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News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and
summaries of news reports from local media
(primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express).
November 2007 Part 2
November 30, 2007
Economist Says Corridor Growth Unprecedented
Don Drummond, the TD Bank Financial Group's chief economist who in 2003
called the Calgary-Edmonton corridor a "roaring tiger", told 450 people
at a Red Deer Chamber of Commerce luncheon that the growth in the
corridor is unprecedented. It dwarfs the United States, Japan, France,
Germany and Australia when it comes to per capita gross domestic
product. Following an anticipated 4.6% increase in GDP this year, the
corridor excluding Calgary and Edmonton should moderate to a 3.6% rise
in 2008, 3% in 2009 and increase to 3.7% in 2010.
November 29, 2007
Province Approves City Annexation
The Alberta government through an order-in-council has approved the city
of Red Deer's annexation of eight quarter sections of land from Red Deer
County west of Highway QE2 primarily for industrial development. Two
development bylaws have been given first reading by city council and can
now proceed to second and third reading. A public hearing will be held
Dec. 17. The first lots in the Queens Business Park are expected to be
ready for sale next fall.
Plan Unveiled for City Maskepetoon Park
The city's most unique and environmentally sensitive area, Maskepetoon
Park, southwest of Oriole Park West and east of Highway QE2, is the
focus of a new master plan unveiled to the public yesterday at Ecole
Oriole Park Elementary School. The proposed plan has some paved trails,
gravel trails, wooden lookout points and interpretive nodes highlighting
its natural features. It also discourages the use of motorized
recreational vehicles. The park contains Alberta's most southeast stand
of tamarack trees and is home to much wildlife. Public input will be
analyzed prior to going to city council in the new year.
November 28. 2007
Finning Offers to Purchase Collicutt Energy Services
Finning International, the largest Caterpillar dealer in the world, has
offered to buy Red Deer-based Collicutt Energy Services for $145
million. Collicutt employs about 450 people and has 315,000 sq. ft. of
facilities including 200,000 sq. ft. of shop space in Red Deer's Edgar
Industrial Park on Highway QE2. Finning's business plan calls for Red
Deer to become a 'centre of excellence' for the preparation and
rebuilding of mining and other large equipment. About $12 million has
been earmarked by Finning for capital improvements to prepare the
Collicutt facility for its needs. Collicutt currently fabricates and
services natural gas compression, underbalanced drilling equipment,
power generation systems and oilfield equipment. The company had donated
over $1 million to Red Deer's southeast recreation complex in 2000.
November 27, 2007
Rochon Sands Looking to Annex Land
The summer village of Rochon Sands on Buffalo Lake is hoping to annex 3
quarter sections of land from Stettler County by next year. Originally,
the community was only going to annex 42 lots on the village's edge but,
after a study was done, decided to annex sufficient land to provide 20
years of growth. The study suggested that 5 quarter sections would be
needed for 40 years of growth. A meeting with the county is expected
before the end of the year.
Society to Split into Two Separate Responsibilities
The Normandeau Cultural and Natural History Society will disband at the
end of the year to be replaced by two societies that will split the
former society's responsibilities. The Red Deer Museum Society will
oversee the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery. The Waskasoo Environmental
Education Society was oversee Waskasoo Park interpretive programs
including Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary, Allen
Bungalow, Fort Normandeau and all other park interpretive services.
Projects planned at the nature centre include replacing the 20-year-old
permanent exhibit and expanding solar panel capacity.
November 26, 2007
Support Increases for New Michener Centre Housing
The David Thompson Health Region, the Michener Parents group and Red
Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski are all supporting the bid by Persons
with Developmental Disabilities to build 250 new housing units for the
remaining clients from both the south and north sites. The $60-$85
million project would be constructed near a new continuing care complex
being built by the health region on Michener Centre grounds. When the
current clients reach the end of their life span, estimated in 10-15
years, the complex could be turned over to the health region for seniors
housing. If provincial funding is obtained, the units could be available
in 2010.
Records Set at Festival of Trees
The 14th annual Festival of Trees fundraiser for the David Thompson
Health Region set new records over the past five days. Approximately
$1.1 million was raised, the first time the event exceeded the million
dollar mark. In 2006, the festival raised $957,000. Attendance was set
at 22,450 this year compared to last year's 21,825. There were 1,900
volunteers compared to 1,800 last year and 55 trees were on display
compared to 40 last year. Proceeds will buy electronic medical charts
for the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
New Farm Safety Display Opens at Safety City
The Farm Safety Centre will open to grades 1 and 5 students in January
to April where they will learn about the dangers of dugouts, grain
augers and protective mother cows at Red Deer's Kiwanis Safety City, a
3-1/2 acre project in the city's northeast. A fire and home safety
program runs from November through April for children aged 5 to 10.
Pedestrian traffic safety runs from May through October at an outdoor
miniature community that includes traffic signals, crosswalks, street
signs and a railway crossing. Close to 20,000 students have taken safety
training at the centre since its opening in 2001.
November 24, 2007
Trans Canada Trail Bridges Get Funding
Two pedestrian river bridges that are crucial linkages in the Central
Alberta portion of the Trans Canada Trail are closer to being built
having been promised $100,000 of funding by Alberta TrailNet.
Engineering for a bridge over the Battle River near Ponoka has been
completed with an estimated construction cost of $500,000. Engineering
for the bridge over the Blindman River north of the city between Red
Deer County and Lacombe County hasn't been completed so no estimate of
cost is available. Central Alberta Regional Trails Society is
considering the use of Bailey bridges constructed by the armed forces as
a more economical means of getting the bridges completed. Meanwhile the
Springbrook Community Association has committed to building a one km
section of the Trans Canada Trail through that hamlet.
