Red Deer Express, December 09, 2015

HELP NEEDED: More donations

IN SYNC: Toronto-based a cappella

are needed at the Christmas Bureau as demand continues to rise – PG 3

singing group Cadence makes a Red Deer stop later this month – PG 19 Only Locally Owned & Operated

403.340.4040

www.parklandfuneralhome.com A div. of Central Alberta Family Funeral Services

www.reddeerexpress.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

ANNUAL TRADITION - Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Red Deer put on a live nativity pageant at the chapel on Keats Way last week.

Season’s Specials!

Great Savings on Accessories!

RV Toys, Games, Outbound b d Camp Furniture iture e ore!

RV Accessories, Gift Cards and much more!

www.woodysrv.com

st

Hurry! Sale ends December 31 !

Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express

THE IDEAL GIFT! Visit Today - Great Savings!

Woody’s RV World RED DEER 403-346-1130

1702-49th AVENUE • QE 2 SOUTH

2 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

GoAutoDirect.ca

7424 - 50th Ave, Red Deer

DOUBLE YOUR REFERRAL $1,000 on your Go Card for EVERY successful referral

GoAutoDirect.ca oA t Di t or call: ll

In-house approvals. We finance you with OUR money.

1.855.204.6464

Students Waitresses

2012 GMC SIERRA 1500 SLT STK#CRW1937, 92,382 KM

2015 RAM 1500 ST Q CAB STK#CRW1771, BRAND NEW, 757 KM

2011 FORD F150 LARIAT CREW CAB 4X4 LOADED STK#CRT1898, 139,535 KM

2010 TOYOTA TACOMA V6 STK#CRT1944, 137,199 KM

2014 RAM 1500 ST STK#CRW1938A, 40,419 KM

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STK#CRW1541, V6, 83,782 KM

2014 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY TOURING STK#CRW2078, 55,847 KM

2014 JEEP COMPASS NORTH 4X4 STK#CRW1879, 60,185 KM

2009 TOYOTA RAV4 LTD STK#RGT065516D, 143,158 KM

2011 HONDA CRV EX-L 4X4 STK#CRW1996, 87,830 KM

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

2014 FORD MUSTANG V6 COUPE STK#CRW2047, 14,325 KM

2009 HONDA CIVIC EX-L STK#CRW1830, 99,990 KM

2013 FORD FOCUS TIANIUM STK#CRT1934, 42,089 KM

2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING GL STK#CRB1790A, 101,006 KM

2010 CHEVY AVEO LS STK#CRT1616A, 135,302 KM

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

DIRECT PRICE

$32,950

$22,995

WHY BUY AT GO AUTO DIRECT ?

$18,995

$22,995

$12,500

Fixed Commission Sales

$24,998

$17,995

$18,595

No Extra Fees

Go Card Customer Rewards

$22,495

$5,495

$9,995

24/7 Customer Service

$27,544

Go Insurance

Go Auto Finance

FREE Lifetime Engine Warranty* 77 ST

VISIT US 7424 - 50 Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta

Call 1.855.204.6464 GoAutoDirect.ca

TAYLOR DR

$12,995

$28,995

JOHNSTONE DR

$30,995

Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. Guaranteed approval may require down payment. All payments are quoted at 1.9% APR OAC with $2000 down at maximum finance term.

1.9% OAC available on 2009 and newer vehicles. Price is plus tax. Some conditions apply. See dealer for details. Double your referral program at participating locations. Referral code must be presented in store. Restrictions apply to engine warranty. For details, please visit www.goauto.ca/service/engine-warranty. Some exclusions apply.

Collections Self-employed

No Credit Bankruptcy

GAETZ AVE

New to Canada Bad credit

67 ST

CHAT GoAuto.ca

|

PHONE 1.855.204.6464

|

EMAIL happytohelp@goauto.ca

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 3

Red Deer Christmas Bureau sees increase in demand Local agency expects to help 1,200 children this holiday season

BY ERIN FAWCETT RED DEER EXPRESS

W

ith one week until the deadline for applications, the Red Deer Christmas Bureau has already seen a surge in the number of children they will help this holiday season.

“We are extremely busy - we have lots of clients,” said Teresa Kutynec, president at the Red Deer Christmas Bureau. “We could be close to serving 1,200 children this year.”

Last year, the Red Deer Christmas Bureau provided toys for 966 children.

This year’s application deadline is Dec. 16th at 4 p.m.

“Because oil is down and there was such an uncertainty with who was going to be running our country and our province I think everyone took a step back and wanted to take a little breather before we knew what was going on. Unfortunately if people are not working, they are not spending money. It is a total ripple effect and we get a bit of the brunt of it because we have so many new clients coming through the doors - they don’t know where to turn to.

“It is heartbreaking to see that people have to ask for help. We are a pretty proud province and it’s hard for people to ask for a little bit of assistance to get through the rough times.”

Two weekends ago the annual Stuff A Bus fundraiser was held where $55,000 was raised for both the Christmas Bureau and the Red Deer Food Bank. That money was split in half between the two agencies. As well numerous toys were donated at the event. Just last weekend the RCMP held their annual Charity Checkstop where more donations were received, but more are still needed.

“We’re not getting the daily donations from the malls in the drop boxes. The drop boxes are really low,” said Kutynec.

She added the Christmas Bureau is in need of toys for both boys and girls aged 10-16.

“We need everything from craft kits to hair straighteners and perfume to Axe spray and skateboards. Anything that that age group would like is what we are lacking,” said Kutynec. “If people want to donate cash, that’s great, but it’s better for us if they shop and donate. It helps us alleviate that one step.”

Kutynec encourages those bringing in toys for donations to also bring in their receipts as tax deductible receipts can be given as well.

In terms of the assistance program at the Red Deer Christmas Bureau, parents are able to come and choose some toys for their children and the Bureau also provides other items as well.

IN NEED - Teresa Kutynec, president of the Red Deer Christmas Bureau, stands in the toy room at the agency. This year, the Bureau expects to help 1,200 children.

“We also provide a lot of extra items like puzzles, games, toques, mitts, pajamas, stocking stuffers and things like that.”

In addition to the assistance of toys families are also given a card to come back to the Bureau on Dec. 21st or 22nd and pick up a Christmas hamper which includes a turkey, potatoes, milk, cereal, pancake mix, syrup, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, fresh vegetables, canned vegetables, some fruit and Jell-O, among others.

“It has a couple of days’ worth of food in it,” said Kutynec. “The Christmas hampers are taken out of our budget. We do not take donations of food because we are not set up for that.

“Cash donations are nice in that it helps pay for our hamper program.”

Last year, the Christmas Bureau handed out 946 hampers and Kutynec anticipates that number to rise this year.

Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express

“At this rate, for sure we’ll be probably close to 1,100 hampers.”

The Red Deer Christmas Bureau has also given out 75 Christmas trees this year to families in need. Kutynec said donations are currently being accepted of gently used Christmas trees, ornaments and Christmas decorations for next year.

“We would love that if people had those donations.”

Kutynec pointed to the importance of donating to the Red Deer Christmas Bureau.

“There is probably one person on every street in Red Deer that will step foot in here. If you are donating to us, you are donating to your neighbour, your community,” she said. “We are 100 per cent volunteer-based - we do not have any paid employees here, so all the funds raised go back to the community. It’s helping out right here and you can see it. We do this

for the kids and making sure they have a Christmas.”

Meanwhile, in its 54th year, the Red Deer Christmas Bureau has helped 11,453 families and individuals since 2002 (which is the earliest date that numbers have been recorded). The agency has also given away 10,659 Christmas hampers and toys to 11,669 children since 2002.

For more information visit at www. reddeerchristmasbureau.cfsites.org or call 403-347-2210. Cash donations can be given at the Christmas Bureau’s headquarters or online at www.canadahelps. org. Donations can also be made on the Bureau’s GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com, under ‘Christmas Bureau Needs Help’.

The Christmas Bureau is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. They are located at 15, 7428-49th Ave. efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

4 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

City expands recycling program to allow for all plastics

BY ZACHARY CORMIER RED DEER EXPRESS The City of Red Deer is expanding its recycling operations.

During a special announcement at the Waste Management Facility on Monday, the City announced they will now be accepting all numbered plastics for the recycling program, effective immediately.

“Starting today, our residents can put plastics one through seven in their blue box,” said Waste Management Superintendent Janet Whitesell during the press conference.

Previously, residents had only been able to put number two plastics into their blue bins.

“Historically we’ve accepted number two plastics in the blue box program because they have strong and stable markets, so it’s been quite a long time,” Whitesell said.

“We’re really excited to be able to offer this expanded service to our customers. It’s something that we routinely hear from our customers that they would like to able to recycle more items so we’re really excited that we’re able to increase our service level and meet that expectation for them.”

The expansion is one of those outlined in the City’s Waste Management Master Plan and aims to help the City reach waste diversion targets.

“Out of our City’s Waste Management Master Plan we’ve set some fairly aggressive diversion targets, so we want to reduce the amount of garbage that our residents put out at the curb and we want to reduce the amount of garbage that is being buried in the landfill,” she said.

“Today’s move builds capacity into our existing Waste Management Facility, recognizing that we can extend the life of our current waste management facility by doing the right thing. Now that markets have stabilized for plastics, instead of just accepting number two plastics, we can accept numbers one through seven as well,” said Mayor Tara Veer, adding the goal for the City is environmental sustainability.

“This on top of our organics processing pilot, we’ll certainly see the environmental and financial investment pay back for years to come for Red Deerians.”

According to Whitesell, the new changes will make the recycling process more convenient for residents.

NEW INITIATIVE - From left, City Councillor Ken Johnston, Mayor Tara Veer, Councillor Lawrence Lee, and Councillor Dianne Wyntjes posed for a photo with recyclable materials at the Waste Management Facility in Red Deer on Monday. The City announced they will now be accepting all numbered plastics in the blue boxes.

Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express

“Checking what type of plastic and whether or not it was number two, now it’s just a lot easier.

As long as it’s a numbered plastic, it doesn’t matter the number.”

Items such as Styrofoam, plastic bags, and unnumbered containers will still not be accepted by the City.

According to a press release given out by the City, the expansion will not affect current monthly utility fees for homeowners. The new service does mean the City will incur some extra costs, but these were already incorporated into the 2016 utility rates.

Blue boxes are collected on the same day as garbage and will be picked up on all statutory holidays with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. For a full list of acceptable items that can go in the blue box, visit reddeer.ca/recycling. zcormier@reddeerexpress.com

Soft hiring climate predicted for local area Red Deer area job seekers should expect a soft hiring climate for the first quarter of 2016, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

“Survey data reveals that 12 per cent of employers plan to hire for the upcoming quarter (January to March), while another 15 per cent anticipate cutbacks,” stated Randy Upright, CEO of Manpower’s Alberta region. Seventy-three per cent of employers plan to maintain their current staffing levels in the upcoming quarter.

“With seasonal variations removed from the data, Red Deer’s first quarter Net Employment Outlook of four per cent is an increase of three percentage points when compared to the previous quarterly Outlook,” said Upright. “However, it is also an 11 percentage point decrease from the Outlook reported during the same time last year, indicating a subdued hiring pace for the upcoming months.”

It was a different outlook for Canada overall, however.

The survey of over 1,900 employers across Canada reveals that 9% plan to increase their staffing levels in the first quarter

of 2016, while 7% expect cutbacks. Of the employers surveyed, 81% expect their current staffing levels to remain the same, while the remaining three

per cent are unsure about their hiring intentions for this quarter.

“We are seeing some positive signs for Canadian job seekers, with overall

employment in the country surpassing 18 million for the first time,” said Michelle Dunnill, Manpower Area Manager for Toronto, Mississauga

and Markham.

“Employment in natural resources continues its downward trend, particularly in Alberta. However, we expect modest gains

overall in the coming quarter, led by stronger growth in the transportation, construction and manufacturing – durables sectors.”

-Weber

WILD RIDE - Bentley Mayerson rode an animatronic dinosaur at the Discover the Dinosaurs exhibition at Westerner Park this past weekend. The event featured a variety of animatronic dinosaurs as well as other activities such as bounce castles.

Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 5

New Inglewood School breaks ground

BY KALISHA MENDONSA RED DEER EXPRESS Ground has officially broken on Red Deer Public District’s newest addition, Inglewood School, located at 99 Irving Cresc.

The elementary school will be open in 2017 with accommodation for 400 students, with expansion incorporated into later planning for an additional 100 students.

Superintendent of Red Deer Public School District (RDPSD) Stu Henry, was delighted to announce the beginning of the construction of the new facility.

“We’re so excited. It’s always great news to be getting a new school,” he said.

“We’re looking at a very modern design with some outdoor classes. Those are interesting spaces and we can give the kids some fresh air. We’re looking forward to a beautiful building for our kids on the southside.”

The new school will incorporate outdoor classroom structures, intended to be used in addition to traditional classrooms. Henry said the applications lie in science, art and other programs. As well, the school architects are looking into creating an open concept building and will be creating a dedicated community space within the school.

“The City of Red Deer contributed some pretty big dollars to ensure that there would be a section of the school that is open for community use as well. We really see that as a positive asset,” Henry said.

He said the space has yet to be defined,

but the District is excited to have the opportunity to engage the community within the school facility.

“We really value the idea that the community can make use of that building. It’s a way for taxpayers to pay for community space and for the school board to work with the community to bring those costs down. We haven’t defined exactly what is going to be created, but we do want there to be a space the community can use,” he said.

Bruce Buruma, director of community relations with RDPSD, said the community space is an important partnership for the City and the District.

“The community space is a partnership with the City of Red Deer. They’ve added money to the project to the tune of around $600,000 and that will provide some dedicated community space that will in essence keep the schools open beyond the regular day,” he said.

“Our schools belong to the community, and our community belongs to our schools. We want to make the schools accessible to be used after or during school hours for community use. We’re very excited about that partnership.”

Henry said the new facilities will incorporate engaging design concepts such as a, “Light spectrum theme.

“The architects are going to look at colourful learning spaces that are a little more engaging than some past school designs,” Henry explained.

“We’re also looking into more of an open concept design throughout the school as well. School designs haven’t

changed too much over the years so we’re thinking maybe we need a little bit more of an opened up building.”

Buruma said the district is still engaged in defining attendance boundaries for the school and is continuing to engage the surrounding communities to determine how it will affect the District as a whole.

“We’ve had a lot of consultation with the community through online engagement and the accommodations committee is looking to bring forward a rec-

ommendation on what the attendance boundary for the school will be. There will be ripple effects with other schools as well, because we’re looking at how we can accommodate students across the District. We’ve been involved in that process for almost a year, and have connected with the community as much as we can,” he said.

The school is set to open in 2017, with more details to come. kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

GENEROSITY - Fred Dieno, parking coordinator with the City of Red Deer, stands with more than 500 toys collected during the City’s annual Toys for Tickets campaign.

Citizens are encouraged to bring in a toy to cover their parking tickets in December, and toys will continue to be collected until Thursday at noon. Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express

Save $ 50

11 Budweiser 24 PK Cans

$

36.95

MORE FAVOURITES. MORE VALUE. MORE STORES. VISIT ONE OF OUR 7 LOCATIONS TODAY. Price valid at Liquor Depot Red Deer stores only. We reserve the right to limit quantities. While quantities last. Price Match Guarantee: we will match any advertised price. All prices exclude deposit and GST. Price and product subject to change without notice. No further discounts can be applied to sale items ending in ‘5’. Prices in effect Wednesday December 9 - Tuesday December 15, 2015.

6 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

OPINION Christmastime is the season of giving Red Deer has truly come alive with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Company Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, and family get-togethers are all underway as Dec. 25th approaches.

For many, enjoying all that the season has to offer is for the most part affordable. But for some, this season brings nothing but stress and financial hardship as they try to meet the expectations society seems to demand through non-stop commercial bombardment. Many Central Albertans may be feeling this stress for the first time as the economic downturn continues and more layoffs in the oilfield and now other industries are in full force.

Still, even though many’s circumstances may have changed in recent months, Christmastime isn’t known as the season of giving for nothing.

Despite their personal hurdles, whether financially stable or not, many choose to open their hearts and pocketbooks to

help out the less fortunate.

Folks from Central Alberta in general and Red Deer in particular have frequently been described as a generous lot as well.

Local agencies have been putting out the word that demands for services continue to be high. Recently, a number of fundraisers were held including Stuff-A-Bus as well as the RCMP Charity Checkstop and the Salvation Army Santa Shuffle. While all of these events received support, the need remains and the community needs to be mindful that more donations are still needed.

The Red Deer Christmas Bureau says the need for toys for the Toy Depot are still needed and would especially be appreciated to help put smiles on kids’ faces Christmas morning. They are expected to help 1,200 children this holiday season - a number that has surged this year as demand continues to increase.

More and more families are struggling to not only provide the necessities day to day, but when the holiday season comes along those pressures escalate even further.

The Salvation Army has an annual program called Adopt-a-Family where folks are invited to contribute to hampers that are later distributed to those who need them.

This year, staff are seeking more people in the community to come onboard and support a family this holiday season.

And of course the Red Deer Food Bank has seen a surge in demand in the last number of months. Many first-time clients have been seen coming to their door.

