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CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM
TUESDAY, OCT. 2, 2012
Not in our backyard CLEARVIEW PUBLIC HEARING
‘IT FEELS LIKE IT IS A BAIT AND SWITCH . . . . IF THIS PARCEL OF LAND WAS A GIFT FROM THE PROVINCE, AS WITH ANY GIFT, SOMETIMES YOU CAN RETURN IT.’
ABOUT 160 PEOPLE PACKED INTO THE SHERATON TO VOICE CONCERNS ABOUT NEIGHBOURHOOD STRUCTURE PLAN
— SANDRA DALTON CLEARVIEW RIDGE
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Clearview resident Mindy Ganson addresses city council during a public hearing for the Clearview North Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan at the Sheraton. BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Homeowners in Clearview North are worried that the neighbourhood they bought into will change with the addition of the Red Deer Native Friendship Centre Society’s affordable housing and cultural centre. About 160 people packed into the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel for a public hearing on the proposed changes to the Clearview North Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan. The existing plan does not identify a four-acre site for multi-family or affordable housing development. In July 2011, the land, located in the most
northwesterly corner of the neighbourhood, was transferred from the province to the city, with the stipulation the land must be used for affordable housing for a minimum of 15 years. The city has been working with the Red Deer Native Friendship Centre Society since 2008 on its affordable housing plans. The society looks to build a cultural centre that would have attached housing for elders and other low-income residents. The land must be re-zoned to make the changes. Many speakers at the hearing said the city did not do a good job at communicating these plans. The proposed changes brought up concerns of decreased property value, increased crime and safety. Residents said it was
not a matter of race or skin colour but the fact that their neighbourhood was changing from its original plan. “This almost takes away from the mosaic of our neighourhood,” said Cameron Grove, a Clearview Ridge homeworker. “There’s a nice eclectic mix of people with different backgrounds... I just think if everybody can come in with the same pretense with no preferential treatment to anyone that it would be only beneficial to community building.” Shona White, a Clearview resident, said transitional housing would lead to increased crime rates. She said proposed changes “create mistrust between the citizens and council” because she wasn’t told when they were
buying her home. Sandra Dalton told council she only heard about the proposed changes in the last stage of development. “It feels like it is a bait and switch,” she said. “If this parcel of land was a gift from the province, as with any gift, sometimes you can return it.” One resident brought a petition with more than 500 signatures asking city council to cease action on the proposed amendments. But amongst the opponents, there was a large contingent of representatives from the Friendship Centre, the aboriginal community and those who work with the street and low-income populations. Ashley Fleming, a NightReach coordinator for the Central Alberta AIDS Network Society, challenged the listeners to think beyond the stereotype of “drunk Indians coming from the reserves” and to move beyond the fears and get to know your neighbours. Lynn Jonasson, an elder for the Safe Harbour Society, told council First Nations people believe in values of honesty, trust, family and community. “The vision that was started some time ago was a vision of community,”Jonasson said. “A vision of coming together where we people who could have homes. It wasn’t a vision of a detox centre or treatment centre. It was a vision of families. Families that need a home just like any other citizen of Red Deer.” Jonasson said he bought his own home in Michener Hill nearly 20 years ago without knowing or caring about his neighbours. “I bought that home for my wife and my family,” he said. “Then I got to know my neighbours. I have been there for over 20 years now. I have all kinds of neighbours ... These people are human beings... We are no different. All we want is homes.”
Please see HEARING on Page A2
Local stores feeling effect of beef recall Redford
trip to U.K. cost $500K
BY LAURA TESTER ADVOCATE STAFF At least one specialty mart in Red Deer is experiencing a jump in customers due to Canada-wide beef recalls. Ivan Smith, owner of two Big Bend Market stores, said on Monday that the beef recall of a number of XL Foods products is increasing sales at his tills. “We’re actually having to grind fresh (meat) three times a day right now,” said Smith. “(The recall is) so huge it affects everybody.” A Canada-wide beef recall of madein-Alberta beef expanded again on the weekend. Some meat produced at XL Foods in Brooks was found last month to be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The first recall was issued by XL Foods on Sept. 16. That has since been followed by nine additional recalls. Eight people are known to be sick because of the E. coli bacteria. To date, almost 300 products have been affected. Smith said it’s unfortunate for the agricultural industry. As a cattle producer, he’s noticed that cattle prices have dropped. He’s glad, though, that there’s a solid tracking system in place to see these products recalled. “I’ve actually seen quite a few new
PLEASE RECYCLE
BY THE CANADIAN PRESS
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Big Bend Market owner Ivan Smith looks through a display case at his South Pointe Common store.
BEEF PRODUCERS FEAR CRISIS C3 customers,” added Smith. He said all his beef is hormone-andantibiotic-free and comes from local farmers. “We have a totally different protocol
WEATHER
INDEX
60% chance of showers.
Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3,C4 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5,A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D4 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C5 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4-B6
FORECAST ON A2
from all the grocery stores,” he added. “That’s why we’ve seen such tremendous growth in our business over the last five years. People want to know exactly where their beef comes from.”
EDMONTON — A report released by the province shows that Premier Alison Redford’s trip to London this summer cost taxpayers more than $500,000. The report highlights just over $87,000 in travel expenses for the premier, ministers and three staff members who went. Another $431,000 was related to hosting events and profiling Alberta artists. The province says the London trip was actually downsized from what was originally planned for a saving of $123,000. The trip took place during the Summer Olympic games. The province says it was meant to increase investment and open new markets for energy, tourism and culture.
Please see RECALL on Page A2
Please see TRIP on Page A2
CANADA
ENTERTAINMENT
DISABLED VETS MAY BE SYMPHONY ADDING OWED MILLIONS SOUNDS TO BOOKS Compensating disabled veterans for the clawback of their military pensions could costs more than expected. A5
A kid’s book about ocean pollution is getting some musical help from the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, in return for a badly needed revenue boost. C5