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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
May 2010 Part 2
May 29, 2010
Lacombe Trail Pioneer Guest at CARTS AGM
At the recent annual general meeting of the Central Alberta Regional
Trails Society (CARTS), Lacombe trail pioneer Bill Nielsen led the group
on a tour of some of the town's trails and gave a short talk on how he
helped develop those trails. The marathon runner moved to Lacombe in
1996 and proceeded to carve out 15 km of new soft trails on his own in
undeveloped areas of the town. Later he chaired Lacombe's parks and
recreation board and set up a subcommittee to work on developing a trail
plan for the town. In 2008 he completed his 100th marathon. Another
speaker, Paul Pettypiece, outlined the history of the now-abandoned
Alberta Central Railway which may some day become a regional trail
between Red Deer and Sylvan Lake.
May 28, 2010
Several Highway 2
Improvement Projects Proceed
Two interchanges along Highway 2, one at Highway 11A at Red Deer and the
other at Highway 12 at Lacombe, are being modified this year replacing
the cloverleaf design with a more modern diamond design. When the
existing interchanges were built in the 1960s, traffic volumes were
around 6,500 vehicles per day compared to the current 25,000 vehicles
per day and up to 50,000 around Red Deer on a Friday night. A similar
project is planned for the Highway 27 interchange at Olds where the
province is also planning a large rest area on the northeast corner.
Province to Build Two More
Roundabouts
Due to the success of the roundabout built in Sylvan Lake at the
intersection of Highways 20 and 11A a couple of years ago, the province
is planning to build two more in Central Alberta. Alberta
Transportation's infrastructure manager, Brian Reid, told Lacombe County
council that a similar project is planned for the intersection of
Highways 2A and 597 at Blackfalds to begin within three years. Another
one is planned for the intersection of Highways 13 and 21 near Camrose.
Interchange Upgrade Planned at Red Deer
South
Alberta Transportation is planning to start a major upgrade at the south
Red Deer Highway 2 interchange near Gasoline Alley within the next three
years. The plan includes a flyover for Gaetz Avenue southbound traffic
to merge on the right rather than the left side of the highway.
Additional access roads are planned for the Taylor Drive interchange and
a revised access to Gasoline Alley. The large project is expected to
built in stages over several years.
Blackfalds to Blindman
River Trail to be
Built
Lacombe County will be building a 2 km 2-metre-wide paved trail this
summer to connect the town of Blackfalds south to the new pedestrian
bridge over the Blindman River. A $60,000 day-use area is also being
constructed on the north side of the river which will include a washroom
and several picnic tables. The section of Trans Canada Trail is part of
a 71-km route between Penhold and Ponoka. Other sections completed or
close to completion link Penhold and Springbrook, north of Ponoka
including the new Battle River bridge, trails within the towns of Ponoka,
Lacombe and Blackfalds and a large network within the city of Red Deer.
City Kin Kanyon Park to be Redeveloped
A proposed plan to redevelop Kin Kanyon Park north of 32 Street in Red
Deer over the next 10 years was presented to the public recently. A
component of the city's large and popular Waskasoo Park system that was
developed several years ago, it will be given a face-lift that includes
a large spray park, a new hall, a larger parking lot, a new trail, new
sidewalk, new washrooms, an upgraded picnic area and refurbished ice
rinks. Once feedback is tabulated, the plan will go to city council for
approval.
May 27, 2010
Pedestrian Bridges
Airlifted to Natural Park
A heavy-lift helicopter from British Columbia was used recently to
install two pedestrian bridges each weighing 7,250 kg (16,000 lbs) in
Red Deer's Maskepetoon Park located on the north side of the river
across from Heritage Ranch along the western boundary of the city. The
Maskepetoon Park Master Plan was approved by city council in 2008 to
guide the low impact development of the 30-hectare ecologically
sensitive natural area. Aside from giving residents a natural area to
enjoy, the development of the park will discourage the use of off-road
vehicles that cause environmental damage to the tamarack fen area, mixed
white spruce area, wetlands and animal habitat. The trails are expected
to be completed by the end of the year with interpretive signage
completed next year and the project completed by 2012.
May 26, 2010
Upgrades Completed at Ellis
Bird Farm
The Ellis Bird Farm, 15 km southeast of Lacombe, has replaced the old
kitchen of the teahouse that was on an old foundation of large boulders
with a new one almost double in size. The ecotourism facility also
expanded the pier landing at the wetland that includes a resting and
viewing area near the water. Known for its conservation of mountain
bluebirds, the bird farm was selected to participate in artist Robert
Bateman's Get to Know Virtual Hike program that helps youth connect with
nature. The facility is open daily except Monday until September 6.
