News of the Red Deer Region - December 1 to 15, 2007

Red Deer Region - the life, culture, attractions and economy of Central Alberta

Home	The Region	Accommodation	Attractions	Recreation
Municipalities	Business	Community Life	Shop & Dine	History

NEWS of the Red Deer Region - December 1-15, 2007

Overview

Recent News

News Headlines

Archived News

Coming Events

Maps

Features, Reports and Comment

About Us

Links

Site Map

News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and summaries of news reports from local media (primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express).
December 2007 Part 1

December 14, 2007
Red Deer Rental Market Eases Up
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports that October's vacancy rate for rental units in Red Deer stood at 2.7% compared to 0.5% a year earlier. The provincial average was 1.6%. The market has eased up due to more multi-family units being available and a reduction in the rate at which people are moving into the city. The average rent in October increased from $682 a year ago to $786. A 2-bedroom unit was averaging $845 from $732. The vacancy rate is expected to be around 3% in 2008 with only small increases in rent.
Lacombe County Passes $46.5 Million Budget
Lacombe County has adopted its 2008 budget that includes $41.4 million for operating, up from $31 million last year, and $5.1 million for capital projects, down from $5.9 million last year. Income includes an additional $7 million in grants from the provincial government. Operating expenses include $10 for paving and rebuilding roads and a contribution to Red Deer College. $2 million was put into reserves toward a $4 million expansion of the county administrative offices. Average property assessments were up 15% but the tax mill rate was reduced by about 8%.

December 13, 2007
Westerner Posts Surplus, No Debt
At its annual general meeting, the Westerner Exposition Association announced a $3.26 million surplus at the end of October which included a $1.5 million donation by Jack and Joan Donald for construction of a new administration building to replace two double wide trailers. It was also announced that the Westerner is debt free. Westerner Park's development fund now stands at $7.56 million. A multi-million dollar growth strategy will be announced in the new year. It's estimated that Westerner Park generates $137.6 million annually in economic activity.

December 12, 2007
Sylvan Lake Passes $44 Million Budget
Sylvan Lake town council passed its budget for 2008 that includes $22.1 million for operating expenses and $22.1 million for capital expenditures. Included in the operating budget is 2 more RCMP police officers to bring the total up to 13. Capital items include a new RCMP building, design costs for a new administration building, various road and infrastructure projects and park improvements.
Sylvan Lake Residents Fight to Preserve Former Rail Lands
A green strip that was once part of the Alberta Central Railway run by Canadian Pacific through the town of Sylvan Lake should be preserved for recreation and a wildlife corridor according to a group of residents who have launched a petition to prevent a police station from being built there. The town is considering using a portion of the land for a new $6.6 million RCMP building. The fear is that any development on the land will encourage further development. The town prefers the site as it is town-owned and close to major roads both within and outside the town, the downtown and the beachfront. Another site is also being considered but if the preferred site is chosen, the town would maintain the trail system and natural areas.
Fundraising Begins to Renew City Memorial Centre Theatre
Central Alberta Theatre is starting to fundraise for $500,000 worth of renovations and new seating for the 60-year-old Memorial Centre 750-seat theatre northeast of downtown Red Deer. Renovations would include 60 new theatre lights, a second set of doors to the lobby and a renewal of the floor. Central Alberta Theatre (CAT), which is in the midst of a 25-year lease of the city-owned facility, is well known for dinner theatre productions at the Black Knight Inn and musical theatre at the Memorial Centre.

