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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
September 2009 Part 2
Sept. 30, 2009
Nine Years of Police Training at
Springbrook
Police forces from Calgary, Edmonton and the RCMP are in their ninth
year of public safety and crowd control training exercises at
Springbrook and the Harvard Business Park at the former CFB Penhold
military base. Included in the training is the mountain bike unit that
works and trains with provincial emergency medical service technicians (EMTs)
to protect them while they rescue and treat victims caught up in crowds.
Springbrook has proved to be an ideal venue for the exercises due to its
central location and its mix of buildings and urban environment.
Lacombe Harness Racing Set For Next Year
Alberta Downs has received news that Horse Racing Alberta has
tentatively booked the new facility near Lacombe for 50 days of harness
racing next year. The race track also hopes to get thoroughbred racing
as well. Over the winter, Alberta Downs will finish the grandstand once
all final permits are in place. The track hosted a few races on weekends
over this past summer.
Affordable Housing for Lacombe and Blackfalds
The Lacombe Foundation has opened affordable housing for about 70 people
in Lacombe with most of the units already occupied at about 70% of
regular market rates. In addition, the foundation is constructing 20
affordable units in Blackfalds. The $4.1 million project is expected to
be ready for occupancy in March.
Sept. 29, 2009
Natural Conservation Site Opens Near Stettler
Beltz Lake Conservation site, a quarter section about 25 km southeast of
Stettler, is now open to hikers, anglers, and bird and other wildlife
watchers. The 160-acre site features a large mineral lick and ravines
carved out by melting glaciers. It is home to a variety of species of
birds, wildlife, native vegetation and geological significance. The
property was jointly purchased by the Alberta Conservation Association,
Alberta Fish and Game Association, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Wildlife
Habitat Canada. It will be officially opened next June.
Sept. 28, 2009
Rural Municipalities Saving on
Road Projects
Several rural municipalities in the region are experiencing an upswing
in road paving due to a major reduction in the cost of asphalt. Priced
at around $120 per tonne in September 2007, tenders came in at around
$65 per tonne earlier this year. Bids are also more competitive due to
more contractors willing to bid compared to the extraordinary growth
period eighteen months ago. Mountain View County will save $5 million on
a 10-km paving project for the Red Lodge Road west of Olds. Lacombe
County undertook more work this year including a $8 million paving
project in the Alix area. Red Deer County undertook a $8 million paving
program and accelerated a 10-year asphalt maintenance program by 8 years
overlaying 70 km of roads.
Ponoka Ag Centre Gets $3.2 Million Grant
The provincial government has announced a $3.2 million grant toward the
$8.5 million multi-purpose Ag Event Centre, a joint project of the Town
of Ponoka, Ponoka County, the Ponoka Agricultural Society and the Ponoka
Stampede Association. The facility will include 2 livestock barns, have
seating for 1,500, classrooms, a 500-seat banquet room and be suitable
for conferences, horse shows, RV shows and trade shows. With other
government funding, a $500,000 contribution from Encana and
contributions from the four partners, construction is expected to begin
in the spring.
Earthdance Celebrates Global Awareness
For the fifth year, Earthdance raised awareness about peace, diversity
and the environment at City Hall on Saturday with about 80 people
participating. Aboriginal and Polynesian dancing and drumming were part
of the function. The event ended with the global prayer for peace as
some other 300 communities around the world did the same.
Sept. 25, 2009
Red Hat Awards Reward
Hospitality
Industry
The annual Red Hat Awards put on by Red Deer Tourism to honour
achievement in the hospitality and tourism industry attracted 320 people
recently. There were 1600 nominations from which there were 12 winners
including Babycakes Cupcakery as business of the year and Alberta Sports
Hall of Fame and Museum as organization of the year.
Sept. 24, 2009
Hottest Day of Summer Yesterday
The temperature reached 34.2C at the Red Deer Regional Airport yesterday
to shatter the previous record set for that day of 29.2C set in 1990. It
was also the hottest day of the year with August 1 being the second at
31.1C. A record was also reached for Sept. 16 at 30.7C, for Sept. 17 at
27.1C and Sept. 22 at 29.9C. The average high for this time of year is
16C.
Public Sees Heritage Ranch Plan
A $2.3 million plan to make Heritage Ranch near Highway 2 at the west
end of Waskasoo Park more attractive to families was revealed at a
public open house yesterday. The equestrian facilities will remain with
a general ranch theme for the area. The visitor centre will be expanded
to accommodate groups of 60 to 80 people. There will also be more
parking, a new playground, picnic amenities and an overnight campground.
The need for upgrades to the park come from the Special Gathering Places
Study approved in 2005.
