|
|
News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and
summaries of news reports from local media
(primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express).
September 2008 Part 2
Sept. 30, 2008
Norglenwold Proceeds with Wastewater System
The Summer Village of Norglenwold on Sylvan Lake is set to begin a $2.4
million wastewater system that is hoped to be a key stage of a regional
sewer system for all five summer villages around the lake. The project
involves replacing the need for septic fields by building a wastewater
collection system hooked up to the Town of Sylvan Lake's system that has
additional treatment capacity. Jarvis Bay was the first summer village
to hook into the town's system. The Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural
Infrastructure Fund contributed $1.6 million to the project.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Eventually, it is expected that the system will become part of a much
larger regional system that could hook up to the Red Deer treatment
facility.
Rimbey Residential and Commercial Project Proceeds
Construction of a 30-acre subdivision in Rimbey, called Rimstone Ridge,
is under way. The development located south of Rimbey Hospital and Care
Centre will have 40 residential lots and nearly 8 acres of commercial
lots that could include a 60-unit Best Western hotel with a waterslide
and swimming pool.
Sept. 29, 2008
Sweat Lodge Rebuilt at Fort Normandeau
A community sweat lodge funded and maintained by Central Alberta's Safe
Harbour Society for Health and Housing has been rebuilt by volunteers at
Fort Normandeau to help people seek spiritual connection. Branches of
willow, a healing tree, were laced together to create the circular six-metre-wide
and two-metre-high frame. About 40 colourful blankets and quilts, spread
over the willows create the cocoon-like structure. A tarp protects it
from the elements. A buffalo skull has a special place in the lodge
symbolizing the animal that was once the source of life for aboriginal
people on the Canadian plains. Everyone is welcome to participate in a
sweat as a means to share and understand aboriginal culture and
spiritual beliefs. Fort Normandeau is a good location as it is a
historic site representing the original townsite of Red Deer, the
crossing of the river on the Calgary-Edmonton Trail and a place where
cultures come together. It is also a site for healing as there was once
a residential school for aboriginal children across the river.
SPCA Fundraising Gets a Boost
The Red Deer and District SPCA's Building Pawsitive Futures capital
fundraising campaign has been given a boost by a $150,000 donation by DJ
Will Holdings. Construction on the Humane Education and Animal Welfare
Centre will start next month, with the 12,300 sq. ft. building set to
open next fall. The SPCA has raised between $2.8 to $2.9 million,
including government funding, of the $3.7 million needed.
Sept. 27, 2008
South Red Deer Commercial Centre Progressing
The Brick opened its new 38,000 sq. ft. furniture and appliance store
last week in a commercial centre at the corner of Taylor Drive and 22
Street in south Red Deer next to Sobeys. The 14,500 sq. ft. Golf Town is
expected to open next to the Brick in late November. Also expected to
open in November is the Urban Barn, Hakim Optical, Little Caesars Pizza
and a dentist.
Cargo Airship Hub Promoted for Ponoka
A vision to make Ponoka the hub for a commercial airship service is
gaining support among companies in the oilfield industry. Proposed
airships could carry 200 tonnes of cargo from manufacuring centres to
the Alberta oilsands and other northern destinations. There is also some
potential for carrying passengers from oilsands worksites. Proponents of
the concept believe that the Ponoka airport is ideally located to take
advantage of such a service. There are good highway connections in each
direction without interfering with air traffic between Calgary and
Edmonton. For cargo coming from the west coast, Ponoka is well situated
should airships use the Howse Pass.
Sept. 26, 2008
Lacombe County Provides Funds for River Trail Bridge
Lacombe County will contribute $50,000 towards a new Trans Canada Trail
pedestrian bridge over the Blindman River that separates Red Deer County
from Lacombe County. Alberta TrailNet and Trans Canada Trails will
contribute $200,000. Construction of the two-and-a-half metre wide
bridge is expected to be started in late 2009. Once completed, the
county will own and maintain it. The trail between the bridge north to
Lacombe is expected to be completed within the next two to three years.
Two Towns Withdraw From Plasco Project
The towns of Lacombe and Eckville have withdrawn from the Central Waste
Management Commission who are working toward the building of the Plasco
Energy $100 million garbage gasification plant to be located east of
Penhold. Lacombe has some concerns about the financial risk of being
tied to a 20-year contract. Lacombe County and Alix had pulled out
earlier. All four of the municipalities are members of the Lacombe
Regional Solid Waste Authority which oversees the collection of Lacombe
area garbage and its transfer to a disposal site near Ferintosh,
northwest of Stettler. Most of the municipalities within Red Deer County
as well as the town of Blackfalds have remained with the commission
promoting the Plasco facility.