December 11, 2007
City Council Approves $1.3 Billion 10-Year Capital Budget
Red Deer city council has approved a ten-year $1.3 billion capital budget that includes $248 million for 2008, 48% of which is expected to be funded by grants from the provincial and federal governments. Rapid population growth and aging infrastructure are making several projects necessary. Part of the budget will go toward multi-year projects already under way including the relocation of the civic yards and the construction of a new police station as part of the expansion of the north Red Deer fire hall. Six new projects worth $176 million will be initiated in 2008 including $99.3 million for the north highway connector project, $28.3 million for a new downtown police station, $27.9 million for the G.H. Dawe community recreation centre revitalization project, $12.4 million for a downtown parkade over the transit terminal (construction to be completed in 2010), $3.9 million for improvements to the Gaetz Ave./32 St. intersection and $2.9 million for the revitalization of the Golden Circle seniors centre. About $3 million per year will be put toward expansion and improvements to Waskasoo Park. The city hall expansion project has been postponed to 2010 for the start of construction once the RCMP station is relocated. The new Northland Drive road and bridge over the Red Deer River is scheduled for completion in 2011.
City Housing Starts Shift to Multi-Family
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports that 97 multi-family housing units were started in Red Deer last month compared to none in October and 38 in November 2006. However, 55 single family units were started in November compared to 61 in the previous month and 81 in November 2006. With one month remaining in 2007, total construction starts are up to 1,510, already well above the total for all of 2006 when 1,429 residential units were commenced. The 11-month total includes 928 single family units and 582 multi-family units compared to 985 single family units and 326 multi-family units during the same period last year.
Housing Sales Down, City Prices Up Slightly
Red Deer and District Real Estate Board Co-op is reporting that the average sale price of homes in Red Deer was up slightly in November from $339,000 the month earlier to $345,000. The average price in November 2006 was $312,000. In the rural areas around the city the average price was down at $270,000 compared to $273,000 in October but up compared to $244,000 in November 2006. The number of sales in the city was down from 152 in October to 121 in November. A year earlier the number of sales was 191. Rural sales stood at 164, up slightly from October and down slightly from a year earlier.

December 10, 2007
Highway 2 on Road to 6 Lane Freeway
The QE2 highway between Calgary and Edmonton is gradually being upgraded to freeway status where there would be no at-grade intersections and expanded to six lanes. Plans have been developed that would accomplish the task in a series of projects over the next 15 to 20 years. Rural areas along the highway typically see 20,000-25,000 vehicles per day. Along Red Deer near 32 St., a typical day sees 37,000 vehicles per day. Busier sections near the two largest cities see 50,000 per day. The need for six lanes develops when traffic counts get to 30,000 to 35,000 vehicles per day. Safety plays the largest role in determining when expansion takes place. Funding and construction capacity also play a role. A simple diamond interchange can cost around $30 million. Adding the extra lanes will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Eventually, the freeway standard will extend south to Fort McLeod. Originally the highway developed from a trail that was paved in the early 1900's and relocated to its present route in the 1960's when it became a four-lane divided highway.
Canadian Idol Runner-up Bixby Overwhelms Local Fans
Canadian Idol runner-up 17-year-old Jaydee Bixby was the star of the first of four sold out local performances at the Red Deer Memorial Centre for the top three finalists on their Canadian tour. Winner Brian Melo and third place Carly Rae Jepson were also crowd pleasers. Bixby, a Drumheller native who moved to Red Deer and attended Hunting Hills High School, sang songs of Chuck Berry, Guess Who and Elvis Presley.

December 8, 2007
Red Deer Gets Provincial Funds for Affordable Housing
One hundred affordable housing units will be opened up in Red Deer and 50 families will receive rental supplements as a result of $5.2 million being received from Alberta Municipal Affairs and Housing. The money will be funnelled through the Community Advisory Group which includes municipal, aboriginal and other community representatives. The group will review housing proposals and forward them to city council for approval.
Gasoline Alley Conference Centre to Start in May
Construction is expected to start in May for a new full service Holiday Inn on the east side of Gasoline Alley on Highway QE2 at a 2.64 acre lot next to Harley Davidson. The $13 to $14 million hotel will have 114 units, banquet facilities for 500, a restaurant, a lounge, meeting rooms and a water park.

December 7, 2007
Confluence High School Suggested for Ponoka
The Wolf Creek School Division is suggesting a confluence high school similar to one in Rocky Mountain House could be the solution for the aging Ponoka Composite High School. The Rocky Mountain House campus is a partnership between the Wild Rose School Division, Red Deer Catholic School Division and Red Deer College. Renovations for the Ponoka school would cost around $14 million. The school division is also conducting a demographic study in the rapidly growing town of Blackfalds to determine future educational needs.

