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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).
October 2008 Part 2
Oct. 31, 2008
Recreation Needs Report Recommends Ski Hill Partnership
One of the recommendations of a needs assessment report prepared by the
city Recreation, Parks and Culture department suggests that the city
should immediately pursue a partnership with the Canyon Ski Hill Area as
part of an overall strategy to strengthen community facilities that have
fallen behind the pace of growth. The privately-owned facility has been
for sale and there is community concern that the important recreation
resource could be lost. Talks have been conducted with Red Deer County
for a possible partnership but no formal proposal has been made. Other
recommendations in the report include ongoing development of parks and
open spaces along the river and linking communities, upgrading of
existing facilities, new indoor sports and recreation facilities and
further investment in cultural facilities including a new performing
arts centre and replacement of the existing museum and archives.
Rochon Sands Pursues Annexation
The Summer Village of Rochon Sands on Buffalo Lake is pursuing its plan
to annex 451 acres of land from Stettler County, enough to accommodate
20 years of development. About 139 acres is already developed. A recent
public meeting showed support for the proposal although Stettler County
has indicated that it only supports a smaller growth area for the summer
village and is reluctant to pay the legal and consulting bills for the
proposal. The report is expected to be submitted to the provincial
Municipal Government Board by the end of the year.
Bower Mall Renovations Receive International Praise
New York-based International Council of Shopping Centres has named Red
Deer's Bower Place Shopping Centre a Maple Leaf Golf Award winner for
its $45 million renovation project for its celebration of visual arts
and regional themes of history and culture. The renovations also
attracted the attention of 'Award' magazine, which focuses on
sustainable architecture, construction and interior design. The
publication described how the mall was "transformed from an
ordinary shopping centre into an upscale community gathering place that
showcases both western heritage and the arts." The five-year renovation
project involved extensive cosmetic changes, the relocation of about 50
stores and the food court, and the creation of new corridors, entrances
and a centre court.
Oct. 29, 2008
Drilling Activity Expected to be Lower in 2009
Financial market uncertainty, tight credit, volatile commodity prices
and high operating costs are among the signals that oil and gas drilling
activity will be significantly lower next year according to the
president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers at the
Synergy Alberta Conference in Red Deer yesterday. He also mentioned that
the energy sector directly and indirectly employs 500,000 people in
Canada. It also contributes $24 billion a year to government coffers
through royalties and taxes. On Monday, the Canadian Association of
Oilwell Drilling Contractors predicted that drilling activity in Canada
will drop to 14,325 wells next year, a 25% decline from 2006.
Three New Radio Stations Approved
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission has
approved two mainstream and one specialty radio stations for the Red
Deer area. One will transmit adult contemporary and classic music aimed
at listeners 25 to 54. Another will transmit hit music and top 40 aimed
at listeners 18 to 49. The third will transmit gospel adult contemporary
programming. Five other applications were denied.
Oct. 28, 2008
Tourism Focus of Multi-Use Nordegg Trail
Armstrong Consulting has been hired by Clearwater County to determine a
trail route between Rocky Mountain House and Nordegg as well as to look
at how various users can share the trail safely and funding sources. It
is expected that most of the trail will run along the abandoned rail
line that was built in 1914 by the Canadian Northern Western Railway to
haul coal from the mines until they closed in 1955. However some
portions of the line are now private property so routing may have to be
adjusted. The vision for the trail is that it will become the spine
linking a variety of existing and new hiking trails and attracting
tourists to the area. It is also hoped that motorized vehicles such as
quads, ATVs and snowmobiles can share the trail with hikers, bicyclists,
horse-riders and cross-country skiers. A steering committee has been
created that includes representatives from the county, Alberta TrailNet,
Alberta Parks and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.
More on the history of the Canadian Northern Western Railway.
Properties Eyed for Ronald McDonald House in City
Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta has made conditional offers to
purchase three properties near the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre to
build an estimated $7 million Ronald McDonald House as a place for
out-of-town families to stay while their children receive medical
treatment. According to a feasibility study done last year, a 9- to
12-room facility is required but it could be bigger since David Thompson
Health Region reported more out-of-town children were using the hospital
this year. The Red Deer house will primarily be used when there are
critically ill babies and high risk pregnancies. Prior to design work,
the organization needs rezoning of the properties from the city. It will
then take about a year and a half to design and build the facility.
