POWER FAILURE
RESTORING RELIGION TO A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY
The Red Deer Rebels’ power play blew a fuse Tuesday night at the Centrium, costing them against the Regina Pats
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SPORTS — PAGE B5
Red Deer Advocate WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25, 2015
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DOG SLEDDING
CAPITAL BUDGET
Get the lead out COUNCIL TO SPEND $3.7M TO REPAIR, REPAINT CPR BRIDGE BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF The CPR bridge will be getting a paint job. Calling the bridge an environmental hazard, ‘ONCE WE KNOW council approved $3.7 million in spending to THERE IS A RISK TO remove the lead paint, PUBLIC HEALTH AND give it a recoat and make repairs to the municipal SAFETY, WE HAVE A historic resource in 2016 RESPONSIBILITY TO on Tuesday’s capital budREACT.’ get debate. Council heard that — MAYOR TARA VEER lead from the paint on the supporting structure and steel trusses are flaking and falling into the river, potentially affecting the overall health of the river. But the decision was not taken lightly as council did not want the bridge to become a “Green Onion” where members of the community balked at the city spending $750,000 to re-paint the water tower. Most councillors stressed it is not about “making the bridge pretty” but out of concern for public safety and the Red Deer River. City manager Craig Curtis said there are financial and health risks in delaying the project. He said approving the project this year would be the most cost efficient. Mayor Tara Veer said the community fought to keep this heritage resource in the 1990s. “Once we know there is a risk to public health and safety, we have a responsibility to react,” said Veer. Coun. Paul Harris said the bridge has become part of the community’s identity. “To suggest that we wait is an example of borrowing from our future to pay for our present,” he said. “We have an ethical obligation now that we know there is going to be lead in the river.”
Please see BUDGET on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Lee Roy Koyina and his daughter, Madyson, careen down the sledding hill in Clearview, Tuesday afternoon with their dog, Skye, going along for the ride. The snow and cold temperatures this week have created havoc on area roads, but for people who like the cold, the return to winter makes for some fun times.
No tax hike in county next year BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Red Deer County ratepayers won’t see a tax rate increase next year in the budget unveiled on Tuesday. As well, taxpayers can expect similar good financial news in 2017 and 2018 if the county’s financial projections hold up. For 2016, the county will maintain all services in its $45.6 million budget without increasing tax rates. That means those whose property value did not increase won’t see a higher tax bill. Levies for protective services, environmental initiatives and community services also remain un-
changed. Council deferred final approval of the budget until Dec. 8 to allow the public time to comment. For the first time, the county has developed a three-year operating budget — a strategy many municipalities are adopting to provide a longer-term financial plan for ratepayers. “It does help us to plan into the future,” said Mayor Jim Wood, who added provincial legislative changes are also driving multi-year budgeting. “I look at this as a very, very favourable projection into the future for our residents in Red Deer County.”
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Syrian immigrant concerned about potential for extremists among refugees
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Addy Yazigi and his wife, Areej, and daughter, Larissa, in their restaurant, Addy’s Middle Eastern Cuisine in Red Deer.
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a refugee, as an immigrant. “You come to a different culture you have to accept it. You have to respect it and fit in that culture.” Refugee arrival Yazigi, 47, a restaurant split in two . . . . . A5 owner in Red Deer, is married to Areej, 31. They have a daughter, Larissa, who will soon be three. Areej is also from Syria. She arrived five years ago, and helps run their popular restaurant, called Addy’s, which opened in 2012. The couple attended university in Syria where they became engineers. Yazigi arrived in Canada in 2003, coming at a time when Canada wanted more engineers. But he ended up “logically” deciding to not spend money going back to school to meet Canadian requirements, ultimately making his way to Alberta to work in the oil service industry until opening the restaurant.
Please see YAZIGI on Page A2
Bhullar remembered as a children’s champion A member of the legislature is being remembered as a mountain of a man and a big-hearted champion of children. Story on PAGE A3
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Addy Yazigi is a lot like many other Canadians. He’s worried about the possibility there may be some extremists among the 25,000 Syrian refugees Canada is going to accept in the coming months. He thinks there’s a possibility that some of those who arrive will not accept Canadian culture, and may turn against it. He’s also concerned some may just come for a period of time, be financially supported by Canadians, and then MARY-ANN in the end go back home to BARR Syria. BARRSIDE What sets Yazigi apart is that he himself is from Syria, but he arrived in 2003, not as