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News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and
summaries of news from local resources including media, press releases
and personal knowledge
February 2009 Part 2
Feb. 28, 2009
RCMP Plans Family Resource Centre
A family resource centre for Red Deer rural and city RCMP members and
their spouses, similar to ones used by Canadian Forces families, will be
set up at the downtown city detachment when the police-fire station in
north Red Deer opens later this year. The centre will move to the new
RCMP building currently under construction once completed. Set up by the
spouse committee, it is believed that it is the first formalized centre
of its kind in Canada.
Feb. 27, 2009
New Olds College Community Arts Centre
Opens
The Fine Arts and Multi Media Centre at the Community Learning Campus at
Olds College had its grand opening yesterday. Entertainers featured at
the event in the 390-seat TransCanada Theatre included the Deer Meadow
School Band, Olds Elementary School Choir, Olds Community Choir,
MusicCreations Orff Ensemble, 7 Fiddles Worth and the Polyjesters. A
segment of the Olds High School production of Beauty and the Beast was
also performed. The $8.9 million facility is the latest piece to open in
the $67 million campus project of primarily Olds College and Chinook's
Edge School Division along with the Town of Olds, Mountain View County
and the University of Alberta. The Bell E-Learning Centre opened last
fall and the new Core High School and Health and Wellness Facility will
open next year.
Feb. 26, 2009
RDRED
to Host Young Entrepreneur Program
Red Deer Regional Economic Development (RDRED), made up of the City of
Red Deer, Red Deer County, Red Deer College and Red Deer Chamber of
Commerce, is the regional host for the provincial Youth 'Technopreneurship'
Program revealed yesterday that will award a high school graduate in the
region $10,000 for innovation and creativity in developing a plan for a
new venture based in Alberta on technology, science or knowledge.
Feb. 25, 2009
City Endorses Town Centre Concept
Red Deer city council gave first reading Monday to adding the East Hill
Town Centre and Main Street/Town Square Land Use Districts to the East
Hill Major Area Structure Plan on the city's east side around the future
intersection of 67 Street and 30 Avenue. The mixed-use districts for the
Timberlands and adjacent Clearview North areas would allow for high
density housing, a variety of shops and commercial development,
pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, gathering places and good public
transit. There could also be limited office space development. The
concept brings a downtown feel to a large neighbourhood. A public
hearing will be held March 23.
Lacombe Race Track Gets Final OK
The Lacombe County municipal planning commission has given its approval
to the Alberta Downs being developed near the intersection of Highway 12
and Highway 2 west of the town of Lacombe. Since the project is no
longer pursuing its bid to secure 150 slot machines, it is no longer
necessary to upgrade access roads and the intersection with Highway 12
until traffic warrants the improvements, at which time the company will
be required to contribute to the costs. The track could be open by
April, the horse barns are under construction, and a two-tiered
grandstand building with food and beverage service could begin within
weeks.
Feb. 24, 2009
City Supports Regional Airport Sustainability Plan
Red Deer city council yesterday unanimously backed a 5-year business
plan for the Red Deer Regional Airport that aims to expand scheduled
passenger service, industrial development and aviation business in order
to become financially self-sufficient. Currently, Northwestern Air
provides the only scheduled service with twice-a-week flights to Fort
McMurray. Previous reports have indicated that there is a solid market
in Central Alberta for a vastly expanded service. Discussions have been
positive for future daily east-west flights by Air Canada Jazz. A $25
million capital plan for six major improvements including extending the
runway for larger aircraft has been presented to federal and provincial
government officials. Airport partners, Red Deer County and Red Deer
Chamber of Commerce have yet to approve the plan.
Higher Densities, Open Space for Neighbourhood
Red Deer city council voted 6-2 for the adoption of the new Garden
Heights Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan that includes 97 acres of
treed and ravine environmental reserve of the total 162 acres. There are
also 460 housing units in the subdivision giving it a housing density of
18.9 units per hectare, higher than most residential neighbourhoods in
the city. The area is close to the future Timberlands towne centre mixed
use and commercial area in the northeast part of the city and directly
east of the McKenzie Trail Recreation area of Waskasoo Park.