Youth Detox Centre to Move to Michener Centre
The Red Deer municipal planning commission has approved the temporary
operation of a youth detox centre in a larger former residence at
Michener Centre. A three-bed program for drug-addicted youth has been
operating in a residential area not authorized to run such programs so
the centre had to move. It is expected to eventually relocate again to a
proposed social care facility in the new Timberstone Park subdivision.
Red Deer County Constructing Third Waste Transfer Station
Site work is underway for a $1.3 million enclosed waste transfer station
on six acres north of Spruce View for the west part of Red Deer County.
The project is expected to be completed by next summer and replace the
existing Kevisville facility. It is the third facility constructed by
the county in three years. The $5 million Horn Hill transfer station
opened in late 2006 for the central part of the county and this year the
Gaetz Creek facility opened for the east side of the county. The garbage
is currently being trucked from the transfer sites to Camrose but will
eventually go to a proposed gasification plant at Horn Hill.
Oct. 27, 2008
New 'Green' Fabrication Plant First of Its Kind in Canada
McLevin Industries is planning a move to a $7.5 million 34,000 sq. ft.
fabrication and welding plant on a 15-acre site in Lacombe County near
Blackfalds in a new industrial area southeast of the interchange of
Highway 2 and Aspelund Road. It will be the first of its kind in Canada
to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
The number of employees is expected to increase to 50 from the current
20. Construction could begin in the spring and take about a year to
complete. The new plant will replace a 7,000 sq. ft. facility located in
north Red Deer for the past 44 years. Prior to that, the family began
with a blacksmith shop downtown in 1917.
Oct. 25, 2008
Red Deer Co-op Named Business of the Year
The Red Deer Chamber of Commerce has named the Red Deer Co-op Ltd. as
Business of the Year at the 27th Annual Business Awards. Red Deer Co-op
has grown from a one-stop shop to encompass three food stores, a home
and garden centre, three gas bars and three liquour stores. The business
has gone from a staff of 8 to employ more than 400 people. Medium
Business of the Year went to True-Line Contracting Ltd. and Small
Business of the Year went to Gorts Truckwash.
Second Riverlands Building to be Recycled
The Red Deer municipal planning commission has approved the renovation
and expansion of the Catons building in the Cronquist Business Park, now
referred to Riverlands west of the downtown. Built in 1962, the 4,750
sq. ft. building became vacant with the move of Catons to Lacombe. CAPP
Investments plans to gut the building and rebuild it while preserving
its foundation and steel superstructure. It will also expand the
building by 1,740 sq. ft. Work is expected to start soon with occupancy
scheduled for next spring. The company previously stripped the Western
Collision Repairs building to its skeleton and rebuilt it into the
Westview Business Centre.
Clive Gets Funding for Walking Trail
The village of Clive east of Lacombe has received funding to build a 1.2
km paved walking trail next year. A play area is also planned along with
plaques, murals, flower beds and a memorial cairn to highlight the
area's legacy. Funding has been provided by the Alberta Community
Initiatives Program, the village of Clive, Lacombe County and local cash
donations.
Oct. 24, 2008
Historic Concrete Railway Pier Marked with Sign
A lonely, seemingly out-of-place concrete pier alongside Taylor Drive
south of downtown Red Deer and west of the Capri Centre has finally been
commemorated by a sign. The pier is the only city remnant of the Alberta
Central Railway, formed at the beginning of the last century by a group
of Red Deer and Ontario businessman, that was envisioned to become a
major Western Canada rail network extending across the Rockies to the
west and to Hudson Bay and Moose Jaw to the east. In 1910, Prime
Minister Wilfred Laurier, railways minister George Graham and former Red
Deer MLA and entrepreneur John T. Moore were on hand to drive the first
spike at a site near the pier. A small yard and station were built
further east of the pier and the line extended west to Rocky Mountain
House. Due to financial difficulties, the line was leased to the
Canadian Pacific Railway which completed sections of the line not
finished and operated the railroad until 1981. The ACR crossed the CPR
and Waskasoo Creek at the site of the pier. The bridge as well as a
wooden trestle across Kin Kanyon, the Mountview area rail yard and
station were dismantled by 1917. Farther west, a long steel trestle
crosses the Red Deer River. Canadian Pacific purchased outright the
assets of the Alberta Central Railway in 1957.
More on the history of the Alberta Central Railway.