And officials with the agency are concerned not only about being able to keep up with demand over the next coming weeks, but in the next coming months as well.

It’s important to remember that these

organizations and services plus other agencies in the region need consistent support, which makes such a profound difference for those who need a helping hand. It doesn’t take much to make a big impact – especially for children.

The need can seem overwhelming, to the point where many are tempted to throw up their hands and ask where does a person start?

But the size of the problem shouldn’t discourage anyone from contributing.

Toss some coins in the Salvation Army kettles instead of simply offering the attendant a friendly smile or worse, looking the other way.

If everyone chipped in, even in a small way, enormous differences could be made and we can all enjoy the Christmas season even more.

The personal satisfaction of knowing that you’ve helped someone in need is indeed a gift in itself.

Alberta’s climate change plan set up to fail Like many Albertans, I was initially delighted at our government’s new Climate Leadership plan.

Surely, I thought, Premier Rachel Notley’s team had deftly hit the sweet spot.

The plan promises to speed up the elimination of coal-generated electricity; price 90% of carbon emissions.; create a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands; result in a big cut in methane emissions and encourage energy efficiency and energy-resilient communities.

And it was supported by some environmentalists and scions of the oil patch.

But now, having studied the full report of the climate change panel and the provincial government’s plan, I’m less satisfied. Certainly a government has to consider the political climate, not just the opinions of its voters, and that the essence of politics is compromise.

Phil

ELDER

Alberta’s emissions level in 2030 will be the same as today, although it has been estimated that, without the plan, Alberta’s emissions would grow from 267 megatonnes (MT) in 2013 to 320 megatonnes in 2030.

Just halting this projected increase in emissions is not good enough. We have a critical problem and incremental responses amount to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Even ignoring the climate plan’s complexity and need for more bureaucracy, it has let Albertans, Canada and the world down. Surely the whole

point is to reduce drastically, not just stop expanding, production of fossil fuels. Even if the Holy Grail is achieved and the carbon intensity of oilsands production is cut to that of conventional oil, it will still add to the climate change that the policy is supposed to reduce.

The report says, “Many will look at these emissions reductions and claim that our policies will not place Alberta on a trajectory consistent with global 2oC goals, and in some sense this is true. The policies proposed for Alberta in this document would not, if applied in all jurisdictions in the world, lead to global goals being accomplished.”

The policy sets the emissions cap for the oilsands 40%-plus above the current amount, which is already of worldwide concern. The document gives the game away. “The 100

Mt limit provides room for growth and development of our resource as a basis for a strong economy.

Overall, Alberta’s new approach will incent changes that see the number of produced barrels increase relative to associated emissions. The future production achievable within the annual 30-Mt ‘room’ in the limit will be higher than at any time in our past or present.”

So we’re going to fight climate change by producing more fossil fuels whose burning will add to the problem? No wonder the oilpatch is on side.

Indeed, it appears that the most carbon-efficient oilsands producers will receive more in subsidies per barrel of oil produced than they pay in carbon tax.

The carbon price is much too low. The environment should not be a free dump for pollution. The ultimate price of goods needs to ex-

press their true cost.

But what is the true cost of carbon in the atmosphere? U. S. agencies peg, “The social cost of carbon emissions today at $62 per tonne, increasing to $69 per tonne by 2020 and $110 per tonne in 2050, each in 2014 inflation-adjusted U.S.–dollar terms.”

With this in mind, the Pembina Institute’s recommendation to the panel seems appropriate, “We recommend a carbon price starting at $40 per tonne of CO2 emitted in 2016, with a schedule for increasing it by $10 per tonne annually over the first 10 years of the policy. This is generally the level of stringency necessary for Alberta to make a fair contribution to Canada’s international commitments.”

Yet the panel’s recommendation was for a $30 per tonne ceiling price by 2018. Timidity personified.

I am dismayed that the

report says, “[W]hen compared to other leading jurisdictions, the Panel’s policies would likely lead to lower penetration rates of 25–30 per cent renewable generation by 2030.”

Apparently this is because we’re going to rely on our cheap natural gas.

But given that its emissions will also have to be cut in the medium term, surely a much more ambitious renewable target should have been set.

A carbon tax, instead of cap–and–trade, offers simplicity, particularly if it is imposed across the board on activities generating greenhouse gases (including point–of–sale retail).

And we must stop approving new oilsands projects until the sector’s emissions are reduced enough to allow them.

Phil Elder is a professor at the University of Calgary. His column is distributed through Troy Media.

#121, 5301 - 43 St Red Deer, AB T4N 1C8

www.reddeerexpress.com

Phone: 403-346-3356 Fax: 403-347-6620

The Red Deer Express is a proud newspaper of

2010

Canadian Media Circulation Audit

Copyright. No material - news, photographs or advertising - may be reproduced without the express written consent of the Publisher. Failure to obtain such consent may result in legal action without further notice.

Tracey Scheveers

Erin Fawcett

Mark Weber

Kalisha Mendonsa

Zachary Cormier

Publisher

Co-Editor

Co-Editor

Reporter

Reporter

Michelle Vacca

Jenna Hanger

Sales Representative Sales Representative

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 7

Amendments made to proposed Bill 6

BY KALISHA MENDONSA RED DEER EXPRESS Amendments to Bill 6 were announced earlier this week by the NDP government after province-wide protests.

As of Dec. 7th, amendments were announced by Lori Sigurdson, minister of jobs, skills, training and labour which included the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act to explicitly exclude the application of WCB and OHS to owners of a farm or ranch operation, family members of the owners, and friends and neighbours who volunteer their time on the farm or ranch; only where non-owner or non-family waged individuals are involved in a farm or ranch operation will WCB and OHS apply to the operation, and only to those non-owner and non-family waged individuals; if waged individuals are owners or family members of owners, the application of WCB and OHS will be excluded as it pertains to those individuals and in all cases, farm and ranch families may elect to choose WCB coverage for waged owners, waged family members and unwaged neighbours and friends.

Last week in Red Deer, hundreds of protesting citizens gathered at the Westerner grounds last week during an NDP consultation event regarding Bill 6 - Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. Farmers from across the region assembled with families, farm gear and even animals to debate the controversial Bill and to question the NDP government regarding details of amendments that are going to be made to the current Bill structure.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Oneil Carlier was present to speak on behalf of the government.

“We have not been clear. We have not been communicating with you about this Bill, but these amendments are one way we can do better,” Carlier said.

“We are consulting with you to make sure the laws around farming make sense.

Other provinces have rules to protect the farm community and we are looking at those as well. The rules will set a minimum safety standard that only paid employees will be included in.

“These amendments will take effect the same time the Bill does. Rules that relate to employment standards - like hours of employment - won’t take effect until spring 2016. The same is true for Labour Relations related provisions.”

Throughout the consultation, members of the community questioned the ministers

and government representatives. One of the views expressed repeatedly by the crowd included pleas to delay the passing of the Bill beyond Jan. 1st, in order for members of the community to access the amendments.

As well, many concerns about the loss of farm family lifestyle were expressed.

Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood attended the consultation, and was called upon during the question period to raise his concerns that mirrored those of many other attendees. “What I want to do is to make sure that whatever you do does not impact the way of life that we have,” Wood said. “What I would say as a politician and what I’m going to ask you to do is this typically when we try to bring in some new legislation in our municipality, the first thing we do is have an open house. We ask the public how they would do something, and what they want changed. We take that information and continue from there.”

Wood continued, “I’m going to suggest to you that you delay passing the Bill and have the consultations that will bring the knowledge of the farming community to you. They will tell you what is necessary and what isn’t necessary. I’m sure that some good will come out of this - we all want to have safety on our farms. I don’t think that’s what we’re talking about. We want it to be reasonable and make sure it works with our community, so please delay your vote.”

Wood’s comments were met with cheers from the crowd. He, like many other speakers, said that the Bill came in quickly and without much consultation. He said that he hopes the NDP will hear the concerns of the farming and ranch community and delay the passing of the Bill.

“I believe that further consultation is 100 per cent necessary and that if this passed prematurely, it’s going to cause problems.

We’re seeing quite an uproar here today, we have a pretty angry crowd here and I think they’re angry because they are feeling that they will be negatively impacted.”

Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen for the Red Deer Mountain View riding said, “My riding has thousands of farmers and they have been clear that they feel blindsided by this legislation. The bill was introduced without consultation with family farms.

It affects 45,000 family farms across the province and the government didn’t bother to ask them how it would affect them. They are the ones with expert knowledge on the issue, and their voices deserve to be heard. kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

ARE YOU TIRED OF LIVING IN SPINAL CARE CANADA USES A NON SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING: • • • • • • • • •

• •

Degenerative Disc Disease Herniated Bulging Discs Facet Syndrome Sciatica Chronic Neck & Back Pain Post Surgical Failures Spinal Stenosis Arm Pain Numbness and Tingling in Arms and Legs Leg Pain Other Spinal Afflictions

Call now to book a free consultation!

We can direct bill!

Our Edmonton, Red Deer and Sherwood Park oþces will direct bill with Blue Cross and Great West Life!

RED DEER WELLNESS COACH CLINICS #30C, 5250-22nd Street dellD.C. D.C. Dr. Steve Wadell

Dr. ƫ )!.+* ..%/+* % D.C. Ph. 403-Ċĉć-ĈĈćĈ 440 ĈĈ

EDMONTON

SPRUCE GROVE DYNAMIC PHYSIOTHERAPY & WELLNESS (located on 2nd Floor) #204, 505 Queen Street Dr. Claire Kassian D.C. Ph: 1-780-628-1379

CENTURY PARK PAIN & HEALTH 2393-111 Street NW Dr. Paul Singh Mutti D.C. Dr. Curtis Woolf D.C. Dr. Daniel Bateman D.C. Ph: 1-780-800-4714

CALGARY

SHERWOOD PARK

LETHBRIDGE

REFRESH WELLNESS CENTER 94 Athabascan Ave Dr. Claire Kassian D.C. Ph. 1-780-800-4728 Our Edmonton, Red Deer and Sherwood Park offices will direct bill with Blue Cross and Great West Life!

CALGARY PAIN & HEALTH CENTER 21 Crowfoot Rise NW Dr. Emil Vargas D.C. Ph. 1-587-355-2621

CONTINUAL MOTION SPORTS & CHIROPRACTIC (located in Peak Health Centre) 715 2nd Ave S. Dr. Curtis Woolf D.C. Dr. Grayson Michel D.C. Ph: 1-587-800-1152

www.spinalcarecanada.ca FOR A CAUSE - Jill Fisher, right, and Taylor Crosbie accepted their medals from Santa Claus after completing the 5km Santa Shuffle at Kerry Wood Nature Centre last weekend. The annual event was held in communities all across Alberta in support of the Salvation Army.

Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express

• Acupuncture • Spinal Decompression • Chiropractic • Massage Therapy • Custom Orthotics • Pregnancy Massage • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Advance Laser Therapy • Posture Correction • Work-Related Accidents • Physiotherapy

8 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

0

%*

AS LOW AS

YEAR-END

PRICING

CLEAROUT EVENT

APR

OR

ON MOST NEW MODELS

WHEN YOU GET THE VEHICLE YOU WANT AND THE DEAL YOU WANT

LIGHT UP YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH A

$ WINTER BONUS UP TO 1,000

ON SELECT MODELS

DOUBLE YOUR REFERRAL $1,000 on your Go Card for EVERY successful referral

Why buy from us?

GO CARD REWARDS

FREE SERVICE LOANERS

IN-HOUSE FINANCE

CUSTOMER SERVICE

FIXED COMMISSION SALES

CALL US 1.855.512.1387 VISIT US 3010 – 50 Avenue

NO EXTRA FEES. PERIOD.

FREE LIFETIME ENGINE WARRANTY.

IN-HOUSE INSURANCE

MGMFordLincoln.com

Offer available on select models. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. Prices include all fees and taxes, except GST. Offers available OAC. 0% for 72 months on select 2015 F150s, 2016 Escape, 2016 Superduty models. 0% for 84 on select 2015 Focus and 2016 Fusion models. Plus eligible Costco members receive an additional $1,000 on most new 2015 and 2016 Ford models. For Lincoln: $1,000 winter bonus on select 2015 and 2016 Lincoln models. For double your referral promotion please visit www.goauto.ca/shopping-tools/double-referral. Some conditions apply, see dealer for details.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 9

Remembering the Christmas season of 1986 Another Christmas shopping season is now upon us. While merchants are hoping for good sales again this year, the challenges facing the Alberta economy are creating a lot of uncertainty and a fair bit of worry.

A similar situation occurred nearly 30 years ago in 1986. The energy sector of the Alberta economy had already suffered in the early 1980s from the imposition of the National Energy program. However, the oil and gas industry appeared to be recovering by the middle of the decade.

Then, in late 1985 and early 1986, some members of OPEC, particularly Saudi Arabia, began to flood the market with oil in order to restore market share. The price of a barrel of oil plunged by more than 2/3 and eventually bottomed out at around $10 per barrel.

The number of new wells being drilled in the province dropped dramatically. As the winter drilling season approached, it was estimated that less than 400 wells would be completed, down sharply from the nearly 900 recorded in the previous

Michael

DAWE season. Large scale layoffs swept throughout the energy industry.

The other pillar of the Alberta economy, the agricultural sector, was also suffering. Commodity prices were weak. Prolonged droughts, particularly in southern Alberta, greatly reduced crop yields.

As the energy and agricultural sectors struggled, the amount of new construction in Red Deer dropped off. The recession of the early 1980s had been somewhat offset by a number of major multiyear projects such as the construction of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, the relocation of the Westerner Exposition grounds to the City’s south side, and the development of Waskasoo Park.

Unfortunately there were few major construction projects in 1986.

A new Remand Centre was built east of the new court house and an anhydrous ammonia plant was built in the Joffre/Prentiss area. The Red Deer College Arts Centre officially opened in October 1986, but that project had been delayed for a considerable length of time after the original contractor had gone bankrupt.

As the economy continued to slow, the Provincial Government began to implement a number of budget cuts that included layoffs in such areas as healthcare.

Michener Centre (formerly the Alberta School Hospital and Deerhome), which had traditionally been one of the largest employers in Central Alberta, continued to face cutbacks as part of a long-term plan to greatly reduce the numbers of residents.

With all of these economic challenges, it is not surprising that the local retail sector faced an increasing decline in sales.

The downtown stores, already squeezed by the large malls to the north (Parkland) and south (Bower), particularly felt

DOWNTOWN SHOPPING - The interior of the old Eaton’s Store in downtown Red Deer, c. 1985. the pinch.

The opening of Zellers, in the old Eaton’s Store on Gaetz Avenue in 1985, provided only a modest boost.

City planners produced a new master plan as part of an effort to revitalize the downtown. However, there was soon controversy.

A proposal to build a central transit terminal on the southeast corner of 49 St. and 49 Ave. was opposed by the Planning Commission as it was not part of their master plan. A proposal by Urban Dynamics Corp. to build a major downtown mall

cheer EXPERIENCE THE

SANTA’S HOURS NOVEMBER 21 - DECEMBER 24, 2015

AT PARKLAND MALL

MONDAY - SATURDAY: 11:00am - 7:30pm SUNDAY: 11:00am - 5:30pm DECEMBER 24: 11:00am - 3:00pm

www.parklandmall.ca

photo courtesy of the Red Deer Archives.

was greeted with skepticism as there seemed to have been little consultation with such major downtown stores as The Bay and Zellers.

In order to provide some spark to Christmas shopping, Red Deer’s first Santa Claus parade was organized by the downtown merchants at the end of November.

The event was a great success. Despite cold weather, an estimated 8,000 people turned out to watch the parade and take in the related attractions.

By Christmas, however,

it was obvious that annual shopping season had been a disappointment. Only the sales of new technology, such as microwaves, VCRs and home computers, seemed to do well.

Special bargains, often of the type normally only seen on Boxing Day and during the January clearance promotions, made their appearance before Christmas.

The traditional greetings of Merry Christmas continued to ring out, but the hopes for a much Happier New Year became even more heartfelt.

10 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

CITY BRIEFS

by Mark Weber

RECREATION CENTRE CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE

For more information of the Recreation Centre, please call 403-309-8411 or visit www. reddeer.ca/rpc.

The Recreation Centre in Red Deer will be closed through to Dec. 27th for annual maintenance. The facility will re-open on Dec. 28th and all drop-in activities will resume.

Although the pool and fitness areas will be closed during this time, the Recreation Centre administration office will remain open during regular business hours. Cashiers will be available for registrations and inquiries Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The annual shutdown allows staff an opportunity to conduct a thorough inspection and maintenance on all equipment and technical systems in the facility.

Users with Recreation Centre cards are reminded that their card allows them to access the Michener Aquatic Centre.

All other City recreation facilities will remain open during this time.

UWCA GIFT CATALOGUE Central Albertans now have the opportunity to give a thoughtful gift that makes a lasting impact in their community.

United Way Central Alberta (UWCA) has chosen ‘Giving Tuesday’ to unveil its new gift catalogue.

Simply go to UWCA’s web site, click on ‘Gift Catalogue’ and purchase a gift online from one of the three investment areas: education, income and wellness.

The recipient will receive an e-card describing your gift, and you will receive a tax receipt.