Gull Lake 'Green' RV Condo Resort Clears Hurdle
Lacombe County approved yesterday the rezoning of a parcel of land on
the shore of Gull Lake from agricultural and recreation district to a
recreation vehicle resort district. However approval from Alberta
Environment for a wastewater treatment system has yet to be obtained. In
the interim, the county agreed to allow developers for DeGraff's RV
Resort to open 100 condo lots in addition to the current 112 campground
rental lots on the site that will eventually be phased out. About 400
condo lots are planned, phased in over a number of years. The project is
being built as an environmentally friendly resort with geothermal
heating with natural vegetation being maintained.
Sylvan Lake Commercial Project Officially Opens
Ryders Square in south Sylvan Lake had its official opening yesterday
with outlets including Sobeys, Shoppers Drug Mart, Royal Bank,
Blockbuster Video, Booster Juice, M & M Meat Shops, Eye Emporium,
Pathways Animal Clinic, Rayz Tanning Studio and a Vietnamese restaurant.
Alberta Treasury Branch, Taco Time, a hair salon and a Chinese
restaurant are also committed to opening soon. The commercial centre is
almost full with only 5,000 sq. ft. still available.
Sept. 25, 2008
Lacombe Green Neighbourhood to Attract Young Families
The town of Lacombe has revealed an ambitious new subdivision, called
Legacy Pointe, designed to attract young families to the community. The
300-acre neighbourhood features houses with large backyards, tree-lined
sidewalks and boulevards, an extensive trail system, parks accessed by
each property and commercial centres located within a 10-minute walk of
every house. Of the 91 lots in the first phase, 49 have been allocated
for first-time home buyers and will be sold for 20 to 28 percent less
than a market-value lot in the town. The subdivision is designed to be
an alternative to vehicle-oriented, suburbanized development. An open
house and registration meeting is planned for Oct. 22 with lot draws
held Nov. 18 and 19.
Approval for Innisfail Area Biofuel Plant Appears Near
Contractors are lined up to begin construction next spring on a $400
million Alberta Ethanol and Biodiesel bioenergy project planned for a
site in Red Deer County north of Innisfail. Provincial regulatory
hurdles appear close to being cleared. The first phase consisting of a
canola crush facility and an ethanol plant will take two years to
complete. Subsequent phases will double the canola crushing and ethanol
capacity and add a biodiesel plant. Once completed, the facility will
effectively consist of six plants. A draft permit has been issued by
Alberta Environment and the Energy Resources Conservation Board has
issued a recommendation to government to approve the project. Municipal
requirements have already been met.
Tourism Red Hat Awards Announced
The annual Red Hat awards, sponsored by Tourism Red Deer, were handed
out yesterday. The awards celebrate customer service and community
involvement in the tourism industry. Volunteer of the year is Sunnybrook
Farm Museum president George Braithwaite. Business of the year is
Glenn's Family Restaurant in Gasoline Alley south of the city.
Organization of the year is the Red Deer City Soccer Association.
Several other awards were handed out to individuals.
Sept. 24, 2008
City Plans Timberlands Lot Draw
Later in the fall, the city of Red Deer is holding a public draw for 150
residential lots in the Timberlands subdivision near 30 Avenue and 67
Street in the northeast corner of the city. The lots will be selling in
the range between $118,000 and $246,000.
Sept. 23, 2008
Four Parties Field Local Candidates in Federal Election
The Red Deer riding will field four candidates representing four parties
in the upcoming federal election on October 14. First time candidate
Earl Dreeshen, 55, farmer and retired high school teacher, of the Pine
Lake area, is running for the Conservative Party of Canada. The Liberal
candidate is Garfield Marks, 50, a field supervisor, of Red Deer. The
New Democratic Party (NDP) is fielding Stuart Somerville, 22, farmer and
teacher, of the Elnora area. The Green Party is represented by Evan
Bedford, 49, an engineering co-ordinator, of Red Deer. The previous
federal representative for the riding was retired Bob Mills of the
Conservative Party.
Work Starts on SouthBrook Subdivision
In spite of a slower market in real estate in Red Deer, there is still
interest in the development of SouthBrook, a new residential subdivision
in the south part of the city. Surface work has already started and
builders should be able to start construction of homes next month. Total
buildout will include 315 single family units, 40 semi-detached units
and 180 multi-family units on about 89 acres. Most of the project is on
the east side of Piper Creek but 29 single family units will be built on
the west side adjacent to the Bower subdivision. The Sunnybrook South
Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan contemplates about 30 acres of
commercial development on the south side of the quarter section along 19
Avenue (Delburne Road).
Sept. 22, 2008
Francophone School Still Waiting for New Building
The Greater North Central Francophone School Division has been waiting
for government funding to build a new school to replace Ecole la
Prairie, a kindergarten to Grade 10 school with 143 students located at
the former Piper Creek Elementary School, since 1998. It was supposed to
be a temporary location and the francophone division has been waiting
since 2004 to build a new school, estimated at that time to cost $4.5
million. Parts of the current facility are 57 years old, the gymnasium
is small and the building lacks adequate space for many programs. The
school also wants to expand to include Grades 11 and 12. As a Plan B,
the division is investigating the possibility of acquiring River Glen
School from Chinook's Edge School Division that has already been
verbally committed to the Red Deer School Division for its Gateway
Christian School when a new school to replace River Glen is funded. The
francophone school division serves an area that includes Red Deer,
Innisfail, Sylvan Lake and Ponoka.
