Red Deer Advocate, April 21, 2014

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THE RETURN OF

NHL PLAYOFFS COVERAGE STARTS ON PAGE B1

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Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014

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Wildfire spectre returns CONTROLLED BURNS, EXPANDED ONLINE PRESENCE, WORKSHOPS PREPARED BY JOSH ALDRICH ADVOCATE STAFF With snow still blanketing most of Central Alberta as the long weekend hit, it is tough to be thinking about potential wildfire risk. The Alberta Environmental and Sustainable Resource Development branch in Rocky Mountain

House has already been planning for this year’s season for months. They’ve been preparing for controlled burns, expanding their online presence and have been out in the public running workshops. More of the white stuff may still be in the forecast for this coming week, but the ESRD will not be caught unaware when conditions go tinder dry. “It depends on what Mother Nature provides us,

she’s often unpredictable,” said Barry Shellian, a wildfire ranger and information officer with ESRD. “There has been a significant amount of snow this year, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens in the next few weeks as to what Mother Nature will deliver us.”

Please see WILDFIRES on Page A2

Pot rally draws 100 BY JOSH ALDRICH ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by JOSH ALDRICH/Advocate staff

Lucas Raffa was one of about 100 supporters of marijuana legalization who attended the annual 4/20 rally at City Hall Park on Sunday.

About 100 Red Deerians added their voices of support to the growing world-wide movement for the legalization of marijuana during a rally at City Hall on Sunday. The rally was held in conjunction with 4/20 celebrations — a day and time set aside by the cannabis community for the consumption of pot. In recent years, the day has been used to further their push for new legislation. “It’s a fun day for everyone to celebrate the plant and to get our voices out there and show how many of us support legalization,” said Nicole Raffa, 29, from the Cannabis Community of Red Deer. Adding to the momentum of the movement were votes to legalize marijuana in Colorado and Washington in 2012. At the beginning of this year, it became legal to purchase pot in those states. Colorado raked in $2 million in taxes from the first month of sales alone. In a matter of a five years both states expect draw as much as $2.1 billion in taxes from the industry. Raffa sees the public becoming more accepting of the narcotic and believes Canada will one day follow the lead of Colorado and Washington.

Please see POT on Page A2

Nature centre combines events on Easter to spread stewardship BY JOSH ALDRICH ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by JOSH ALDRICH/Advocate staff

Ben Fisette and his grandson Haden Fisette, 3, check out a clue found in the Easter egg hunt at Kerry Wood Nature Centre in Red Deer on Sunday.

WEATHER Sun and cloud. High 13, low -4.

FORECAST ON A2

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The Kerry Wood Nature Centre took full advantage of Easter Sunday to hold an early Earth Day Eco Fair. Earth Day is not until Tuesday, but with the long weekend, the Red Deer centre hosted several environmental groups to speak with children and families about their initiatives, in addition to their annual Easter egg hunt and nature walks. Kathryn Huedepohl, the public events programmer and special events co-ordinator for the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society, said days like this are important. “If you get them at this age and make them stewards, then they’ll get their parents involved as well and it’s just better for everybody,” she said. Environmental groups at the nature centre on Sunday included ReThink Red Deer, Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Alberta Bike Swap and Green Deer.

EARTH DAY ECO FAIR

‘IF YOU GET THEM AT THIS AGE AND MAKE THEM STEWARDS, THEN THEY’LL GET THEIR PARENTS INVOLVED AS WELL AND IT’S JUST BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.’ — KATHRYN HUEDEPOHL

For Green Deer it was an opportunity to promote their litter cleanup initiatives throughout the spring and summer.

Please see EARTH DAY on Page A2

Chinese tastes influence auto industry Automakers unveiled new models at a Beijing show that highlighted the growing influence of Chinese tastes.

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