Not only will you be giving a meaningful gift to a friend, loved one or client, your donation will be used to impact lives in Central Alberta. Gifts range in price from $25 to $200.

All gifts are described in more detail on the web site at

GIVING BACK - Volunteer Wayne Blenkhorn accepted a donation from a passing driver during the annual Charity Checkstop on Taylor Drive last weekend. All proceeds from the checkstop went to the Red Deer Christmas Bureau and the Red Deer Food Bank.

Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express http://caunitedway.ca/home/ onlinestore/.

This year, you can choose to make a gift of sending a local child to camp, or providing a safe place for a family escaping domestic violence for a night. These are just two examples.

PIPER CREEK PROJECT

Join us as we celebrate and remember the lives of those we loved and cherished in this memorial service.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 7:00pm Eventide Funeral Chapel 4820-45 Street, Red Deer Free to the community • All welcome Light refreshments •Live music • Readings and Reflections

ReThink Red Deer is proud to announce the addition of Trout Unlimited to the Steering Committee of the Piper Creek Restoration Agriculture Project.

Trout Unlimited was successful in their application to Environment Canada’s recent round of Environmental Damages funding to help restore a roughly 25-acre section of Piper Creek immediately south of the City of Red Deer Landfill.

Specifically, this funding will enable the removal of a non-conforming creek crossing in the fall of 2016.

TRANSIT CHANGES ANNOUNCED Red Deer Transit has made route and schedule adjustments to Routes 5, 9 and 10.

Route 5 (Rosedale/Deer Park) will no longer travel along Lockwood Avenue and Lees Street to the interline point with Route 3. The new route takes 32 St. to 30 Ave. to maintain service to the bus stops in front of the Collicutt Centre. There are no changes to the scheduled times.

Route 9 (Eastview/Inglewood) will no longer travel along Lees Street, 30 Ave. and 32 St. It will travel along Lockwood Avenue from Lees Street to 32 St. There is a new schedule accompanying this change.

Route 10 (West Park/Gaetz Ave. South) will no longer travel along Bennett Street

and Molly Bannister Drive east of Gaetz Avenue, behind the Bower Mall.

Instead this route will continue up Gaetz Avenue between Bennett Street and 28 St. serving Bower Mall from Gaetz Avenue. There is a new schedule accompanying this change.

Updated maps and schedules are available at www. reddeer.ca/transit. Printed versions of the new schedules are on order and will arrive shortly.

Changes to these routes are being made in response to concerns about missed transfer connections at Sorensen Station happening primarily at peak travel times. As winter road conditions set in, Red Deer Transit is taking steps to reduce these delays to improve service and enhance efficiency for transit riders.

For more information, contact Transit at 403-342-8225 or by email at transit@reddeer.ca.

Non-perishable food will be collected and donated to local area food banks.

For more info call: 403-347-2222 eventidefuneralchapels.com

There were 37,520 smiles in Red Deer this past fall as citizens showed support for the annual SMILE COOKIE campaign by Tim Hortons. A cheque for $37,520 was presented from Tim Hortons to the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools.

Proceeds from the SMILE COOKIE campaign will support Bright Start, a program of the Foundation. Funding provides quality pre-Kindergarten programming for children who need supports and programming to ensure they start school, ready to learn and achieve their full potential.

As well, MEGlobal has donated $3,000 to the Red Deer Food Bank.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 11

$1000 HOLIDAY BONUS ON ALL 2016 ACURA MODELS

ACURA

Or receive up to a

$6,000 Customer Cash Rebate on select remaining 2015 TLX models.

RA RA ATE TES FR TE ROM M

$ UP TO 84 UP 84 MON NTH T S

1.855.221.7332

CALL US: VISIT US: 1808 – 49 Avenue, Red Deer, AB

1,000

HOLIDAY BONUS

1.855.221.0276

CALL US: VISIT US: 1824 – 49 Avenue, Red Deer, AB

AcuraRedDeer.ca

HondaRedDeer.ca

DOUBLE YOUR REFERRAL $1,000 on your Go Card for EVERY successful referral

Why buy from us?

GO CARD REWARDS

FREE SERVICE LOANERS

IN-HOUSE FINANCE

CUSTOMER SERVICE

FIXED COMMISSION SALES

NO EXTRA FEES. PERIOD.

FREE LIFETIME ENGINE WARRANTY.

IN-HOUSE INSURANCE

Offer available on select models. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. Prices include all taxes and fees, except gst. Offers available OAC. For Acura: $6,000 cash rebate select 2015 TLX models. Receive a $1000 Holiday Bonus on all 2016 Acura models. For Honda: $1,000 holiday bonus plus 0.99% for 84 months on select 2015 Civic and 2015 Accord Coupe models. For double your referral promotion please visit www.goauto.ca/shopping-tools/double-referral. Some conditions apply, see dealer for details.

12 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

fyi EVENTS Sheraton Celebrity Dance Off 2016 will be held on April 16th. All proceeds will go towards burning the mortgage on Julietta’s Place, a home for women and their children fleeing family violence, operated by Women’s Outreach. Give the gift of the Sheraton Celebrity Dance Off this Christmas by purchasing a Gift Certificate towards a ticket to Red Deer’s premier gala. Contact Women’s Outreach (4101 54th Ave.) or call 403-347-2480.

Winter Open House at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery – Dec. 6th from 1 - 4 p.m. Mingle & jingle with us! Come in and warm up with some hot apple cider with the MAG! We’ll have stories to share and crafts to make in celebration of the holidays, including making your own Paper Marbling art using shaving cream! Just like a snowflake, no design is ever the same. Admission is by donation. Also, donations of non-perishable food items and warm winter clothing will be gratefully accepted on behalf of the Red Deer Food Bank and Safe Harbour Society.

The Golden Circle’s annual cookie walk and tea will be held on Dec. 10th starting at 1 p.m.

Cookie boxes are $5 each.

The tea will follow at 2 p.m. with The Penhold Crossing Secondary School and Penhold School Band performing.

Items needed – donate now - ‘Bring Your Ginch Before Christmas Event’. Donate underwear, gloves and mitts to Bistro on Gaetz, …comforts the sole, Classic Tattoo, Great Strides, Hot Pot Studio, Luksus, La Petite Jaune Fleur and Rob Rae Clothiers.

Rev. Gail invites us to bring purses we no longer use to the Centre for Spiritual Living, along with toiletry items to be given to women in need. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, deodorant – whatever you choose to bring that can be put in these hand bags to help women in crisis. We also have a Christmas Bureau box which

These events brought to you by:

Your weekly Community Events Calendar

we want to fill with unwrapped toys. This box will be collected the week of Dec. 14th to 18th, so please remember to bring these items soon! On Dec. 13th we’ll share our December potluck lunch. On Dec. 18th at 7 p.m. there will be a candle-lighting and carol-singing service with Audrey Graham at the piano.

On Dec. 27th our service will include the Burning Bowl Ceremony - always a special event.

a.m. – 4 p.m. every Saturday until Christmas at the Parkland Garden Centre - three minutes east of 30th Ave.on Hwy. 11.

SanKta Lucia – A Celebration of Light runs Dec. 13th at 2:30 p.m. in the Chalet at Westerner Park.

Please join the Red Deer Vasa Lodge for this Swedish mid-winter celebration. Coffee and traditional baking will be served following the Lucia Candlelight Procession.

Silver Collection at Door. For more

abilities are welcome to watch or participate. Call 403-340-4869.

Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi™ Health Recovery Classes run Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Health Recovery classes are designed for people with chronic illness such as MS, arthritis, or those recovering from injuries, surgery, or stroke and other health issues. Come and experience the difference Tai Chi can make in your quality of life. Port o’ Call Center #100, 4419

Looking for a new and interesting way to raise money for your charity group or sports team?

Comedy Night at Heritage Lanes!

The answer is Contact Heritage Lanes Group Bookings to reserve your date or to get more information.

Email groupbookings@heritagelanes.com or call us at 403-309-6385 December 10th at 8pm Heritage Lanes Comedy Zone Presents Feature Headliner

Dan Guiry

only $5

December 17th at 8pm Heritage Lanes Comedy Zone Presents Feature Headliner

Tommy Savitt

Heritage Lanes Anahad Yoga – show up on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. and Sat. mornings at 10 a.m.

Visit us at www.cslreddeer.org.

Kiwanis Gallery (in Red Deer Public Library) operated by the Red Deer Arts Council is hosting ‘Conversations in Crafts’ by Red Deer Arts Council Visual Arts Members - group show via mixed media/juried exhibition from through to Dec. 27th.

Also, The Hub on Ross has ‘Tonal Exercises in Abstract Thought’

by Elena Rousseau via media mixed media. It runs through to Dec. 31st. First Friday reception is Dec. 4th, 4 to 6 p.m. Finally, the Harris Warke Gallery has the #ClayChallenge with artists Tara Lynne Franco & KJ McAlister via clay through to Dec. 31st.

Golden Circle dances – dances run from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre, 4620-47 A Ave. Admission is $7 per person. Pooled lunch break from 8:30 – 9 p.m.

Everyone Welcome. For more information call 403-341-4672, 403-347-6165 or 403-342-2875.

Over 45 tables – crafts, jewelry, food & Christmas decor. 10

only $5

6200 67a St, Red Deer, AB T4P 3E8

403-309-6385

information, call 403-347-5303.

The Red Deer Whisky Festival, in support of the MS Society of Central Alberta, returns Jan. 12th! This is a unique chance to taste whiskies from around the world and interact with brand ambassadors and distillery representatives. Learn, sample and indulge in what the dynamic whisky industry has to offer.

Funds raised at the event help us provide much needed services in the community for those affected by MS, as well as help fund ground-breaking research dedicated to finding a cure. Why not surprise your loved ones with a great Christmas idea or arrange for an office Christmas party?

Doors open at 7 p.m. at the Red Deer Golf & Country Club.

Purchase tickets online at www. reddeerwhiskyfestival.ca. General admission: $95. VIP Admission: $120 including Master Class.

Join Jason Steele and other Red Deer comedians at The Hub on Ross Wednesday evenings for a night of family comedy. The Hub is located at 4936 – Ross St. Come early if you want to go on stage and tell a few jokes. All ages and

Tommy Savitt was born in New Jersey and bred in Brooklyn. He performs an exhilarating brand of eclectic comedy rarely seen. Tommy has the ability to envelop his audience as he heliports them into a domain of hilarity. Multi-Award winning comedian, Tommy Savitt, has won the prestigious 2007 Boston Comedy Festival, 2008 Seattle Comedy Competition, and was honoured for the “Best In Comedy” category at the 2009 LA Comedy Awards. Tommy has been seen on WGN’s “The Bob & Tom Show”, SI Tv’s “Funny is Funny”, Comcast On Demand, Man Up Stand Up on Mav.Tv and on JLTV’s “ James and Sunda”. Tommy’s comedy CD “Who Wants Me Now!” is one of the top requested on satellite radio.

He also has dedicated much of his time to performing for our troops here and abroad. Tommy’s journey to bring laughter to those that sacrifice for our country has taken him to air force, army, and naval bases in over ten different countries.

– 50th Ave. Phone: 403-346-6772 or visit www.taoist.org. Please call for further information.

The Red Deer Celiac Support Group – need help with a gluten-free diet? Do you have Celiac disease or gluten intolerance? We meet the third Tuesday of the month at South Sobeys Coffee Lounge (2011 22 St.) from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Drop in or stay and visit. Free coffee. We share information and give support about issues pertaining to the gluten-free lifestyle, for example symptoms, diagnosis, shopping, gluten-free products, cross contamination, recipes. For more information, call Clarice at 403-341-4351 or Marlene at 403-346-6235.

Email reddeerceliacs@yahoo. ca. Check out www.celiac.ca.

C.A.R.E. is holding a free Cultural Café on Dec. 10th which is to commemorate International Human Rights Day, in the Living Room at Red Deer College from 4:30 – 6 p.m. The Living Room is located next to Customer Service. At this event you will meet refugees from different countries and hear their stories. Discussion will follow. Free

refreshments will be provided.

Service of Comfort – Dec. 14th at 7 p.m. at Gaetz Memorial United Church. The holiday season can be a time of mixed emotions. The Service of Comfort is designed to help us enter into the Christmas Season without the expectation of having it all together. It is a place where tears and silence are welcomed amongst the Christmas lights and carols as we lean into the Advent preparation of our hearts and minds for the birth of the Christ child into our midst.

Join us for the viewing of , a movie produced by Gospel For Asia, on Dec. 13th, 4 p.m. at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Mackenzie Road, just west of Leons in Red Deer County. The movie will be followed by snacks in the Fellowship Hall so you can experience a taste of India, and enjoy entertainment and a silent auction to support an upcoming mission trip to India.

Contact Jane at 403-343-3006.

Hard of Hearing Support Group - thank you everyone for attending our monthly meetings! Next meeting Spring, 2016. Further information and assistance, call Desiree at (403) 356-1598 or email: speakupcentralalberta@gmail.com.

Central Alberta Singles Club. The Dec. 19th dance features Randy Hilman. Call Elaine at 403-3417653 or Bob at 403-304-7440.

A winter wonderland - featuring horse-drawn sleigh rides, quad sleigh rides, skating, snow games, craft zone, picture with Santa and candy bags for the kids. Word of Life Church is inviting Central Alberta to their annual “Christmas Experience” Dec. 20th at 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. Following each Family Service (where you’ll see some of your favorite Christmas characters), there are fun activities planned for the whole family. The event is complimentary; and a hot chili lunch will be available for a minimum donation of $5 (proceeds going to the I Heart Red Deer Lunch Program). Word of Life is located at the South End of Taylor Drive on England Way 403343-6570 info@wordoflife.ca.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 13

These events brought to you by:

www.laebon.com

Week of December 9 - 16, 2015 The Lacombe Christmas Farmers Market will be held every Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through to Dec. 11 at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. Great chance to do your Christmas shopping with a huge variety of baking, homemade crafts, local honey, perogies, woodwork, jams, fall veggies, meats, clothing, Philippine spring rolls, jewelry and more. Call 403-7824772 for more information.

The Red Deer Legion Pipe Band is actively recruiting experienced and inexperienced people from the Central Alberta area, who are interested in joining the Pipe Band. Anyone with piping or drumming experience, or if you would like to learn piping or drumming, are asked to please contact us at 403-782-7183. Practices are held at the Red Deer Legion on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

Red Deer Action Group Society is seeking volunteer board members. In order to keep our programs running, we need board members willing to commit two hours per month. If you think this would be a good opportunity, contact our office at 403-3431198 or email rdag@telus.net.

If you enjoy singing Glee Club style, but feel your skills are limited, please come and join our group of seniors who sing and play for seniors as a gift of community spirit. The Tony Connelly Singers, in their 31st year of service, welcome anyone who might enjoy singing out at seniors’ venues around the City. From September to June we prepare 10, one-hour ong programs filled with oldies and newer music. We practice form 9:30 to 11 a.m. each Tuesday at the Downtown House Seniors Centre and present four to six sing outs each month. Our group is friendly, social and supportive. Please join our next practice or anytime. Call Shirley at 403-342-5904 for bookings or Betty at 403-3467316 for more information.

Dance for the health of it – try it out – first lesson is free. It runs Mondays and Wednesdays starting Jan. 11th. Sessions run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for 10 weeks. $120/week. Sessions will

fyi

be held at the Clearview Community Centre (93 Cornett Dr.) Call Connie at 403-396-1523 or email teamdance123@gmail.com.

Heritage Lanes Comedy Zone has been running for two years in Red Deer. Every Thursday in The Heritage Lanes Lounge we convert it into a comedy club where we feature different headliners and up and coming local comics.

The show was started as an

Seating is limited so come early to enjoy the show. For information, call David at 403-342-1318 or visit www.harmonizers.ca.

Real Men Sing Barbershop! The WildRose Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus is a chorus for males of all ages who love to sing four-part a cappella harmony.

We are a proud member of the Barbershop Harmony society providing entertainment at seniors’

contact Ralph at 403-347-9852.

9852.

Scottish Country Dancing has classes held weekly at Knox Presbyterian yterian Church and go from September to May. A certified teacher comes regularly from Edmonton to conduct the class. SCD is not Highland dancing but is more like square dancing. No partner needed, no need to be Scottish. For more information, call 403-343-0975 or 403-347-0907

open mic to develop the comedy scene in Red Deer. In the past those interested in doing stand up had to drive to Edmonton or Calgary, now Red Deer has more than one open mic for young budding comics to work on their material. The local comedy scene is growing and we are always looking for new comics.

Modern Western Square Dance Lessons run to Dec. 2nd from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. $120/person at the Clearview Community Centre (93 Cornett Dr.) Call 403-396-1523 for details.

WildRose Harmonizers cordially invite you to our Holiday show ‘A Christmas Celebration of Song.’

Performers include the WildRose Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus, the Hearts of Harmony (Sweet Adeline Chorus) and the HJ Cody (Sylvan Lake) High school Chorus. The event is on Sunday Dec. 13th at 2 p.m. at Davenport Church of Christ at 68 Donlevy Ave. Tickets are $10 (children under 12 free) available at the door with refreshments following. Proceeds to go to Red Deer Food Bank. Items will also be accepted for the Food Bank.

lodges, hospitals and numerous community and private functions throughout the year. No experience is required, just a love to sing. Join us on Tuesday evening, rehearsals from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Davenport Church of Christ (#68 Donlevy Ave.) For information, call David at 403-342-1318 or email crozsmit@telusplanet. net. Visit www.harmonizers.ca.