New Community Agricultural Centre Planned for Ponoka
A $8.5 million Ag-Event Centre is being planned for the south side of
town by the town of Ponoka, Ponoka County, the Ponoka Agricultural
Society and the Ponoka Stampede Association. Initially a project of the
Stampede Association, it has evolved to a community multi-use facility
that will handle trade shows, vehicle and farm equipment exhibitions,
youth activities and form part of a high school rodeo/equine academy. As
part of the complex, two livestock barns will also be built.
Construction is expected to start in the spring.
Decision on Lacombe County Urban Corridor Delayed
Lacombe County is delaying a decision on the controversial proposed
Highway 2A Urban Corridor Area Structure Plan until the end of the year.
Issues that have raised the most concerns include the 50-year time
frame, the protection of Lacombe Lake, annexation forecasts for the
towns of Lacombe and Blackfalds, and housing density.
Provincial Historic Status Denied for City School
The Red Deer Public School District is questioning the Alberta Culture
and Community Spirit decision to deny provincial historic resource
status for the North Cottage School built in 1911. The school was fully
restored in 1989 and continues to operate as a public school. The
restoration included reconstruction of a porch to match the style of the
original.
Red Deer County Delays Lousana Beautification Plan
Several residents of the hamlet of Lousana on the east side of Red Deer
County have expressed concerns about the proposed Lousana Area
Development Plan and Beautification Strategies. County councillors
agreed recently to delay second and third reading until hamlet residents
provide more input. Residents have expressed that paving, a skating
rink, a playground and zoning are more important than planting more
trees, landscaping, new signs and park furniture as recommended in the
plan. The hamlet of 50 residents was founded in 1912 with the arrival of
the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (now Canadian National).
Oct. 23, 2008
New Business Park East of Olds Gets Started
Groundwork has begun on the 143-acre Netook Crossing Business Park, the
first phase of a 4,000-acre development east of Olds southwest of the
Highway 2 and Highway 27 interchange that will include industrial,
commercial, residential and green space components. The current project
falls within the Netook Crossing area structure plan, extending from
Olds to 1.6 km east of Highway 2 and 3.2 km on either side of Highway
27, recently approved by Mountain View County. About half of the 30
light industrial and highway commercial lots, ranging in size from 2.5
to 5 acres, in the business park have been sold and are expected to be
available for development by spring. The name 'netook' is derived from
the Blackfoot term for 'lone pine tree', referring to a landmark tree
that once stood in the area and inspired several names in the area
including the Lone Pine Stopping House on the old Calgary and Edmonton
Trail.
City Public School Enrolment a Record
The official count of students this year in the Red Deer Public School
District has set a record. There are 9,902 students attending this year
compared to 9,785 last year, an increase of 117. The most dramatic
increases were at Fairview Elementary School and G.W. Smith Elementary
School, both on the east-central part of the city.
Oct. 22, 2008
Red Deer Recreation Plan Sets Staging of Priorities
The Community Assets Needs Assessment, a new report on Red Deer's
current and future state of parks, recreation and cultural facilities,
sets priorities for various time frames over the next 25 years. Near
future needs include a new ice arena in the north part of the city,
expansion of the Collicutt Centre recreation complex in the southeast,
and renovations to the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery as well as the
Red Deer and District Archives. In the short to medium term, the report
suggests that Great Chief Park be renovated and that a performing arts
and cultural centre be created. The report goes to city council in
November.
Developer Assures Preservation of Native Cemetery History
Red Deer County council has delayed second reading of a bylaw to rezone
a parcel of land from agricultural to country residential two kilometres
west of the city until traffic and heritage concerns have been
addressed. The proposed 55-lot subdivision is on a portion of a 48 acre
parcel that once had a sombre past. From 1893 until 1919, it was the
site of the Red Deer Indian Industrial School and a cemetery where
dozens of children were buried. Run by the Methodist Church, it was
considered one of the unhealthiest of the string of industrial schools
established by the government to educate native children. It is
estimated that about 45 students died before the school was closed and
many of them were buried in an unregistered cemetery on the grounds.
Both the developer and the Central Alberta Historical Society want to
give the site proper recognition. An archeologist is examining the site
and will determine how much of the area should be included in an
environmental reserve.
Oct. 21, 2008
CollegeSide Supportive Living Centre Approved
The Red Deer municipal planning commission has approved the construction
of a 103-unit, 3-storey, $17 million supportive living facility at Red
Deer College. It will be built by Bethany Care Society and connect with
the existing Bethany CollegeSide long term care centre. Construction is
expected to begin before the end of the year and the first 52 units
could be available for occupancy by December 2009 or January 2010. The
facility will consist of one and two bedroom units, a library, a dining
room, a common living room and a fitness room. It will also include 36
affordable living studio suites for seniors. The long term care centre
opened in May 2004 but the supportive living component was postponed
until sufficient funds could be raised. Bethany's partnership with the
college and the David Thompson Health Region has encouraged
inter-generational mixing with college students using the centre's
classroom space and seniors using college facilities.
