rather than be appointed from the elected councillors. It is also necessary to modify division boundaries to accommodate shifts in population. Another consideration is changing the title of reeve to mayor as many people don't understand what a reeve is. Further discussion on the changes will occur after the fall harvest.
Regional Recreation Plan Suggested by Red Deer County
Rather than every community duplicate a full range of costly recreation facilities, Red Deer County Council is suggesting a regional approach by co-ordinating plans with other municipalities. As a first step, Council approved a $40,000 feasibility study to explore where sports fields, arenas, trails, parks and other recreational needs should be located within the County in relation to facilities planned by the city and towns in the region as much of the county's population lives close to the larger centres. The study would compliment another study, the Open Spaces Master Plan, that is currently being developed.
Heritage Vegetable Garden at Fort Normandeau
A variety of historically grown vegetables is being cultivated at Fort Normandeau similar to those grown near the fort 120 years ago. A garden harvest program is being planned for August 26 which may include visitors help prepare an old-fashioned supper and then sitting down to enjoy the feast. Some vegetables will ripen prior to the event so some visitors may receive samples of peas and lettuce as a bonus to attending the interpretive display at the fort.
Artists Around Rocky Mountain House Promote Work
Thirteen artists and five exhibition spaces in and around Rocky Mountain House have combined to promote the area's first Open Studio Weekend July 14 to 16. Their studios will be open to the public who can go in and watch artists at work, ask questions and admire their art.

July 3, 2006
Busiest Weekend Ever at Sylvan Lake
The number of beach-goers was about 40% higher than the busiest weekend in past years claims Sylvan Lake's mayor Bryan Lambertson. On Saturday, it is estimated that there were more than 30,000 people on the beach, about three times the normal population of the town. The vast majority were well behaved but RCMP officers were brought in from several area detachments.
Olds School Project Discussed at Oxford
The prestigious Oxford (England) Round Table will be presented with a report on the development of the Olds Community Learning Campus. The joint $55 million project by Olds College, Chinooks Edge School Division and the town of Olds will include a Grade 9 to 12 school, a technology centre, a fine arts and multi-media centre and a health and wellness centre. The paper, called 'Advanced Higher Learning Opportunities in Rural Canada', will be discussed at the education forum and distributed to academic institutions around the world.
Three Businesses to Locate in Former Red Deer Future Shop Building
More shopping will be available in Red Deer when Coastal Wholesale Appliances opens in November at the former Future Shop building at Gaetz Avenue Crossing. They will occupy about half of the 18,000 sq. ft. building while Shoe Warehouse and another unannounced tenant will split the other half. Future Shop relocated to the north side of the shopping complex last fall in the space formerly occupied by Winners, which had relocated to Southpointe Common.

July 1, 2006
Ponoka Stampede Boosts Tourism
The town of Ponoka with a population of around 6,300 almost triples for a week during the annual Ponoka Stampede, one of the largest and most popular rodeos in Canada, adding a couple of million dollars to the local economy. The local hospitality and service industries benefit greatly as do other area businesses. The stampede brings a lot of attention to the town and a local tourism group is planning to expand the visibility of other area attractions. The event each year is held up to and over the Canada Day holiday.
Nordegg Residential Leisure Lot Draw in July
Clearwater County has approved the sale of 21 leisure (cottage) lots in a draw to be held July 14 for the mountain resort hamlet of Nordegg west of Rocky Mountain House. Up to 300 potential buyers have expressed interest in purchasing lots due to its location on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. A rural residential lot draw for 24 lots will be held later in the year.
Another Bank to Construct Branch in Red Deer
The Royal Bank is the latest of several banks that are planning to build or have recently built new branch buildings. The location of Royal's new building will be near the Rona Home Centre on Gaetz Avenue, relocating from its branch in Bower Place Shopping Centre. Scotiabank recently announced a branch on the east side of the city, Community Savings is building a branch at Taylor Plaza on 67 Street and both CIBC and TD Canada Trust have opened new branches on the south side of Red Deer.

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