Ladies Auxiliary meetings are held first Monday of every month at 7 p.m., Red Deer Branch #35, Alberta room Parkinson Alberta Education and Support Groups - Parkinson Alberta offers groups for persons with Parkinson Disease, family members & caregivers at the following Central Alberta locations: Red Deer, Lacombe, Innisfail, Olds, Three Hills & Castor. Information 403-3464463, www.parkinsonalberta.ca.

Living Faith Lutheran Church - welcomes everyone to our Sunday Worship Service at 10 a.m. We offer Traditional and Contemporary Service with Holy Communion. Services held at Bethany CollegeSide Red Deer College. For more information,

or visit www.reddeerscottishcountrydancers.weebly.com.

Dance for the health of it. Working in a team, learn easy dance steps while enjoying a variety of music. Everyone is welcome – families, couples, solos and teens.

No dance experience necessary.

Twenty-four sessions for $120.

Maximum 24 participants. Sessions run Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Contact Connie at 403-396-1523.

Do you love to sing? Join our adult choir, the Red Deer Chamber Singers, where you will enjoy an environment of positive learning and quality music.

Practices are at Sunnybrook United Church, 12 Stanton St. at 7 p.m. Contact Sadie at 403-3475166 for more information.

Love to sing? Hearts of Harmony, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, is an a cappella chorus for women of all ages who love to sing and harmonize. Rehearsals are Monday nights from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Davenport Church of Christ (68 Donlevy Ave.) Join us any Monday night, you will be welcomed. For the month of September the group

will host an open house every Monday. Experience the joyful sound of four-part harmony with a group of wonderful women. For more information, call Nancy at 403-357-8240, or our director, Sheryl @403-7424218 or check out our web site at www.heartsofharmony.ca.

Learn to foxtrot, two-step, polka, waltz, and more. Town and Country Dance Club has started dance lessons. A Step Above Basic at 7 p.m. followed by Basic Social Dance at 8 p.m.

Classes run for six weeks in Red Deer. Only $35 per person. For more information and to pre-register call Doug or Doris at 403-728-3333 or email doris@airenet.com.

Sit and Be Fit is held every Wednesday from 10:45 – 11:30 a.m.

There is a drop in fee of $2.

Whist is held on the second and fourth Friday of each month starting at 1 p.m. There is a fee of $2. Bridge singles meet on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. There is a fee of $2. Bridge partners meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

There is a fee of $3. Golden Circle 4620-47 A Ave. 403-343-6074.

The Senior Citizens Downtown House has cribbage every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $3.

Whist runs every Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Fun Contact Bridge runs every Wednesday at 1 p.m. Cost is $3 as well for both of these activities. For more information, call 403-346-4043.

Cards at the Golden Circle. Join us for Canasta on Mondays at 1 p.m. Drop in fee $1. Wednesday afternoons at 1 p.m. join us for Singles Bridge. Drop in fee of $2.

Partner Bridge is played the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Drop in fee of $3. Euchre is played the first and third Friday of the month at 1 p.m. Drop in fee of $2. Join us for scrabble Friday’s starting at 1 p.m. Drop in fee of $1.

Thursday night dances continue at the Golden Circle at 7 p.m.

Admission is $7. Call 403-3414672, 403-347-6165 or 403-3422875. Black Velvet plays Nov. 26th. Everyone is welcome.

14 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

Tornado Hunters share knowledge with local students

BY KALISHA MENDONSA RED DEER EXPRESS Storm chaser Ricky Forbes of the Tornado Hunters team took time with students of Red Deer schools last week, exciting them with tales of adventure from the field.

Tornado Hunters is a Canadian television show broadcast on CMT that explores extreme weather seen across North America.

The Saskatchewan-based team consists of driver Ricky Forbes, photographer Greg Johnson and videographer Chris Chittick.

The team travels through Tornado Alley, a region of Canada and the United States famous for extreme weather, searching for storms and tornadoes to capture and share. As well, they take time to present severe weather information sessions at schools.

Forbes was excited to be able to speak to the students of St. Teresa of Avila and Camille Lerouge last week.

“To get opportunities like these, coming into schools, was never expected. This was always a hobby for us, but to see it come to this is a dream come true,” Forbes said.

“It’s one of those times that a passion has turned into a job and I know that

it’s cheesy to say if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life but it really feels like we’ve achieved that. This isn’t work to me. Storm chasing isn’t work to me.

It’s just a lot of fun.

“I know how fortunate we are to do this and it’s really cool to be able to appreciate the opportunity this is.”

Forbes gave two Red Deer presentations that explore extreme weather situations and explained to kids what it means to be a storm chaser. Forbes showed photos, videos and information of the kinds of storms the group chases and was eager to share his passion with the kids.

“Coming to schools is one of the best parts of the job,” he said.

“When I get to come to schools, first and foremost I get to do some severe weather education. I get to teach the kids what to do in the rare scenarios when these storms do come their way. The storms are rare in the city because they usually happen in open spaces, but when the chance does come, the kids can use this knowledge. It’s nice to know that you’ve helped one or two people be able to know what to do.

“Most importantly to me, I get to share the passion

38106 Range Road 275, Red Deer County, AB T4S 2L9 Ph: 403-350-2150 Fx: 403-346-9840 WWW.RDCOUNTY.CA A great place to live, work & grow

PUBLIC NOTICES

MUNICIPAL PLANNING COMMISSION DECISIONS Discretionary Use SW of SYLVAN LAKE 1.

I have for storm chasing with the kids. Out in the field, I work with two other guys and we only get to share this passion with each other. When I get to come to schools and share it with hundreds or thousands of kids, it’s awesome.”

Forbes explained the various duties of a storm chaser, from studying severe weather, to photos and videography, and alerting local authorities of severe weather patterns. Additionally, he got to share some safety tips and guidelines with the kids about how to safely approach severe weather.

The presentations are an engaging way for students to become aware of severe weather and the people who document these instances.

“They go from not knowing what a storm chaser or tornado hunter is, but at the end, they’re so amped up about storm chasing that they want to try it.”

Tornado Hunters is presented each Sunday on CMT. Currently, Tornado

SPECIAL VISIT - Tornado Hunter Ricky Forbes stopped at St. Teresa of Avila last week to share some extreme weather knowledge as well as his passion for storm chasing. Following the presentation, students gathered around the custom vehicle known as Flash that Forbes drives for his team, receiving autographs and high fives from the TV show star.

Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express

Hunters are the only professional Canadian storm chasing group, as well as the only storm chasers in

the world with a television show.

Forbes said he is happy to share his experience

with students and continuously looks forward to school presentations. kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

City seeking input for north end community centre Residents are invited to an information session to learn more about the new community centre being built in north Red Deer.

The community centre will be located next to Glendale School and will provide space for events, meetings, programs, services and activities.

Residents from Glendale, Normandeau, Kentwood, Kingsgate, Johnstone Park and Johnstone Crossing are encouraged to attend the drop-in information session to discover what the space can offer and provide feed-

Church Services www.CrossRoadsChurch.ca

Everyone Welcome!

(403) 347-6425

Service Times: Sunday at 9:00am, 11:00am & 6:30pm CrossRoads Kids (infant to grade 6)

Affiliated with the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada

SW Corner of 32 Street & Hwy 2 38105 Rge Rd 275, Red Deer County, AB

back regarding the ideas and plans.

The event runs Dec. 10th from 3:30 – 8 p.m. (drop-in hours) at Glendale School (6375 77 St.) Representatives from the City and consultants from the contracted architecture firm will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback from residents to ensure wants and needs are taken into account as the project moves forward.

“This community centre will be a distinctive place where residents can explore their creativity, connect to the natural environment, and learn to adopt healthy, creative, engaged and active lifestyles,” says Pauline Mousseau, community development supervisor.

“The vision is to create a place where community is made richer through connecting neighbours, families and individuals.”

In addition to the information session, there will be family friendly games and activities.

Visit http://www.reddeer.ca/anewgatheringplace for more details and project information.

-Weber

Committed to helping you hear.

Sunday Services 9am, 11am & 6pm Wednesday Night Ministries 7:00pm Passion for God, Compassion for People.

1832323 Alberta Ltd. – Home Business Major (automotive repair business) on Lot 2, Blk 2, Plan 952-2723, NE 32-37-1-5.

The Municipal Government Act provides that any person(s) may appeal a Discretionary Use approval within 14 days of the date of the decision being advertised by paying the required appeal fee and by filing an appeal in writing against the decision with the Red Deer County Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, 38106 Rge Rd 275, Red Deer County, Alberta. A Permitted Use approval may not be appealed unless the decision involves a relaxation, variance or misinterpretation of the Land Use Bylaw. For further information, contact Planning & Development Services at 403-350-2170.

Date Advertised: December 9, 2015

403-346-3939 TOLL FREE: 1-877-824-3939

Sandra Duncan, BC-HIS Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner Dr. Neil Cannon, AuD. Doctor of Audiology

Riverlands Gate Business Centre Suite 202, 4327-54th Ave. (Taylor Dr./45 St.) 9:30am & 11:15am & 1:00pm

www.riverlandhearing.com

Merry Christmas

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 15

Volunteering opportunities in Central Alberta To browse 100+ other volunteer opportunities in central Alberta, learn more about volunteering, or if your organization could use help recruiting volunteers, connect with Volunteer Central today. Visit www.

VolunteerCentral.ca, email info@volunteercentral.ca or call 403-346-3710.

Social Services’ Refugee Program for Red Deer. For more information contact Melissa Duran, 403-346-8818 ext. 248 or email volunteer@care2centre.ca.

The United Way of Central Alberta is currently looking for representatives from the community to fill volunteer roles on the Board of Directors. For more information contact Laura Maurer, 587-999-0452, or email info@caunitedway.ca.

Meals on Wheels is recruiting volunteer drivers to deliver meals to our clients. If you are available from 11:00 to 12:30 on a week day, we encourage you to join our team of volunteer drivers. This is an excellent volunteer opportunity for retirees or moms with small children. For more information contact Cheryl Day, 403-340-2511 or email rdmealsonwheels@shaw.ca.

Red Deer River Watershed Alliance It’s that time again! For the final RDRWA breakfast of the year please join us to volunteer for our hot breakfast and come and see the RDRWA staff playing characters from the Watershed’s past. For more information contact Kelly, 403-340-7379 or email info@ rdrwa.ca.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation in Red Deer and Central Alberta is in need of 850 volunteer Canvassers and Captains this February 2016 for the Annual Heart Month Person-to-Person Campaign.

For more information contact Leanne Schenn, 403-342-4435 or email lschenn@ hsf.ab.ca.

Central Alberta Refugee Effort is seeking volunteers to help them assist Catholic

Habitat for Humanity We are currently recruiting general labourers for construc-

tion, general labour ReStore volunteers, ReStore customer service volunteers, event marketing & administration volunteers, and businesses, teams, community groups or groups of friends and family to join us for a group volunteer day. For more information contact Megan Oshust, 403-309-6080 or email megan.oshust@ habitatreddeer.ca.

Canadian Cancer Society - April is Daffodil Month, a time for Canadians to unite and fight back against cancer. The purpose of this role is to assist with the planning and execution of the Daffodil Campaign in Red Deer and surrounding areas. For more information contact Melissa Chan, 403-541-5395, or email melissa.chan@cancer.ab.ca.

The Canadian Red Cross Society, a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to helping Canadians, as well as, the most vulnerable throughout the world, is currently seeking Human Resources volunteers. For more information contact Amanda de Boer, 403-346-1241 ext. 1108 or email amanda.deboer@redcross.ca.

Volunteer Central brings people and community together to meet the vital needs of Red Deer and Central Alberta.

You can help us build volunteer culture by contributing your time and expertise to our board. For more information contact our organization at 403-346-3710, or email info@volunteercentral.ca.

Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter gift wrap booth runs until Dec 24th, held in Bower Place Shopping Centre.

It’s a great way to volunteer and give back this holiday season. For more information contact Kira O’Brien, 403-318-5330 or email kira.obrien@cawes.com.

Alberta Science Network - Join us as a volunteer presenter and help promote a life-long interest in science, technology and nature. We are seeking presenters for multiple topics. For more information contact Ed Kusmirski, 403-512-5123 or email ekusmirski@albertasciencenetwork.ca.

Professional Q&A To advertise in this feature, contact your Express Sales Representative 403-346-3356

Shoes & Orthotics C ustom BY: JOHAN STEENWYK, C.PED(C), C.PED M.C. WHAT IS PLANTAR FASCIITIS? Do you often experience heel pain when you get out of bed in the morning or after sitting for an extended period of time? If so, you may be one of the millions who suffer from a heel condition known as plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common heel problems seen by Canadian Certified Pedorthists each year. The problem is caused by an inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a broad, fibrous band of tissue that spans the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to each toe.

Plantar fasciitis is often the result of poor lower limb mechanics (how the foot moves),

trauma, weight gain or changes in activity.

TREATMENT • Custom-Made Foot Orthotics • Over-the-Counter Foot Orthotics • Reduction of Aggravating Activities • Stretching • Consult a Physiotherapist Treatment is usually most effective when help is sought as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many people let plantar fasciitis progress for a long time before seeking help. In these cases, it can take several weeks or months until the plantar fascia is completely healed.

Come & visit the Professionals in Foot Comfort at:

#7, 7727 50th Ave., Red Deer

Ph: 403-340-0066 Toll Free: 1-800-661-2211 www.steenwyk.com

& Accounting Concerns T ax BY: MARTIN HERBERT, FCGA

H otBY: Tubs SHEILA EDMONDSON Will using a “hot tub” help my arthritis?

YES - A quality hot tub provides: Heat - the warm water dilates your blood vessels, increasing blood flow which provides a healing effect for damaged tissues, eases the symptoms of both arthritis and back pain.

Buoyancy - supports the body, alleviating pressure on muscles and joints, making movement easier while you enjoy the hot tub and for some time afterwards.

Massage - the key to effective hydrotherapy combines heat, buoyancy and hydrotherapeutic jet therapy.

These features combined with ergonomically correct seating, advanced heating and filtration systems result in a Sundance Spa being a remarkable superior form of hydrotherapy.

Sundance Spas - leaders in the spa industry for over 30 years, available at Sun N Fun Pool & Spa for over 20 years. Just imagine relaxing after a long day at work, after your workout, rejuvenating your muscles, feeling the pain disappear and watching northern lights dance across the sky.

Book a “Wet Test” Try one yourself!

New #3, 6782 – 50 Ave., Red Deer, AB Location

403.346.4465

www.sunnfun.ca

& Interior Design F looring BY: KRISTA LEONARD, Interior Designer, B.A.I.D.

MEDICAL EXPENSES

Holiday Season Tips & Tricks:

Medical expenses that can be claimed include practices of a medical doctor, dentist, nurse, chiropractor, optometrist and psychologist just to name a few. Payments for prescription medicines and drugs qualify as medical expenses if prescribed by a doctor, recorded by a licensed pharmacist and have a drug identification number. Other eligible expenses include ambulance charges, radiological or other diagnostic procedures, travel if you must travel in excess of 40km for medical services not available near home and meal and accommodation costs if you must travel 80km or more. Expenses should be substantiated by receipts.

Well, it’s December; trees are being trimmed, halls are being decked & it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This year’s helpful holiday tip is how to remove candle wax from carpet.

• Place a bag of ice over the wax to harden it, let it sit a few minutes until the wax is fully solidified.

• Use a dull butter knife & scrape as much of the wax off as possible; the less wax you leave the better!

If all wax has been removed, your next step is to clean & vacuum the area (tip: rubbing alcohol can remove slight dye-discoloration from fibers) • Still wax left? Place a brown paper bag over the waxy area; place a towel under the part of the bag that’s not on top of the stain. You’ll be moving the bag as the wax saturates it and don’t want to spread the mess any further.

• Heat an iron to a warm setting (NOT THE HIGHEST SETTING & NO STEAM!) Iron slowly over the bag, careful to not come in contact with any exposed carpet fibers as they can melt. Wax will transfer from the carpet to the bag. Give it a quick cleaning & vacuum, your problem is solved!

Happy Holidays from all of the staff at Central Alberta Tile One, Rave Designs & Central Alberta Lighting!

Medical expenses also include the cost of an animal specially trained to assist a person who is blind, deaf or severely impaired in the use of arms or legs. The animals care and maintenance, which includes food, vet bills and travel expenses to a training facility to learn how to handle the animal are all eligible expenses.

Please note, expenses that are purely cosmetic (such as teeth whitening) are not eligible medical expenses even if the service is performed by a qualified practitioner. Over the counter medicines are also not eligible medical expenses even if they are recorded by a pharmacist.

HERBERT & COMPANY Certified General Accountant Ph: 403-342-1101

This is only a summary of some of the main points regarding this topic.

It is important that you work with a designated accountant to properly assure that your specific situation is handled properly.

