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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 2008 Part
1
Nov. 15, 2008
Proposed Co-op Would Promote Natural Local Food
A Central Alberta farmer from the Nevis area is promoting an Alberta
food co-operative that would promote the trade of organic and natural
products through a monthly newsletter and website as a means of
connecting buyers and producers. Already on board are producers with
grass-fed beef and lamb; organic grains, beans, flour, flakes, honey,
baby food, wool and yarns; natural hand soaps; free-range eggs and
seasonal vegetables. Eventually, it could evolve into a regional
farmers' market. The direct trade would enable producers to make more
money and consumers to pay less.
Nov. 14, 2008
Red Deer College Prepares for Phase 2 Expansion
Officials at Red Deer College at their annual Report to the Community
yesterday indicated that they are in the process of securing financing
for the second phase of the Building Communities Through Learning
expansion project which will include the Centre for Health Education and
the Centre for Sport and Wellness. The first phase, which includes the
Centre for Trades and Technology, the Centre for Innovation in
Manufacturing, the Centre for Corporate Training, and the Centre for
Visual Art, has been done on time and on budget. President Ron Woodward
believes that a worldwide economic slowdown will motivate people to
return to school.
Economist Links Happiness to Expanded Concept of Wealth
Author and economist Mark Anielski spoke to a group of people gathered
at Red Deer College last evening to explain how people's happiness is
dependent on a genuine wealth model that is not restricted to finances,
economics, consumerism and capitalism. He measures wealth in terms of
five capital assets -- human, social, natural, built and financial. His
book 'The Economics of Happiness' explains that our current wealth model
of constant growth is not sustainable and interferes with other
indicators of community well-being. The event was co-sponsored by
ReThink Red Deer, a group of about 150 members that is providing input
into smart urban planning, Red Deer College Green Campus and Kerry Wood
Nature Centre.
Nov. 13, 2008
Vacated Sears Space at Parkland Mall Fully Occupied
Two stores, each approximately 44,000 sq. ft., are now operating in the
space previously occupied by Sears at Parkland Mall in north Red Deer.
Urban Planet, that caters to young adult fashion, opened in October.
Labels, that carries a broad range of affordable fashions, opened last
week. Remaining at the Sears location is Kal Tire which was previously a
sub-tenant of the department store.
Farm Dealer Can Display Equipment Next to Highway
The intermunicipal subdivision and development appeal board for Red Deer
and Red Deer County has granted a farm equipment dealer located along
Highway 2 near Highway 11 the ability to display the latest models of
farm equipment after the county's municipal planning commission had
denied the request. Only new equipment will be permitted. Both the city
and the county were concerned about the precedent of allowing displays
along the busy highway. The county may consider appealing the decision.
Nov. 11, 2008
Draft Plan Suggests Water Features But No Canals
A draft update of the Red Deer Greater Downtown Action Plan was
presented to city council yesterday. The plan suggests that there is
support for public gathering spaces that include water features such as
fountains, waterfalls and decorative pools connected by channels but not
an elaborate system of canals suitable for boaters that draws water from
the river. Consultants indicated that there is a lot of local support
for a major tourist facility as long as it is reflective of the city and
its history. A concept that has generated interest is a proposed 60,000
sq. ft. glass enclosed building with an indoor garden, shops and
restaurants, tentatively called 'the Ark'. Other options for the space
have also been suggested. Some pilot projects could begin next year,
including traffic calming and dedicated bike lanes.
Housing Starts Continue Below Peak Years
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reports that during the first 10
months of the year, work had commenced on 298 single-detached dwellings
and 170 units in multi-family buildings, for a total of 468 starts.
During the same period last year, the numbers were 873 for
single-detached homes and 485 for multi-family units, for a combined
1,358, a drop this year of 65.5% from 2007. Due to a variety of factors,
housing starts have returned to a more normal level before the few years
of exceptional growth.
Nov. 10, 2008
Agri-Trade Celebrates 25 Years of Success
The 25th annual Agri-Trade at Westerner Park attracted 520 exhibitors
and an estimated 74,000 people over the 4-day event. The agricultural
exhibition started in 1984 drawing about 120 exhibitors. A number of new
features were added this year including the Ag Innovations program,
which is a way to recognize product improvements and applications, and
an international business program that attracted 40 Russian delegates.
Nov. 8, 2008
Strong Public Support for City Downtown Plan
Red Deer residents have indicated that they are behind the revised
Greater Downtown Action Plan to transform the city's downtown area
including the Riverlands district near the river that will open up for
development when the civic yards move to another location next year.
More than 200 people attended an open house held in October and 150
people positively responded to an online survey. The responses supported
high density residential development, pedestrian and bike-friendly
streets, water features, and an emphasis on sustainability and
authenticity. Greater Downtown refers to the central core, the
Riverlands district west of the core, the Railyard district (sometimes
referred to as Cannery Row), the Parkdale residential area, the area
surrounding the core and the area between the river and 55 Street to be
named River Park. Retail-oriented lanes in the historic downtown could
also be named.
