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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
1
Aug. 15, 2011
Central Music Festival Continues to Grow
More than 1,000 people attended the fifth annual Central Music Festival
over the weekend just north of Red Deer along the Calgary and Edmonton
Trail. The event featured several family-friendly musical acts from
across Western Canada. The addition of camping, good weather and an
extra day helped attract more people this year.
Aug. 13, 2011
Greyhound Cancels Some Rural Bus Routes
Three Greyhound passenger bus routes will be eliminated in Central
Alberta in October including Red Deer to Rocky Mountain House, Red Deer
to Consort and Wetaskiwin to Camrose, all due to very low ridership
rates ranging from an average of 3 to less than 1. Recently the province
deregulated the bus transportation industry and refused to subsidize
Greyhound to maintain the service.
Aug. 12, 2011
Another Medical Clinic Proposed for Red
Deer
Red Deer municipal planning commission has approved the development of a
7,700 sq. ft. health centre along Gaetz Avenue south that will include a
walk-in clinic and pharmacy. The vacant site was once a Turbo, and later
Shell, gas and wash station demolished in 2004. Earlier this year,
Horizon Family Medicine opened a 3,100 sq. ft. medical centre in Real
Canadian Superstore downtown. Oasis Medical Centre plans to open a
clinic next year in the new Skyway Professional Centre north of the
hospital and a group of local physicians plan to open a clinic next year
in the new 32nd Street Crossing commercial building. However, the
downtown Parsons Clinic is expected to close next June.
Lindhout Returns to Somalia After Two
Years
Almost two years after being held captive in Somalia for 15 months,
30-year-old Amanda Lindhout of Sylvan Lake has returned to the country
to help provide food to 14,000 people experiencing the worst drought to
hit the region in 60 years. She is leading a coalition of Canadian
non-government organizations including her own Global Enrichment
Foundation. She and an Australian photographer were captured in August
2008 and released in November 2009 after a ransom was paid by friends,
family and others.
Aug. 11, 2011
Stantec to Relocate
to Executive Place
The design and consulting firm Stantec Inc. has announced that it will
be relocating its Red Deer office to the top 5 floors of the 12-storey
Executive Place downtown at the corner of 49 Avenue and Ross Street by
early 2012. The move of 160 employees mostly from the Professional
Building north of city hall will increase space from 28,000 sq. ft. to
38,000 sq. ft. Stantec is the first tenant of the $40 million office
building that was completed a year ago and the new lease is expected to
be the catalyst for more interest and activity. Founded in 1954, Stantec
provides design and consulting services in planning, architecture,
landscaping, building, transportation, environmental engineering and
land development. The Red Deer office is responsible for Central and
Northern Alberta excluding Edmonton. In 2009, Stantec received a Red
Deer Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award.
Taco Bell Coming to Red Deer
Red Deer municipal planning commission has given site approval for a
combined 3,100 sq. ft. Taco Bell-KFC restaurant including a
drive-through along north Gaetz Avenue on the same site as an existing
KFC which will be removed when the new building is completed next
spring. It will be the first Taco Bell outlet in Central Alberta. Two
other KFC outlets operate in the city as well as one in Gasoline Alley,
one in Ponoka and one in Rocky Mountain House. Taco Bell serves
fast-food tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos and other specialty items
with a Mexican flavour.
Aug. 10, 2011
City Residential Construction Jumps
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) reports that a jump in
residential construction in July gave Red Deer the highest
year-over-year increase in housing starts among Alberta's largest urban
centres. Last month, work started on 80 homes (of which 34 were single
detached and 46 were multi-family) compared to 42 starts a year earlier,
a 91% increase. Year to date however, housing starts are 23% behind last
year, close to the provincial average.
Gasoline Alley Sees Commercial Expansion
A corner in Gasoline Alley immediately south of Red Deer that currently
has a Petro-Canada gas bar, convenience store and liquor outlet is
expanding with the addition currently under construction of a Starbucks
Coffee, a Booster Juice outlet and Subway restaurant. The new businesses
are expected to be open by year-end. A car wash is also planned.
