RICHARD FROESEL/Independent reporter
MAYOR CAMPS OUT AT TIMS — Town of Stettler Mayor Dick Richards, along with Tim Hortons supervisor Kim DeVloo, serve drive-thru customers last Wednesday during Tim Hortons’ Camp Day. This year, $7,107 from coffee sales was raised for Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation to enable children to attend summer camp.
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June 12, 2013
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Relay for Life turns back to Stettler Friday night RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter Determined to fight the battle against cancer, and despite fewer than half the number of teams from last year, organizers remain optimistic for the fifth annual Relay for Life this Friday night in Stettler. “This year, our goal is to raise $138,000,” said Trish King, co-ordinator of the local event and revenue development co-ordinator with the Canadian Cancer Society in Red Deer. The relay raised $130,239.07 with 28 teams last year and generated $163,000 in 2011. Organizers are seeking to exceed those figures for Friday’s event at the William E. Hay Composite High School track. This year, 12 teams with close to 100 people will participate. “We are excited to have this be the fifth year in Stettler and are very much looking forward to this being a great event, even though our numbers are down a bit, and we are already planning for 2014,” King said. “Unfortunately, we are down in the number of participants and teams this year, but we are hoping to increase for 2014 by moving the event to
September.” The first event in 2009 attracted 49 teams and raised $174,000 toward cancer research. Teams this weekend are made up from everyone from family and friends to groups from local businesses walking with their co-workers all night. It’s all in support the Canadian Cancer Society, which is celebrating 75 years of service. Opening ceremonies will take place Friday at 6:30 p.m., with the survivors’ victory lap at 7 p.m. featuring more than 25 survivors. A survivors’ reception is also scheduled. Teams begin walking the track after the victory lap and try to keep walking all night until 7 a.m. About 750 luminaries will be illuminated in a ceremony at 10:30 p.m. Organizers plan to provide participants with a meal at 11:15 p.m., the fight-back ceremony is at 1 a.m. and the breakfast at 5 a.m., with closing ceremonies at 6:45 a.m. and the final lap at 7 a.m. “Celebrate, remember, fight back” is the motto of the event. “Relay for Life is more than just a fundraiser,” King said. “It’s a 12-hour event to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.” For more information, phone King at 403-3095429 or email stettler. relayforlife@cancer.ab.ca.
Designers’ drawings show upgrades planned for the Stettler Recreation Centre. The makeover is scheduled to begin this fall, but the modernization and expansion project is going to cost more than originally projected.
Recreation centre renovations cost $1.79 million for Phase 1 RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter Set to go to tenders soon, costs to upgrade Stettler Recreation Centre has jumped to almost $1.8 million for construction. At its regular meeting last Tuesday, Town of Stettler council finalized major renovations at $1.79 million for the first phase. “The bulk of the overall increase in the budget from $1.5 million at the conceptual design stage to $1.79 million now is due primarily to increased and frankly unanticipated structural costs related to the front addition,” architect John Hall said in a report to council. “I am very confident this is a valid working budget,” he told councillors who asked various questions. Despite that increase, the town remains committed to the project, which could be pared down to maintain the budget. “Until we get the tenders, we won’t know the actual costs,” Mayor Dick Richards said. “If costs go much higher, we can revise the project. We will have to offset costs in efficiencies.” One councillor added that the prices won’t be so economical as the project progresses. “Costs will only get higher,” Coun. Steve Wildeboer said. When he asked where an additional $300,000 in funding could be retrieved, administration assured council that the town has several resources to dip into. “We have funds available, such as reserves and debentures,” said the town’s chief administrative officer, Rob Stoutenberg.
For the project, Hull has proposed costs for: — New entrance addition and foyer with both levels for $635,788. — Library renovations for $643,628. Seniors’ social centre for $519,863. “We believe the estimate still reflects very good value for the town and the future of the recreation centre,” Hull said. He added that the budget increase also reflects minor changes, with steps to upgrade lighting to energy-efficient, open and raise the library ceiling, add two new air-handling units to provide better air control to the library and the seniors’ centre. The fully independent structural design for the addition also requires more demolition than was anticipated at the conceptual design stage. When the plans are presented for tenders, Hull agreed that certain components of the project be separately priced to help council make possible cuts when tenders are reviewed in August. During discussion and questions from council, Hull explained that a raised ceiling “provides for better acoustics and adds interest to the building.” An electric fireplace for the library has also been planned with funding from Friends of the Library, Coun. Darcy Bachman said. “They realize they will be a big benefactor of the project and want to do as much as they can to help,” Stoutenberg said. Similar to the project to build Stettler Sports Park, the upgrade to the SRC will also invite opportunities for special donations of funding and furnishings from service organizations and citizens.
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