Province Provides Heritage Funding to Regional Communities
Three communities in Central Alberta will receive or have received
provincial funding from the Municipal Heritage Partnership Program. Red
Deer County will receive $30,000 for a municipal heritage management
plan. The plan will help owners of potential heritage sites go through
the process of having them designated as historic sites and link
heritage with county planning and development processes. A survey and
inventory have already been completed. The town of Olds will receive
$20,000 for a municipal heritage inventory. The town is in the process
of becoming an Alberta Main Street community to help conserve its
historic districts. The city of Red Deer received funding for a survey
and inventory previously.
Alternative Transportation Part of Greener Red Deer College
Red Deer College has launched several initiatives to encourage
alternative transportation to the facility as part of its sweeping
efforts to go green. It recently installed bike lockers outside the
college's main entrance consisting of enclosed horizontal racks for
rent. The college also has a carpooling program launched in September
2007 that has seen growing interest. Currently there are 26 stalls close
to the entrance with 58 people registered. The college, in collaboration
with the Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee, is exploring the
possibility of regional transit. The recycling program has also been
stepped up with three-bin compartments in each classroom of the
college's new trades and technology building.
Blackfalds Library Honored for Innovations
The Alberta Library Trustees Association recently awarded the Blackfalds
Public Library Board with the 2008 Award of Excellence for offering free
wireless internet since early 2004. This made it among the first rural
libraries in Alberta to do so. The association was also impressed with
the library board's incentive to have the library included in the new
town office and senior centre building. In addition, the innovative
approach of moving children's books from the old location to the new by
forming a human chain passing books over a two-block distance was worth
recognizing.
Precision Well Servicing Moving Into New Building
Precision Well Servicing is settling comfortably into its new $16
million 48,000 sq. ft. building north of the Evraz (formerly Ipsco)
plant on the west side of Highway 2A in Red Deer County north of the
city. The 24,700 sq. ft. office space is already in use and the nine-bay
shop is expected to be fully operational next week. The new facility is
much larger than its previous location within the city. Local staff has
increased by 10 to 53 and more could be hired in the future. Training
space can accommodate about 50 people.
Nov. 7, 2008
Construction of City SPCA Building Begins
Ground breaking began yesterday on the Red Deer SPCA's new long-waited
$3.7 million building directly west of the current quarters in the north
part of the city. The 12,300 sq. ft. Animal Welfare and Humane Education
Centre is expected to take 10 to 12 months to complete and will be four
times the size of the current facility. About 2,700 animals are turned
away each year due to lack of space.
Nov. 6, 2008
Power Line Options Expanded
The Alberta Electric System Operator, overseer of the province's power
grid, is looking at new options farther west or east of the current
proposals for a new 320-km 500-kilowatt power line between Edmonton and
Calgary. Earlier this year, the independent organization heard from
1,200 people at 28 separate meetings but none of the current options
stood out as being preferred. An additional 12 open houses are being
held before the end of the year. A decision on the routing is expected
in the new year with construction expected to be completed in 2012 or
2013. Alberta's power usage more than doubled between 1987 and 2007 but
the transmission system has seen few significant upgrades.
Nov. 5, 2008
Decision on Airport Jazz Service Expected Soon
Red Deer Regional Airport CEO Liam O'Connell expects Air Canada Jazz to
make a decision by the beginning of December on whether or not it will
offer scheduled service out of the airport. A formal pitch was made to
Jazz on October 7 and the company has been requesting additional
information since. Jazz provides mostly regional service across Canada
using Dash 8s, ideally suited for the local airport. Research has
suggested that a Vancouver-Red Deer-Saskatoon service, with connections
to Toronto, would be the most profitable for the airline.
Springbrook Infrastructure Project Fast Tracked
An $11 million infrastructure rehabilitation project in the hamlet of
Springbrook that had been planned to take place over three to four years
has now been fast tracked to be completed next year due to a time limit
on provincial and federal grants. About $3 million of the Red Deer
County project was completed this year. Portions of the water and sewer
lines in the community of 1,000 are over 50 years old.
City Rezones Land for Industrial and Open Space Use
Red Deer city council has given third reading to the rezoning of 74
acres of land west of Highway 2 in the new Queens Business Park,
allowing the city to create 14 industrial lots and four public utility
lots. The land was rezoned from Future Urban Development District to
Business Service District and Parks and Recreation District. A
constructed wetland is included in the development.
City Annexation Hearing Postponed
A hearing on the City of Red Deer's proposal to annex 7,500 acres of Red
Deer County land was adjourned yesterday in order to notify about 20
mineral rights land owners and a utility company about the hearing. The
hearing is expected to resume in December. The city is hoping to annex
the land, mostly to the east and north of current boundaries, by
September 2009.
