Red Deer 1913 — 2013 Create Celebrate Commemorate
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City tightening diaper rules for pools C1
CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM
GOOD SAMARITAN
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013
Council caves on ward vote PLEBISCITE SLATED FOR 2013 CIVIC ELECTION BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF
there is no equal to that in the community.” Kvern’s sister Jody is severely disabled, with the mental capacities of about a three year old. Jody, now 54, was admitted to the centre at age six. In the early 1990s, though, as the provincial government began a push to move developmentally challenged people from institutionalized care into the community, Jody was put into a group home. She spent nearly a decade in group homes in Sundre and Didsbury, but they were not particularly happy stays. “My sister went from, at Michener, being a fairly happy-go-lucky kind of person and very affectionate and she got out into the community and just was anxiety-ridden and started having these escalating behaviours that we’d never seen before,” explained Kvern.
Red Deer residents will go to a plebiscite on a municipal ward system in conjunction with the Oct. 21 municipal election. In an unusual m o v e , R e d D e e r STEPHAN FLOATS MOTION TO council reconsid- KILL BIKE LANE PROJECT A3 ered a Feb. 4 decision to reject a plebiscite on a ward system on Monday night. Council voted 5-3 in support of adding a question regarding ward systems on the next civic ballot. Mayor Morris Flewwelling and Councillors Frank Wong, Dianne Wyntjes, Tara Veer and Chris Stephan were in favour. Councillors Paul Harris, Cindy Jefferies and Lynne Mulder were opposed. Coun. Buck Buchanan was absent. Coun. Frank Wong said he was surprised the vote went through because Buchanan was absent. The three councillors had put the original motion for a plebiscite to council in February. “People have wanted to have a say for the last nine years,” said Wong. “We’re going to move forward. Who knows? It may be against having a ward system but at least we listened to people and they will have their say.” The reconsideration came on the heels of Councillors Lynne Mulder and Paul Harris’ successful motion to amend the dialogue charter, a major work plan looking at community engagement, to explore systems of representation including wards with the goal of how the community could be best represented by council. Council may reconsider decisions if there are special and exceptional circumstances. Mulder said her initial vote of no to a plebiscite on Feb. 4 was not meant in anyway to stifle public input. She said this is a very important decision that warrants a comprehensive understanding of what the problems they are trying to solve so they can find the right solutions for Red Deer. Mulder and Harris both reiterated the importance of understanding the issues and concerns behind the debate between a ward and at-large system. They said that way council would understand the nature of the problem in order for councillors to make the best decisions for the community. “I want to be really clear to the public,” said Mulder. “I am not opposed to hearing from them. In fact, I want to hear more from them. I think this reduces the question to a level to a yes or no answer when it is a very large and important issue. I am not opposed to a plebiscite if that’s what we need. I’m not in favour of one at this time.” Councillors Dianne Wyntjes and Tara Veer wanted to take the motion a step further. Wyntjes said after a decision is made you always hear chatter on both sides in the community. By adding a question to the ballot, Wyntjes said this will allow for ample conversations over the next seven months.
Please see MICHENER on Page A2
Please see WARD on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate
Advocate paper carrier Julie Hrycyk helped a senior citizen in need in Ponoka Monday morning while delivering her papers. Please see related story on page A2.
Notre Dame grad project raises at least $129K for suicide prevention BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Unstoppable is right. Notre Dame High School’s graduating class set themselves a $45,000 fundraising goal as part of their annual graduation service project themed “Unstoppable.” At last count, the students had raised more than $129,000 — and donations are still coming in. “I was blown away,” said Evan Macleod, student council president, on Monday. “Once they announced it was $128,000, I was speechless. It’s amazing.” Money will go to Suicide Information and Education Services Red Deer.
“The theme we chose this year hit home for most people involved and that is why we had such a big student involvement,” Macleod said. “Every one of us knew Kale Williams, or knew people who were affected by suicide.” Notre Dame student Williams died in February. As part of the grad project, students arranged a charity hockey game in his name on March 11. A week of activities took place at the school leading up to Saturday’s Race for Your Life finale that saw 38 teams take part. During the week, students took on challenges such as creating a suicide prevention video in 24 hours or making the perfect glass of lemonade.
Please see FUNDRAISING on Page A2
Author fears for sister when Michener closes LAUNCHES ONLINE PETITION BY MYLES FISH ADVOCATE STAFF Lee Kvern has seen Michener Centre at its worst. As a child, the Okotoks author would visit her sister at the facility notorious for its program of forced sterilization, noticing a one-size-fits-all approach and seeing some 30 people packed into a room, served by three caregivers. “It was awful. It was institutional living,” she said, “But over the years, Michener has evolved. “They just started to treat (the residents) as you would anybody else. That’s the evolution I’ve seen. The care my sister has had there the last 15 years —
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FORECAST ON A2
CANADA
SPORTS
MINISTER DEFENDS FLAMES FALL SHORT CONTROVERSIAL SHOW IN DALLAS Illegal immigrants take advantage of Canadian taxpayers — not the other way around, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews told critics in Parliament as he defended the use of reality TV cameras on immigrant raids. A6
Loui Eriksson scored twice and the Dallas Stars held on for a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Monday night. B4