Feb. 21, 2009
Olds College Wetland Project Has Many Benefits
A new wetland is to be created at the east portion of the Olds College
campus near Highway 27 that will enhance the natural beauty of the
campus, store water, give instructors a place to do research and give
students an area for hands-on learning, as well as remove sediments,
contaminants and nutrients from runoff and test new ways to treat grey
water. The $3 million 100-acre Treatment Wetlands and Botanic Gardens
project, which is expected to get underway this summer, is one of
several environmental initiatives at Olds College including biodiesel
and biogas research projects and accepting composting from the town of
Olds.
Feb. 20, 2009
Housing Starts, Prices Expected to Rise
in 2010
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) is expecting both housing
starts and resale prices in Red Deer to improve in 2010 after a
relatively small decline in 2009. Average housing prices this year are
expected to drop 2.5% from $278,040 last year to $271,000. This is less
than half the predicted provincial drop of 5.6%. However, average prices
should rebound to around $280,000 next year. Even with the decline this
year, it is still well above the average $160,000 resale price of 2005.
Although the city saw a 63% decrease in housing starts last year from
the record 1,558 starts in 2007, CMHC expects only a 3.8% drop this year
to around 550 starts and an increase to 675 starts in 2010. Builders are
optimistic with the record low mortgage rates now available.
Airport Plan Sees Sustainability,
Expansion
A
five-year business plan has been released that envisions a
self-sustaining Red Deer Regional Airport that could generate massive
amounts of revenue by 2013. One of the primary objectives of the plan is
attracting a major passenger carrier to the airport. Discussions have
been ongoing with Air Canada Jazz for several months. If a major carrier
is attracted, revenues could increase incrementally each year from
landing, terminal and fuel fees. If the airport could offer regular
scheduled flights to Vancouver, Victoria, Saskatoon or Toronto, the plan
predicts over 110,000 customers generating more than $80 million a year.
The plan goes to city council Monday and county council March 3.
New Stettler Sports Park Gets Funding
The provincial government has provided $500,000 towards the new $1.5
million Stettler Sports Park complex to be built this year and open in
2010. The town has committed $250,000 while a fundraising committee will
seek support for the remainder. It will feature three diamonds for
softball and slowpitch, one diamond for baseball, two soccer pitches, a
playground and parking for vehicles and RVs.
Feb. 17, 2009
Artifacts Found at Arlington Hotel
Representatives of the Red Deer and District Museum, Red Deer Cultural
Heritage Society and Sunnybrook Farm Museum Society recently toured the
Arlington Hotel for historical artifacts before the city demolishes the
building. The Red Deer museum picked up a 1930s-era neon hotel sign,
coffee shop sign, cast-iron fireplace insert from the early 20th
century, a round bar table with an old cast metal base, an orange vinyl
chair circa 1960s, some doors and woodwork. Some of the finds may be
shared with Sunnybrook Farm. No date has been set for the demolition of
the building.
Queens Business Park Ready for Development
Red Deer's Land and Economic Development expects to issue a call this
month for proposals from buyers interested in obtaining industrial and
commercial land in the new Queens Business Park, a quarter of the eight
quarter sections annexed by the city in 2007 from Red Deer County west of Highway 2
and south of Highway 11A. The first phase, an area of more than 100
acres, some of which has highway exposure, is being marketed now. A
feature of the business park will be a constructed wetland stretching
500 metres along its eastern edge. Much of the grading work has been
completed. It is expected that the first lots will be turned over to
buyers by the end of summer. Phase 2 will be an eco-industrial park west
of the current offering intended for developments that promote
recycling, reuse, pooling of resources and are environmentally-friendly.
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