Multi-family Building to be Built on
Historic Site
An 8-unit single storey residential building is being planned for a site
where prime minister Wilfrid Laurier drove the first spike of the
Alberta Central Railway one hundred years ago in August. The site is on
49 Avenue near 35 Street, east of the Capri Convention Centre.
Originally the site was slated for a 12-unit 3-storey building with
underground parking but it did not proceed due to the economic downturn.
The company owner hopes to incorporate the history of the site into the
design and name of the building.
May 25, 2010
Red Deer
Public Market Starts 40th Season
An estimated 12,000 people turned out for the opening day of the 40th
season of the Red Deer Public Market on Saturday morning at the Arena
parking lot on the southeast side of the downtown. A huge range of items
were for sale from chocolates, pancakes and pastries to plants, bedding
and hula hoops as well as locally-grown organic produce. A total of 181
vendors set up this year compared to 202 for opening day in 2009. Former
teacher, artist and city councillor Dennis Moffat, now 76, initiated the
market 40 years ago and is still operating the very popular enterprise.
The market currently does about $2 million of business during the 100
hours of the season.
May 21, 2010
Sylvan Lake Lakefront
Homes Priciest in Canada
The 2010 Re/max Recreational Property Report states that a standard
3-bedroom Sylvan Lake home on prime winterized lakefront property starts
at about $1.2 million, similar to a comparable home on Lake Windermere
in British Columbia and higher than the nearly 50 other Canadian resort
communities considered in the report. Although there are some less prime
properties as low as $600,000, there are also properties as high as $2.5
million according to the report. Typical buyers of these properties are
identified as oil executives from Calgary or Edmonton, 35 to 45 years
old with families. The report goes on to say that back row homes are
going for less than $500,000, smaller cottages upwards from $600,000 and
water-access properties upwards from $800,000. Most of the other
high-priced waterfront resort properties are located in B.C. and lowest
are in Newfoundland. Previous recent-year reports have had Sylvan Lake
waterfront properties approximately in the same price range but some
B.C. properties had been listed higher in past years.
Green Jobs a Means to Economic Prosperity
A public panel was recently held in downtown Red Deer to discuss future
job opportunities in Alberta. The panel included consultant and author
David Thompson who wrote 'Green Jobs: It's Time to Build Alberta's
Future', executive director of Public Interest Alberta Bill Moore-Kilgannon,
local businessman Paul Harris and Red Deer mayor Morris Flewwelling.
Thompson indicated that investment in clean energy, energy efficiency,
transit and high-speed rail could compensate for recent job losses and
changes in the oil and gas industry. The event was sponsored by several
organizations including ReThink Red Deer, an awareness and advocacy
group promoting green energy, sustainable planning and changing
attitudes about food supply.
Mid-Week Downtown Market Launched
The Red Deer Downtown Business Association is launching a Wednesday
evening farmers market at the former Arlington Inn site 4-7 pm between
June 2 and October 6. About 10 to 15 vendors will offer mostly locally
grown food produced within a 60-mile radius of the city. The new venture
is expected to compliment the 40-year-old Red Deer Public Market held
every Saturday morning during the summer on the southeast side of
downtown.
CAEP Initiates Video Marketing for the
Region
Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP), an alliance of several
regional municipalities, has launched 43 community-specific investment
attraction videos to showcase the story, diversity, quality of life,
attractions and opportunities of Central Alberta. The videos will be
used online, at trade shows, local facilities and presented to
interested prospects.
May 20, 2010
CMHC Increases Optimism for City Housing
Starts
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has issued its second quarter
housing market outlook for Red Deer and is predicting 720 housing starts
this year, up from 700 predicted in the first quarter outlook. In 2009,
work was started on 497 homes in Red Deer, 333 single-detached and 164
multi-family. CMHC is predicting 900 starts in 2011 of which 530 are
expected to be single-detached. Starts so far this year in Red Deer is
the biggest percent increase among Alberta's largest urban centres.
Alberta Chamber Adopts Several Red Deer Policies
Almost a third of 35 policies passed by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce
last week in Lethbridge were brought forward by the Red Deer Chamber of
Commerce. Nine of ten policies sponsored or co-sponsored by Red Deer and
developed by local members in some of the ten chamber policy committees
were passed at the annual general meeting. Several of the policies were
agriculture-related.