CENTRAL ALBERTA TILE ONE

Bay 9, 7619 - 50th Ave. Red Deer Phone: 403-346-7088 Email: krista@catile1.com

www.centralalbertatileone.com

More than JUST a Tile Store...

16 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 17

The Holidays arrive early with

Purchase any pre-owned vehicle & receive a

R O D F a bl e a

FREE* Trip for 2 to

Over

100 to choose

DEALS!

from!

U29914

2014 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab

$29,917

Back Up Camera, Tow Package With Brake Controller, Power Adjustable Pedals, Chrome

Running Boards, Factory Warranty Remaining.

U30373

U30114

2013 Ford Edge SEL

2015 Ford

SALE PRICE

MSRP $31,799.00

$29,900

Heated Cloth Seats, Rear Parking Aid Sensors, Dual Electronic Automatic Climate Control, Power Heated Mirrors, Back Up Camera.

Factoyr Warranty Remaining.

2015 FORD FUSION

SALE PRICE

$26,888 Escape SE

Front Wheel Drive, Power Panoramic Roof, Back Up Camera, Voice Activated Navigation System,

#15T0345

SALE PRICE

#K351

SAVE

$

6,804.00*

Now Only

24,804*

$

2015 FORD ESCAPE MSRP $32,614.00

SAVE

$

6,619.00*

U30261

Now Only

U30281

2013 Ford F150

SALE PRICE

XLT

$29,387

4x4, 5.0L V*, Locking Tailgate, SYNC Voice Activated System, Remote Keyless Entry, Roll Stability

25,995*

$

Control, Ford Certified Pre-Owned Unit.

U30306

SALE PRICE

$25,837

Dual Automatic Climate Control, Rear Parking Aid Sensors, SYNC Voice Activated System,

Power 10 Way Drivers Seat, Back Up Camera.

2014 2010 Ford Ford Escape Escape SE XLT

2014 Ford Edge

$31,499

Reverse Camera System, Max Trailer Tow Package With Built In Brake Controller, XTR Package,

Heated Front Seats, Dual Automatic Climate Control, Bluetooth Hands Free Calling, Locking

XLT

Reverse Sensing System.

Differential, Steering Wheel Moutned Controls.

Sport

$26,900

U30431

U30344

2013 Hyundai SALE PRICE Santa Fe Sport $29,977

SALE PRICE

SALE PRICE

Heated Front Cloth Seats, Rear Parking Aid Sensors, Back Up Camera, Dual Automatic Climate Control, SYNC Voice Activated System.

U30312

2014 Ford F150

2015 FORD F150 SUPERCREW

U3041 U30304 6

2014 Ford Escape SE

SALE PRICE

$35,790

Panoramic Roof, Blind Spot Monitoring System, Power Liftgate, Voice Activated Navigation System, Heated Front Leather Seats.

2014 Ford F150 FX4

SALE PRICE

$43,176

Heated And Cooled Front Seats, Power Moon Roof, Navigation System, Appearance Package, HID Headlamps, Remote Start, Back Up Camera.

MSRP $46,489.00 SAVE

$

13,851.00*

Now Only

U30396

2013 Ford F150

32,995

$

*

Luxury FX4

U30409

2013 Ford $38,888 Escape SEL SALE PRICE

Power Moon Roof, Max Trailer Tow Package With Brak Controller, Heated And Cooled Front Leather Seats, HID Headlamps, Navigation System.

U30235 SALE PRICE

$23,877

Rear View Camera, Trailer Towing Package, Auto Park System, MyFord Touch With Sirius Satellite Radio And Navigation.

2014 Ford Edge Sport

U30413 SALE PRICE

$35,789

Power Liftgate, Power Panoramic Roof, Voice Activated Navigation System, Heated Front

Leather Seats, Blind Spot Monitoring System.

2013 Ford Explorer XLT

*All rebates to dealer including delivery allowance & Costco. Cash price on 2015 F150 does not qualify for 0%. All cash prices are plus tax. Free trip giveaway available on in-stock preowned units only, while quantities last. No cash value in lieu of trip giveaway.

Vehicles may be exactly as shown. See dealer for full details.

Gasoline Alley • Red Deer County 403.343.FORD(3673) • 1.888.308.9457 • www.camclarkfordreddeer.com

$31,879

Back Up Camera, Power Liftgate, Heated Front Leather Seats, Voice Activated Navigation System, Blind Spot Monitoring System.

#15T3190

Scan Me

U30421 SALE PRICE

2013 Ford F150 Lariat

SALE PRICE

$39,172

Power Moon Roof, HID Headlamps, Navigation System, Max Trailer Tow Package With Brake Controller, Tailgate Step, Back Up Camera.

18 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

POLICE BRIEFS ARMED ROBBERY AT POST TIME LOUNGE Red Deer RCMP are investigating an armed robbery last weekend at Post Time Lounge, and ask the public for assistance to identify the man who pointed a handgun at patrons and staff before leaving with an undisclosed amount of cash.

RCMP were called to the Post Time Lounge at 6005 54th Ave. shortly before 1 a.m. on Dec. 5th.

A tall man with his face covered entered the lounge, walked to the bar and demanded cash while pointing his weapon at staff. He put the cash in a grey plastic bag he had brought in, and ran to a white truck that was waiting in the Checkmate Court parking lot.

The suspect is described as Caucasian, between 6’2” and 6’4” tall with a slim build and approximately 170180 lbs. He has blue eyes and was wearing a black jacket with hood, a face covering, grey gloves, blue jeans and white shoes.

The suspect truck is described as an an older white Chevrolet with a possible paint patch missing on the roof and rusty wheel wells.

The investigation is ongoing, and RCMP ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 or report it online at www. tipsubmit.com.

ARMED ROBBERY IN SYLVAN LAKE Sylvan Lake RCMP are currently investigating an armed robbery that occurred on Dec. 6th at around 1 a.m. Two male suspects entered the Eckville Hotel bar armed with shotguns. One suspect fired one round into the roof of the establishment while the second suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash. Both suspects were wearing face coverings at the time and fled the establishment out the back door.

No one was injured during this robbery. Both suspects are described as 6’ tall and 180-200lbs.

The investigation is ongoing, and RCMP ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Sylvan Lake RCMP at 403-887-7200.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 or report it online at www. tipsubmit.com.

CHARGES LAID AFTER IDENTITY THEFT Red Deer RCMP have identified and arrested a Clive woman who used stolen identification to receive fraudulent loans at several payday loan companies in June of this year; police also identified her on another identity theft file out of Red Deer on July 20th, and worked with Wetaskiwin RCMP to arrest her husband on an identity theft file out of Wetaskiwin on June 29th.

Sasha Laine Porter, 33, of Clive has been charged with five counts of identity fraud, five counts of faslifying employment records, six counts of fraid under $5,000 and failure to appear in court.

by Erin Fawcett

RCMP INVESTIGATE ARMED ROBBERY Red Deer RCMP are investigating an armed robbery Dec. 1st at Burger Boy, and are asking the public for assistance to identify the two men who stole the cash tray from staff at gunpoint.

RCMP were called to the Burger Boy at 6005 54th Ave. shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 1st. Two men wearing face coverings entered from the south doors; one brandished a handgun as they demanded cash.

The suspects fled on foot carrying the plastic cash tray from the till, and were last seen heading eastbound on 60th St. No one was injured during this robbery. Police searched the area immediately, with assistance from Police Dog Services, who tracked the suspects for a distance.

Suspect number one, who was carrying a handgun is described as Caucasian, between 5’10” and 6’ tall with a slender build and between 150 – 175 lbs. He is about 25-yearsold and was wearing a black and grey or green plaid jacket, a blue toque, dark pants and black shoes, with a black bandana over his face.

Suspect number two is described as Caucasian, between 5’10” and 6’ tall with a slender build and between 150 – 175 lbs. He was wearing a black hoodie, black jacket, blue jeans that were rolled up, white sneakers with black bottoms and black fingerless gloves.

RCMP ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403343-5575. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.

POLICE WARN OF NUMEROUS ACTIVE SCAMS In November, Red Deer RCMP received reports of a number of active scams in the City. A significant

scam that has reappeared of late involves fake online job postings for a mystery shopper. Red Deer RCMP have received three complaints to date about this scam, where job hunters applying online for a mystery shopper job are sent a cheque and asked to cash it. In cheque frauds, scammers then ask their intended victim to send them back a portion of the money. By the time a victim realizes the cheque is no good, their own money has long since disappeared.

Red Deer RCMP also continues to receive complaints about the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam, where callers aggressively threaten their victims with arrest or deportation if they don’t immediately pay ‘taxes’ – often the scammers demand to be paid via prepaid credit cards or gift cards. November also saw a resurgence of the Microsoft scam, where callers ask for victims’ banking information while pretending to fix computer viruses remotely.

One Red Deer resident saw her rental property duplicated on Kijiji with different contact information, which is typical of online rental scams. Another Red Deerian was told she’d won a large lottery and was asked for ‘taxes’ up front before she could claim her prize. Yet another Red Deer resident was called by a scammer pretending to offer lower credit card rates, who then accessed the victim’s credit card and banking information.

Anyone who thinks they have been or know someone who has been a victim of fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre.ca.

CHARGES AFTER HOME INVASION On Nov. 30th the RCMP arrested Robyn Lehner, 31, of Sylvan Lake, for her involvement in the home invasion and shooting that occurred in Eckville on Sept. 2nd.

Lehner was charged with being a party to an aggravated assault, robbery with a firearm, and break and enter in the context of a home invasion.

The investigation is continuing.

DRUG BUST IN INNISFAIL On Nov. 30th at 9:30 p.m. while on routine patrol Innisfail RCMP conducted a traffic stop on an eastbound Buick LeSabre on 50th St. in Innisfail. A drug investigation was entered into and the vehicle was searched.

Two hundred and seventy grams of marijuana and 8g of cocaine were seized along with a significant amount of cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia. A 19-year-old Red Deer man was arrested. The total street value of the drugs seized is over $2,000.

RCMP INCREASE CHECK STOPS As the holiday season approaches and the party invitations begin to roll in, Red Deer RCMP would like to remind drivers of the importance of planning safe rides home from the festivities.

As well as testing drivers for impairment by alcohol, Red Deer RCMP also use certified Drug Recognition Experts who are trained to identify and charge drivers impaired by street drugs, prescription drugs, or a combination of intoxicating substances.

The legal consequences are the same as for drivers who are impaired by alcohol.

If you’re hosting a party this holiday season, be a responsible host - ensure your guests have safe alternatives to driving after they’ve been drinking, and don’t over-serve alcohol. Drivers who choose to drive impaired face not only the possibility of killing themselves, their friends or someone else – they also face serious legal, financial and social consequences.

Local Coverage

Where You Work, Play & Live Catch up on sports, shopping deals, events, new businesses, politics, job openings, homes for sale, cars for sale and more with your local community newspaper!

www.reddeerexpress.com

403-346-3356

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 19

ENTERTAINMENT A cappella group Cadence to make Red Deer appearance

BY KALISHA MENDONSA RED DEER EXPRESS Described as Canada’s premiere vocal group, Toronto-based Cadence performs in Red Deer Dec. 13th at Victory Church (98 Oberlin Ave). Show time is 7:30 p.m.

This a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for nearly 20 years.

Whether performing at sold-out jazz clubs and concert halls, at music festivals, for educational outreach, or for corporate functions, the members of Cadence bring an infectious energy and uncanny verve to every song they sing.

The band is made up of David Lane (baritone and bass), Ross Lynde (tenor), Lucas Marchand (tenor) and Kurt Sampson (bass and vocal percussion). They each bring many years of training and performance experience to create a rich musical event appropriate for all ages.

“I’m pretty excited to be performing in Red Deer. It’ll be the first time a lot of my friends and family will get to see me do my thing,” said Lane, who is originally from Red Deer.

He added this show is important to him because it brings him back to his roots of jazz choir at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School.

“We’re doing the show with the Lindsay Thurber Jazz Choir. We’re going to do a clinic/workshop event with them during the day and then they are going to come to the show and sing at least one song with us, maybe two, and probably a couple on their own,” he said.

“I sang in that jazz choir when I was in high school. When I was in high school in that choir, we were listening to Cadence, the group I’m in now. We’d listen to them and were really excited about their music.

It’s pretty cool that I sing with these guys now and we’re going back to do a show with the Lindsay Thurber choir.”

Cadence has produced four critically acclaimed studio albums, Cool Yule (2011), Speak Easy (2010), Twenty for One (2005), and Frost Free (2000). They have won or been nominated for numerous awards, including three nods from the Juno Awards and 10 from CARA, the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards.

As the newest addition to Cadence, Lane said he has thoroughly enjoyed getting to take part in the group he once admired as a teen.

“When I first joined, I was in this crazy sort of honeymoon stage, where I was like, ‘Oh my god I’m singing with this

POLISHED - A cappella group Cadence set to perform at Victory Church this month. group that I idolized in high school’. I was really nervous to even meet them the first time when I went to audition,” Lane laughed.

“Over time, that’s kind of just transitioned into feeling very fortunate that I get to make music with these guys. They’re a very talented group and it’s been really awesome performing with them.”

Cadence’s live shows are always a hit.

They feature a hypnotic blend of complex harmonies, intricate arrangements, vocal dexterity and just plain fun. Onstage antics and audience participation are par for the course at any Cadence show, but so too is a mesmerizing display of musical genius.

The group recently returned from Europe, where they performed in Germany, Slovakia and Italy. The group tours far and wide, but Lane says they are looking to create more of a presence in Alberta. Lane said he enjoys being able to travel and perform, learning about the industry as he goes.

“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned from being in the group so far is all of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes that doesn’t have to do with the music specifically,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about music business - booking gigs, setting things up, making connections with people - all of that stuff that I didn’t really have an insider’s view of before.”

He added it’s a big deal for him to be able to perform with his old high school group in his hometown for friends and family. Cadence’s members hail from all across Canada, but Lane said they always try to incorporate local music into their performances abroad.

“We’re from different places but we all have a similar education and musical background. We’re all into jazz music and use that, as well as some folk and pop music. When we were in Taiwan, we did this hilarious clubbing song - a Top 40, dance, Taiwan pop song. We just did a little piece of it - maybe 30 seconds - and people

FRIDAY, December 11th

· Authority Zero · Versus the World ·

• Doucheknuckle

Potato Rocket

-we love the vat

WEDNESDAY NIGHT JAM

photo submitted

went crazy every time,” he laughed.

The group performs with chemistry and energy, making their live performances memorable and enjoyable for the audience. The members are each extremely talented and well trained. Their vocal abilities blend and compliment each other to create a unique, powerful sound.

Lane said they would love to sell out and that he’d like to see some familiar faces at the event. It is rare for the group to perform in Alberta, making this particular show quite meaningful to him.

“We’re hoping to establish more of a standing in Alberta so that we can come out there more often. We go to B.C. usually once a year, but don’t really go to Alberta much,” he said.

This world-renowned a capella group will hit Red Deer for one night only for a memorable performance at Victory Church. For tickets, visit cadence-unplugged.com/tour-schedule. kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

Saturday, December 12th

· Nashville Pussy ·In the Whale 5301 43rd St. Red Deer 403-346-5636

20 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

Red Deer Symphony Orchestra presents ‘A Celtic Christmas’

BY MARK WEBER RED DEER EXPRESS The Red Deer Symphony Orchestra is celebrating the holidays with a Celtic slant this year.

‘A Celtic Christmas’ runs Dec. 12th at the Red Deer College Arts Centre, starting at 8 p.m.

The RDSO is welcoming Edmonton-based Celtic harpist and singer Keri Lynn Zwicker to perform with the orchestra for the concert. Zwicker is known as ‘the chameleon Canadian harpchick’ – she covers it all from Celtic to classical, from Irish pub to the Winspear, from symphony to Ceili, while wearing everything from cowboy boots to angel’s wings.

The RDSO will take the stage at the RDC Arts Centre with Zwicker to deliver a delightful seasonal program with an entirely Celtic twist.

The program features original works by the RDSO’s own Maestro Claude Lapalme and Zwicker, intertwined with an selection of traditional holiday, Irish, Scottish and Welsh pieces. Highlights include Fantasy on Celtic Tunes, I Saw Three Ships, Welsh Lullaby, Huron Carole, Do You Hear What I Hear and Highland Mary.

“We are doing 14 pieces that Claude has arranged - half of them are Celtic and half of them are Christmas. It’s exactly what I want to do - a bit of a variety show. We’ll be doing songs from France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and South America - everything from fast instrumentals to slow, haunting ballads. Some are with singing, some are instrumental.”

Interestingly, Zwicker didn’t really take up the harp until her university days when she was 17 years old - she had studied piano for several years and up till then, that was her primary focus.

“I started piano when I was five,” she said.

“I was already accepted into university for performance piano, and then I started to dabble in Celtic music and I found that the harp was better suited for accompanying my singing.

“The harp is really nice for the Celtic style.”

Zwicker said she also tends to play the harp in a more rhythmic style than audiences might expect.

“My style is a lot more upbeat than what you might normally see.”

The concert also highlights RDSO percussionist Rob Maciak in a display that is sure to prime the audience for an evening of high quality and highly entertaining seasonal symphonic music. Zwicker’s husband Nathan McCavana will also be joining her as well on Irish drum.

