A MODEL OF HUMILITY Preserving the past City creates list of heritage buildings
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DAVID TENNANT IS NOTHING LIKE HIS CHARACTER KILGRAVE ON ‘JESSICA JONES’ ENTERTAINMENT — PAGE C8
Red Deer Advocate THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 2015
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SYRIAN REFUGEES
Phone ringing off the hook with offers to help BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF It is not surprising that Red Deerians want to lend a hand. After all the city is known for its volunteers. But Frank Bauer, the Central Alberta Refugee Effort’s executive director, is overwhelmed by community’s offer to help in welcoming the Syrian refugees. The agency is ‘Don’t fear us,’ say co-ordinating vol- Syrian refugees A5 unteers to help with the Catholic Social Services — Immigration and Settlement refugee program for Red Deer. Bauer said the phones have been ringing off the hooks with offers to help in anyway. “The overall response is more than I would have dreamed of,” said Bauer. “The fact that 50 people showed up for two sessions is overwhelming.” Two volunteer information sessions were hosted by C.A.R.E on Tuesday night and Wednesday. They had to limit the registrations because of space. A couple weeks ago CSS held a stakeholder meeting with agencies such as the food bank, Alberta Health Services and the City of Red Deer. The meeting drew about 100 people. As many as 200 refugees will arrive in the city before the end of February. There will likely be private-sponsored refugees too. To bring context in 19791980, some 200 Vietnamese refugees came to Red Deer when the population was sitting at 45,000, said Bauer. “By putting the 2oo in perspective it is certainly not an impossible number,” said Bauer. “As a community we are definitely able to absorb this number and give them a place and help them find their way by finding jobs and adding to the economy.” Typically Red Deer welcomes 60 refugees from around the world every year. But it is still unclear when the first Syrian refugee family will arrive. “That’s the challenge for us,” said Bauer. “We heard early January may be the first arrivals.”
Please see REFUGEES on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Victoria Park resident Lucille Touchette listens along as Niyah Kobza, left, and Haley Burns read the Robert Munsch book ‘50 Below Zero’ on Wednesday afternoon. The Grade 3 Holy Family Elementary School students along with their classmates paid a visit to the seniors facility in Red Deer to play some games, make some crafts and read to each other. This was the first time students from the school visited the seniors residence, but the plan is to return once a month to share some time together.
NDP putting ‘cart before the horse’ on Bill 6, says county mayor BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Maybe the NDP government could take some lessons from Red Deer County on how to present new legislation. Mayor Jim Wood spoke at Tuesday’s testy meeting on Bill 6 at Westerner Park and urged Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier to halt the rush to approve new legislation before farmers had their say. When the county wants to draft a new bylaw, the public open houses come first, residents have a chance to comment on proposed regulations, then council decides on what rules will be kept and what changed in the
final version. By comparison, the province is debating legislation at the same time as they are trying to consult with residents most affected by the changes to farm safety legislation, he said. “I felt that was the frus- JIM WOOD trating part (on Tuesday) for the farmers who were there, because I believe they
just wanted to make sure they were heard and that any legislation that was brought forward would reflect the operations on their farms and not impede them. “It just seemed like, as someone put it, they put the cart before the horse,” said Wood, who was speaking as an individual since council has not taken a formal position yet. Wood’s request — repeated by many in the room — to delay the vote until consultation was complete was not met with any government commitment. Likewise, a request to send the bill to committee has not been adopted, although Carlier said he would take it to the NDP caucus for consideration.
Please see BILL 6 on Page A2
Christmas bureau hoping for much-needed toy donations
File Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Red Deer community policing Const. Julie Letal accepts a donation from Red Deer resident Islay Wise at the Charity CheckStop on Taylor Drive in Red Deer from a few years ago. This year’s Charity CheckStop for the Red Deer Christmas Bureau runs on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Taylor Drive north of 32nd Street.
WEATHER Sun and cloud. High 4. Low -1.
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BY ADVOCATE STAFF
CHARITY CHECKSTOP
If you’re driving around Central Alberta over the next couple of weeks, you could get hailed down by police officers accompanied by some cheery roadside elves. Charity CheckStops that help out a number of local organizations are scheduled for Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Blackfalds and Innisfail. And based on what’s happening in Red Deer, the need is greater this year. Red Deer’s Charity CheckStop is Saturday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. It will be located at the usual location, on Taylor Drive just north of 32nd Street before 43rd Street. Last year they raised just over $15,000. Christmas Bureau president Tere-
sa Kutynec said Wednesday that they have seen a significant increase in the number of applicants requesting toys for children, a food hamper, or both. At this time last year they had 429 applicants, and this year they have about 600 so far. On Tuesday they had a record single day number of applicants, 47. The reason seems to be that people are struggling because a wife or husband has lost their job, she said. What they are hoping to see the most during the CheckStop are much-needed toy donations, Kutynec said. “We need toys.”
Please see CHECKSTOP on Page A2
Deadly mass shooting in California As many as three gunmen opened fire Wednesday at a social services centre, killing at least 14 people. Story on PAGE D6
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