Sept. 23, 2009
Cenotaph Park to be Created Downtown
Red Deer city council has agreed to create a small park around the
downtown cenotaph erected 87 years ago as a First World War memorial.
Carved from Tyndall stone, the soldier stands in the middle of Ross
Street facing west toward the train station where hundreds of young
recruits started the first leg of their journey overseas. It now stands
in honour of all soldiers, past, present and future. Over the years
there have been several proposals to move the cenotaph to a different
location but public opinion convinced the city to leave it in the heart
of the community.
Business of the Year Finalists Revealed
The Red Deer Chamber of Commerce has announced the nine local business
finalists that will be chosen as Business of the Year in three
categories on Oct. 23. The primary Business of the Year will be chosen
from the Capri Hotel Trade and Convention Centre, North Hill
Save-on-Foods and Stantec. Medium Business of the Year will be chosen
from Chatters, Rocky Mountain Phoenix and Strata Energy. Small Business
of the Year will be chosen from Wallah Signs, One to 1 Fitness and 53rd
Street Music.
New Rimbey Hotel Nears Completion
Already accepting guests, the 60-unit 3-storey Best Western hotel south
of the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre is nearing completion. Amenities
include meeting space for up to 100 people, waterslide, hot tub and pool
expected to be ready in a couple of weeks. The hotel is part of a new
30-acre subdivision called Rimstone Ridge that will include a pair of
3-storey 30-unit apartment buildings, other multi-family buildings,
about 40 single family homes and a commercial area.
Sept. 22, 2009
City Approves Second Off-Leash Park
Red Deer city council has unanimously given first reading to a bylaw
amendment for the creation of The Oxbow off-leash park on a 40-acre
closed landfill site east of Westerner Park in the south part of the
city. The name reflects the nature of neighbouring Piper Creek and the
recycled nature of the land itself. The new park will have a fenced
staging area to introduce dogs to the area, an amphitheatre, a gathering
area and an agility park. There is an existing off-leash park at Three
Mile Bend in the northeast part of the city.
Home Sales Still Lower Than a Year Ago
The Central Alberta Realtors Association reports that 371 homes were
sold through MLS in August compared to 432 for the same month last year.
In Red Deer, 163 residential properties were sold last month compared to
204 in August 2008. Outside the city, 206 purchases were completed
compared to 228 last August. The average sale price in the city was
$289,122 while outside the city, the average was $246,245. There were
enough homes on the market to last 6.9 months compared to 17 months last
December.
Sept. 21, 2009
Sports Museum Features
First Nations
Exhibit
The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum on the west side of Red Deer
has opened a new interactive exhibit called 'Lasting Traditions',
showing how First Nations games strengthened the minds and bodies of men
and women of all ages. The 60 people gathered for the kickoff of the
exhibit included Willie Littlechild of Ermineskin Cree Nation in
Hobbema, the first Treaty Indian to earn a law degree in Alberta and a
recipient of the Order of Canada. He is also the former MP for
Wetaskiwin and the former Alberta regional chief of the Assembly of
First Nations. Other guests included Cree Elder Don Johnson, Conrad
Little Leaf from Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and Alberta minister of
aboriginal relations Gene Zwosdesky.
Alexander Way Celebrates Arts Days
Hundreds of people were drawn to downtown Red Deer Saturday to see the
40 vendors representing various aspects of performing, visual and
literary arts that participated in the Alexander Way Arts Festival at
Centennial Plaza Park. The Red Deer Downtown Business Association also
put on its 25th anniversary barbecue. Other events celebrating Alberta
Arts Day were sponsored by Red Deer College, the Red Deer Museum and Art
Gallery, several art galleries and performing arts venues.
Sept. 19, 2009
Society Seeks Help to Finish
Arches Project
The Central Alberta Historical Society is turning to the community to
help finish the $240,000 Arches Project at Centennial Park Plaza close
to downtown Red Deer. Eight arches over nine pillars are in place
representing a railway roundhouse to honour the city's past in a
semi-circle around the historic fountain that was once in a park next to
the railway station. The final stage of the project is the placing of 27
plaques on the pillars which will represent several significant periods
in the city's history. The plan is to sell subscriptions for each plaque
to individuals and organizations. Designs and content for the etched
metal plaques are being determined. Meanwhile, the city plans to
complete concrete work, landscaping and hook up the fountain by the end
of October. The arches themselves have been funded through special
donations, contributions from the city and grants from the province and
Canadian Pacific Railway.
Three Red Deer Building Firms Honoured
Laebon Developments, True-Line Homes and Sorento Custom Homes were all
awarded Alberta Awards of Excellence in Housing at the annual conference
of the Canadian Home Builders Association (Alberta) recently. The awards
honour the top builders and renovators in the province with judging in
16 categories from 209 entries.