Sept. 20, 2008
Lacombe County Pulls Support for Plasco
Even though Lacombe County has decided to pull out of the 15-member
Central Alberta Regional Waste Management Commission that is planning to
build the Plasco gasification plant that will turn garbage into
electricity, the project will go ahead but scaled down to a
200-tonne-a-day facility. Plasco Energy is set to build the $100 million
plant in Red Deer County east of Penhold as early as next spring with
completion in 2010. The county was not concerned about the technology
but rather the fact that the cost of participating is much higher than
their current long term arrangement to get rid of garbage. There are
also some legal concerns if the project should fail as well as
transportation costs. Most of the other participants in the project are
expected to proceed.
City Downtown 'Green' Residential
Building to Proceed
Swerve Living, a proposed environmentally friendly downtown Red Deer
housing and commercial building, will proceed with some adjustments.
Originally, the developer planned to use more solar and geothermal
energy to make the building carbon-neutral but the building's relatively
small size makes that difficult. However, it is expected that other
'green' technology will create the same efficiency and allow the project
to retain its energy. The estimated $9 million, 6-storey, 40-unit
building will have a central courtyard to encourage interactivity among
its residents. A unique piece of art for the exterior will highlight the
unique building. Commercial spaces will be located on the ground level.
Construction is expected to start this fall or next spring at the corner
of Gaetz Avenue and 52 St.
Red Deer Chamber Reports 18% Growth Rate in 2007
At its Annual General Meeting yesterday, the Red Deer Chamber of
Commerce announced that it had 921 members with a retention rate of 88%
and a growth rate of 18% in 2007. Outgoing president Mitch Thompson
welcomed the new president Mike Axworthy as well as the new board of
directors and gave a report on the past year's achievements including
lobbying the provincial government for a rapid rail system between
Calgary and Edmonton including a stop in Red Deer. Goals for the coming
year include the support of economic development at the Red Deer
Regional Airport and Red Deer College as well as the celebration of Agri-Trade's
25th anniversary.
Sept. 19, 2008
Power Line Corridor Recommendation This Fall
The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is reviewing a large number
of public comments from a series of 30 open houses held over the summer
regarding a proposed power line between Calgary and Edmonton. The open
houses attracted about 1,150 people, half of whom provided written
surveys. Four corridors were presented for comment: west of Highway 2
between Genesee and Langdon, along and crossing Highway 2 at Penhold
between Devon and Langdon, just east of Highway 2 between Ellerslie and
Langdon, and farther east of Highway 2 between Heartland and Langdon.
New towers and lines are needed to meet current rising demands. The
agency will recommend a concept plan this fall and have the transmission
facility owner (ATCO Electric or AltaLink or both) to find a possible
route within the chosen area. Construction is expected to start in 2010
or 2011, with completion in 2012. A previous proposal was rejected in
2007 as a result of abnormalities in the public process.
Two Stores to Take Former Sears Mall Space
The empty space at Parkland Mall in north Red Deer left when Sears
relocated to Bower Mall in south Red Deer is being filled by two fashion
retailers, Urban Planet and Labels. Both stores are opening their first
city locations and are close to 44,000 sq. ft. each. It is expected that
both stores will be open before Christmas. For Canadian-based Urban
Planet, this will be its ninth Alberta store but the largest in Canada.
For Labels, it will be its second Alberta location.
Sept. 18, 2008
City Housing Starts Remain Relatively Slow
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports that Red Deer's housing starts
continue to drop significantly from last year as builders contend with
high inventories of new homes, a competitive resale market and land
constraints. Total housing starts in August numbered 21 as opposed to 80
for the same month in 2007. From January to August, single family home
starts totalled 226, compared to 756 during the same time last year.
Multiple family starts dropped to 166 during the first eight months of
this year compared to 319 last year for the same period. However, 2007
was a record year for housing starts in Red Deer and the trend to fewer
starts is similar across the province. A modest rebound of a 6% increase
in starts is expected in 2009 partly due to four more quarter sections
of land becoming available for development.
Trochu Opens Outdoor Fitness Park
Fitness Outdoors, located at Trochu's outdoor spray park, has 12 pieces
of outdoor, weatherproof exercise equipment for public use designed to
be used year-round. It's the only one of its kind in Central Alberta.
The park is a collaboration between David Thompson Health Region's
Healthy Weights Initiative and Healthy Communities Program, the town of
Trochu, local businesses and individuals. The facility is expected to be
used by students for their daily physical activity requirement, local
hockey players for dry land training, and anyone else who wants to break
a sweat and build muscle.
Top of page
|
