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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
June 2009 Part 2
June 30, 2009
Expansion Plan for Ranchers
Valley Inn
Revealed
Red Deer municipal planning commission approved the site plan for the
downtown Rancher's Valley Inn that will transform the two-storey
building from a former hotel to a four-storey affordable housing and
commercial development. The $4.5 million plan includes an expansion on
the south side as well as expanding upward and adding 45 residential
suites to the 26 that now exist of which 12 will be 2-bedroom. The
balance will be bachelor or one-bedroom suites. Construction is expected
to begin later this year and be completed by the end of 2010 with the
name 'The River Valley'.
New Radio Station to Start Broadcasting
Soon
A new Red Deer radio station with the name 'Kraze 101', owned by L.A.
Radio Group, is expected to officially start up on July 24. It will
cater to listeners in the 18- to 44-year-old demographic with top 40
music. The company also owns Sunny FM out of Lacombe that has been
targeting over 25 listeners with mostly memory music from the 60s, 70s
and 80s.
New Bank Branch to be Built in North Red
Deer
The Red Deer municipal planning commission approved site development for
a 13,000 sq. ft. full-service ATB Financial 'centre of excellence'
branch near the corner of Gaetz Ave. and 67 Street in north Red Deer.
The new branch will replace the existing branch in Riverside Office
Plaza further south. Construction is expected to begin in August.
June 29, 2009
Ellis Bird Farm Reports Fewer
Bluebirds
The Ellis Bird Farm, about 10 km east of Blackfalds and Lacombe, is
reporting that the number of bluebirds across the province is down
significantly this year by about 50% and in some areas more, believed to
be a result of severe snow storm and several days of cold weather in the
spring of 2008 that killed a large number of male bluebirds. The number
at the Bird Farm itself is less this year than when the facility first
started, in spite of significant increases in recent years. Part of the
reason is believed to be an increased number of tree swallows and house
sparrows that compete for food and territory. However, many of the
bluebirds that have returned are having a second round of nestings which
may lead to increased numbers next year. The Ellis Bird Farm is operated
by a non-profit society on land donated by the neighbouring Dow
Chemicals plant (originally owned by Union Carbide).
June 26, 2009
Future Plans for Highways 11 & 11A
Revealed
Two open houses were held simultaneously yesterday to share future plans
for each of Highways 11 and 11A. Highway 11, which is currently a 4-lane
divided highway between Red Deer and Sylvan Lake, will eventually become
a 6-lane freeway with all intersections eliminated and likely only one
interchange between the two municipalities, possibly in conjunction with
a future city ring road. This could be 20-30 years away depending on
increases in traffic and funding schedules. The road currently has about
15,000 vehicles per day. Highway 11A, 2 miles north of Highway 11 also
between the city and Sylvan Lake, could be twinned in 10-15 years with
intersecting roadways re-aligned. The road currently has about 8,000
vehicles per day.
Lacombe County Declares Drought Disaster
Lacombe County has joined other rural municipalities in declaring an
agricultural drought disaster area on the east side of the municipality
which has seen little or no rain this spring. In some areas, crops have
already been wiped out and it is therefore too late even if rain comes
soon. However the declaration will not bring financial aid to affected
farmers.
June 25, 2009
Early Donations Assist Ronald
McDonald
House
Five Optimist Clubs of Central Alberta have donated $100,000 for the
construction of a Ronald McDonald House even though fund-raising for the
facility won't start until late summer. Land near the hospital will be
purchased for the new three-storey House that will serve an estimated
400 families of critically ill babies and high-risk pregnancies per
year. Final purchase and construction is waiting for city rezoning.
June 24, 2009
City Expanding and Improving
Trail System
The city of Red Deer is expanding its popular trail system this summer
including the building of 3 km of natural trails, boardwalks and
viewpoints at the Maskepetoon Park natural area, 3 to 5 km of trails and
other amenities at a new off-leash dog park east of Westerner Park and
800 metres of asphalt trail along the new civic yards. In addition,
several sections of existing trail will be repaved.
Citizens Provide Ideas on
Recreation Park
Future
Several Red Deer citizens attended an open house yesterday to provide
feedback on their likes and dislikes about Rotary Recreation Park on the
east side of downtown in order for the city to plan for the future. The
area currently provides several amenities including the Golden Circle
Senior Resource Centre, the Recreation Centre and Outdoor Pool, Red Deer
Museum and Art Gallery, Archives, Heritage Square, two arenas, curling
club, skateboard park, speed skating oval, tennis courts, green space,
public market and other amenities. Preservation and enhancement of the
green space was well supported. Some thought it would be a good location
for an Olympic-size pool. Others thought the Heritage Square space was
too small to accommodate the variety of structures originally envisaged.
It was suggested that a new name for the park is necessary to avoid
confusion with another park with a similar name.
June 23, 2009
Large Downtown Building Mural Approved
The Red Deer municipal planning commission has approved a 3 metre by
35.4 metre mural on the side of the building occupied by Family Services
of Central Alberta in the downtown. The colourful mural will show local
residents from seniors to infants of a variety of cultural backgrounds.
It is expected to be completed by the end of August.
Schlumberger Eyes Future Move West of
Highway
Schlumberger Canada has been given an extension by the Red Deer
municipal planning commission to retain its temporary facilities at its
current location in the northwest part of the city until the company can
develop a new facility in the new Queens Business Park on the west side
of Highway 2, expected to occur in about two years. The current site is
expected to be developed into a commercial development once the company
relocates.
