TURNOVERS COSTLY
SETTING THE STAGE
The Red Deer Rebels came bearing gifts and consequently dropped a 5-2 decision to the visiting Calgary Hitmen
Jenna Goldade has big plans for the Scott Block’s two theatre spaces.
PAGE A3
SPORTS — PAGE B1
Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, DEC. 14, 2015
www.reddeeradvocate.com
Your trusted local news authority BILL 6
Fill our fleet
Critics vow to keep up pressure BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF The Alberta government passed its farm-safety bill, but critics have no intention of letting up. Central Alberta Wildrose MLAs Jason Nixon and Ron Orr were invited to a rally in Ponoka on Saturday night. Next Friday at 11 a.m., Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Don MacIntyre will be attending a Bill 6 gathering just east of Sylvan Lake off Hwy 11. Some political observers have commented they have never seen the electorate so angry at its government. Angry demonstrations have led to outright threats against Premier Rachel Notley by some critics. Wildrose Leader Brian Jean added his voice on Friday to the many calling for respect and restraint. Lacombe-Ponoka Wildrose MLA Ron Orr agrees there has been some “petty vitriolic statements out there that shouldn’t have been made.” There is nothing wrong with peaceful protest — it’s a key part of democracy — but he and his party do not support any inappropriate or threatening comments. “It shouldn’t be happening,” said Orr, who was a pastor before entering politics. Now that the bill is passed, the NDP government has promised full consultation with farmers and ranchers while the fine details of regulations are ironed out, a process that could take more than a year.
Please see BILL 6 on Page A2
Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff
Ayla Parsons, 3, drops a couple of teddies into a bin as part of AMA’s annual Fill Our Fleet program collecting donations for the Red Deer Food Bank. Until Dec. 19, AMA will be accepting new teddy bears and money, which will be delivered to the food bank in time for Christmas.
Retailers feeling economic pinch BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF A Grinch-y economy has taken some of the sparkle out of the Christmas shopping season so far. Local retailers said there appears to be a little less spending this year, although some figure it’s about the same as last year. A woman who works at a Bower
Place Shopping Centre clothing shop said overall traffic appears to be down a bit. “I don’t think there’s as much disposable income,” she said, adding more online shopping is also a factor. “It’s definitely down. But (Friday) night, it was insane,” she said, adding the mall was packed. She predicted the parking lot would be full again by the afternoon.
“It’s still pretty good.” A salesperson at a jewelry store said the economy has had a noticeable impact. “It’s a different year,” she said. “It’s definitely slower.” But while sales might be down a little, it has not been a dramatic drop. she added.
Please see RETAIL on Page A2
Prolific Christian author humbled by her literary journey BY MARY-ANN BRR ADVOCATE STAFF
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Prolific author Janette Oke of Olds with a few of her older and more recent titles.
30% flurries. High -5. Low -17.
FORECAST ON A2
INDEX Two sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business . . . . . . B9-B10 Canada . . . . . . . . A5-A6 Classified . . . . . . B6-B7 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . B8 Entertainment . . . . .A10 Sports . . . . . . . . . B1-B7
Please see OKE on Page A2
Bones found in woods those of missing girl Eight years after she vanished near her home in Trois-Rivieres, Cedrika Provencher has finally been found.
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Story on PAGE A6
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WEATHER
Author Janette Oke accomplishments go beyond many writers’ dreams. She’s written about 70 books, and numerous television movies and series have been inspired by those books. Oke, now 80, wrote her first novel when she was 42. Today, according to her publisher Bethany House, based in Minnesota, 30 million copies of her books have sold in 16 different languages around the world. The author, whose Central Alberta roots run deep, began writing because she felt there was a void in Christian inspirational fiction. Oke was born in Champion in southern Alberta but at the age of three she moved with her parents, Amy and
Fred Steeves, and her siblings to the Hoadley area, about 25 km north of Rimbey. That’s where she grew up, and where the family’s homestead is, which eventully became the Steeves House Museum for many years until it closed a couple of years ago. The museum and the contents of Oke’s writing room have recently been offered to the Rimbey Historical Society. Oke, described as an Evangelical Christian, has resided in Olds for the past 15 years. She remembers always being interested in writing and was a prolific reader as a youngster. “As I grew older I found that being a person from the faith community I wasn’t finding the type of literature that I felt matched my world view.”