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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
November 2009 Part
1
Nov. 14, 2009
Blackfalds, Alix, Ponoka Get
Infrastructure Cash
Three Central Alberta municipalities will be receiving
federal-provincial infrastructure cash under the Building Canada
stimulus program. The federal and provincial governments are each
contributing $1.6 million toward Blackfalds' $4.7 million upgrades to
the town's sewage lift station. Each government is providing $823,400
towards the $2.5 million green corridor of park and leisure space as
well as infrastructure improvements in the village of Alix. And Ponoka
is receiving $240,000 from both levels of government for upgrades to the
town's waste water treatment system.
Nov. 12, 2009
Agri-Trade Attracts Crowds, Exhibitors
The 26th annual Agri-Trade, one of
North America's premier farm equipment and technology shows, opened
yesterday with big crowds and a full line of about 430 exhibitors.
Innovation awards and student bursaries were presented during the
opening luncheon.
Nov. 10, 2009
Group Wants Aquatic Centre as 2013
Project
A public meeting has heard that the Central Alberta Aquatic Society is
eyeing a new multi-use aquatics centre, including a 50-metre swimming
pool, as a city centennial project for 2013. The current four city pools
don't meet provincial standards to hold swimming meets. Additional uses
for a new facility could include synchronized swimming, water polo and
diving. The society prefers that the location of the facility be in
Riverlands but a recent study suggested that the best location is in the
redevelopment of Rotary Recreation Park on the east side of the city
downtown. Another challenge is that the recent economic downturn has
limited municipal and provincial funding of such projects.
Mountain View Partnership Recognized
The Mountain View County Municipal Area Partnership that includes the
towns of Carstairs, Didsbury, Olds and Sundre as well as the village of
Cremona has been awarded the provincial Municipal Affairs Award for
Municipal Excellence for developing an innovative process for working
together to seek sustainable and diversified tax bases under a regional
umbrella.
Nov. 9, 2009
New Cancer Centre Expected by 2012
A new expanded $60 million Central Alberta Cancer Centre, expected to
open in 2012, will allow 75-80% of people in the region needing
radiation for the most common types of cancer to receive it locally.
Once completed, the new 3,810 sq. metre facility will be more than
triple its present size and be able to accept almost double the number
of new patients as the current facility. The provincial government is
contributing $49 million while the federal government is contributing
$11 million for equipment and furnishings. Construction is expected to
begin early in 2010 on the west side of the Red Deer Regional Hospital
Centre.
Nov. 6, 2009
Innisfail Highway Bypass Now Open
A new alignment of Highway 54 on the west side of Innisfail connecting
with the south Innisfail interchange that was completed a couple of
years ago is now open. Until now, the highway went through the downtown.
The $6.5 million project involved 6 km of new highway construction with
two creek crossings and a crossing of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Nov. 5, 2009
Phase 2 of Expanded Air Service Launched
The second phase of Swanberg Air scheduled passenger service began
earlier this week at the Red Deer Regional Airport with hints that
further expansion could occur in the future. A morning flight from
Grande Prairie will stop in Red Deer and proceed to Calgary, Swift
Current, Regina and Estevan. The flight returns later the same day on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In October, the airline introduced
service from Calgary, stopping in Red Deer, and continuing to Edmonton
and Grande Prairie Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The two services
compliment the existing service between Red Deer and Fort McMurray by
Northwestern Air Lease.
New Hotel Being Built in Sylvan Lake
The Town of Sylvan Lake has issued a development permit for a 62-unit,
3-storey hotel with a waterslide and pool near a commercial growth area
close to Highway 20. Regional investors behind the project expect to
operate under an undisclosed major franchise brand and hope to be open
by July 2010.
Nov. 4, 2009
City Housing Start
Projections Up Sharply
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) is revising its forecast upward
for housing starts in Red Deer next year as a result of September starts
being more than double the same month in 2008, much larger than
expected. CMHC now predicts 475 starts this year, up from 430 a few
months ago, and 600 in 2010, up from 490 a few months ago. If the
projections are correct, it will represent an increase of 26% year over
year.
October Building Permits Valued at $12.7
Million
Red Deer building permits reached $12.7 million in October compared to
$8.7 million for the same month in 2008. A $2.8 million permit for the
Riverlands Gate office building contributed to the $3.7 million of
commercial permits. A $2.3 million permit for the city's new water
intake and upgrades at the water treatment plant contributed to the $2.4
million of industrial permits. Residential permits were up at $6.2
million compared to $5.8 million in October 2008.
Aviation Society Pursues First Stage of
Museum
A $200,000 project to build a replica of a H-Hut that housed servicemen
who took part in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the
Second World War is being planned for construction next year as the
first phase of a proposed $5 million museum to be built by the Harvard
Historical Aviation Society in Springbrook. Similar
structures would have been built in 1940 on the Penhold base site and
the name was derived from the shape of the building from the air. The
H-Hut replica will give the society enough room for a restoration shop,
museum space, gift shop and some rental space. Part of the reason for
proceeding with the smaller project first is that Alberta Aviation
Museum in Edmonton has offered the society a historic plane.
City Invests More in River Valley
Parks
Study
Red Deer city council has approved the spending of $55,000, in addition
to the $65,000 approved last year, for the River Valley and Tributaries
Park Concept Plan that is studying how to expand and develop Waskasoo
Park and protect the natural river valley as the municipality grows. The
study is being done with Red Deer County for a continuous intermunicipal
park system plan focussed on the flood plains and natural areas of the
Red Deer River, Blindman River, Waskasoo Creek and Piper Creek. Part of
the cost increase is due to aligning the study with Red Deer County's
open spaces master plan.
South City Neighbourhood Plan Approved
Red Deer city council has given third and final reading to the
Southpointe Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan for a 157-acre triangular
piece of land north of Highway 2 south and 19th Street and west of
Taylor Drive that will have office and commercial space, accommodate up
to 1,655 residents and will preserve 17 of the 21 acres of the treed
Bower Natural Area. It will also contain a proposed eco-innovation
business park on Red Deer College land.
Nov. 3, 2009
New Ronald McDonald House Approved
The Red Deer municipal planning commission has approved a $12 million,
19,000 sq. ft. Ronald McDonald House to be constructed east of the Red
Deer Regional Hospital Centre. The design uses five different exterior
colours, multiple roof peaks and imaginative windows. Providing space
for out-of-town families coping with with critically ill children and
high-risk pregnancies, it will feature 11 family units as well as play
areas, a large communal kitchen and office space for staff. It is hoped
that the facility will open in the summer of 2011. There are currently
12 similar facilities across Canada.
Central Alberta Cancer Centre
Expanding
A $41 million renovation and expansion of the Central Alberta Cancer
Centre in the southwest corner of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre
is expected to get underway in December and be completed in November
2011. The project will mean an additional 3,230 sq. metres of clinical
space for radiation therapy services, an additional 580 sq. metres for
three new radiation therapy vaults and renovation of the existing 887
sq. metre facility. The Centre first opened in November 1982, moving to
its current location in 2005, offering assessments and examinations,
chemotherapy, pain management and other services. The contractor chosen
for the construction is Stuart Olson which managed the recent civic
yards relocation in the city.
City Makes 50 Year Deal With
Westerner
Park
Red Deer city council has approved a 50-year arrangement that would
allow Westerner Park to expand onto the 115-acre city-owned former
landfill site, effectively doubling the park's area. The area includes
the Piper Creek natural area and a $400,000 off-leash dog park that the
city is currently developing.
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