Meanwhile, for Zwicker, there couldn’t be a better instrument to match her exquisite skills as an artist.

“I also like surprising people with what the harp can do - the capabilities of the instrument - the different kinds of rhythms and sounds you can get out of it.”

Raffle tickets to win the Christmas themed prize package will be also sold in the lobby with the draw occurring upon conclusion of the concert. Donations of canned goods for the Red Deer Food Bank will be accepted in the lobby.

A limited number of tickets for this concert are available through the Black Knight Ticket Centre, 2929 - 50th Ave. Charge by phone at 403-755-6626 or 1-800-661-8793, or go online at www.bkticketcentre.ca.

Looking ahead, the RDSO’s next performance is set for Feb. 6th at Gaetz Memorial United Church at 8 p.m. The concert, entitled Handel Celebration, will feature Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 2 and Dixit Dominus. Guest artists include Early Music Voices. editor@reddeerexpress.com

The Lazys include Red Deer on Canadian tour

BY MARK WEBER RED DEER EXPRESS After a swing through the nation this past spring, Australia’s The Lazys have journeyed back to Canada

for a string of new dates including a stop in Red Deer tonight at Bo’s.

“We always knew that we would be back,” explained guitarist Matt Morris of this past spring’s tour. As

2015 /16

MUSIC SEASON

mentioned, they played Red Deer then and are currently enjoying another set of shows throughout the country to rave reviews and a growing fan base.

That first tour certainly

sparked a mutual love affair between the band and Canada. Morris calls the country, “Our new home away from home. You guys have just taken us under your wing. We can’t believe

Sounds of the Season December 11 | Mainstage, Arts Centre | 7:30 pm Celebrate the wonder of the season with the RDC Chamber Choir and Symphonic Winds at their annual holiday concert.

Tickets & Information www.rdc.ab.ca/showtime PRESENTING SPONSOR:

FOLLOW US!

dr. caroline krivuzoff-sanderson general dentist

White Christmas (1954) December 12 | Welikoklad Event Centre Cinema | 2:00 pm

Free with a donation to the RDC Student Food Bank

2015 /16

FILM SEASON

Tickets & Information www.rdc.ab.ca/showtime

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

dr. caroline krivuzoff-sanderson general dentist

FOLLOW US!

the support,” he said.

“Canada was the very first overseas tour for us as a band. Our first show was in a small town called Chicoutimi and it was one of the best gigs I’ve ever played. The people, the crowd. It was just soooo intense and supportive. They definitely love their rock and roll! I love Canada!”

Their history here includes showcases at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, where The Lazys became the buzz band of the fest.

“Playing Canadian Music Week was just insane,” recalls Morris. “Great crowds, amazing venues and the support from everybody was just fantastic. I had the time of my life, I had a ball!”

Hailing from New South Wales, The Lazys’ other career highlights include three EPs released in Australia and a full-length album, Prison’s Earth (2010). In 2008 they secured over 3,000 votes to win the Jack Daniels Set, a national music competition to find Australia’s best live band. From there, their single Hey Man charted high on Triple M’s Best Aussie Songs 2009 list and Sunshine City was adopted as the FOX sports theme song.

Canadian Music Week also proved career-changing for the band, and proved influential for their latest disc as well.

As a result of The Lazys’ CMW performances, renowned Canadian artist manager Larry Wanagas of Bumstead Productions signed them to a co-management agreement to represent them worldwide outside of Australia and New Zealand.

Superstar hard rock producer/engineer GGGarth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Nickelback,

Mötley Crüe) was so blown away by one CMW set, he arranged to produce two new tracks at his Vancouver studio.

Shake It was co-written by the band and Ian D’sa of Billy Talent, while two other Canadian rock heroes, JohnAngus and Colin MacDonald of The Trews, co-wrote Hard Luck with The Lazys. The self-titled disc was released in the fall of 2014, with Shake It Like You Mean It the first single.

The rest of the album was recorded in Brooklyn with the ace Canadian production team of Gus Van Go and Werner F. and it captures their marriage of rock muscle and melody.

For Morris, a passion for music came relatively early.

“I guess it all started for me with my dad,” he recalls, describing his father as an avid Beatles fan. “He played in a Beatles cover band, so I guess I was around that kind of music as a child. So I loved the Beatles - first and foremost,” he added with a laugh. “I started playing guitar from around the age of eight and it’s been a really strong passion - and it’s just gotten stronger and stronger in time.

“I’m fortunate to be able to chase this kind of dream now.”

Looking back, the band began with a recognition of how well the guys clicked.

Each had a passion for music, and eventually they opted to pool their talents with the formation of The Lazys back in the mid-2000s.

“Hitting the road, the stage, sharing a beverage with old and new fans, playing our music from one side of the country to the other,” said Morris. “That’s what it’s all about.” editor@reddeerexpress.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 21

LIFESTYLE

Want Straighter Teeth?

ZeroDownBraces.com Services provided by Dr. Michael Zuk, General Dentist.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful When it’s cold outside, the wind is howling, and the snow is falling, you’ll no doubt be tempted to skip your workout and hibernate indoors.

But how many calories will that burn?

On the days your normal exercise routine isn’t possible there are plenty of other ways to stay in shape during the winter months. Don’t let the weather be another excuse not to exercise. You may have to get creative, try something new, and step outside of your comfort zone, but you won’t regret it.

Stay committed to fitness all year round with these winter fitness tips.

Gym junkies (that’s you) may find their commitment to exercise challenged on cold, dark winter mornings or when bad weather makes travel difficult. But weather permitting, the gym is an ideal location for exercise any time of the year. Get your cardio with interval training on the treadmill, stationary bicycle, or in the indoor pool. Then get your strength-training workout by lifting weights.

A change of seasons may mean a change in workouts. Check your gym for new classes starting up. Classes are a great way to stay accountable, keep motivated, and have fun. Ask a friend to join you and who knows?

You may find that you love working out with your friends. At our personal training studio, small group training is super popular for this reason.

Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you get away with skipping a workout. There are plenty of ways to exercise in the comfort of your living room. Watch an exercise DVD or YouTube workout video, do bodyweight exercises, deep clean your house, turn on some tunes and dance, or run up and down the stairs. The goal of exercise is to get your body moving, your heart rate elevated, and your breathing increased. So get creative and start moving.

Cold outdoor temperatures really aren’t a good excuse to skip your

Jack

WHEELER workout. You can still go running, walking, cycling, or hiking in cool weather and all you need is a few extra layers, a hat, and gloves to stay warm. (In extreme weather conditions, remember to use caution.) And don’t forget, too much time spent indoors is bad for your health. Spend a few minutes each day out in the sun to get the extra dose of Vitamin D you need in the winter to boost your mood and immunity.

People who live in areas that see snow in the winter have a long list of additional winter activities workout options that aren’t just great at burning calories but are fun at the same time. When you finally come inside to warm up after just half an hour, you may not even realize you had a workout. Building a snowman and having a snowball fight with the kids for half an hour will burn 100 calories easily.

Ice-skating with the family will burn more than 150 calories. Shoveling snow from your driveway, downhill skiing, or snowboarding will torch calories big time.

Sledding will burn more than 200 and one of the toughest yet most rewarding workouts, cross-country skiing, will burn an incredible 250 or more calories in just half an hour!

Do you find yourself struggling to stay healthy, more tired than usual, or feeling blue during the winter months? All the more reason to stick to exercise all year round. Working out in the winter not only burns calories and makes it easier to fit in your swimsuit in the summer, but it will also boost your immune system, fight fatigue, and improve your mood.

Jack Wheeler is a personal trainer and the owner of 360 Fitness in Red Deer.

FURRY FAMILY - This past weekend Santa Claus posed with a number of pets, children and families at Gasoline Alley Harley Davidson for an SPCA fundraising event. He enjoyed the company of puppies Sala, left and Diesel.

Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express

22 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

LIFESTYLE

New Year’s Eve party to support a worthy cause

BY KALISHA MENDONSA RED DEER EXPRESS One thing that makes an evening of entertainment more fun is knowing that it’s all for a good cause.

Such is the case with the Rock in the New Year event, featuring dueling pianos by Burn N’ Mahn at the Radisson Hotel. All proceeds from the event will be funding humanitarian projects in the Dominican Republic.

Tickets are $75 per person, and include appetizers and a midnight meal. The event is 18 plus, with formal (black tie optional) attire, with doors opening at 7 p.m.

“We don’t want people to think that they have to come to the event with a whole bunch of money. We do another huge fundraiser where we collect throughout

the night. For this, we really want the focus to be on the gala. We will have some silent auction items, and a 50/50 and that’s all we’re doing to raise the money here,” said organizer Shelley Cota.

Cota and her co-organizers, Marlene and Krista Pannenbecker, regularly visit communities in the Dominican Republic.

The event will see proceeds go towards these humanitarian visits.

Cota said that although they have yet to choose a specific project, there are several options on the table.

“The projects we are able to complete will depend on the amount of profit we can raise. It also depends on who decides to come on the trip with us,” she explained.

“We really want to be able to put a shower house in the village of Ascension

but we can’t guarantee being able to do that unless people join us who are able to do the plumbing. We’re also looking at some projects in the village of Pancho Mateo - a playground in the school, providing hot meal service and more school supplies are possibilities.”

The event promises to bring in the New Year with style and fun. Guests are invited to dress up in black-tie clothing, or other formal options, and enjoy an evening out. Room rates of $125 plus tax have been reserved for guests of the event at the Radisson Hotel Red Deer.

Cota said Burn N’ Mahn is also a very entertaining group that she is sure the crowd will enjoy.

“I heard Burn N’ Mahn a couple weeks ago at the Clive hotel. They’ve been around for a long time and they’re really

good. They play all sorts of instruments - the piano, a flute, an accordion; they’re just very fun. They’re very much into crowd participation, and we’ve designed the concert as a round circle so it will be very inclusive,” Cota said.

She said that she hopes people don’t get caught up in the idea of donations, but rather that they just come and enjoy their evening.

“We won’t be seeking donations throughout the night - if people just want to come and enjoy the night, that will be enough.”

She said the organizers are hoping to sell 200 tickets for the event. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Cota at 403350-3259 or Marlene Pannenbecker at 403-352-2097. kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com

I can’t believe there are still no dead bodies!

Why is it impossible for investigative media reporters to get it right about health supplements?

In March of 2013 medical research showed that every day 290 North Americans died from prescription drugs. To kill the same number of people a jumbo jet plane would have to crash every day.

I asked Health Canada’s forensic bureaucrats to explain where the dead bodies are who took natural supplements? I have never had a reply.

Now the media are using a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S Food and Drug Administration to damn supplements.

Its study of 63 hospitals over a 10-year period

Dr. Gifford

JONES showed 3,667 emergency room (ER) visits and 2,154 hospitalizations from the use of supplements. But there are no dead bodies.

So what are the statistics for prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) medication? They show 4 million ER visits and, in addition, adverse drug reactions that cause over 100,000 deaths year after year!

It does not require an MBA degree in economics to see why popular TV pro-

grams take a report and blow the facts to another planet.

Shocking their TV audience to increase ratings is more important than stating the truth. And it makes sponsors very happy.

Besides, what supplements were responsible for ambulance sirens screeching on the way to the ER? Weight loss supplements and energy pills were responsible for 72%, sexual enhancement and body building products for 14%.

So these two categories accounted for 86% of ER visits. Remaining ER visits resulted from swallowing problems when elderly people took calcium pills. Or to reassure parents whose small children had swallowed carelessly

What have you been missing?

Share the Moments!

• Do you have problems • Have you wanted • Do you wear hearing understanding conversation to try hearing aids but aids but are frustrated in noisy environments? think they cost too much? with them?

Book a complimentary Hearing Test and hear what you have been missing with our new digital hearing aids.

HAUCK VISION AND HEARING CENTRE LTD. RED DEER • PARKLAND MALL

403.346.5568 • 1.800.813.0702 We service, repair, and sell most brands on the market.

Direct Billing Available

stored mineral or vitamin pills.

But what compelled people to rush to the ER? Ninety per cent of the visits were due to heart palpitations, chest pain, or an increased heart rate, related primarily to the ingestion of caffeine.

These patients were subsequently discharged from the ER. In effect, no serious problems and zero death. One could also question why these people were foolish enough to take these products, often in excess, in the first place. The best Rx would have been to see a psychiatrist.

The media should point out that about 70% of North Americans take dietary supplements. This means that over 60 billion doses of nutritional supplements are ingested annually. According to the annual report of the U.S. National Poison Data Base System not a single death was caused by a vitamin or mineral supplement! A

trial lawyer would tell the jury, “The case is closed”.

I’ve learned over my 60 years of surgical practice that there’s an important place for natural remedies.

Study after study shows that most people are lacking in magnesium. It’s nature’s natural vasodilator of arteries that fights hypertension and is vital for the normal rhythm of the heart.

We know that millions of North Americans are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs and are not being told these prescription drugs are robbing their heart of coenzyme Q10. It provides energy to the heart’s muscle.

Some researchers believe that without this enzyme, CLDs set the stage for heart failure later in life. Not a minor consideration.

Surely no one can deny that natural Vitamin E can be helpful in treating those with intermittent pain in the legs. This

symptom occurs when atherosclerosis decreases blood supply to muscles when playing sports or walking. Vitamin E increases the oxygen saturation of the blood and relieves the cramping.

Then there are those who state vociferously that Vitamin C is useless for treating the common cold. Of course it is when people take 500 milligrams (mg). What’s needed is several doses of 2,000 mg every two hours. Or better still several thousand daily to prevent a cold and heart attack. As Nobel Prize winner Dr, Linus Pauling used to reply to critics, “It’s the dosage, stupid.”

Benjamin Disraeli, a former British Prime Minister once denounced his opposition by saying, “It is much easier to be critical than to be right.”

I fear the media will never get it right about supplements.

For comments, email info@ docgiff.com. For information, check out www.docgiff.com.

A CELTIC CHRISTMAS Featuring: Keri Zwicker (Harp & Voice) December 12, 2015 – 8pm @ RDC Arts Centre, Main Stage Edmonton born Celtic Harpist Keri Lynn Zwicker willll ddelight li ht you with ith seasonall favourites imbued with Irish, Welsh and Scottish flair. A consummate entertainer with fabulous vocal and instrumental skills, her performance will be certain to leave you ready for the season with a smile on your face.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 23

SPORTS Red Deer Vipers start season on solid ground

BY ZACHARY CORMIER RED DEER EXPRESS The Red Deer Vipers are off to a pretty strong start to the 2015/16 Heritage Junior Hockey League season.

Currently sitting in third place in the six-team Northern Division, the Vipers have been one of the teams to beat this season in the HJHL. “When we come with a good effort we’re very good defensively. Our forwards and defensemen. I think we have the best defense core in the league by far,” said Head Coach JD Marrical.

The Vipers right now hold a 13-5-3 record for 29 points, just five points behind the second place Mountainview Colts (17-4) and the division leading Airdrie Thunder (17-6-1).

Red Deer has been quietly chasing the HJHL’s two most explosive clubs in the Northern Division standings, keeping pace with them but never being able to break into the race for first place themselves.

But the Vipers have refused to quit, and on Saturday evening they took a big first step towards catching the two powerhouses, toppling the Airdrie Thunder 5-4 in overtime at the Red Deer Arena.

“We’ve been playing the top teams tough but we’ve always been kinda losing by one instead of winning by one. That’s the team we’re chasing to get to the top spot so it’s nice to get the two points instead of just the one tonight,” Marrical said.

The Vipers came hard out of the gates, scoring just three minutes into the game when Nick Glackin received a pass from Tyson Maton in the slot and fired it past Thunder goalie Kade Taplin to give his team an early lead.

Taplin came into Saturday’s game leading the league in nearly every goaltending category, including an impressive 2.35 Goals Against Average. The 20-year-old has also been named the HJHL’s goalie of the month for two consecutive months.

So, naturally, the rest of the first period was a goaltender’s duel.

Both sides peppered the opposing goaltender with pucks, Red Deer putting 12 shots towards Airdrie’s net in the first 20 while the visitors returned the favour by firing 11 on Vipers’ netminder Rylan Bardick.

The time on the clock continued to tick down without incident until the last 55 seconds of the period when Bardick went

Make sure your car checks out.

BIG SAVE - Tye Munro of the Red Deer Vipers tried to put the puck past Kade Taplin of the Airdrie Thunder during Heritage Junior Hockey League action at the Red Deer Arena last weekend. The Vipers toppled the league-leading Thunder 4-3 in overtime. Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express down with an apparent injury to his leg.

He didn’t return to the game, but Marrical said it was just a minor injury.

“He’s going to be ok. It was just kind of a really bad cramp,” he said, adding that Bardick wanted to return to the game but the coaching staff decided to let him rest, leaving backup Matt Patchett to close out the game.

Marrical also confirmed that Bardick will start the Vipers’ next game in Ponoka on Wednesday night.

The second period was a lot more eventful than the first.

It was also quite a bit rougher, as just four minutes in Mark Kunitz of the Thunder took a Vipers’ player hard into the boards from behind, prompting a swift response from Vipers’ enforcer Tyson Maton.

