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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
August 2011 Part 2
Aug. 31, 2011
Airline to Terminate Red Deer Passenger
Service
Swanberg Air, Red Deer Regional Airport's only current scheduled
passenger airline, has announced that it will be terminating service in
early September in and
out of the airport due to lack of a sustainable number of passengers to
keep the service viable. The airline remains open to resume service if
demand warrants it. Swanberg has been offering 2-day-per-week service to
Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie. When the carrier began service at
the airport two years ago, it offered service 5 days per week. The
airport authority is currently advocating for an east-west scheduled
passenger service to Kelowna and Vancouver. In the meantime, the airport
remains very busy and has a booming charter business. In July, the
airport had the highest number of aircraft movements, at 8,000, among
Canada's regional airports.
Study Identifies Regional Tourism Gaps
A new study on the impact of tourism in Red Deer indicates that there a
number of areas where the city and region could improve potential
visitor markets. Only about 11% of the $258 million spent by visitors in
2008 went toward accommodation in the region, compared with the
provincial average around 25%, indicating that most visitors only visit
for the day. One recommendation of the report suggests increasing the
'menu' of events and attractions. The study also indicated that 1.8
million of the almost 2 million visitors came from within the province.
Aug. 29, 2011
Centennial of North Red Deer Celebrated
More than 200 people attended the centennial celebration of the former
Village of North Red Deer recently with several guest speakers including
Alberta's Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett, Red Deer provincial MLAs
Mary Anne Jablonski and Cal Dallas, and Red Deer Mayor Morris
Flewwelling. Master of Ceremonies was city archivist and historian
Michael Dawe. North Red Deer, a village from 1911 to 1947 when it became
part of the city of Red Deer, consists of the communities of Riverside
Meadows (formerly Lower Fairview), (Upper) Fairview, Oriole Park and
Highland Green. The area once had a diverse population including a large
French Canadian community and was home to St. Joseph's Convent and a
large lumber mill.
The Riverside Meadows Community Association, considered one of the most
active such organization in the city, hosted the event with a variety of
music, dancing, children's activities, birthday cake and a display of
historical photos. Community leaders helped restore the century-old
North Cottage School and the CPR river bridge that is now part of the
Waskasoo Park trail system and Trans Canada Trail.
Symposium Showcases International
Sculptors
The Bergen Rocks Sculpture Symposium concluded this weekend at Red Deer
College with seven marble sculptures reflecting society and life by
artists from China, Mongolia, Korea, Turkey and Italy. The works were
carved out over the past month in outdoor workshops open to the viewing
public. It was the first year the event was held at the college. In
previous years, it was at the founder's home at the tiny community of
Bergen Alberta. Some of the works will remain in Red Deer and the rest
will be moved to Bergen.
Aug. 27, 2011
Lacombe County to Purchase Land Near
Lake
Lacombe County council has agreed to purchase a treed 3-acre picturesque
piece of land next to Lacombe Lake that includes a day-use area and is
on the route of the planned Trans Canada Trail between Blackfalds and
Lacombe. The county had been leasing the land valued at $33,000 from
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. It is the last remaining land
around the lake that is not privately owned.
Aug. 26, 2011
Francophone School Planned for City
Southeast
The Greater North Central Francophone Education Region is looking at a
site in the Anders subdivision in the southeast part of Red Deer for its
kindergarten to Grade 12 Ecole LaPrairie replacement school. The site is
currently designated a kindergarten to Grade 8 school site for the Red
Deer Public School District. However the public school division
anticipates no future need for the site as it has several sites in the
area that are more suitable for new schools. The new school will be one
of four schools in the Red Deer area approved by the province recently
to be completed by 2014.
Gull Lake Resort Subdivision Approved
Lacombe County council has approved subdivision for the first stage of
the Sandy Point RV Resort development that consists of about 540 lots
built in six phases over the next decade. The first stage includes 68 RV
lots, 156 slips in an inland marina, a boat launch, 18-hole golf course,
swimming pool and other recreational amenities. Access to the lakeshore
will be through a 30-metre wide boat launch and a 240-metre long beach.
Due to several concerns from area residents, the project has been scaled
back from the original 3,200 proposed lots.
Aug. 25, 2011
Little Gaetz
Revitalization Well Under Way
A $4.3 million revitalization project to enhance Gaetz Avenue downtown
from 51 Street to 48 Street is well under way. Wet weather early in July
delayed the project, much to the frustration of local businesses.
Started in mid-June, it was anticipated that the construction would be
finished by the end of August but it will likely be the end of September
before the project is finished. The project includes new underground
services, repaving, adding paving stones, heritage street lights, more
trees, special signing and sidewalk enhancements. A second $4.7 million
phase will extend the revitalization north and south in 1913.
CMHC Again Revises Housing
Forecast for
2011
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) has again reduced its projections for
new housing in Red Deer during 2011 in its quarterly forecast. The new
estimates are that 505
homes, 330 single detached and 175 multi-family units, will be built in
the city this year, about 14% less than last year.
In 2010, there were 585 starts. In 2012, CMHC anticipates 575 housing
starts in Red Deer. The report added that the price
of resale homes is likely to average this year at $266,000 and increase
to $270,000 next year.