Optimist Club Celebrates 50 Years
The Optimist Club of Red Deer is celebrating its 50th year with a dinner
at the end of May where long-term and charter members will be
recognized. Over the years, the club has raised over a million dollars
for youth and community programs. One of its earliest contributions was
the establishment of the Red Deer Opti-Corps, a 40-piece trumpet and
drum marching band with instructors from RCAF Penhold. Guest speaker
will be historian Michael Dawe.
25 Years of Alix Trail to be Celebrated
The Alix Nature Trail Society is celebrating 25 years of a gravel path
that stretches for more than six km from the east end of the village to
the west, winding through trees and always fairly close to Alix Lake. A
gathering at the community hall with refreshments and draw prizes will
be held June 19. Additional prizes will be available to those who walk
the entire trail.
May 18, 2010
Sylvan Lake Downtown Project Proposed
A new proposal for a troubled prime site in downtown Sylvan Lake may
revitalize the corner of Lakeshore Drive and 50th Street. A developer is
working with the owner of the vacant property to build a four and a half
storey building with ground-floor commercial space and condominiums
above. The site was once the location of a historic hotel built in 1910
in Suffield and moved to Sylvan Lake in the 1920s to replace another
hotel that had burned down. The hotel was torn down in 2002 to make way
for a 7-storey conference centre and hotel. In 2005, the town approved a
revised plan for a 9-storey building with ground-floor commercial space
and 94 condominium units. However, only the underground parkade was
built and the town branded the site an eyesore. Town council will
discuss the new proposal in July.
Sweet 16 Highlights an Attraction Each
Week
Central Alberta Tourism Committee has officially launched its Alberta
Sweet 16 campaign for the third year that will highlight one event each
week for 16 weeks during the summer as well as provide information on
about 1,300 other regional activities and attractions on its website at
www.albertasweet16.com. The
10 committee members include the municipalities of Innisfail, Lacombe,
Ponoka, Red Deer County, Rimbey, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, Sylvan
Lake and Wetaskiwin as well as Tourism Red Deer.
City to Create Own Planning Department
The City of Red Deer has decided to form its own planning department by
December after 15 years of contracting out to Parkland Community
Planning Services, a regional planning co-operative. The advantages of
the change to the city is that both planning and development services
will be in the same building and the cost of those services will be
less. It is expected that the co-operative will continue with its 18
remaining regional municipal members but changes are likely.
City Launches Downtown
Ambassador Project
Red Deer city council has approved funding for a pilot Ambassador
Program in which two commissionaires dressed in red will stroll the city
downtown greeting and assisting visitors and watching out for crime. The
program came out of a meeting of the recently-created SAFE Downtown
committee.
Lacombe Family Skateboard Plaza Being
Planned
Plans are underway to build a family skateboard plaza in Lacombe on an
acre of land in Michener Park donated by the town. The town has also set
aside $125,000 toward the $500,000 project that is expected to be open
in the fall of 2011. The skateboard committee plans a space for both
skateboarders and BMX bike riders as well as green space for families to
enjoy.
Residential Sales Slightly Ahead of Last
Year
Although the number of Red Deer homes sold in April at 156 were down
from the same month last year at 178, the total sold from January to
April were up slightly. Outside the city, April sales were ahead of last
year with 177 processed this year and 163 in 2009. Year to date,
surrounding regional sales were at 549 compared to 546 for the same
period last year. The median price of single family dwellings was up for
both the city and surrounding area as were listings.
May 17, 2010
Lindhout Launches Scholarships for Somali
Women
Amanda Lindhout, the 28-year-old journalist from Sylvan Lake who spent
15 months in captivity in Somalia and was released last November,
launched her scholarship program for Somali women over the weekend. She
hopes to send 100 women from Somalia to university over the next four
years. Lindhout has set up the Global Enrichment Foundation and is
giving up journalism to learn how to set up sustainable development
programs for the Third World. Much of her inspiration came from her days
of captivity and her experiences observing the plight of women in some
parts of Africa.
Crestomere School Opens Naturalized
Classroom
Staff and the 150 students of K-9 Crestomere School, located 20 km west
of Ponoka, have been working on a project to naturalize a 40x60 metre
site over the past four years to be used as an outdoor classroom and
study area. A circle of round boulders is shaded by 50-year-old willow
and maple trees. The ongoing project will include pathways, gardens with
native plants, planting apple trees and a dry creek bed with bridges.
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