Proposed Rimbey Biofuel Project Gets Financial Boost
Alberta Energy is providing $400,000 in grants for a feasibility study
for a proposed biofuel facility in Rimbey that would use hay, straw and
municipal waste to produce 27 million litres of ethanol, power and heat.
The plant may be built at Rimbey's waste transfer station where waste
material would be sorted as it comes in.
November 22, 2007
Stettler County to Study Garbage to Power Plant
The provincial government has provided $137,000 to conduct a feasibility
study for a $8 million plant that would turn garbage into power and heat
in Stettler County. The plant could process 25 tonnes of garbage per day
including wood, manure, plastic and tires. Air would be removed from the
waste and heated to extreme temperatures resulting in a synthetic gas
that can be used to generate electricity. The technology proposed by
Prairie BioGas was developed in Switzerland and used in two plants in
Germany.
November 21, 2007
Red Deer College Names Nova Partner of Year
Nova Corporation has been named Partner of the Year by Red Deer College.
In January 2006, Nova committed $1 million to the $110 million, 5-year
Building Communities Through Learning expansion program, specifically
towards the manufacturing and trades and technology centres. In
addition, Nova has been contributing to the college for the past 25
years. Two years ago, Bethany Care Society was named RDC's Partner of
the Year. The college also announced that its current operating budget
stands at $78 million, up from $66 million a year ago. About 50% of the
college's operating revenue comes from the provincial government, 30%
from tuitions and 20% from other programs and services.
November 20, 2007
Wind Farm Proposed Near Trochu
A $150 million wind farm is being proposed by a Vancouver-based company
on an 8,000 acre site 3.5 km northwest of Trochu. The Ghost Pine project
would utilize 45 windmills to provide 75 megawatts of power, enough to
power 26,000 homes. The area is attractive because of consistent high
winds. The company hopes to be in operation in 2009. A second farm,
called the Lone Pine project, is being reviewed. Another company is
proposing a similar project north of Pine Lake.
City Gives First Reading on New Industrial Area Plans
Red Deer city council has passed first reading of the 1,240-acre West
QE2 major area structure plan and the 289-acre Queens Business Park area
structure plan within it. The area will be zoned primarily for
industrial use. Government approval of annexation of the area is
expected before the end of the month. A number of natural features such
as tree stands, wetlands and Cameo Lake will be preserved. The business
park will also include an eco-industrial component to make the best use
of local resources.
City Sells Contaminated Site to Developer for $1
Red Deer council has given first reading to the sale of 1.6 acres of
contaminated land adjacent to the former Harpers Metals to a developer
for $1 providing the company cleans it up. The city-owned former railway
right-of-way and lane has mostly been cleaned up already to accommodate
84 condominium townhouses, parking and landscaping. The estimated value
of the land is $595,000 but it would have cost the city $700,000 to
clean it up. The action is supported by the Riverside Meadows Community
Association.
November 16, 2007
Movie Has World Premier in Red Deer
The world premier of the movie 'Baby Blues' occurred last night at the
Red Deer Park Plaza Theatre in Hollywood style including red carpet and
spot lights preceded by a formal dinner gala for 460 people at the Capri
Hotel and Convention Centre with entertainment by Theresa Sokyrka. The
film started out as a class project in the Red Deer College Motion
Picture Arts Program in the fall of 2005. The film was conceived and
co-directed by RDC graduate Dylan Pearce with co-students Andrew
Scholotiuk and Darren Arsenault; the script was written by RDC graduate
Lewaa Nasserdeen and the production, shot in Windsor Ontario, starred
Jenny Lavine (of Fox's TV series '24') who attended last night's event.
Water Distribution Projects Proceed East and West of Stettler
Two separate water distribution projects should start construction soon
that originate from the water treatment facility at Stettler with water
from the Red Deer River. The Shirley McLellan Water Services Commission
will operate a 140-km pipeline from Stettler east to Castor, Coronation
and Consort, for the most part following the rail right-of-way to be
built in four or five stages over the next couple of years. The 12-21
Water Services Commission will extend the already completed Stettler
west to Alix line north to Mirror, Bashaw and Ferintosh. The line from
Bashaw to Ferintosh will be constructed first as there is currently a
water shortage in Ferintosh. Water from both projects will ultimately be
discharged into the Battle River system involving an inter-basin
transfer. Future plans include expanding water distribution to service
more communities by both commissions.
Elnora's Approval to Annex Expected Soon
The application to annex 160 acres from Red Deer County by the village
of Elnora, about 50 km southeast of Red Deer, is expected to be approved
by the government in the new year. The community's population was
boosted by about 10% this year from 281 to 309 with the construction of
22 new homes. An additional 70 homes are being planned on the west side
of the village. The annexed land will be used primarily for light
industrial use.
Site Work Starts on Sylvan Lake's Beacon Hill
The new 160-acre Beacon Hill subdivision located on recently annexed
land on Sylvan Lake's south side is currently active with site work
being done that should have homes ready to move into by next fall.
Ultimately the subdivision will contain 516 single-family and duplex
units and up to 475 multi-family units. The first of three four-storey
buildings called 'Axxess', each consisting of about 55 entry-level
condominiums, is expected to start construction by Medican in the
spring. A four-storey building called 'Reflections' with upper-end
condominiums is also expected to start construction in 2008. Laebon
Developments will also start the first of the single-family and duplex
units in the spring. A neighbourhood commercial area will be developed
at a later date.
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