TOOTHLESS SEQUEL BITES
CANADA SETTLES FOR A DRAW AGAINST KIWIS
Jurassic World full of utterly nonsensical madness and mayhem
PAGE B1
PAGE D1
Red Deer Advocate FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2015
www.reddeeradvocate.com
Your trusted local news authority
100,807 strong RED DEER SURPASSES POPULATION MILESTONE BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF
RESIDENTS KEPT GUESSING ABOUT ‘SURPRISE’ A2
Red Deer has done what no Alberta city has done for 70 years — surpass the 100,000 population mark. Mayor Tara Veer announced that the City of Red Deer has grown to 100,807 on Thursday during a highly-anticipated announcement on the steps of
City Hall. That means 2,222 new residents now call Red Deer home, a 2.2 per cent increase over 2014, according to figures from the recently completed city census. “Over the last few years, Red Deer has marked so many milestones,” said Veer. “We had our cen-
tennial. We won the Canada Winter Games. There’s energy and momentum in this great city that we call home. Surpassing the 100,000 population threshold marks a new day.” The full census results are expected to be released in the coming days.
Please see POPULATION on Page A2
INNISFAIL RODEO
POLITICS
Rookie NDP MLA elected Speaker BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — The accidental candidate is now the 13th Speaker of the Alberta legislature. Bob Wanner, the New Democrat MLA for Medicine Hat who replaced another candidate during the election campaign, won a majority of the secret votes of his 86 legislature colleagues Thursday. He defeated Progressive Conservative member Dave Rodney. After the 66-year-old rookie MLA won, he was — as per parliamentary tradition — mock-dragged to the Speaker’s chair by Premier Rachel Not- Bob Wanner ley and Opposition Wildrose Leader Brian Jean. The job is historically viewed as a thankless one and therefore requires the winner to be ceremonially persuaded by force to accept it. “We must find a way of working together and making this great province and its great people a better place than when we found it,” Wanner said in his first speech from the canopied mahogany chair. He replaces Gene Zwozdesky, a Progressive Conservative who lost his seat in the NDP majority election victory last month. Wanner was expected to win the balloting. Last month, he revealed that the entire NDP caucus, acting on a motion by Notley, had agreed he would be the party’s candidate. The Opposition Wildrose and PC parties didn’t like that. They suggested the ad hoc NDP closed-door vote — and Wanner’s subsequent public boasting that he would have more access to cabinet ministers — damaged the position’s neutrality. Wanner later made it clear his intent was to rule on issues without fear or favour. On Thursday, the Wildrose urged three other members of the legislature — Stephanie McLean and Marie Renaud of the NDP and Sandra Jansen of the PCs — to run for Speaker, but they declined. Wanner’s key role will be to steer debate in the legislature, make sure all sides are heard and ensure that parliamentary rules are followed.
WEATHER 60% showers. High 15. Low 6.
FORECAST ON A2
INDEX Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . C4,C5 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5,A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . D5-D7 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C7 Entertainment . . . . . . . . D1-D4 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B7
Pine Lake RV park at centre of fraud allegations BY ADVOCATE STAFF An Edmonton man is facing fraud allegations for collecting more than $2.5 million in investment money for a Pine Lake RV park that was never developed. In an Alberta Securities Commission notice of hearing, the allegations laid out against Saileshwar Rao Narayan, known as Sal Naryan, include breach of undertaking and illegal distribution, dealing without representation, prohibited presentations and fraud. According to the notice, between April 12, 2012, and May 23, 2012, the Prosperity Development Group raised more than $2.5 million from Alberta investors.
An offering memorandum dated March 26, 2012, stated that the group was a development startup raising funds to purchase property overlooking Pine Lake. That property was to be converted into an RV park. In total, the Alberta Securities Commission said Narayan raised $3.4 million under the auspices of developing an RV park. It is alleged the development company used investors’ money to purchase a 28.64-acre (11.59-hectare) piece of land on the southern shore of Pine Lake. However, no application for development or rezoning of the property was ever made. None of these allegations have been proven in court. A hearing is scheduled for July 8 in Calgary.
Top court rejects medical pot definition The Supreme Court of Canada has rules that medical marijuana can be consumed in products such as cookies.
PLEASE
RECYCLE
Story on PAGE A6
We deliver the group benefits
Call us today for a confidential, no-obligation quote or talk to your plan advisor.
that employees
Red Deer 403-347-7999 Toll free 1-866-513-2555
prefer and the value your business needs. ABC 83282 2015/01
www.ab.bluecross.ca/group
Prescription Drugs • Dental • Extended Health • Travel Coverage • Life Insurance • Disability • Vision • Health and Wellness Spending Accounts • Critical Illness • Employee and Family Assistance Program
52145A23-L10
Please see SPEAKER on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
The dust was flying steady at the Daines Rodeo Ranch outside Innisfail Thursday as the timed events got underway. Here Joe Guze of Drayton Valley works to bring down a steer in the Steer Wrestling event. The 55th Annual Innisfail Rodeo begins today at 1 p.m. with a full Junior Rodeo followed by the Professional Rodeo at 7 p.m. There will be a parade in Innisfail on Saturday at 11 a.m., followed by rodeos at 1 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. To cap off the weekend, the final rodeo performance will go at 1 p.m. Sunday.