Red Deer 1913 — 2013 Create Celebrate Commemorate
NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR
NFL SUNDAY ACTION
Few could have predicted that Canada’s moment in the global spotlight this year would be courtesy of a crack-smoking, “drunken-stupor” Toronto mayor Rob Ford
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Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, DEC. 23, 2013
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Roundabout to cost $17 million PROJECT TO STRAIGHTEN 67TH STREET CURVE, BE FINISHED IN 2015 BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Work is expected to begin next year on a $17-million project to straighten the 67th Street curve and build a roundabout in Red Deer. The project is expected
start next summer and be finished by the end of 2015, said Paul Goranson, city of Red Deer director of development services. The plan is to take out the curve completely and build a four-lane stretch that will end up at a roundabout to the east. “As far as some of the de-
tails around the accommodation of pedestrians and cyclists, those are things we are well aware of as issues but they’ll will be worked out in the detailed design,” he said. A high school is proposed for a site nearby and the foot and vehicle traffic it will gen-
erate will be taken into account as final designs are approved. The wedge of land that will be left when the curve is removed will likely be used for commercial similar to the nearby Clearview Market Square development. “The neighbourhood area
structure plan for the quarter where Clearview North is was developed with this future realignment in mind,” he said. Local road networks have also been designed to fit with the new alignment. pcowley@reddeeradvocate. com
CENTENNIAL YEAR
An awesome centennial celebrated in Red Deer COMMUNITY PRAISED FOR PARTICIPATION BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Wasn’t that a party? From the First Night Skating Party to the showstopping Fire & Ice Centennial Grande Finale, Red Deer’s 100th birthday bash was one for the history books. The community came out in droves to kick up their heels at family fun events such as the Outdoor Barn Dance on Little Gaetz Avenue in July, the lowering of the 2013 time capsule in the ground in March and the Old Fashioned Fall Fair in September. “It was awesome,” said Sheila Bannerman, Red Deer Centennial committee chairperson. “We had challenges with weather and a few things but overall all the events ... were great. The community participation, the volunteers and supporters were amazing.” But there were some hiccups – mainly Mother Nature – along the way that forced the committee of volunteers to scramble in order to put on the show. The highly anticipated and flagship finale of the Homecoming Weekend, the River of Light: Points of View, was revamped because of the June flooding. Bower Ponds and Great Chief Park, where the majority of the events were scheduled, were closed as safety measures because of the high water levels on the Red Deer River.
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Fireworks erupt from the rooftop of City Hall as the City of Red Deer hosted Fire and Ice, the last Centennial celebration of the year. The centennial committee had worked with the U.K.-based Creatmosphere on the project for about a year. More than 400 barrels installed with battery-operated lights that change colours were slated to float down the Red Deer River from Fort Normandeau to Three Mile Bend. Bannerman said it would have been spectacular if the show went on but there was only so much they could do because of the weather and lost equipment. The revamped “visual and audio spectacular” was grounded to Fort Normandeau for two nights. “Our team of England ended up creating a much more interactive experience at Fort Normandeau,” she said.
“In some ways it was better. Instead of just watching barrels go down the river and then they were gone, they interacted with them. They gave children little remote controls so they could change the light colours.” Other events that weekend were re-scheduled or shifted to other parts of the city because of the park’s closure. The confusion resulted in low attendance at some homecoming events. “That was really unfortunate,” said Bannerman. “We had so little time. We couldn’t reach all these people to let them know things were still happening.”
Please see CENTENNIAL on Page A2
Spirit of the season SANTA CAME EARLY FOR 111 UNSUSPECTING EXTENDICARE MICHENER HILL RESIDENTS BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Joined by Santa, Adam Wurm and Liam Bazar Woods visit with Maria, an Extendicare Michener Hill resident on Friday morning.
WEATHER A mix of sun and cloud. High -2, low -10.
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INDEX Two sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . .A8, A9 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .B8-B10 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B11 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . .A11 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B7
Lead by siblings Amanda Bazar and Lonnie Wurm, three Red Deer families brought some holiday cheer to the seniors who do not receive gifts or do not have family visiting during the holidays. Personalized gift baskets were filled with care to each resident’s taste whether it was with pictures, notepads, plants, pottery, blankets, hair products, calendars or the like. Santa and his helpers went floor to floor handing out the presents much to the delight and surprise to the seniors on Friday morning. “Oh my goodness,” cried Norma Dawson, 64. “I love them so much. I wasn’t expecting this at all. I am so, so happy.”
The wheels started turning in lateOctober when the two sisters started thinking about their holiday plans. Bazar’s husband, Mike Woods works in maintenance at the facility and they know some residents. Bazar said there are people at Extendicare that are unable to be with their families or no longer have family. “We just felt it would be really nice to be able to extend that personal interaction,” she said. “It brings up their spirits. It makes them happier.” They also knew it would be something that would make an impact in their children’s lives. The families foot the bill for most of the items and received some donations from organizations in Red Deer.
Please see EXTENDICARE on Page A2
Medical marijuana costs getting higher Some are worried that privatizing the medical cannabis industry will come at too high a cost. Story on PAGE A8
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