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Red Deer Advocate THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014
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INTERNATIONAL CAMPOREE
SOUTHERN ALBERTA
Land plan creates park CONSERVATIONISTS SAY NOT ENOUGH DONE BY THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — The province has released its management plan for southern Alberta, but environmentalists say the land-use strategy comes up short. The plan covers the region that stretches from the Rockies to the Saskatchewan boundary and from the U.S. border to just north of Calgary. It includes eight new or expanded conservation areas. They include the new Castle Wildland Provincial Park at almost 550 square kilometres and the 340-squarekilometre Pekisko Heritage Rangeland. A dozen primitive areas for camping and recreational use are to be created. Conservation groups say the plan doesn’t do enough to protect the environment, particularly the Castle wilderness in the southwest. They note the plan only protects about half of the Castle area. “There will be no change in clearcut logging. All the logging that’s scheduled will be, as far as I can tell, permitted under this plan,” said Gord Petersen of the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition. “There’s really nothing new here. It’s a new name for business as usual.” The government says protection has been expanded to a wider area in the Castle with more checks and balances on industry. The province says it is protecting critical watersheds and habitats and providing new recreational opportunities across southern Alberta. “The new land-use plan will manage the growth pressures in this region so our children and grandchildren will benefit from a pristine environment and a growing economy,” Premier Dave Hancock said in a release. The plan received feedback from more than 7,500 Albertans “This plan . . . strikes the right balance of recreation and economic opportunity while protecting the environment and achieving conservation goals,” said Environment Minister Robin Campbell.
Please see LAND on Page A2
Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff
Campers set up their shelter using twine, wood and sheets of plastic at the Calvinist Cadets Corps’ International Camporee at Kamp Lone Pine Wednesday afternoon. Over 1,300 men and boys aged 8-15 from across Canada and the U.S. are taking part in week-long campout, where they’ll experience archery, riflery, canoeing and a mountain excursion in the Rockies. The Calvinist Cadets Corps is a youth ministry organization which provides programming for boys in the church community.
Town budgets $29M for multiplex BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF
SYLVAN LAKE
A $29-million budget has been set by Sylvan Lake town council for its proposed multiplex. The budget is significantly higher than the $16.5 million estimate in preliminary planning of two years ago. But that number was soon out of date as the project’s scope expanded, particularly after it was decided early this year to add a five-sheet curling rink. The rink had earlier been proposed as a stand-alone facility. Other changes included incorporating an existing aquatic centre and a multiplex built in 2006 into the Sylvan Lake NexSource Centre. The facility will also include fitness rooms, a running track, seniors and children’s activity centres and other meeting spaces. “$29 million is our first real directed budget amount,” said Sylvan Lake Mayor Sean McIntyre. “Up until now we were determining the needs of the community and designing accordingly.” Council’s decision on Tuesday provides the number architects need to prepare detailed designs for the facility. A maximum $13 million will be bor-
Contributed illustration
An artist’s preliminary rendering of the north entrance of the $29-million multiplex proposed for Sylvan Lake. rowed, council decided. Another $4 million will come from franchise fees, which are paid by natural gas and electricity providers to the town. User groups and other contributors are expected to contribute about $2.55 million, fundraising and sponsorships $2 million, $2 million from a provincial grant, plus another $2 million from neighbouring municipalities.
The curling club will contribute $1.5 million and the town is already at 60 per cent of the $2-million fundraising goal. The town’s recreation reserve fund will be tapped for $1.85 million and another $1.5 million will come directly from taxes.
Please see MULTIPLEX on Page A2
Planning commission approves five-storey parkade at hospital BY HARLEY RICHARDS ADVOCATE BUSINESS EDITOR
Contributed illustration
An artist’s rendering of the parkade proposed for the corner of 3942 50A Ave.
WEATHER Showers. High 21. Low 11.
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INDEX Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . C6,C7 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5,A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D4 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . C3 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B4
Patients, visitors and staff who suffer recurring parking pains at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre should soon receive 1,100 stalls worth of relief. The city’s municipal planning commission has approved the development of a five-storey parkade on the southeast corner of the hospital’s 3942 50A Ave. property. Construction of the
$44-million project is expected to begin this fall and take about 18 months to complete, said Kerry Bales, chief zone officer for Alberta Health Services’ central zone. “I think probably spring-summer 2016 is what we’re aiming for.” The parkade will have an elevator and parking for bicycles. It will be constructed with stained precast concrete, and perforated aluminum plate curtain walls to the north, south and east.
Please see PARKADE on Page A2
Bodies of victims arrive in the Netherlands Two military transports carrying 40 coffins bearing victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight landed in Eindhoven. Story on PAGE A7
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