Nov. 4, 2008
City Recreation and Culture Facilities Called Insufficient
Red Deer city council yesterday heard from the consultant for the
Recreation Parks and Culture Community Assets Needs Assessment who
stated that the city is falling behind in providing facilities for a
city its size, especially in cultural facilities. Recommendations
include replacing the museum and archives, creating a mid-size
performing arts centre and adding a festival site. Some recreation
facilities, both indoor and outdoor, need to be upgraded and a new
multi-purpose recreational facility should be built similar to the
Collicutt Centre. The report indicates that the city is reasonably well
served for parks and open spaces but more larger parks are recommended.
It also suggests a partnership with Canyon Ski Area just east of the
city in order to keep it operational for skiing. The report was tabled
until council's next meeting.
Building Permits Continue Downward Trend
In October, Red Deer's Inspections and Licensing Department approved
$8.7 million worth of construction permits for a year-to-date total of
$230.1 million. By comparison, October 2007 generated $44.9 million in
building permits for a 10-month tally of $402.5 million. Residential
permits for last month generated $5.8 million compared to $15.5 million
for the same month last year. Commercial permits were also down but
industrial and public permits were up slightly. The statistics indicate
that Red Deer continues to grow although not at the rapid rate of 2007.
New Blended Credit Union Has No Plans to Sell Property
In spite of the official amalgamation of Red Deer-based Community
Savings with two other credit unions operating as Servus Credit Union on
November 1, the new company has no plans to sell its 11-acre parcel of
land south of Red Deer in Gasoline Alley. The property was purchased in
2006 for a regional head office before the merger was agreed upon. It is
speculated that the property could be used for a regional centre of
excellence. Although the head office of the new company will be in
Edmonton, staff at the former Community Savings headquarters in downtown
Red Deer remains at about 230 serving as a regional office.
City Approves Transit Extension into County
Red Deer city council has approved the operation of Red Deer Transit
outside the city boundaries to serve Gasoline Alley, Springbrook and the
Red Deer Regional Airport. The county has already ordered a $500,000
full-size, low-floor bus and the city will provide the operators. The
new bus route will connect to other city routes at the Bower Place
Shopping Centre and is expected to start by July 1, 2009. The service to
Gasoline Alley will be provided throughout the day while service to
Springbrook and the airport will be during peak hours only.
Nov. 3, 2008
Miniature Railroad Town Created by Modeller
Neil Kjorlien is chief architect, planner, electrician, mechanic and
railway conductor of a miniature railway town in his basement in south
Red Deer that includes industry, shopping, an RV park and lots of
people. The layout has close to 400 feet of railway track laid and when
finished, will have about 2,000 trees.
Nov. 1, 2008
Dark Past of Residential School Being Uncovered
Silently hidden in brush and trees for several decades, at least 18
graves in the neglected cemetery for aboriginal children were uncovered
this week by an archaeologist at the site of the former Red Deer
Industrial School located near Sylvan Creek about 2 km west of Red Deer.
Over the years wooden grave markers had rotted away. Fortunately a
nearby landowner had protected the mostly environmental reserve from
development or farming. The cemetery research is for a historical
resource impact assessment for a developer who is proposing a 55-lot
residential subdivision of half-acre lots in Red Deer County about 25
metres away from the graves. The residential school, run by the
Methodist Church from 1895 to 1919, was considered one of the
unhealthiest of the string of industrial schools established by the
government to educate native children. A report from 1907 stated that
one-third of the students enrolled in the first two years died
prematurely, mostly from tuberculosis and other diseases. Abuse had also
been documented. The developer has indicated that the site will be
preserved and a walking trail built to the gravesite. In addition, some
kind of commemorative marker is expected with input from the native
community.
Rural Police Detachment Moving to Blackfalds
The town of Blackfalds has purchased a 14-acre parcel of land beside
Highway 2 for $1.7 million to build an RCMP detachment there by 2011. It
will house 5 officers for the town with an additional 15 officers for
the rural detachment currently located on 55 Street near downtown Red
Deer. Detailed planning is expected early in 2009. The new location will
make RCMP response times quicker since officers won't have to drive
through the city to get to the scene. The Red Deer rural detachment has
a 800 square mile of coverage.
City Gets Millions from Province for Affordable Housing
Alberta's Affordable Housing Block Fund program has provided the city of
Red Deer with $4 million to leverage funding available through private
sources and other non-profit sources. The funds will help in the
development of 269 units through the creation of new and renovated
housing as well as rent supplements for lower income residents.
Unique City Continuing Care Facility Progressing
The $55 million, 3-storey, 221,000 sq. ft. Michener Hill Village
continuing care project, currently under construction, will be unique
for its type of facility. It will contain 18 smaller homelike households
of 12 to 14 residents in each. Rooms will be larger with their own
bathrooms. The facility will have a total of 220 continuing care beds
and 60 assisted living beds. Once completed, expected in May 2010, a
similar number of beds in the outdated Valley Park Manor and Red Deer
Nursing Home will be shut down.
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