Furniture and Design Store Reopens
Downtown
Hudson Madison, a store that features interior design with furniture and
accessories, has reopened in the heart of downtown Red Deer on Gaetz
Avenue in premises previously occupied by Discovery Travel. The business
previously operated at Gaetz Crossing in south Red Deer between 2002 and
2005 and relocated to Southpointe Common until last November.
New Chatters Warehouse Progressing
A 13,500 sq. ft., $1.5 million warehouse is currently under construction
in the Burnt Lake Business Park immediately west of Red Deer for
Chatters Canada Ltd., a Red Deer-based hair styling and beauty salon
company with about 100 franchised and corporate-owned salons across the
country. The company distributes about 40 brands of hair, nail care and
other products to its salon network. The warehouse, expected to be
completed by November, will increase the company's storage capacity to
37,000 sq. ft. and boost its payroll by about 10 people.
North Red Deer Celebrates
Centennial
The Riverside Meadows Community Association is hosting a celebration at
the end of August of the centennial of North Red Deer with a variety of
music, dancing, children's activities, birthday cake and a display of
historical photos. North Red Deer, consisting of the communities of
Riverside Meadows (formerly Lower Fairview), (Upper) Fairview, Oriole
Park and Highland Green, was a village from 1911 to 1947 when it became
part of the city of Red Deer.
Aug. 9, 2011
Business Campus
Readies For Downtown Debut
The Red Deer College Donald School of Business is getting ready to start
instruction in September of about 550 students in the college's new
satellite campus at the Millennium Centre in downtown Red Deer. The move
is expected to have a significant impact on business and the character
of the downtown area. In close proximity to the city's office district,
the college's goal is to tap into the knowledge and insights of local
entrepreneurs and business people as mentors and guest speakers. The
downtown is expected to benefit from increased business, collaborative
opportunities and greater activity in the evening and on weekends.
Red Deer Strategic Plan Gets Final
Approval
Red Deer city council has given final approval to the Strategic
Direction Plan for 2012-2014 that was approved in principle a month ago.
The document looks at six themes that support a healthy, vibrant and
sustainable community. A series of goals encourage innovation,
creativity and participation.
Aug. 8, 2011
Safety City Celebrates 10 Years
The Red Deer Safety City Society, a non-profit volunteer organization
that offers interactive and educational injury prevention programs in a
realistic but non-threatening environment, recently celebrated its 10th
anniversary. About 3,000 children from across Central Alberta attend
their programs annually at their facility at 30 Avenue and 55 Street in
Red Deer. The organization partners with the Kiwanis Club of Red Deer to
maintain the facility.
Royals Marching Band Wins Award in
Malaysia
The 99-member Red Deer Royals Marching Show Band has returned home from
an international competition in Malaysia with a gold medal. Although the
gold medal does not indicate a first place finish, it does indicate a
superior rating above the rating standard. This was the 6th appearance
in the World Championships since 1998 and third gold medal.
Aug. 6, 2011
Some Regional Rural Trail
Sections Delayed
Two rural regional trails scheduled to be completed this year have been
delayed likely until next year. The trail between Blackfalds and Lacombe
to be built by Lacombe County has been delayed because county staff have
had to deal with additional road work due to the wet spring and early
summer. The trail between Springbrook and Penhold has been delayed due
to Penhold being not ready to provide a link to the town boundary. Both
sections are part of the regional trail registered with Trans Canada
Trail that will run 70 km between Ponoka and Penhold. Additional
sections linking Penhold with Innisfail and Springbrook with Red Deer
are being planned for the future. Meanwhile Ponoka County has built a
section linking the town of Ponoka with the Lacombe County boundary and
the JJ Collette Natural Area. Last year, two bridges were constructed at
the Blindman River and Battle River and two small sections of the rural
trail were completed at the Springbrook natural area and between the
Blindman River and Blackfalds.