When the dust finally settled on the play, Kunitz was assessed a five minute major and a game misconduct for boarding while Maton cooled his skates with a

THE

two minute stint in the box for roughing.

Just 40 seconds later, Dustin Spearing beat Taplin to put his team up by two.

Spearman added another marker at the nine minute mark to make it 3-0 Vipers halfway through the second. It’s worth noting that both goals were assisted by Kale Lapointe, who had three assists on the evening.

The 20-year-old had seven points in just two games this weekend to earn himself the HJHL player of the week title.

But Airdrie wasn’t done yet.

They came roaring back from Red Deer’s third goal, scoring two goals just 54 seconds apart to cut Red Deer’s lead to one.

Then, at the 18:14 mark, Tyler Perkins scored his first of two goals on the night to tie it all up at one.

“It’s kind of been our struggle all year.

When we get up in a game — we get up by three or even sometimes four — and they’re kind of satisfied, they don’t keep going,” said Marrical, adding the team has

FOR ONLY

WORKS 79 *

$

99

zcormier@reddeerexpress.com

C O N V E N I E N T LY LO C AT E D AT:

There’s more to it than oil^ and a filter.

• A detailed inspection of up to 83 points.

• Comprehensive Vehicle Check Up Report for peace of mind.

• Motorcraft® premium oil and Motorcraft® filter change.^

Life is better in the Quick Lane.®

*

been getting better at holding the lead.

“We’re starting to finally learn our lesson, like we don’t let the team take the lead again; we hold them to a tie.”

The teams added a goal a piece in the third to send it into OT. The extra period didn’t last long, though, as Matt Krusky ended it just 53 seconds in to solidify the victory for his club.

With the win, the Vipers move one point closer to jumping the Thunder and with two games left against both Mountainview and Airdrie, anything is possible.

“We just keep coming with a good effort every single night and we’ve gotta win those games. If we can win those games I think we can jump ‘em.”

Next up for the Vipers will be a road game in Ponoka on Wednesday evening to take on the Stampeders before they’re back home on Saturday to play host to the Stettler Lightning.

• Rotate and inspect all four tires.

Gasoline Alley • Red Deer County 403.343.FORD(3673) • www.camclarkfordreddeer.com

MAINTENANCE • TIRES • BRAKES • OIL & FILTER • BATTERIES • ALIGNMENT

All offers expire December 31, 2015. Offers may be cancelled or changed at any time without notice. See Quick Lane Manager for complete details. Applicable taxes and provincial levies not included. Quick Lane Dealer may sell for less. Only available at participating locations. *Applies to single rear wheel vehicles only. Diesel models not eligible. ^Up to 5 litres of oil. Disposal fees may be extra. Does not apply to diesel engines. Quick Lane is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. ©2015 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.

24 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

SPORTS

Rebels’ Haydn Fleury poised to make Team Canada

BY ZACHARY CORMIER RED DEER EXPRESS The Red Deer Rebels may be represented when Team Canada heads off to the IIHF World Junior Championships.

Rebels’ blueliner Haydn Fleury has been named to Team Canada’s final 30-man selection camp roster for the WJCs, which opens on Dec. 26th in Helskinki, Finland.

“It’s a real honour. It’s a dream come true to be named to the camp and if I make the team it would be just a childhood dream come true,” said the 19-yearold Saskatchewan native.

Fleury will be one of 11 defensemen to attend Team Canada’s last training camp in Etobicoke, Ont. from Dec. 10th-14th.

That short list includes some of the biggest names in the CHL, including Calgary Hitmen star Travis Sanheim.

It is likely the defensive core, easily one of the deepest at the tournament, will be paired down to six or seven before the puck drops on Boxing Day.

“I’m just going to go there and play my game. I mean I went to the camp last year so I know what to expect, I know the intensity that the camp brings,” Fleury said.

The towering offensive defenseman is no stranger to the international stage. He won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and added a bronze medal to his resume at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championship.

“Anytime you can put on that jersey, whether it’s in Canada or overseas, you play with pride and you kind of play with the country on your back. You want a medal, especially a gold medal for the country, Canada has that gold standard, so you just try to do that extra little bit to win that medal,” he said.

Fleury has been a force in the Rebels’ lineup this year, both offensively and defensively.

The Carlyle, Sask. native has seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 23 games this year.

“Things have been going well for me

offensively this year. I’m playing well, I think, playing with lots of confidence and being able to make plays and playing with some skilled players like (Ivan) Nikolishin and (Michael) Spacek. That always helps.

If you just get open they can give you the puck and give you a good look to score.”

In his own zone, Fleury brings a +6 plus/ minus rating and a knack for penalty killing.

“I think I’m just going to be a solid two way guy. I don’t think I’ll be offensive or just a defensive guy. I think I’ll just go there and play a good two-way game, kill penalties and that kind of stuff,” Fleury said when asked about the kind of role he expects he might fill on the WJC roster.

Fleury attended the final selection camp before last year’s World Juniors, but just missed the team.

If he makes it this year, Fleury will head overseas to try and repeat Team Canada’s gold medal effort from last year’s WJCs in Montreal and Toronto.

“I’m a 19-year-old, that’s a big thing. I’ve proven myself before on the international

stage. I’ve played my fair share of games on the international level, and I’ve succeeded there, so I think my experience in those tournaments can help me this time around,” he said when asked why he thought he was chosen for the camp.

Perhaps the biggest difference that this year’s crop of young competitors from Canada will have to contend with is the size of the international ice surfaces.

“In the defensive zone, that’s the biggest difference,” Fleury said, adding you can’t go running out of your way to make a hit.

“You’ve got to be more positionally sound and you have to be aware of your positioning everywhere on the ice.”

Spacek is the only other player to be named to his country’s World Junior selection camp roster, he’ll head back to the Czech Republic before Dec. 13th.

Rebels leading scorer Nikolishin is also expected to receive an invite to Russia’s selection camp, although there has been no official announcement. zcormier@reddeerexpress.com

What the Blue Jays have to do this off season The Toronto Blue Jays have made some confusing moves so far this off season.

They got off to an excellent start when they managed to re-sign free agent starter Marco Estrada to a two-year, $26 million US deal.

Estrada was good enough through the back end of last season to easily become the third-best starter in the Jays’ rotation behind David Price and Marcus Stroman, so re-signing him was a no-brainer, especially since the Jays have already lost ace start-

W

e do wish to thank all the Ladies who purchased tickets for our 25th Annual Piper Creek Optimist Ladies Gala and enjoyed the service from the staff at the Black Knight Inn and the live entertainment from The ‘89!

The Piper Creek Optimist club has been serving the community since 1985 with money raised going towards the support of youth programs. Past recipients include CAWES (Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter), Children’s Services Centre, the Outreach Centre, Camp Quality and more.

• Altalaw LLP • Apex OilÄeld Services • Amber Giroux • Atco Gas • BDO Dunwoody • Black Knight Inn • Black Knight Tuxedo • Body Basics • Bo’s Bar & Grill • Broadway Liquor • Canadian Western Bank • Central Alberta Lung Lab • Clowes Jewelry • COB’S Bread • Collins Barrow • Copies Now • Cornish Harder Niederle LLP • Don’s Tire & Auto

• Edible Arrangements • Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria • Floral Expressions • Gamehost LP • Graden Systems • Honda Red Deer • KCB Cabinets • Where on Earth Travel • Phoenix Construction • Procom Insurance / Sylvan Agencies • Rainy Creek Power Sports • Sully Chapman Beattie • Techniques Spa • Twitchy Finger Photography

Thank you again for all of your support and look forward to this again in 2016!

Zachary

CORMIER er David Price and veteran workhorse Mark Buehrle to free agency.

Yet the Jays still took their time before tendering the 32-year-old righthander from Mexico an offer, literally waiting until the deadline for them to do so before other teams could begin talks with Estrada.

Then there was the Jesse Chavez trade.

Early last month, the Blue Jays sent relief pitcher Liam Hendriks to the Oakland Athletics for starter/reliever Jesse Chavez.

In my opinion, that trade was one of the worst moves Toronto could have made.

Hendriks was lights-out last year, allowing just 23 runs in 64 innings of work and posting a 2.92 ERA, he was easily among the Jays’ best relievers. And, at 22-years-old, Hendriks wouldn’t have been eligible for free agency until 2020.

Chavez, meanwhile, struggled last season,

GET AHEAD OF THE CROWD YOUR CAREER TRAINING STARTS NOW! BUSINESS, HEALTHCARE, IT, LEGAL, HOSPITALITY AND MORE! Expect from Academy of Learning Career College:

3 A wide variety of career programs to choose from 3 Advice on the best funding options available to you 3 A supportive, effective and flexible learning environment 3 Caring student supports including job placement assistance

BE JOB READY IN 10 TO 12 MONTHS

CALL TODAY! Call (403) 347-6676 2965 Bremner Avenue

posting a 7-15 record in 26 starts and just 157 innings pitched. Oh, and he’s due to become a free agent in 2017.

And now that the Blue Jays have signed starter JA Happ, more on that later, Chavez may not even crack the starting rotation.

The trade is a Band-Aid solution that weakens Toronto’s already-thin bullpen while giving them someone who’s basically just a filler arm whom might not even start for them next season.

Finally, just last week we learned that Toronto had signed starting pitcher JA Happ to a three-year, $36 million contract.

This will be Happ’s second stint with the Blue Jays in his career.

He started 58 games during his time in Toronto, pitching to a 19-20 record before being traded to the Seattle Mariners. In itself, that’s not a bad record. It’s close enough to the .500 mark that it tells me that he’s good enough to hold down the fort.

But then I found out that in those 58 starts came over the course of three seasons, only one of which Happ spent as a full-time starter with the team.

During that full season, the big left-hander started 26 games, posting an ERA of 4.22 in just 158 innings pitched. That’s not great.

Then you factor in that he posted an 11-11 record and I, personally, start to get a little nervous.

Last season, Happ was extremely similar to Estrada in that he had a mediocre first half but followed it up with an incred-

ible second half during which he posted a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts.

The difference here, however, was that in order to do that Happ needed a change of scenery, moving from the batter-friendly confines of the Mariner’s Safeco Field to the pitcher-centred wide-0pen spaces of Pittsburgh’s PNC park.

Only time will tell if he’ll be able to keep those numbers that low pitching in a small ballpark like the Rogers Centre.

Now I’m all for taking a gamble on a veteran, but a guy with the kind of numbers that Happ has posted in recent years is not worth the third-largest contract the Jays have ever given a free agent starter.

The Jays brass taking a huge risk on Happ, and if it doesn’t pan out there isn’t a team in the league who will want to pick up his contract.

It’s a move that I just don’t get, especially since there are much more consistent left-handed starters like Scott Kazmir on the market that the Jays could pick up for the same price.

So, in summary, while the Blue Jays have made moves to strengthen their starting rotation, they’ve done it in a way that both weakens their bullpen and forces them to gamble with a starter that hasn’t exactly been the picture of consistancy.

Personally, that makes me more than a little curious to see how the Jays approach the rest of the off season. zcormier@lacombeexpress.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 25

HOMES & LIVING

UNIQUE - This Abbey Master Builder show home in Clearview Ridge offers a unique style in the living space, designed with stunning wallpapers, elegant features and circular furniture to utilize the wide space.

Kalisha Mendonsa/Red Deer Express

Be proud of your creative home design ideas This past week marked my 10th year living in Central Alberta.

My family and I moved to Lacombe in 2005 and I then moved to Red Deer in 2010. Growing up in Medicine Hat I never thought I would move here as I was a fan of chinooks and warm weather and had always perceived Red Deer as cold and bleak.

Our family all moved closer together to be with our parents and looking back I believe it was the best decision I could have ever made.

I am now close to my family members and I can honestly say that my daughter had an amazing experience in the school systems here, much better than the one she was in back home.

Red Deer is a hub of cultural and artistic souls which is something I never expected! The perception outside our borders is

Kim

WYSE that we are a truck driving red neck cowboy town and I was pleased to discover that we house a whole realm of sensitive, creative and cultured souls.

Being a creative type, it has been my pleasure to meet many people in the arts and design community who work tirelessly to ensure that our community is blessed with live music, art, festivals and markets.

These pockets of creativity are vital for our community and they encourage artisans and entrepreneurs to bravely open up and share their gifts with us and allow

us to buy a bit of their heart and soul.

These creative types are whiling away hours in their homes or shops rehearsing, creating and dreaming of when they can display their works for the world to see and it takes so much bravery to set up and wait for the public to view, listen and hopefully approve of what they have accomplished.

It is no different than you working on a project in your home or you creating a meal to share with family and friends. When the time comes for the ‘reveal’ you have that sliver of self-doubt hoping that what you have created is accepted and liked.

When you receive positive feedback, you breathe a little easier and smile because you have achieved your goal which is to make someone else happy and satisfied.

That first friend you have over for coffee after you have decorated your new

bedroom is the testing ground and it is so rewarding when they gush about what you have done.

Ask me how many people I have dragged into my bathroom these past few months and ask me how proud I am when they love the design!

In a sense, we are all creating and we are all wanting people to approve of our creations.

Whether we are baking cookies to share at work or making our own crafts to sell at a farmers market, the urge to create and design lives in every one of us. Today I will create a lovely beef stew to take over to my parents’ house and I will be delighted if they approve of my gift and will also get to enjoy supper with two of my favorite people in the entire world.

Kim Wyse is a local freelance designer. Find her on facebook at ‘Ask a Designer’.

Experience the Magic of Christmas!

Over 30 themed trees & displays to inspire you!

Ove

Ice Sculptures Construction Dec. 11 & 12

Bushy Fresh Cut Christmas Trees Available! www.parklandgarden.ca find us on

@ParklandGarden

3 minutes E of 30th Ave. on Hwy11

Open Year Round!

Monday – Friday 9am-8pm Saturday 9am-7pm • Sunday 10am-7pm

Craft & Market Dates!

Dec. 12 & 19 10am – 4pm The Specialists!

26 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

HOMES & LIVING

Are you ready for home ownership?

Around the end of May 2014, the market started to experience a declining trend in mortgage rates.

Though the housing market was already superb, professionals in the industry began gearing up for an influx in home buying. Their predictions were correct and we saw more and more houses of higher value being sold into the summer months.

When an area with a hot market such as Calgary experiences a mortgage rate decline many renters make the hasty decision to purchase a dwelling before the rates jump up again. Though you could get a great deal you need to ask yourself if you’re truly ready for everything that home ownership entails.

Here are six key ways to decide if it’s the right time for you to buy.

You’re ready to commit When looking to buy a home you need to consider your future. Do you see yourself living in the home for at least three to five years? This is the minimum ownership time you need to consider as it takes three to five years to regain your buying and selling costs.

If you were to sell before you’ve recovered those costs then you may lose money and could be liable to pay capital gains taxes. Unless you’re sure that we can commit to a place for a few years

Pam

PIKKERT then it’s better to continue renting until you’re more settled.

Budgeting is second-nature Mortgage payments are bound to be your biggest monthly expense, but they aren’t the only payment you’ll be liable for when purchasing a home. You also need to factor in the insurance, property tax, and condominium fees if you live in a shared building. All of these expenses add up and you need to have solid budgeting skills to keep your finances in order so you know what you can afford.

Always go into home buying with a budget so you don’t end up looking at homes out of your price-range.

Your finances are in order Home ownership comes with an extremely high price tag and you need to be 100% sure you can afford it. Before buying a home, make sure you have a reliable job and income. Your expenses will come due every month no matter what chang-

a

me

Natural Gas Ho Makeover

Safe at Home with Natural Gas There are so many ways to use natural gas to enhance your indoor and outdoor living spaces. When you’re in the market for new appliances,

es your situation may experience. If you can’t pay them you could end up losing your investment and going into debt.

Besides the income security, you also need to make sure you have little to no debt and good credit. These two aspects are the things a mortgage professional will look at first to make sure you’re financially stable and won’t have problems making payments.

You have some savings Homes don’t just have mortgages, they have down payments and hidden costs.

You need to have a sizeable savings account to ensure you’re prepared for the initial and unexpected costs your investment will most certainly bring. Having a large down payment helps get you a lower interest rate, therefore, saving you money in the end. A large down payment typically means 20% of the home’s value.

You also need to have an emergency savings fund for those unexpected costs, such as repairs, or in case you don’t have an income for a period of time if you get laid off.

Everything has been researched Do you know what the past and current mortgage rate trends are? Have you looked into what they’re predicted to do in the future? Do you know what kind of home you want and what they’re currently selling for? These are all things you need to know before buying your first

home, plus much more. Make sure to do your research to ensure your investment is a sound one.

You’re prepared to be a landlord Are you ready to take on the responsibility of a landlord? No longer will you be able to call up your manager to come unclog the toilet or fix appliances that have broken. All those tasks will fall on you and could be rather time consuming.

You also need to be prepared if you plan on renting out the home to tenants in the future. This will involve collecting money and being on call if the renters need anything.

If you’ve said yes to everything on this list then you could begin seeing mortgage and real estate professionals to begin the home buying process!

If however, you weren’t confident in one or more areas on this list then you need to take some time to resolve any barrier that may be in your way.

You could also make appointments with mortgage and real estate professionals to discuss what your options are and what you can do to prepare for home ownership.

