NEWS of the Red Deer Region - October 17-31, 2007

 
News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and summaries of news reports from local media (primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express).
October 2007 Part 2

October 31, 2007
City Downtown to Update Vision
The city of Red Deer will work with the Downtown Business Association to update the 2000 Greater Downtown Action Plan to create a new vision for the city centre explained city manager Craig Curtis at the association's annual general meeting last night. More high-density housing, development of Riverlands, a new parkade, expanded green space and lots of flowers are some of the suggestions for that new vision.
Two City Erosion Control Projects to Cost Millions
The city of Red Deer is proceeding with a $2.5 million erosion control project on the north bank of the Red Deer River below Oriole Park near Maskapatoon Natural Area and a $1.9 million bank stabilization project that involves the relocation of Piper Creek south of Rotary Park. About 700 linear metres of the river bank will be stabilized with jagged rocks piled up to 5 metres high involving the creation of a temporary road in the environmentally-sensitive natural area. The Piper Creek project is a result of slope failure from heavy rains this past spring.

October 30, 2007
Major Wind Farm Proposed South of Red Deer
A Calgary firm is proposing to build a 50-windmill $200 million wind farm on 30 quarter sections on and around Radar Hill, 16 km east of the Red Deer Regional Airport. The area is a high point of land once used by the Department of National Defence as a NORAD radar site. The project would produce up to 100 megawatts of power that, averaged over a year, would power the homes in Red Deer. The company hopes to build the project, the largest in the province to date, in three years.
City Seniors Centre Plans Expansion and Renovation
The 30-year-old Golden Circle seniors centre near downtown Red Deer has been given approval by the city's municipal planning commission for a 1,600 sq. ft. addition to the city-owned building. The $2.5 million project includes a major renovation of the existing facility. During the six-month construction, expected to begin in April, programs will be moved to the Red Deer Curling Club building.
The Brick, Urban Barn Approved for South City Shopping Centre
The Red Deer municipal planning commission has given approval for two commercial buildings in a new 7 acre shopping centre in the city's south just west of Sobeys. The site plan for the shopping centre includes a 38,000 sq. ft. building for the Brick and a 6,500 sq. ft. building for Urban Barn. Also contemplated are three other commercial buildings. The Brick will be moving from its current location in north Red Deer to the much larger store in July 2008.

October 29, 2007
City Rental Market Improves
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) is reporting that the vacancy rate for Red Deer apartments in April of this year was at 2.1%, up from 0.5% last October. However, the average rent for the same period went up $52 to $732. The vacancy rate for this October is expected to be between 1-2% but is expected to rise during 2008.
Section of Highway QE2 to Get Improved Lighting
In an effort to reduce a high collision rate, Alberta Transportation is installing 25 street lights along a 1.5 km stretch of Highway QE2 on the west side of Red Deer south of 67 St. The $550,000 project will improve visibility along the curved portion between the interchange and the Red Deer River bridges which experience the highest collision rate of any bridge in the province. The long term plan is to straighten the curve when the highway is expanded to six lanes. However, the proposed straightening has naturalists concerned as it would cut into the environmentally-sensitive Maskepetoon Natural Area. The new lights should be operational by late December or early January.

October 27, 2007
South City Commercial Area Delayed Until Next Year
Qualico Developments has indicated that their planned 90-acre commercial and residential subdivision west of Taylor Drive in south Red Deer will not likely get under way until late spring or early summer. About half of the development will be a commercial area called Southpointe Junction. The project was delayed by public concerns about preserving a 21-acre natural area with trees and grassland. Ultimately the city agreed to purchase 15 acres of the land with two more to be dedicated as municipal reserve land. Qualico is currently working on the neighbourhood area structure plan.
Report Vindicates Decision to Restore Clearwater River
A preliminary report for Alberta Environment indicates that Clearwater County's decision to move the Clearwater River back to its old channel after spring flooding in 2005 was the right move. The controversial move was done this past June to prevent inter basin transfer when the 2005 flooding and further flooding earlier this year shifted the river. A real risk existed that water from the Clearwater River, part of the North Saskatchewan river basin, could have eroded a road that acted like a dike and flow into the North Raven River, part of the South Saskatchewan river basin, threatening dams, dikes, culverts and fish species.

October 25, 2007
Airline Offers $9 Fare to Edmonton
Northwestern Air Lease has started service from Red Deer Regional Airport to Edmonton International Airport. To encourage Central Albertans to use the new service instead of driving to Edmonton or Calgary, the airline is offering a rate of $9 instead of the originally set price of $60. With taxes and airport fees, the price works out to around $45. The early morning flight (7 am) will allow passengers to connect with other airlines to destinations like Vancouver, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto and Denver. And there is no charge for parking at the Red Deer airport. From Edmonton, the 19-seat Jetstream 31 continues to Peace River, returning to Red Deer via Edmonton at 11:40 am. The service is offered Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Innisfail Zoo in Finals for Tourism Award
Discovery Park in Innisfail has been named one of the finalists in Alberta Tourism's annual awards. The privately-owned zoo was nominated in the category for destinations that spend $25,000 or less per year on tourism and promotion.