Aug. 22, 2011
Parks Centennial Celebrated at
Rocky
Historic Site
The Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site celebrated the 100th
anniversary of Parks Canada over the weekend with Bastions and Bones,
its version of Fab Forts, a national celebration in honour of the
world's first national park service. The event included a harvest
barbecue, blacksmithing demonstration, fur trade activities, music,
firing of the cannon and muskets, puppet show, variety show and
kayaking.
Historic Tractor Parade Highlights
Pioneer Days
The Parade of Power, a gathering of about 50 vintage tractors from the
1930s, 1940s and 1950s that travelled along some of Red Deer's streets,
highlighted the weekend Pioneer Days celebration at the Sunnybrook Farm
Museum in the south part of the city. The annual event celebrates the
rural history of Central Alberta with activities that include a farmer's
breakfast, homestead and threshing demonstrations and pioneer games.
Jazz at the Lake Stages Another
Successful Year
The 4-day 9th annual Jazz at the Lake at Sylvan Lake has wrapped up one
of its most successful to date. The event blends the sounds of soul,
jazz, R&B and blues at several venues throughout the town. This year's
featured entertainers were Juno and Gemini award winner Tommy Banks,
Juno award nominee Michael Kaeshammer and several other world-class
musicians.
Aug. 20, 2011
Proposed New Sylvan Lake Town Hall Over
Budget
Plans for a new administrative centre for the Town of Sylvan Lake will
likely need to be scaled back since the lowest tender for constructing
the proposed building came in at $8.8 million, 22% more than the $7
million budgeted. Consultants are looking at ways to cut costs and
report back to council at a later date since council has indicated that
it is not prepared to go over budget.
Aug. 19, 2011
Red Deerians Happy
With Quality of Life
An Ipsos Reid poll released recently indicated that 97% of Red Deer
residents feel good or very good about their quality of life. A similar
survey done in 2010 indicated that 99% said they were happy and in 2009,
it was 95%. Reasons include good amenities and services, good parks,
green spaces and recreation facilities, and employment and job
opportunities. In terms of tax value, 89% said they receive good value
for their taxes. The survey also indicated that the biggest challenges
for the city are roads and transportation.
Red Deer Finalist for
Cultureville 2011
The Hub on Ross Street has established Red Deer as one of six finalists
in the provincial Cultureville 2011 competition sponsored by CBC
(Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) in celebration of Alberta Arts Days
and CBC's 75th anniversary. The downtown facility began as an activity
centre for adults with developmental disabilities and has since grown
into an arts, cultural and entertainment centre. Other communities
nominated are Jasper, Camrose, Peace River, Rosebud and Tsuu T'ina First
Nation west of Calgary. The winner will be announced September 29.
Aug. 18, 2011
New Cancer Centre Expansion Well Underway
Foundational work on the $46 million expansion of the new 2-storey,
5,000 sq. ft. Central Alberta Cancer Centre is expected to be completed
by the end of September with the exterior getting underway in the fall.
The new building, expected to be completed in March 2013, is being built
next to the existing cancer centre on the southwest side of the Red Deer
Regional Hospital Centre. It will triple the size of the current
facility and will add radiation therapy requiring very thick walls. The
building design will accommodate 3 more storeys in the future.
TEDxRedDeer Conference Set for October
TEDxRed Deer (Technology, Entertainment, Design), a non-profit group
that arranges speaker conferences spreading various ideas of
connectivity, has announced such a conference in Red Deer on October 20
at the Scott Block downtown. The committee chose 11 speakers of 50 that
applied to speak on diverse topics including nature, trust, history,
culture and more.
Innovative Gull Lake Housing Project
Approved
Lacombe County council has unanimously approved a 88-lot, 134-acre
housing project on the east side of Gull Lake. Although engineering work
has begun, construction is not expected for another year. The project
includes a new technology in the region that turns sewage into compost
and cleans grey water.
Area Home Sales Activity Up Over Last
Year
Multiple Listing Service (MLS) statistics released by Central Alberta
Realtors Association indicate that 359 homes in the Red Deer area in
July, up 27% from the same month in 2010. Within the city, sales were up
from 126 in July 2010 to 150 this year while in the surrounding region
209 sales were recorded last month. Year to date, sales in Red Deer and
the area are up to 2,279, 9% ahead of the first seven months last year.
The July average selling price in Red Deer was around $291,000 while in
the surrounding area, the average was about $244,000, both lower than in
July 2010.
Aug. 17, 2011
City and County Support
Memorial Cup Bid
The City of Red Deer has provided a $300,000 guarantee and Red Deer
County another $150,000 guarantee in support of a bid to bring the
Memorial Cup national junior hockey championship to Red Deer in 2013.
It's possible that the money won't be needed but the bid requires the
guarantee. The annual event has not been held in Alberta since 1974 and
would likely attract $18 million in economic spinoffs to the area. It is
expected that five hotels will be needed to house officials, teams and
others associated with the tournament and plans are underway to fly
teams into the Red Deer Regional Airport. The Centrium at Westerner Park
is planning to undergo major renovations and expansion next year.
Kelowna and Saskatoon are also bidding on the championship.
Aug. 16, 2011
Half of Newly-Available Nordegg Lots Sold
Fourteen of 24 leisure residential lots mostly around 1 acre in size
suitable for cottage style homes and one of four reclaimed rural
residential lots around 2 acres in size within the Nordegg town site
were recently sold by Clearwater County. It was a dramatic change from
four years ago when more than 200 people vied for 22 lots then
available.
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