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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
April 2010 Part
1
Apr. 15, 2010
Bond Program to Provide Regional Care
Beds
Alberta Infrastructure has announced that the Red Deer region will get
276 new or upgraded continuing care beds over the next two years.
Convenant Health, the largest Catholic health care provider in Canada,
has submitted a plan to build a new $25 million 100-unit assisted living
facility in Red Deer. In Lacombe, Christenson Communities of Edmonton
will develop 88 beds and in Stettler, a continuing care partnership will
create 88 beds.
New Sushi Restaurant Serves Food by Train
The new ChopStix Sushi Train restaurant in downtown Red Deer is using a
miniature train to convey some of the food items. A replica CP Rail
engine pulls nine flatdeck cars around the sushi bar enabling patrons to
grab plates of food as they pass by. The restaurant is at the corner of
Gaetz Avenue and 48 Street (Alexander Way), once the location of
Monsieur Wongs.
Apr. 14, 2010
Manufacturers Like Region's Quality of
Life
A recent survey of 150 manufacturers by Red Deer Regional Economic
Development indicated that although 2009 was a rough year, most cited
quality of life as the primary reason why the region is a good place to
do business. Of the companies taking part in the survey, 36% anticipated
a boost in payrolls in 2010 while 11% predicted cuts. Almost 95% gave
the region an excellent or good rating for doing business as a result of
low tax rates, no business tax, competitive transportation costs and
availability of labour. The high rating for quality of life gives the
region a competitive advantage over Calgary and Edmonton.
Sylvan Lake Road Realignment to Proceed
Sylvan Lake town council has decided to proceed with the $7 million
realignment of Lakeshore Drive this summer although the project will
cost $1 million more than anticipated. The total cost of the lakefront
improvement project is estimated to be $24 million. The town's
Centennial Park will be expanded and improved with traffic diverted a
street to the south to provide a large recreational area with lake
access so visitors are not dodging traffic to get to the beach.
Apr. 13, 2010
Residential
Construction Starts Up Sharply
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reports that Red Deer had a record 128
housing starts in March compared to only 20 during the same month a year
ago and 88 in March 2007. March's starts included 101 multi-family units
and 27 single family homes compared to 4 and 16 respectively in March
2009. Year to date, Red Deer's 78 single-detached starts and 130
multi-family starts are up sharply from the 50 single-detached starts
and 8 multi-family starts recorded for the first quarter of 2009.
Elsewhere in the region during the first quarter compared to 2009,
Lacombe starts increased from 14 to 50 and Sylvan Lake starts increased
from 10 to 34.
Shakespearean Plays Planned for Bower
Ponds
Prime Stock Theatre is planning to stage Shakespeare in the Park at the
renovated outdoor stage at Red Deer's Bower Ponds this summer. Two
Shakespeare comedies, 'The Comedy of Errors' and 'Much Ado About
Nothing', would alternate runs from July 22 to August 7. The group
previously produced the Shake at the Lake festival in Sylvan Lake but
this would be the first time for performances in Red Deer.
Apr. 10, 2010
Airport
Passengers Double in a Year
The Red Deer Regional Airport Authority is reporting that during the
first quarter of 2010 passenger traffic is almost double that of the
same period a year ago in spite of unusual foggy weather. It is
considered to indicate improved economic activity for the region.
Much of the traffic is through Grand Prairie-based Swanberg Air which
has increased its northern flights from three to five times per week.
Swanberg also offers service through Calgary to Swift Current, Regina
and Estevan, Sask. four times per week. In addition, Northwestern Air
Lease operates flights to Fort McMurray twice a week.
Public Washroom Being Built at Downtown Park
An environmentally-friendly public washroom building is being
constructed at the Centennial Plaza Park south of the popular fountain
spray and wading pool downtown. The facility is expected to be completed
prior to the May long weekend. The park itself was built in 2005.
Apr. 9, 2010
Changes Proposed for City
Railyards District
About 30 people attended an open house recently to see what zoning
changes are being proposed for the Railyards district, sometimes
referred to as Cannery Row, an area ripe for redevelopment between the
downtown and the river north of Ross Street. The area has historically
been mostly industrial and included the northern portion of the former
CP railway yards that were moved twenty years ago. Most of the
industrial users have either already relocated or plan to relocate in
the near future. The proposed Direct Control District would provide that
future development would be in line with the Greater Downtown Action
Plan, adopted by the City a year ago, encouraging mixed-use high density
residential and commercial construction. The area would also become more
pedestrian-friendly with better linkages with the existing downtown and
the future redevelopment of the Riverlands district to the south. Prior
to further development, an Area Redevelopment Plan will need to be
completed.
Apr. 8, 2010
Travelaire Story Comes to a Close
One of Red Deer's most prominent manufacturing companies, Travelaire, is
wrapping up after more than 40 years of RV production in the city. The
idea developed in 1962 by former owners Bill McCartney and Bert Sladden
and the first production of Travelaire trailers occurred in Edmonton the
following year with very humble beginnings in a 5,000 sq. ft. building.
In 1966, the company moved to Red Deer and built a new 22,000 sq. ft.
factory. The company was sold to Neonex International in 1969 but was
bought back by the original owners in 1974. The company was sold again
in 1988 to Firan Corporation which became part of Glendale International
in 1999. The plant was closed at the beginning of this year when
Glendale declared bankruptcy and is today selling off its assets in a
bankrupt auction.