October 24, 2007
Two Women Added to LTCHS Wall of Fame
Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School in Red Deer added two women to its Wall of Fame on Tuesday. Cindy Jeffries, a graduate of the class of 1981, was cited for her leadership in public education and city government. She served nine years on the Red Deer Public School Board, has just started her second term of city council and has served several community organizations over the years. Lynette Harder, a graduate of the class of 1979, has a long record of mission and community service in the Philippines, Czech Republic and Western Canada. Other inductees since 1992 have included former Governor-General Roland Michener (class of 1917), architect Donald Cardinal (class of 1952), hockey player and coach Brian Sutter (class of 1974) and city archivist Michael Dawe (class of 1973).
Concert Society Changes Name, Moves to Innisfail
The Red Deer Concert Society is changing its name to Central Alberta Presents and moving its primary venue from the increasingly-busy Red Deer College Arts Centre to Innisfail's historic Century Theatre with a seating capacity of 275. The society has been bringing talented musical acts to Central Alberta since 1976. The organization hopes to hold four or five concerts per year.
Vintage 1911 Car Donated to Farm Museum
A 1911 McLaughlin, stored in a Red Deer basement for several years, has been donated to the Sunnybrook Farm Museum by the current owner Judi McIntosh-Robertson. Her grandfather, a renowned bricklayer who built several of the city's historic buildings, bought the almost new car in 1911. Her father realized its historical value several decades later so he decided to store it in his Michener Hill home. It came out occasionally for parades and special events. The car's odometer reads over 7,000 miles. Judi and her husband run the McIntosh Tea House, located in the home her grandfather built.

October 23, 2007
Downtown Rejuvenation and Housing Tops City Mayor's Agenda
A restoration of a level of comfort and progress in the downtown is Red Deer Mayor Morris Flewwelling's primary focus for the next three years. Complaints of loitering, homelessness, drug-use and prostitution emerged during the recent municipal election. Increased lighting and police presence are two of several ideas to reduce some of the challenges. The development of the Riverlands project, once the civic yards move out of the Cronquist area, will also rejuvinate the downtown with new commercial, cultural and residential development. The mayor also wants to work with the private sector to create more affordable housing in the city. Annexation around the city and industrial development to the west of Highway QE2 are also high priorities for the mayor. Road enhancements (including a new river bridge), expansion of park trails along the river and protecting natural areas are also on his agenda.
Riverside Condo Project Scaled Back Again
An ambitious eight-storey condominium project in Red Deer's Riverside Meadows subdivision immediately north of the river and downtown has been scaled back a second time in two weeks. The original proposal to be built on the former Harpers Metals site included up to 450 suites but was cut back to 296 a couple of weeks ago with commercial units on the main floor. However at a Saturday workshop for residents to update the area redevelopment plan, it was revealed that the current proposal is for an 85-unit townhouse project.
City Downtown Dairy Plant Getting Facelift
The former Central Alberta Dairy Pool (Alpha) plant, one of the oldest downtown Red Deer landmarks, is poised for a facelift. The current owners, Saputo Foods, is seeking to build a 7,800 sq. ft. addition for butter production that will involve demolition of a storage building. The Red Deer municipal planning commission is seeking several improvements to sidewalks, landscaping and facade prior to giving approval. The original building opened as a milk condensery in 1936 under the product name Alpine and later Alpha. Central Alberta Dairy Pool merged with Fraser Valley Milk Producers and Northern Alberta Dairy Pool in 1992 to form Dairyworld. That entity was purchased by Saputo in 2001. The plant is now used to produce butter and skim milk powder.
Truck Travel Plaza Approved for City Northwest
Red Deer municipal planning commission has given conditional approval to a Flying J travel plaza on the Shell cardlock site at 67 St. near Highway QE2. The proposal includes a service station, men's and women's showers, a truckers lounge and a convenience store. It will operate out of a 5,800 sq. ft. building that will replace the existing building. The plan includes 3 pump islands for smaller vehicles and 6 pump islands for large trucks and RVs. There will also be an RV sanitary dump, propane fueling area and parking for as many as 26 trucks. A spring 2008 opening is targeted.

October 22, 2007
Parkland Invests at College for Transportation
Parkland Income Fund is investing $500,000 in Red Deer College, half for transportation programs and half for green projects. Scholarships will be awarded to students in automotive service technology, truck driver certificate and other transportation programs. The green investment will ensure that the new building under construction will be certified as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) compliant. The investment will be matched by the provincial government. Parkland Income Fund runs about 550 gas outlets and convenient stores and transports fuel through its petrohaul division.

October 20, 2007
Sylvan Lake Shopping Centre Approved
Sylvan Lake's municipal planning commission has approved a proposed shopping centre in the Ryder's Ridge subdivision west of Highway 20. Construction has already started on a 4,500 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Royal Bank branch and another 17,000 sq. ft. building. Sobeys is expected to start construction on a 26,000 sq. ft. grocery store soon. The 10.5 acre site will yield 85,000 sq. ft. of commercial space.
Red Deer Chamber Chooses Business of the Year
Accuform Welding Ltd. won the 2007 business of the year at the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce awards banquet on Friday. Accuform is a custom fabricator of metal, stainless steel and aluminum with customers in Alberta, the United States and overseas. The small business of the year award went to TBS The Team and Corporate Store. Gasoline Alley Harley Davidson was named the franchise/subsidiary of the year.