December 6, 2007
Two More Wind Farms Proposed
A 150-megawatt wind farm is being planned by Greengate Power for 20,000 acres about 5 kilometres east of Lacombe along with a similar project a few kilometres north in Ponoka County. Each $300-million project would ultimately have about 75 wind towers although the project may proceed with smaller wind farms. Another $200 million, 100 megawatt, 50 wind tower project 16 km. east of the Red Deer Regional Airport was announced earlier. A separate project near Trochu has also been proposed.
Olds Learning Centre Will Have Major Economic Impact
The $60 million Olds Community Learning Campus, once completed, is expected to have a $9.3 million annual economic impact on Central Alberta, amounting to $286 million over the next 30 years. The first phase, the Bell E-Learning technology Centre, with two video conferencing rooms and seven classrooms, is set to open. The fine arts and media centre is expected to be completed in the fall of 2008. The foundation is in place for the grade 9-12 high school and wellness centre and is expected to be finished in the fall of 2009.

December 5, 2007
Immigrants Make Up 9.4% of Red Deer's Population
The latest census results from Statistics Canada indicate that the percentage of people not born in Canada living in Red Deer has increased in the past five years from 8.6% to 9.4%. Although most local immigrants come from United Kingdom, United States, Philippines, Netherlands and Colombia, people have arrived in the city from many parts of the world including Africa, the Middle East and the Orient.
Tourism Canal Proposal Seeks Public Support
The tourism committee of the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce are kicking off a public awareness campaign for a proposed 'Riverwalk' canal project west of the downtown in the future Riverlands area that currently includes Cronquist Business Park, the Carnival Theatre and the city civic yards that will soon be relocated. Water would be pulled from the Red Deer River, circulated through canals, cleaned and released back into the river or into Waskasoo Creek. The concrete-built canals would feature boats in the summer and skating and other activities in the winter. Proponents envision restaurants, hotels and shops along the canals with water fountains, waterfalls and walking paths connecting to the Waskasoo Park system. The first step is to gauge the level of public support for the project. The next step is asking the city to request provincial funding for completing an engineering and feasibility study.
Historic Building Demolished to Make Way for New
The Foster Block at the corner of Gaetz Ave. & 52 St. in downtown Red Deer, built in 1948-49, was demolished yesterday to make way for a three-storey, 31-suite, environmentally-friendly residential and commercial building. Construction should start in May and be completed a year later. The former building once housed CKRD radio on the second floor and a Bank of Nova Scotia and a grocery store on the ground floor.
Customs and Funding Being Pursued by Airport
The Red Deer Regional Airport Authority is expecting to complete its business plan supporting a customs office to be presented to the Canadian Border Services Agency, according to a report presented to Red Deer County yesterday. A customs office would allow for the introduction of sun charters to warm international destinations. Efforts also continue to line up a $2.2 million government grant to replace runway lighting which should be approved in the new year. The authority is also working to get government funding for extending the main runway. Efforts are also being made to attract scheduled service to Kelowna.
Next City Annexation Draws Public Interest
A public open house attracted about 140 people Tuesday to present Red Deer's plan to annex 3,960 acres to the north and east of the current city boundaries as well as the Riverview subdivision and Heritage Ranch including the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. It's the first stage of a plan to annex 50,000 acres over the next 10 years in accordance with an agreement with Red Deer County. The city hopes to present the proposal to the Municipal Government Board in February with approval expected later in the year.

December 4, 2007
City Building Permits Down in November, Up Year to Date
Residential building permits declined in November to $7.9 million compared to $17 million for the same month last year. The city issued a total of 175 permits in all categories valued at $12.2 million compared to 289 permits in November 2006 valued at $28.9 million. However, for the first 11 months of the year, permits valued at $415 million have been issued compared to $245 for the same period last year. Major projects started this year have included the Beca downtown office tower, a seniors complex in Inglewood, Red Deer College expansion, public works relocation, the RCMP addition in north Red Deer, the new Sears store at Bower mall and the north community health centre.
Michener Supportive Housing Project Revised
Due to increased construction costs, Red Deer municipal planning commission has accepted some revisions to the proposed $62 million Michener Hill Village assisted/supportive living complex. In July, the commission had approved the site plan for the three-storey building. Changes have been made to the drop-off area, windows and siding. The complex will be built and managed by Extendicare with the David Thompson Health Region contracting for its use. It will contain 220 continuing care beds and 60 assisted living beds in 221,000 sq. ft. of building space. Other developments are proposed nearby.

Top of page

Directories:
- Business
- Community