Regional Home Sales Moving Up
The Central Alberta Realtors Association reports that sales of single
family homes in Red Deer during March reached 85, up 18% from February
and 4% higher than for the same month in 2009. Elsewhere in the region,
sales of single family homes reached 125, a 56% increase over the
preceding month but 9% lower than March 2009. However, for all of types
of housing, the region saw a 9.5% increase from a year earlier but Red
Deer saw a decrease of 2.5%. The average price of a single family home
in Red Deer last month was over $357,000, a 2% increase from February
and almost a 9% increase over March 2009. In rural areas, the average
price of a single family home in March was $275,000.
Apr. 7, 2010
Mid Summer Opening for North City
Rec
Centre
The newly renovated G.H. Dawe Community Centre in north Red Deer is
expected to open August 1. The $29.9 million project will have five pool
basins, two water slides, a sauna, steam room, three multi-purpose
rooms, a gymnasium, fitness and workout space, food services and a
branch of the Red Deer Public Library. The Dawe Centre had closed March
31, 2008 and was originally expected to reopen in 18-24 months.
Apr. 6, 2010
Disney Institute Coming to Red Deer
The Red Deer Chamber of Commerce, Westerner Park and Alberta Employment
and Immigration are bringing the Disney Institute to Red Deer May 20.
The training program offers Disney's Approach to Inspiring Creativity
highlighting some of the best practices used by the Walt Disney
Corporation in its operations. Registration is being processed by the
Chamber.
Apr. 5, 2010
Water and Sewer Project Proceeds at
Nordegg
Clearwater County is proceeding with a major $9 million water and sewer
project including the construction of a sewage lagoon and lift stations
for the town site of Nordegg in order to facilitate future development.
Due to the economic downtown the cost of the project is expected to be
$2 million less than originally estimated and should be completed by
spring of 2011. Although there is a market for acreage-style
development, there is also a demand for fully-serviced housing lots.
Apr. 2, 2010
New City River Water Intake Completed
A temporary dam of earth and rock that had helped divert some Red Deer
River flow so that a new water intake system could be constructed for
the water treatment plant on the north bank of the river is being
removed as construction is now completed except for the building housing
the intake, landscaping and
rebuilding the trail. The more efficient new system will take in
as much as 150 million litres of water a day, compared to the 90 million
litres of the previous intake in mid-river that will be used as a
backup.
Trochu Consolidation Results in School
Sale
The Golden Hills School Division, which closed the Pontmain School in
Trochu last September and consolidated the 100 grade 1-3 students with
the town's Trochu Valley School, has listed the former school and the
3-acre parcel for sale. The division now has a high priority to
modernize the main 340-student school or replace it with a new
structure. The original Pontmain School opened in 1912 as a Catholic
school but became part of the division in 1969. The current building
that is for sale was built in 1959 as a 4-classroom school with two
classrooms added in 1966 and another addition in 1988.
City Residential Permits Almost Double
Last Year
For the first three months of 2010, Red Deer's residential permits
issued has risen to $18.5 million compared to $9.5 million for the same
period in 2009. In March, it was more dramatic with $7.3 million worth
of permits compared to $2.4 million for the same month last year.
However, permits for commercial, industrial and public projects during
the first quarter of the year are down. Total permits issued for January
to March this year are valued at $22.3 million compared to $17.1 million
last year.
Two Historic Villages Vote Against
Dissolution
The small villages of Gadsby and Donalda have voted against dissolution
of their village status. The non-binding vote has been submitted to
Alberta Municipal Affairs for a final recommendation to provincial
cabinet. Dissolution would mean becoming hamlets of Stettler County. The
tiny community of Gadsby is the smallest village in Alberta with only 29
residents. Donalda has a population of 250 and celebrates its centennial
in 2012. It boasts the world's biggest oil lamp at nearly 13 metres tall
and a museum with more than 900 lamps dating back to the 1600s. There is
a possibility that the Stettler steam train excursions will be extended
to the community in the near future.
City's Oldest Bowling Alley Closes
The Red Deer Bowladrome, that has operated since at least 1954 in the
city's downtown, has closed its doors and will consolidate with
Riverside Bowl, owned by the same company, on the east side of downtown.
The historic facility went from 16 lanes to 24 lanes in 1974 and offered
both 5-pin and 10-pin bowling.
Apr. 1, 2010
Red Deer Ronald
McDonald House Breaks Ground
The first new Ronald McDonald House to be built in Canada in 16 years
broke ground recently after the fundraising goal of $8 million was
surpassed by $1.6 million needed to start construction. The 3-storey,
11-suite, $12 million facility will provide low-cost accommodation for
Central Alberta families with critically ill babies, sick children and
high-risk pregnancies being treated at the nearby Red Deer Regional
Hospital Centre. An estimated 400 families annually are expected to stay
at the house. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada donated $2.1
million recently and the Alberta government's Community Facility and
Enhancement Program has committed $1.8 million. The ground-breaking
ceremony included fundraiser chair Lyn Radford, MLA Cal Dallas and
Olympian Melissa Hollingsworth. Construction is expected to be completed
by summer 2011.
Sod Turns for New RCMP Blackfalds
Building
Sod turning for a new $6.4 million protective services building in
Blackfalds, to be constructed near Highways 2 and 597, was held
recently. The building will include the entire 18 staff of the Red Deer
Rural detachment which will relocate from its current premises near
downtown Red Deer. It will also house the new Blackfalds detachment,
Blackfalds Fire Rescue, victim services, bylaw enforcement and traffic
services. The building will take about 6 acres of the 14 acre plot
purchased by the town for $1.7 million.
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