October 19, 2007
First Commercial Garbage Gasification Plant Set to Go
An agreement with Ottawa-based Plasco Energy Group to construct North America's first commercial garbage gasification plant was signed yesterday by the Central Waste Management Commission. The commission represents fifteen Central Alberta communities including the city of Red Deer, Red Deer County, Lacombe County and the towns of Lacombe, Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Penhold, Innisfail, Bowden, Bentley, Eckville, Alix, Delburne, Clive and Elnora. The new $90-100 million plant will most likely be constructed next to the Horn Hill Transfer Station, located near Highways 2 and 42 south of Red Deer, starting next year, providing the technology being tested in Ottawa proves its value. The plant should start accepting waste by 2009. The by-products of the operation will be electricity that will be added to the power grid and a 'plasma' that can be used for road construction materials, making the technology much more environmentally-friendly than land fills. Although no municipal money is required to build the plant, tipping fees will be around $65 per tonne, higher than some municipalities are currently paying. Plasco has operating demonstration plants in Ottawa and Spain and is proposing a commercial plant in Los Angeles.
Michener Affordable Housing Project Opens
The first of several tenants of an affordable housing project moved in yesterday immediately after its official opening by Premier Ed Stelmach. Gaetz Apartments in Michener Centre was an empty building that was renovated with assistance from the provincial government, the city of Red Deer and Heritage Family Services and is provided primarily for the homeless. Rents of $650 per month will include necessities such as three meals per day, utilities and laundry. All 43 rooms, consisting of a bed, closet and sink, in the two-storey building are expected to be filled in a couple of weeks. Common bathrooms, lounge areas and dining room are down the hall.
Transportation Minister Announces Road Safety Plan
Transportation minister, Luc Ouellette, announced a road safety advertising plan in Red Deer yesterday. He said that Alberta traffic collisions are costing more than $4 billion a year in insurance claims, property damage and treatment of victims. Nine out of ten collisions are caused by driver error and nearly one-quarter of drivers involved in fatal collisions had been drinking before the crash. A report shows that 453 people died in Alberta collisions last year and nearly 26,000 people were injured. The Labor Day weekend had the highest number of fatalities and injuries with the Victoria Day (May) long weekend coming in second. Fridays, November and males aged 18 and 19 ranked highest in crash statistics. Following too closely was identified as the action causing the most collisions.
Sylvan Lake Concrete Plant Starts Construction
A multi-million state-of-the-art high-tech concrete plant has started construction by Lafarge Canada in Sylvan Lake to replace an older plant built in 1976. The plant will be environmentally friendly, boasting improved dust control and more than double the capacity of the current plant. Construction is expected to be completed by spring at which time the old plant will be demolished.

October 18, 2007
Nobel Prize Nominee Warns of Climate Change Threat
Sheila Watt-Cloutier, 2007 Nobel prize nominee, talked to a crowd of 300 at Red Deer College about the threats of climate change. She warned that, if action isn't taken soon, the effects of global warming could be as devastating as any war. Watt-Cloutier, currently living in Iqaluit, Nunavut, has been a spokesperson for the 155,000 Inuit population at several world conferences on the issue and has won several awards and honours on the impact of climate change and pollution on the Arctic's indigenous peoples. She was the 11th in the college's Perspectives: Canada in the World speaker series that began in 2002.
Major Olds Shopping Centre Close to Opening
Several big box stores and two multi-bay commercial buildings are under construction in the power centre on the west side of Olds. Canadian Tire and Sobeys are scheduled to open in November and Wal-Mart in January. Also opening soon will be Leo's Building Supplies, Lube-X Service Centre, Ramada Inn and a Shell service station. The 32,000 sq. ft. commercial building is fully leased and almost complete. A 13,000 sq. ft. commercial building is three-quarters leased.
New Development Set for Rocky School Site
Commercial development is expected to begin next year at the site of the former Will Sinclair High School. The school was demolished in February 2006 when it was replaced by the West Central High School at Confluence Campus. The 6.6 acre site is zoned highway commercial.

October 17, 2007
Wal-Mart Supercentre Planned for Sylvan Lake
Wal-Mart has announced that it will be building a $20 million, 115,000 sq. ft. supercentre in the Beju Industrial/Commercial Park on the east side of Sylvan Lake. Expected to open next summer, the store will offer a full range of grocery products, including fresh produce, meat, baked goods and meals to go. They will also offer a wide selection of fashion, electronics, household and health and beauty products.
Computers Offered for Lease to Community Service Groups
The Red Deer Community Information Referral Society has launched a new program that would lease refurbished computers to community service groups in Central Alberta for an annual fee of $299. All computers are tested, memories wiped clean and Windows XP installed. The fee will include servicing and replacement if computers fail. Nova Chemicals donated 160 computers to the society and other donations continue to be received. About 100 will be in service within a year and 250 are expected to be in service within 3 years.

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