Red Deer Advocate, February 10, 2014

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A Fab Time

A MAN WHO ONCE AUDITIONED FOR CANADIAN IDOL FACES TRIAL ON TERRORISM CHARGE PAGE A5

Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, FEB. 10, 2014

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Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir perform their free dance in the ice dance portion of the team figure skating event at the Winter Olympics Sunday, in Sochi, Russia. Virtue, of London, Ont., and Moir, of Ilderton, Ont. won the silver medal with 65 points — 10 behind Russia in Ice Dance. See page B6 of today’s Advocate for Olympics coverage.

Winter Games group feeling confident OFFICIALS TASKED WITH VERIFYING PROPOSED VENUES, FACILITIES VISIT CITY BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Red Deer’s 2019 Canada Winter Games Bid committee is feeling confident after a positive visit with the group tasked with ensuring the proposed venues and facilities are up to standard. Chairperson Lyn Radford said there’s still a lot of work to do but she is pleased overall with the two-day visit with the Canada Winter Games Technical Review Committee. “Not that we had everything perfect,” said Radford. “We

didn’t have everything perfect and they definitely let us know that there are aspects that we need to re-evaluate in our bid.” While touring the facilities such as the Collicutt Centre, Westerner Park and Canyon Ski Hill, the committee pointed out the strengths and weaknesses in the proposals. “Those were some exciting

ideas,” said Radford. “Exciting ideas also bring risk management.

crews are experienced with the games so they know what works and what does not work. S h e s a i d it was great to be able bounce ideas off them and to p i c k — CHAIRPERSON LYN RADFORD t h e i r brains. “And they did indicate “I feel confident we will be that we need to make sure pushed on to the next phase,” we strengthen those ties and said Radford. make sure that’s happening.” “And that will give us the Radford said the technical opportunity to strengthen

‘WE DIDN’T HAVE EVERYTHING PERFECT AND THEY DEFINITELY LET US KNOW THAT THERE ARE ASPECTS THAT WE NEED TO RE-EVALUATE IN OUR BID.’

those areas that they had any concerns about.” Dena Coward, a volunteer with the technical review committee, said Red Deer’s group was well prepared and the hospitality was fantastic. “The community is obviously very supportive of the bid,” said Coward. “We saw a lot of that ... We saw some fantastic venues. Like any community there are some challenges with some things but overall I think we saw some really good venues here.”

Please see GAMES on Page A2

Woman wants change in Alberta rent rules BY RENÉE FRANCOEUR ADVOCATE STAFF A Red Deer woman is speaking out about the province’s lax rent rules and says she wants to see others rally together to bring about change. “I’ve had enough,” said Laura Baril, who has seen her rent go up multiple times over the past few years. “When you see an injustice, you need to speak out.” Unlike some other provinces, there are no rent controls in Alberta. This means the province has no say in how much landlords can charge for accommodations and properties but it does regulate how often rent can be increased — once a year. The latest rental report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.,

WEATHER Cloudy. High -16, low -30.

FORECAST ON A2

released in December, found average rents in the city have continued to climb. The survey shows the average monthly rent in the city was $876 in October 2013, as compared to $804 a year earlier. Baril, who is on disability due to spine problems and other health issues, receives $1,600 a month to help cover the cost of living, such as rent. “Renting a place is hard to do when you’re on disability with rent prices going up every year. And that affects not only those of us on assistance but pensioners, those people making minimum wage, single moms. ... It gets to the point where a lot of those people can’t afford to have three meals a day if they’re making rent,” she said.

Please see RENT on Page A2

INDEX Two sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . A8,A9 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .B8-B10 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B11 Entertainment . . . . . A11,A12 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B7

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

Rent control advocate Laura Baril in her Red Deer apartment.

Software brain drain Canadian companies are competing with the Silicon Valley which draws software engineers to work at heavyweights Google, Twitter, Facebook, Apple, LinkedIn and startup firms. Story on PAGE A8

PLEASE

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