Cultural Scott Block Purchase Deal Finalized
Nonprofit group Culture Link has finalized the sale of the Scott Block
arts and culture centre in downtown Red Deer. The new owner, Artifact
Properties, will continue to use at least 7,000 sq. ft. of the building
for arts and culture use as part of the condition for the sale by the
city. The building, built in the late 1940's, was purchased by Culture
Link in 2005 with the intent of making it a centre for artists and
performers. A grant from the city required that the space be used for
cultural and arts activities for 10 years.
Oct. 17, 2008
Proposed Innisfail Biofuels Plant Gets ERCB Approval
The Alberta Energy Resources and Conservation Board has given its
approval to the proposed $400 million Alberta Ethanol and Biodiesel
plant north of Innisfail. It is expected that Alberta Environment
approval will be forthcoming shortly. The regulatory process has already
delayed the construction of the canola crushing facility and biofuels
plant by a year. The industrial development permit approves up to 115
million cubic metres of natural gas annually for use in the manufacture
of 379 million litres of biodiesel and the same amount of ethanol. The
company is now hoping to start construction next spring and be
operational in the fail of 2010. The plant will be built in stages
starting with the crushing facility. The ethanol plant will follow with
expansion of both plants in a third phase.
Sylvan Lake Officially Signs on with Plasco Plant
Sylvan Lake town council unanimously agreed to sign on with the Central
Waste Management Commission and the commitment by the commission to
supply 200 tonnes of garbage per day to Plasco Energy's gasification
plant. The city of Red Deer and Red Deer County have already signed on
and several other communities are expected to do so. A few that were
originally interested have dropped out including Lacombe County and the
towns of Lacombe, Eckville and Alix. Construction could begin as early
as next spring on the $100 million plant.
Oct. 16, 2008
Red Deer River Watershed Data Reviewed
The Red Deer River Watershed Alliance, set up under the province's Water
for Life Strategy, is hosting a series of open houses along the
watershed to present results of a study that inventories all known data
involving the watershed. Open houses completed or planned include Sundre,
Red Deer, Three Hills, Drumheller, Brooks and Empress. The Red Deer
River watershed covers all lands that drain to the river, from its
headwaters in Banff National Park to the Saskatchewan border, where it
flows into the South Saskatchewan River. Data within the State of the
Watershed report includes information on the number of active and
abandoned oil and gas wells, municipal users, fish populations,
livestock densities and pipeline crossings. The data will help the
alliance develop policies to preserve and enhance the resource.
Information gaps that will be pursued will better determine the quality
and quantity of water, particularly on the surface and underground.
City's Planned East Town Centre Options Revealed
A plan to create a 'town centre' style mix of housing and shops in the
northeast part of Red Deer was revealed yesterday. The East Hill Town
Centre/Main Street mixed-use districts in the new Timberlands/Clearview
areas around the major intersection of 30 Avenue and 67 Street include
developments by both the city and Melcor Developments. Attendees at an
open house yesterday were asked to provide input about three options --
small to mid-size stores only, big box stores with ample parking, or a
combination of each. All would be pedestrian friendly and all would have
a mix of housing. The concepts would have shops on the ground floor with
residences or offices on upper floors. Other town centres could be
developed in future as the city expands.
Panel Manufacturer Plans Plant in Ponoka
A 106,000 sq. ft. building panel manufacturing plant is being planned
for a 14-acre site in Ponoka's north industrial park by Hi-Tech Canada
Development Inc. The plant is expected to generate annual sales of $15
million and employ up to 60 people in its first year. After five years,
that could increase to $300 million in sales with 200 employees. The
plant is expected to take 18 months to build and begin operations in
2010.
Arlington Hotel Sale Deal Completed
The conditions have been met for the city to purchase Red Deer's oldest
hotel, the Arlington, for up to $1.5 million. The city's intent is that
the building be demolished and have a developer build a new multi-use
complex there. The gabled structure was built in 1899. The city is
required to do a historical evaluation to see if any features are worth
keeping. The hotel currently serves as affordable housing for 24
residents who are being assisted in finding new accommodation.
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