Sept. 18, 2009
Lacombe County to Co-Sponsor
Resolutions
Lacombe County has agreed to co-sponsor two resolutions at the Alberta
Association of Municipal Districts and Counties in November at Edmonton.
One is with Mountain View County that the association's transportation
committee study the potential impact of high speed rail on rural areas.
The other is with Clearwater County asking the province to make it clear
the nature of consultation required with First Nations on projects that
potentially impact native communities as outlined in the new Land Use
Framework.
Industrial Park Proposed Near
Eckville
Lacombe County council has given first reading to rezone a 43-acre
property north of Eckville from agricultural to business industrial for
the proposed Medicine Valley Industrial Park. The 24 light industrial
lots would be built in two phases and would be suitable for light
manufacturing, welding, warehousing, trucking or similar types of
businesses. The first phase lots could be ready by early next summer.
The plan fits in with the intermunicipal development plan adopted by the
town and county.
Federal Grant Helps Create Ponoka
Activity Centre
A federal grant from the Community Adjustment Fund of $87,000 will help
the Town of Ponoka convert the former water treatment plant into a
community activity centre. The $175,000 project is expected to be
completed by the end of 2010. The building is no longer needed for its
original purpose since the town is now part of the intermunicipal water
commission which gets its water from Red Deer.
Sept. 17, 2009
Canyon Ski Hill Preparing for New Season
Canyon Ski Hill, 10 minutes east of Red Deer, will continue to operate
this winter for their 42nd year in spite of ongoing negotiations with
the City of Red Deer and Red Deer County about the sale of the facility.
A renovated snow making system will boost its capacity by 40% and
upgrades have been made to the snowboard park. Alberta's largest
non-mountain ski area, the 240-acre facility boasts 13 runs and 5
lifts with more than 160 metres of vertical. The city and county have
been working on a deal to purchase the property that was originally
listed for $3.1 million. A deal is expected by the new year.
Studio Space Suggested for Former Transit
Barns
The president of Artscape of Toronto is suggesting that the vacant
transit barns in the former civic yards in Riverlands west of downtown
Red Deer be used for affordable studio and living space for artists. It
could be of particular significance for Red Deer College which graduates
dozens of visual artists, filmmakers, musicians and actors who could
remain in the city and help in the revitalization of the Riverlands
area.
Former Federal Minister Addresses
Chamber
Perrin Beatty, head of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and former
federal cabinet minister, addressed the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce at
a luncheon yesterday. He indicated that the federal government needs to
put the economy ahead of partisan politics and personal interest. To
maintain the country's competitive advantage, he said that Canada needs
to increase the skills of its workforce, encourage innovation, invest in
people and technology, commercialize knowledge and enhance our
relationship with the U.S.
Redevelopment Plan Passes First Hurdle
The Red Deer municipal planning commission has decided to recommend to
city council that the Riverside Meadows area development and community
plans north of the river be approved. The plan calls for expansion of
the mixed commercial and residential district, denser development east
of Kerry Wood Drive, creation of community garden plots and community
uses of the Valley Park Manor nursing home site.
Sept. 16, 2009
New Scheduled Air Services Announced
The
Red Deer Regional Airport announced yesterday at a news conference at
the terminal in Springbrook several new scheduled
passenger services involving both a new airline to the airport as well
as an established one. Swanberg Air based in Grande Prairie will start
regular service from Red Deer to Edmonton and Grande Prairie on October 13 on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays with connections to Dawson Creek, Fort
St. John and Fort Nelson.
On
November 12, the Swanberg service will be expanded south and east to
Calgary, Swift Current, Regina and Estevan on Mondays, Tuesdays and
Fridays. Also announced was a planned expansion of service by
Northwestern Air currently offering twice-weekly service to Fort
McMurray. Pending necessary approvals, the company plans to add
scheduled service from Red Deer to Kelowna and Abbotsford in the spring
of 2010. Both airlines use 16-passenger Jetstream turboprop aircraft. The
expanded service is part of an overall plan to eventually have direct
service connecting Red Deer with Vancouver and Toronto. For several
months, the airport authority has been discussing such a proposed
service with Air Canada Jazz.
New Parking Lot Approved for Fort Normandeau
The Red Deer County municipal planning commission has given approval to
the City of Red Deer to build a 65-stall parking lot at Fort Normandeau
to facilitate better recreational use and access to the Red Deer River.
In part to reduce concerns of area residents, a chain link fence will be
installed around the lot with a gate to be locked after hours, a number
of trash bins placed inside the lot, creation of an enforcement and
educational plan to aid in maintaining safety on the river.
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