It’s always best to take a little extra time to make sure that your investment is something you actually want, at the right time, and for a price you can afford.

Happy house hunting!

Pam Pikkert is a mortgage broker with Dominion Lending Centres - Regional Mortgage Group in Red Deer.

Warm up your Space...

Your destination choice for area rugs & comfort blinds.

think comfort, convenience and cost savings. Think natural gas!

For safety tips - and a chance to win a $10,000 Natural Gas Home Makeover visit ATCOGas.com./SafeHome

SAFETY TIP: During the winter months, when your furnace is working harder, check the filter once a month to keep the furnace running at its best.

CARPET COLOUR CENTRE

Beautiful, made affordable.®

SOUTHPOINTE COMMON II (across from Best Buy)

403-343-7711

www.carpetcolourcentre.com

STORE HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY 9AM - 5:30PM | THURSDAY 9AM - 8PM | SATURDAY 9AM - 5PM | CLOSED SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 27

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS COLOURING COLOURING CONTEST CONTEST Please return your entry to Red Deer Express #121 5301 43 St.

(closed between noon and 1pm)

no later than Friday, December 18, 2015 Name

Age

Phone Number

Adult Contact

We will award 3 winners with a $25

Gift Card drawn at random.

Winners will be contacted on Monday, December 21, 2015

28 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

LEARNING EFOR LIFE

Red Deer Public Schools Community Programs See Page 2 in the 2015 City of Red Deer Activity Guide for our Law Workshops & ESL Classes

View the Clues Contest

Read to Win!

Below are five phone numbers that appear inside our clients’ ads in this week’s Express (includes Special Features & Supplements) Simply match the phone number to the business, fill out the contest form and drop it off at the Express office prior to draw deadline listed.

Note: Express office is closed between noon and 1pm daily.

403-346-7088 403-347-8766 403-342-1101 855-985-5000 403-350-2150

_____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ ______________________________________

Enter in person at the Red Deer Express #121, 5301 - 43 St. A $25.00 GIFT CARD TO BO’S BAR AND GRILL DRAW DATE:TH 2310 50 Ave, Red Deer, AB T4R 1C5 DECEMBER 30 @ NOON 403-309-2200

WIN

HOW TO PLAY: Fill-in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started.

Remember: You must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

ANSWER

November Winner: Judy Campbell

Name: _______________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________ #121, 5301 - 43 St.

403-346-3356

CLUES ACROSS

(British)

2. Bulgarian monetary unit

32. Foes

1. Red wine

38. One who analyzes

3. Settled upon

35. Many not ands

7. Best nurse-patient aid

syntactically

4. Common frog genus

36. Covered with healing

10. Footwear closure

39. Algonquian tribe

5. Electronic counter-

scrapes

countermeasures

12. Chinese dynasty 1122-

40. Systems, doctrines,

221 BC

theories

6. Golf ball supporter

13. Persuade to one’s side

41. Herb __, San Francisco

7. Divided into 3

42. Greek Queen of the

14. Advocate

columnist

8. Crazy (Spanish)

gods

37. Regions 41. Abel’s brother (Bible)

15. Mandela’s party

42. Informed about the

9. Billiards stick

43. Esau’s descendants

16. A woolen cap of

latest trends

10. More deficient

(Bible)

Scottish origin

45. Seven

11. Solomon Islands capital

44. Canarium ovatum

17. About aviation

46. Morocco’s capital

12. Larval crabs

46. Ribonucleic acid

18. Shallowest of the Greats

47. What a doctor practices

14. Malta capital

47. Gas usage

19. Sheathe

49. Beaks

18. Clairvoyance

measurement

20. Frightened

50. In a way, extends

19. Tomato condiment

48. An oppositional

23. Brews

51. A number or amount

21. Alleviation

argument

24. Relates

not specified

22. French seaport

27. Atomic #52

52. GamblingCLUES

25. New Testament 26. Shortened (abbr.)

28. Up the ante 33. The “Kings’s” initials

DOWN 1. Composition for

34. Lepton

orchestra and soloists

30. Opposite of leaving 31. Lip locking

ANSWER

36. Cornmeal mush

29. Employee (abbr.)

2014 Buick Vereno

2010 Chevrolet Avalanche LT 4x4

2015 Buick Lacrosse CXL

2015 GMC Acadia SLE2

www.weidnermotors.ca 5640 Hwy 2A, Lacombe, AB

403.782.3626 1.888.259.6950

#15P035 Loaded, Sunroof!

$17,900

#15N266A Loaded, Only 68,000kms!

$26,900

#15P032 Loaded, Leather, Sunroof!

#15P027 Loaded, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 7 Pass.!

$28,900

$38,900

*Price are plus GST. Prices includes all GM rebates to dealer, including loyalty, stackable credit, non-stackable credit, Allison transmission credit and hail discount. See dealer for full details.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 29

Red Deer Express

CLASSIFIEDS To place an ad

Buying, Selling or Renting?

Classifieds HAS IT.

call 403.309.3300 or email

classifieds@reddeerexpress.com Announcements ....................0005-0030

Items to Buy/Sell .....................1500-1940

Open House Directory .......... 4200-4310

What’s Happening ................. 0049-0070

Agricultural ..............................2000-2210

Financial .................................4400-4430

Garage Sales ........................... 0100-0650

For Rent ...................................3000-3200

Transportation ....................... 5000-5240

Employment ............................0700-0920

Wanted to Rent....................... 3250-3390

Legal/Public Notices ............6000-9000

Service Directory .................... 1000-1430

Real Estate ..............................4000-4190

Kathy Lawrie

Business Opportunities

Passed away November 26, 2015, age 56. A Memorial Tea will be held December 14 at the Elnora Drop-in Centre from 2 – 4 p.m.

Any question, please call (403) 773-2282.

Coming Events

52

CRAFT MARKET & SALES

Over 45 tables crafts, jewelry, food & Christmas decor.

10 - 4 every Saturday until Christmas Parkland Garden Centre 3 minutes East of 30th Avenue on Hwy 11 THE LLOYDMINSTER EXHIBITIONS Pride of the Prairies Bull Show and Sale. March 6 - 7, 2016.

Traditional halter and pen format. Entry deadline: January 5, 2016. For more information: www.lloydexh.com. 306-825-5571 or email Sam: sam@ lloydexh.com.

Central Alberta’s Largest Car Lot in Classifieds You can sell your guitar for a song... or put it in CLASSIFIEDS and we’ll sell it for you!

Personals

60

IMAGINE a Walk-In Clinic where Jesus is the Doctor.

Red Deer Healing Rooms operate like a Walk-In Clinic, except it’s Free and open to all!

Open Tuesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at: The Space, 5305 - 50th Ave., Red Deer Open to anyone needing healing. No appointment necessary.

Ph 403-350-8954 Buying or Selling your home?

Check out Homes for Sale in Classifieds

Medical

790

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career!

Employers have work-athome positions available.

Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-athome career today!

GET FREE VENDING machines. Can earn $100,000. + per year. All cash-locations provided.

Protected territories. Interest free Ànancing. Full details. Call now 1-866-668-6629. Website: www.tcvend.com.

Classifieds Your place to SELL Your place to BUY

Misc.

Help

MEDICAL TRAINEES needed now! Hospitals & doctor’s ofÀces need certiÀed medical ofÀce & administrative staff! No experience needed! We can get you trained! Local job placement assistance available when training is completed. Call for program details!

1-888-627-0297.

Trades

850

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT School.

Hands on tasks. Start Weekly. GPS Training!

Funding & Housing Available! Job Aid! Already a HEO? Get certiÀcation proof.

1-866-399-3853 or go to iheschool.com Celebrate your life with a Classified ANNOUNCEMENT

880

ACADEMIC Express ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING

JANUARY START

Employment Training

Would you like to take the GED in your community?

• • • • • • • • •

Red Deer Rocky Mtn. House Rimbey Caroline Sylvan Lake Innisfail Stettler Ponoka Lacombe Gov’t of Alberta Funding may be available.

403-340-1930 www.academicexpress.ca CELEBRATIONS HAPPEN EVERY DAY IN CLASSIFIEDS

Employment Training

900

COME AND LEARN. Unlock your Superpowers!

Jan. 29 & 30, 2016, Edmonton. AWNA’s Annual Symposium.

Educational Sessions in Journalism, Sales Ad & News Design. Internationally acclaimed speakers.

Pre-Register. For more info: www. awna.com/symposium.

900

HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTATION Specialists in huge demand. Employers prefer CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Contact us now to start your training day; www.canscribe.com.

1-800-466-1535; info@canscribe.com.

Auctions

1530

MEIER GUN AUCTION. Saturday, December 19, 11 a.m., 6016 - 72A Ave., Edmonton. Over 150 guns - handguns, riÁes, shotguns, hunting and sporting equipment. To consign 780-440-1860.

GED Preparation

Looking for a new pet?

Check out Classifieds to find the purrfect pet.

Looking for a place to live?

Take a tour through the CLASSIFIEDS

870

Firewood

1660

LOGS Semi loads of pine, spruce, tamarack, poplar, birch.

Price depends on location of delivery. Lil Mule Logging 403-318-4346

Travel Packages

1900

SAVE 30% on our Greenland and Wild Labrador Voyage until December 18, 2015. See Labrador as it was meant to be seen - By Sea Aboard the comfortable Ocean Endeavour. No extra charge for singles!

Quote Community Newspapers! Call toll free 1-800-363-7566 or visit: www.adventurecanada .com. (TICO #04001400).

Wanted To Buy

1930

FREE SCRAP and truck removal including farm machinery. We pay cash at our yard. 1-780-914-7560; www.sturgeonbusparts.ca.

Grain, Feed Hay

2190

HEATED CANOLA buying Green, Heated or Springthrashed Canola. Buying: oats, barley, wheat & peas for feed. Buying damaged or offgrade grain. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain, 1-877-250-5252.

ROUND BALES - Hay, green feed, straw and bulk oats. Delivery available.

No Sunday calls please.

Phone 403-704-3509 or 403-704-4333.

Pasture

3180

PASTURE & HAY LAND. 400 - 8000 acres of year round water supply. Full operational with management available. Central Saskatchewan. Crossfenced & complete infrastructure. Natural springs excellent water.

Shortly ready to locate cattle. Other small & large grain & pasture quarters. $150k - $2.6m. Call Doug Rue 306-716-2671.

4090

Manufactured Homes

HARVEST SALE! Save $50,000 from the replacement cost of this 20 X 76 drywalled Grandeur Showhome that has to go! A sacriÀce at $124,900. Call Terry 1-855-347-0417 or email: terry@ grandviewmodular.com.

Buildings For Sale

4150

STEEL BUILDINGS. “ Really Big Sale - Year end Clear Out!” 21 x 22 $5190. 25 x 24 $5988.

27 x 28 $7498. 30 x 32 $8646. 35x34 $11,844.

42 x 54 $16, 386. One end wall included. Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422; www.pioneersteel.ca.

* No cancellations, refunds or exchanges. Please read your ad the first day it appears.

We will accept responsibility for 1 insertion only.

Money To Loan

4430

BANK SAID NO? Bank on us! Equity Mortgages for purchases, debt consolidation, foreclosures, renovations.

Bruised credit, self-employed, unemployed ok.

Dave Fitzpatrick: www.albertalending.ca.

587-437-8437, Belmor Mortgage.

6

you can learn a lot from the Newspaper! Encourage your children to make reading the newspaper a part of their routine for lifelong learning.

www.reddeerexpress.com

reasons why you should advertise in the Red Deer Express

CREDIBILITY – Polls show people believe newspapers offer the most believable advertising. The offer is there to read over and over again.

It does not intrude uninvited and then vanish.sh.

ASSURANCE – Our newspaper circulations are verified and audited.

Tear sheets verify that an ad ran as scheduled. Advertisers have tangible proof that their ad reaches their audience.

PERMANENCE – Newspapers allow readers time. Readers have the time to digest and consider an advertising offer at their leisure. Consumers need not to be in the right place at the time to see or hear the advertiser’s message. Studies prove that our papers are kept longer than a week and are read by more than one person in a household.

LOCAL COVERAGE – Newspapers occupy a unique position in reader’s lives. Newspapers contain news on local people and events, while providing the most reliable source of in depth local coverage of everything in your community, including what businesses are offering this week.

ECONOMY

– Cost per thousand is very competitive, but the results of good newspaper advertising are the best measure of its benefit.

LOCAL INVESTMENT – No other medium can compare to a newspaper that continues to service the local community. An advertising order is an investment by the advertiser, not only in their business but in the community.

The Market you are a e looking oo g to o reach eac iss reading the

Talk to a sales representative today for more information

403.346.3356

30 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

Service

Directory

NEVER SHOCK CHLORINATE AGAIN Tell them Danny Hooper sent you

Big Iron Drilling’s patented

12345

Also: Rural Water Treatment (Province Wide) 1-800-BIG IRON (244-4766) View our 29 patented and patent pending inventions online at

To advertise your service or business here, call 403.346.3356 Legal Services

1260

CRIMINAL RECORD? Think: Canadian pardon.

U.S. travel waiver.

Divorce? Simple.

Fast. Inexpensive. Debt recovery? Alberta collection to $25,000.

Calgary 403-228-1300/ 1-800-347-2540.

Misc.

Services

1290

EASY ALBERTA DIVORCE: Free consultation call 1-800-320-2477 or www.canadianlegal.org CCA Award #1 Paralegal.

A+ BBB Reputation. 26 years experience.

Open Mon. - Sat. INTERESTED IN the Community Newspaper business? Alberta’s weekly newspapers are looking for people like you. Post your resume online. FREE. Visit: awna.com/for-jobseekers.

REACH OVER 1 Million Readers Weekly. Advertise Province Wide ClassiÀeds.

Only $269 + GST (based on 25 words or less). Call now for details 1-800-282-6903 ext. 228; www.awna.com.

Moving & Storage

1300

MOVING? Boxes? Appls. removal. 403-986-1315

Personal Services

Personal Services

1315

HIP OR KNEE Replacement? Arthritic conditions? Restrictions in walking/dressing?

Disability Tax Credit. $2,000 tax credit. $20,000 refund. For Assistance: 1-844-453-5372.

Roofing

www.1800bigiron.com

1370

Add this feature to your next career ad booking

Call for more details 1-800-282-6903 ext 235

e Squeezthe MOST out of your advertising dollars 12345

Place your ad in this newspaper and12345 province wide $ with a combined circulation of over 800,000 for only...

1315

CANADA BENEFIT GROUP. Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000. from the Canadian Government.

Toll free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canadabeneÀt. ca/free-assessment.

Let us amplify your message!

995 plus GST/HST

Value Ad Network

Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association toll free 1-800-282-6903 x228 email andrea@awna.com or visit this community newspaper

Need a vehicle but can’t get approved?

Call our Credit Team Today!

403.343.3673 Gasoline Alley • Red Deer County

WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR? ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

12345 Customizable and secure. From storage to workspace.

Steel containers from 8' to 53'.

20' & 40' skids with optional 4' landings available. Mount with twist locks.

www.camclarkfordreddeer.com

780 440 4037 | SEACAN.COM

METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 32+ colours available at over 55 Distributors. 40 year warranty. 48 hour Express Service available at select supporting Distributors. Call 1-888-263-8254.

Careers

Successful Careers Start Here

Parkland Nursery & Landscape Services Ltd., located just east of Red Deer, is seeking to fill 12 tree nursery field worker positions for the 2016 season. These positions are full time seasonal from approximately Mar. 30th to Nov. 15th, depending on weather conditions. Duties include planting, maintaining, harvesting, loading and unloading plant material. Position is labor intensive and includes working weekends and some evenings.

We will train. Wage is $11.20 per hour.

Apply to admin@pnls.ca or fax 403.340.8510 Thank you in advance for your interest.

Only applicants to be interviewed will be contacted.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

RED DEER EXPRESS 31

The all new Scion iM joins the Scion family.

Welcome it to YOURS this Holiday Season!

2016 Scion iM Standard: 7" Touchscreen Display, Aha Audio System with Internet Radio and POI Search, Gracenote Database, Voice Recognition, USB and Audio Auxiliary Input Jack, Bluetooth Capability, 6 Speakers, Steering Wheel Audio Controls, Shark Fin Type Antenna & 4.2-inch TFT Multi-Information Display.

22,260

$

Starting at only

*

Available Colours

#GS001

*#GS001, price is plus applicable taxes. Vehicle may not be exactly as shown. See dealer for details.

“Where the Deals Are” www.reddeertoyota.com 403.343.3736 | 1.800.662.7166

32 RED DEER EXPRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

How about one of these

for Christmas?

$1000

Demo Discount

#F6319

#F6354

# F4004

2015 Rav4 LE AWD

2015 Highlander LE AWD

2015 Venza AWD

*

B/W Finance

*

B/W Finance

*

B/W Finance

*Stock #F6319 based over 84 months, $0 down, 1.49%, O.A.C. Cost of borrowing is $1705.62. Stock #F4004 based on 84 months, $0 down, 0.99%, O.A.C. Stock #F6354 based on 84 months, $0 down, 4.99%, O.A.C. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. See dealer for full details.

“Where the Deals Are” www.reddeertoyota.com 403.343.3736 | 1.800.662.7166