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Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, NOV. 16, 2015
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‘Best show in ten years’ AGRI-TRADE BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF With the book closed on the 32nd Agri-Trade, organizers are exhibitors are happy with what they called the best show in a decade. The annual exposition of farming technology, innovation and equipment took over the Westerner this past week bringing in exhibits and people from all across Canada and from around the world. A buoyant agricultural industry, driven this year by a better than expected crop led to what Rob Saik, Agri-Trade chair, called the most upbeat mood at the annual event. “Contrary to the rest of the economic news in Alberta, agriculture is vibrant,” said Saik. “The farmers here are quite optimistic, crops came in better than farmers had been thinking.” Despite a severe drought in some areas in Alberta in June that led to some bad crops, Saik said by-andlarge the season turned out better than anticipated. About 425 exhibitors packed into the Westerner over the event that started on Nov. 11 and ran until Saturday. Though attendance numbers are not fully known yet, Saik said they had more in the first three days of this year’s Agri-Trade then they did in the four days of last year’s event. He said they anticipate a 30 per cent increase in attendance this year. “Exhibitors are telling us this is the best show in 10 years,” said Saik. “Many people have done more business on the first day than they have done in an entire show.” Agri-Trade is an even-split partnership between the Westerner and the Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce, and one of the largest events either organization puts on every year.
Please see AGRITRADE on Page A2
Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff
Linea and Tiana Haan take a look at AGCO’s pink Challenger MT 800E tractor during the Agri-Trade Equipment Expo Saturday at Westerner Park. The tractor was the subject of many photos throughout the exposition. See more photos from Agri-Trade on page A7.
Don’t let Paris terror ‘stop us from opening our arms’ to refugees: French envoy BY THE CANADIAN PRESS
Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff
Candles and roses are passed out as Red Deerians begin a procession out of St. Luke’s Anglican Church Saturday night during MADD’s 23rd Annual Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope. More than 20 people attended the event, with candles lit for those who lost their lives to impaired drivers.
Vigil remembers victims of drunk drivers BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Despite a somber mood, a mutual support permeates around as the candles are lit to recognize the victims of drunk drivers. Red Deer Mothers Against Drunk Driving held their 23rd annual candlelight vigil over the weekend. Every year people are invited to light a candle in honour of a loved one who died because of impaired driving. Peggy Gougeon, co-president of the local MADD chapter, said people react to the news of losing a loved one to impaired driving differently and sometimes it takes a few years for people to be ready to attend one of these events. “Mary Williams (founder of the Red Deer MADD chapter) originally started it and they did it so people with similar situations could get together,” said Gougeon. “We have a little service for them and they can light a candle. “We usually have the same people every year.” According to the Alberta Transportation Ministry,
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444 people were killed and 6,649 were injured in alcohol-related collisions from 2006 to 2013. In 2013 alone, 80 people were killed and 1,133 were injured. In July, three Red Deer RCMP members were recognized for charging a high number of impaired drivers. In 2014, the detachment charged 249 people with impaired driving. As of July, 144 impaired driving charges were laid. Gougeon said the continual problem of impaired driving in Red Deer is disheartening. “I don’t know what the answer is,” said Gougeon. “We just keep pushing for more awareness to the problem. “We need to step up the public service announcements.” With the Christmas season approaching, Gougeon said they will be out with the Red Deer RCMP for at least one checkstop. The police will be out throughout the holidays looking for impaired drivers. So far this year, one person has died as a result of an alleged impaired driver. Kevin Lee Pearson, 44, of Springbrook died on May 20 near the intersection of 19th Street and 30th Avenue.
Please see VIGIL on Page A2
OTTAWA — Nicolas Chapuis, the French ambassador to Canada, was busy in his office Friday and had no idea of the carnage unfolding in Paris until he received a painfully short email note from his son, who is studying for his doctorate back home. “I am safe,” was all it said. The note, puzzling at first, struck like a MORE ON PARIS ATTACKS PAGE A6 thunderbolt when the seasoned diplomat turned to see what was happening. And like the most of the rest of the world, he watched in horror and disgust throughout Friday as at least 129 people were slaughtered in separate, co-ordinated attacks around the French capital. “I didn’t know something had happened and so I went online,” Chapuis said Sunday as at least 100 people — many of them expat French citizens — braved the chilly November afternoon and laid flowers and candles at the foot of Ottawa’s monument to explorer Samuel de Champlain. The mourners wrapped themselves in the tri-colour flag and a young boy waved it defiantly on the hillside before the ambassador spoke. “It was mid-afternoon in Ottawa and I saw the magnitude of what was developing. It took a few hours to get an idea of how grave how atrocious the attacks has been.” Still visibly shaken at times, Chapuis vowed the horrific events would not affect his country’s policy towards the still ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, even though a Syrian passport was found among the remains of one of the suicide bombers that struck the soccer stadium. The lead, which has yet to be verified, casts a shadow over efforts by both France — and now the Trudeau government — to give safe haven to some of the tens of thousands of refugees and migrants who’ve flooded across Europe since the spring. “Let’s not be mistaken. France has always been a land of asylum, like Canada,” he said. “The people who are seeking refuge are not the barbarians. They are fleeing the barbarians.”
Please see REFUGEES on Page A2
Mosque deliberately set on fire in Peterborough Congregation members distraught after mosque set on fire Saturday night.
PLEASE Story on PAGE A5
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