New Sylvan Lake Hotel Accepting Events
Bookings
The Best Western 'Plus' Chateau Inn, a 72-room, $10 million hotel
nearing completion along Lakeshore Drive in Sylvan Lake is now accepting
bookings for banquets and other events at its conference centre. The
banquet facility can accommodate up to 100 people with catering
available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other hotel amenities include
a pair of boardrooms, a pool and hot tub, fitness area and a breakfast
room for guests. The hotel is expected to open within a few weeks.
Historic Markerville Icelandic
Church
Restored
The historic Markerville Icelandic Lutheran Church, built in 1907, has
been restored by the Stephan G Stephansson Icelandic Society and granted
provincial historical designation. The project involved building a new
foundation, new pews similar to the original, new roof shingles and new
stained-glass windows created from the original glass that had been
shattered by a major hail storm in 2006. A new furnace was installed, as
were new stairs, a new handicapped accessible entrance, a sandstone
facade around the foundation, landscaping and lots of new paint.
Aug. 5, 2011
Dangerous Highway 11 Stretch to be
Reviewed
A stretch of Highway 11 west of Red Deer and immediately south of Sylvan
Lake is being reviewed by engineers as a result of a fatal crash
recently. Two intersections in the vicinity at the junctions of Highway
20 and Highway 781 have high collision rates but different
characteristics. Between the two intersections, the 4-lane divided
highway narrows to two lanes. Between 2000-2009, statistics show that at
Highway 781 controlled by stop signs, there were 76 collisions including
one fatal, 38 with injuries and 37 with no injuries but resulting in
significant damages. During the same period at Highway 20 controlled by
traffic lights and 1.6 km further east, there were 77 collisions
including one fatal, 14 with injuries and 62 non-injury. The speed limit
is 80 km/hr in the section but speeding is common. Long range plans
include extension west of the highway twinning, an interchange at
Highway 20, realigning Highway 781 to connect with Highway 20 and the
closing of the intersection at Highway 781.
Aug. 4, 2011
Lacombe Arts Group Proposes Arts Centre
The newly-formed Lacombe Performing Arts Centre Foundation is proposing
that a performing arts centre be built on the south side bank of Cranna
Lake at the current site of the public works yard which the group
suggests be relocated to the industrial area. The foundation,
representing the dance, visual arts, theatrical and music communities of
the city, has raised $10,000 for a feasibility study. The city supports
the concept in principle but it could take some time before the city
yards are relocated.
New Holiday Inn Expected to Open in
September
The new Holiday Inn being completed on the east side of Highway 2 in
Gasoline Alley immediately south of Red Deer is expected to be open for
business in September. The $18 million, 4-storey, 114-room hotel will
feature a 7,000 sq. ft. conference centre, a restaurant and lounge,
waterslide and pool, a boardroom and private meeting rooms.
Aug. 3, 2011
Building Permits Continue Upward Climb
Commercial work continues to bolster the value of building permits in
Red Deer. A mixed use building that's part of the Elements at Rivers
Edge valued at $10.6 million and the Skyway Professional Centre medical
office building valued at $4.7 million contributed to the $17.1 million
in total commercial permits issued in July. During the same month in
2010, only $2.7 million worth of permits were issued for the category.
Residential permits accounted for $8.3 million, up from $6 million in
July last year. Total permits in all categories were at $25.7 million, a
60% increase over the $15.2 million issued in July 2010. Year to date,
$88.6 million worth of permits have been issued compared to $69.7
million last year for the same period. Residential permits for the first
seven months of 2011 stood at $45.2 million, compared to $43.4 million
during the same period in 2010.
Aug. 2, 2011
CentreFest Attracts 28,000 People to
Downtown
A combination of local and international talent thrilled an estimated
28,000 people on Saturday and Sunday in downtown Red Deer at the 9th
annual CentreFest street performers festival. A variety of food vendors
were also on hand. There were also several activities for children
including face-painting and games.
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