1.2 MILLION
Rebels take on Tigers
KILOMETRES and still going
Red Deer blanks Medicine Hat 4-0
STORY ON PAGE C1
FULL COVERAGE ON PAGE B4
CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21, 2012
e g e l l Co g n i y bu n w o t n w do e r t a the
e g a t S e r t n e C y t i C r o f l a e d n o i l l i m 6 . 1 $ s e k a m RDC BY RANDY FIEDLER ADVOCATE STAFF Red Deer College is buying City Centre Stage for $1.6 million. The college’s board of governors voted unanimously at a special meeting on Tuesday to close the deal in about two weeks. The college plans to expand its Donald School of Business and move some Motion Picture Arts programs to the building, which was renovated last year by Central Alberta Theatre (CAT) and boasts 300-seat and 107-seat theatres. “It’s a big decision (and) it’s great for students,” said board chair Shelley Ralston. Negotiations to buy the building at 4922 49th St.
downtown from the Mah family of Red Deer began last summer when CAT made it clear it couldn’t ff d to t continue ti l i th space. The Th amateur t afford leasing the theatre group has about $800,000 in debts, largely due to cost overruns from the former movie theatre’s renovations. The $1,628,000 purchase allows the college to “recommit to our presence downtown,” said Ralston, as well as a new way to supplement government operating subsidies. “Absolutely it will be a source of revenue . . . that will help us pay for it, too,” she said, adding the college routinely rents its Arts Centre Main Stage and studios to community groups. She said the board began seriously discussing the purchase at its May retreat and again at three subsequent meetings. “We looked at it when it was going to be up for grabs. We said, ‘Let’s investigate it anyway.’ ” College president Joel Ward said about $20,000 in renovations to add wireless Internet and fire sprin-
klers to the small theatre will start in January. The college is outgrowing its Donald School o of B i i the th Millennium Mill i C t and d City Cit Business space in Centre Centre Stage’s two theatres are the right size for lectures and presentations. Launching international business co-operative programs will make space tighter. Showing Motion Picture Arts student films in a small film festival is planned, as are screenings of films that don’t often make it to Red Deer. “There’ll be more activity downtown, not less.” Ward stressed such events and renting the theatres to the community aren’t financially driven. “We want to provide a service to students and the general public, not make money.” The first formal event in the building will be a spring presentation by Jim Harris, a Canadian author, environmentalist and former national Green Party leader, who will talk about his book Blindsided! and how business can’t afford to be caught unaware. rfiedler@reddeeradvocate.com
Family takes health region Two RDC teams ranked best in Canada to court after son’s surgery BY DANNY RODE ADVOCATE STAFF
BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF A former Red Deer family has taken David Thompson Health Region to court, alleging their son suffered brain damage as a result of dental surgery at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre in 2004. Shawn Gallant, who has cerebral palsy, was 18 at the time of the surgery to remove his wisdom teeth. The statement of claim filed by his parents, Sharon and Paul Gallant, alleges that the brain damage caused severe alteration and deterioration of Gallant’s pre-existing condition to the point where he requires 24-hour care. It has rendered him incapable of any rational communication and prone to unpredictable aggressive outbursts and physical attacks on his parents and other caregivers, the claim says. Dr. G.R. Nye, a dental surgeon, and Dr. Alayne Farries, an anesthesiologist, were also named as defendants in the case. In their statement of defence, the doctors denied any negligence. The family is seeking care costs and medical expenses on behalf of their son, as well as $325,000 for pain and suffering and loss of amenities of life. The civil trial began last year and resumed on Tuesday in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench before Justice Monica Bast.
Sharon Gallant testified that before the surgery, her son was very social with no communication problems and could operate his motorized wheelchair. He enjoyed watching news and sports on television and had season tickets to the Red Deer Rebels. But after the surgery, he rarely spoke, was unco-operative and didn’t want to participate in activities. Some days, he would not chew or swallow his food. “Everything was a struggle,” said his mother. “He didn’t sleep. He was restless. He drove (his wheelchair) in circles.” The family has to be careful that he is not overstimulated and he continues to have lengthy episodes when his body becomes rigid, vibrates and he sweats through his clothes. At one point, Gallant was moved into Bethany Care Centre because it became difficult to care for him. Gallant and his mother now live in Prince Edward Island to be close to family. His father, who works in the oil industry in Alberta, visits P.E.I. frequently. His mother said it’s hard to remember the good times she had with her son before the surgery. “Before we had a great quality of life. Now we don’t.” said his mother. “Now he’s just there.” The three-week trial continues today. szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
The RDC athletic program is in rare air. For the first time in history the RDC Kings are ranked No. 1 in Canada in both men’s basketball and volleyball at the same time. The volleyball program is familiar with the lofty ranking, after winning a record eight-straight national titles from 2000 to 2007 and a record 10 overall. However, it’s the first time the basketball Kings have enjoyed the top ranking. The rankings come out each Tuesday. “It definitely means a lot, but we have a lot of the season remaining and a lot can happen,” said basketball Kings head coach Clayton Pottinger. “I believe this validates all the hard work of the athletic department from (director of athletics) Keith Hansen on down in terms of putting the best product on the court.” Pottinger knows his players, are “enjoying it and appreciate the recognition” but also understand there’s “so much work ahead.” “All we have to do is look at Lakeland, who were No. 1 all last season, then lost in our playoffs. Even this year the two teams (from Ontario) ahead of us early on have both lost in the last 10 days. The main thing is to stay focused.” The Kings, who are 6-0, will have their hands full this week as they face the SAIT Trojans on Thursday in Calgary and Saturday at RDC. Hansen, who coached the volleyball Kings during their 10 championships in a 12-year stretch, likes what he sees from both programs.
Please see RDC on Page A2
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WEATHER
INDEX
Cloudy. High -11, low -16.
Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B3 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6,A7 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D5 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C6 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4-B8
FORECAST ON A2
LOCAL
CANADA
CLOSED NIGHTCLUB COULD REOPEN
HIGH POT REVENUE FORECAST
A downtown nightclub forced to shut down last week due to public safety concerns can be resurrected, says a City of Red Deer official. C1
A new study has rung in British Columbians’ pot purchases at about half a billion dollars each year, leading its pro-legalization researchers to argue current laws mean the province is missing an opportunity to harvest tax revenues. A6