Red Deer 1913 — 2013 Create Celebrate Commemorate
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WYATT JOHNSON NOT LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
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Red Deer Advocate WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20, 2013
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FESTIVE PRIMPING
AQUATICS CENTRE
City ready to take plunge? INFORMATION SESSION DRAWS 100 INTO POOL DEBATE BY RENÉE FRANCOEUR ADVOCATE STAFF Members of the public filled the room during an information session about the proposed $90 million aquatic centre, which will include an Olympicsized pool, in Red Deer last night. Questions included concerns over parking space, how traffic downtown would be impacted and how the project would help the city’s bid to host the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Staff from the Central Alberta Aquatic Centre committee presented the update at the Black Knight Inn to almost 100 people, noting that “the time is now” for Red Deer to build the 50-metre pool and meet the standards to host provincial and national competitions. Plans for the centre at Red Deer Rotary Recreation Park include 10 50-metre lanes, an adjustable hydraulic floor, a 54 by 24 metre competition tank, a 25 by 15 metre dive tank and bulkheads to divide the pool for multipurposes like water polo, kayaking and scuba diving. There would also be a whirlpool section and Flow Rider, which offers wave simulations ideal for surfing, and numerous sustainability features such as a green roof and a solar wall. The centre would “definitely help” the city’s bid for the Winter Games, said Lyn Radford, committee chairperson. “It would be the first time in the history of the winter games that we could host every sport . . . but we can’t build just for the games, we have to build for the community,” she said. “The need for this stands regardless of the games . . . I think you will find this is a most worthy project for Red Deer,” said John Cuthbertson, committee chair of the Central Alberta Aquatic Centre. A video showcased the strain on Red Deer facilities and how the city is lacking compared to Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray, two cities that have recently completed new aquatic centres complete with 50-metre pools. According to Cuthbertson there are sometimes seven people swimming in one 25-metre lane in Red Deer and over 750 people are on waiting lists for swimming lessons every year.
Please see POOL on Page A2
WEATHER
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
The 20th Annual Festival of Trees is just around the corner and volunteers, including Jody Muth shown here working on a decoration that will hang over a performance stage, are busy preparing things. The event kicks off tonight with the formal preview dinner. The festival opens to the public on Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fundraising efforts this year will go towards enhancing patient care, diagnostic imaging, urology and the operating room at Red Deer Regional Hospital. Over the past 19 years of the festival in Red Deer, $9,515,513 has been raised. For information on the festival, visit www. reddeerfestivaloftrees.ca.
City buys, demolishes two Woman who homes at risk of instability torched home BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Two properties along Cronquist Drive were purchased by the City of Red Deer for $1.4 million and the houses on them were demolished after a 2012 slope stabilization survey showed the foundations were at risk for becoming unstable. The properties were purchased for $700,000 each using a third-party land appraisal. The city received a $600,000 grant from the province and is budgeting $25,000 each to restore the properties. Unless there is a risk to property or city infrastructure, the City of Red Deer does not actively try to the stop erosion along the riverbanks. “The city did not have any legal responsibility to purchase the properties,” said Paul Goranson, the city’s director of development services. “We facilitated a process to get grant assistance from the province of Alberta to help the impacted owners with the intent to recover any other costs from the resale of the properties.” A few years ago, the city put some restrictions in its land-use bylaw to
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Clearing. High -17. Low -19.
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prevent development in high escarpment areas that may be vulnerable to erosion along the riverbanks. No other properties that the city is aware of are currently at risk, said Goranson. The city does not go out and look for erosion along the riverbanks. Goranson said the primarily concern is along bridge abutments where there is damage to trails. The city generally fixes the damage right away to prevent any further destruction. “Creeks move,” said Goranson. “Rivers move. They are always eroding the banks, that’s just the way it is. If it is not creating risks for people’s property or our infrastructure there is not a lot we do.” The estimated infrastructure damage from the June flooding is about $400,000 at the River Bend Recreation Area water intake, McKenzie Trails berm and the storm pond and berms at North Highway Connector (at Red Deer River). Goranson said the city has one year to complete the application for flood damage assistance so there may be additional locations identified. Not all of the repairs have been completed. crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com
under court supervision BY BRENDA KOSSOWAN ADVOCATE STAFF
A woman who set fire to her house while her family was inside will remain under court supervision for the next two and a half years. The 43-year-old mother of two was arrested on charges of arson and attempted murder after a fire in Bashaw on Dec. 16, 2010. She pleaded guilty in Red Deer provincial court on Tuesday to a single charge of setting fire to an occupied house. Her name is withheld to protect the identities of her children. The guilty plea was tendered after a series of meetings with the Crown, including review of psychiatric assessments during which the woman was discovered to be affected by a significant personality disorder.
Please see ARSON on Page A2
Rescue dog kennel shut down A Red Deer County resident is crying foul because his daughter’s kennel for rescue dogs is being shut down.
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