June 22, 2009
Annual Artwalk Festival Showcases Variety
About 60 local artists showcased their work on the final day of the
week-long 21st annual Artwalk Festival on Saturday at the Rotary
Heritage Village Park near downtown Red Deer. Painting, pottery,
sculptures, jewellery and stained glass were all featured at the event
that culminated a week that included a movie night, gallery tour and
artists about town.
June 19, 2009
Red Deer College
Expansion Phase 1 Opens
At the official grand opening yesterday of the $80 million Phase 1 of
Red Deer College's expansion project, about 250 people toured the new
state-of-the-art facilities. Four centres of learning are housed in the
same building -- the Centre for Trades and Technology, the Centre of
Innovation in Manufacturing, The Centre of Corporate Training and the
Centre for Visual Arts -- in close proximity to promote collaboration
and innovation. Construction began on the 200,000 sq. ft. facility in
2006 with several ecologically-friendly and adaptable design features.
The college has 6,500 full and part-time students and about 13,000
continuing education students. The new facility as well as growth in
other programs is expected to add about 2,000 students to the college
over the next 5 years.
Regional Sewer Line Bid Saves $2 Million
The awarding of contracts for the 25-km Innisfail to Penhold regional
wastewater pipeline has come in $2 million lower than the $18 million
estimate, due to a sluggish economy and competitive bidding. The line
will tie into the existing Waskasoo line from Penhold to Red Deer where
upgrading of the treatment plant is underway. The $32 million project,
which includes the construction of a multi-million dollar lift station,
is the first stage of a system that will include upgrading the line
between Penhold and Red Deer and a new line between Olds and Innisfail.
Eventually, a northern leg will extend to Lacombe and a western leg to
Sylvan Lake. The Innisfail-Penhold line is expected to start
construction in July and be completed by year end.
June 18, 2009
Seniors Transportation Issues Discussed
The challenges of seniors maintaining mobility, generally considered
necessary for independence, were discussed during a meeting of several
service groups, transportation providers and city of Red Deer
departments yesterday. In recent weeks, the city's Seniors
Transportation Committee has been collecting research for a report to be
released this summer. Preliminary results indicate that a change in
transportation philosophy may be necessary to meet seniors needs.
Seniors now make up nearly 10% of the population, compared with 7.4% 20
years ago. The meeting was sponsored by the Alberta Motor Association.
Parking Fees to Help Pay for New
Parkade
Income from an increase in parking fees in downtown Red Deer and parking
tickets will help pay for the $21.3 million three-storey parkade being
built above the transit terminal. The new parking rates range from 60
cents to one dollar per hour depending on the distance from the city
centre.
June 17, 2009
Trail River Crossings
Moving Forward
The Central Alberta Regional Trails Society, working with Alberta
TrailNet, Trans Canada Trail and the municipalities of Lacombe County,
Red Deer County, the town of Ponoka and other communities, is moving
forward with the construction of two pedestrian and bicycle trail
bridges, one across the Blindman River north of Red Deer and the other
across the Battle River at the north end of Ponoka. The bridge across
the Blindman will link Red Deer with Blackfalds at the site of the
former road bridge on the Calgary & Edmonton Trail and is expected to
cost $250,000 to $300,000 with work expected to start this coming
winter. Lacombe County is donating up to $50,000 worth of bridge
materials and is in the planning stages to secure funding and build a
rural trail from the bridge to Morningside, north of Lacombe. The Battle
River bridge at Ponoka could start as early as July and be completed by
this fall. Plans are under way to link Ponoka with Morningside. Most of
the funding for both bridges has come from Alberta TrailNet, the Trans
Canada Trail Foundation and the National Trails Coalition with bridge
decking being done by Canadian military engineers.
Air Canada to Consider Regional Service
in 2010
In the quarterly report to Red Deer County council, Red Deer Regional
Airport Authority CEO Liam O'Connell indicated that although the current
economic situation has stalled Air Canada Jazz regular passenger service
from the airport this year, the airline is seriously considering service
in 2010. Of nine other regional carriers approached by the authority,
three are showing serious interest in a Red Deer route. Meanwhile,
Northwestern Air, which runs twice-weekly flights to Fort McMurray, has
seen its passenger load drop from 700 last year to the end of May to 394
this year due to the economic slump but signs indicate that business
will pick up as the year progresses.
Extension Granted to Proposed
Biofuel
Plant
Alberta Ethanol and Biodiesel has been granted a one year extension to
its subdivision approval by Red Deer Council council for its proposed
$400 million biofuels plant on a 406-acre site north of Innisfail.
Announced in 2006, the ethanol, biodiesel and canola crushing plant is
stalled pending a response to the company's application under the
federal ecoEnergy for Biofuels program, funding that is considered
essential for the plant to proceed. So far, $3 million has been invested
in the project and all necessary approvals have been obtained.
Downtown Transit Terminal Temporary
Relocated
Red Deer Transit's downtown terminal has been relocated a couple of
blocks for up to a year while the city erects a $21.3 million, 400-stall
parkade above the terminal. Buses will return to the original site once
the parkade is completed.
June 16, 2009
Area Communities to Get
Provincial Housing Funds
Several Central Alberta municipalities will be getting funds totalling
$4.8 million for housing as part of a $100 million allocation to
high-growth communities in need of affordable housing. Red Deer will
receive $3.5 million, about $1 million more than was expected and will
put out a call for proposals in the fall. Previous funding under the
same program went toward a 95-suite apartment building and 7 townhouses
at Convent Park. Under this year's program, Sylvan Lake will receive
more than $440,000, Lacombe over $300,000, Olds and Rocky Mountain House
over $190,000 and Stettler over $150,000.
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