STANDING UP FOR ALBERTANS
Lana Michelin looks at RDC’s upcoming production of The Tempest
Grassroots movement rallying against gas tax, Bill 6, NDP ideology
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Red Deer Advocate FRIDAY, JAN. 29, 2016
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Uber gauging driver interest
SYRIAN FAMILY GRATEFUL TO SETTLE IN RED DEER AFTER AN EXHAUSTING FIVE YEARS OF LIVING IN FEAR
BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF First Edmonton, next Red Deer? The ride-hailing company Uber hosted an information session to gauge interest at the Baymont Inn and Suites on Thursday evening. The event was closed to the media but between 30 and 40 people attended with four Uber representatives. It is part of the company’s ongoing work to assess driver interest while it expands to cities across Canada, said Jean-Christophe De Le Rue, Senior Communications Associate, Canada. “While we don’t have specific launch plans for Red Deer, I can tell you that Uber aims to expand to communities across Canada and we’re always looking at ensuring that safe, affordable and reliable rides are available everywhere in the country,” said De Le Rue in a news release. Edmonton became the first Canadian city this week to legalize the drivers on the road, starting on March 1. Associate Cab owner Daryl Frenette said Edmonton will regret that decision. He said the company will extract as much as 30 per cent out of the local economy and send it to California. “Why would any council want that to happen,” said Frenette. “Why would you do that? Where is the gain? You just put a bunch of people who are paying mortgages, raising their children, taxpayers out of business? I don’t fathom that concept.” Mayor Tara Veer was not available for comment on Thursday. To date there has been no discussion at council about the possibility of Uber moving into Red Deer.
Please see UBER on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Saer Alkerdi and his wife, Khaldya, and their daughters from the left, Alisar, 6, Walaa, 15, Sehar, 10, and their sons, Saher,11, and Saer, 14, in their new rented home in West Park on Wednesday. The family left their home in Syria in the spring of 2011 and have been living in Lebanon up until recently. BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF No translator was needed to understand how the Alkerdi family was feeling. The shy smiles and sighs of relief said it all. Syrians Saer and Khaldya Alkerdi and their five children moved into a three-bedroom house in West Park on Wednesday. It’s been a long and exhausting five
years for the refugee family, which began in the spring of 2011. Speaking through an Arabic translator, Saer said when the civil war broke out and the bombs started landing on the village, he locked the doors to the house and drove his wife Khaldya and his children west to neighbouring Lebanon. They fled with only the clothes on their backs and the keys to the house. “I thought it wouldn’t be safe for me and my family,” Saer said. “I had
young kids then and I just wanted to flee the problems of war. I thought it would not be more than a month or two.” Life was not easy in Lebanon and it became increasingly difficult as the days, weeks and months went by. They initially stayed with Saer’s brother in a cramped two-bedroom house with about 40 other people.
Please see REFUGEES on Page A2
‘Animals can be crazy too, right?’ CROSS-COUNTRY SKIER RECOUNTS ATTACK BY OWL It was like an attack scene out of Alfred Hitchcock’s horror film The Birds. Only it was just one bird — but a very BIG one, with large sharp talons. And instead of the victim being terrified, he was “just ticked right off.” After it was finally over, Red Deer ophMARY-ANN thalmologist BARR Miloslav Bozdech was left BARRSIDE with a number of punctures in his head, maybe a little whiplash, and a story to tell that he’s beginning to see some humour in.
WEATHER Sunny. High 0. Low -10.
FORECAST ON A2
Bozdech’s encounter began at about 8:30 p.m. on Monday evening when he was cross-country skiing on city trails between Great Chief Park and Heritage Ranch. He has skied there regularly in the evening since he moved to Red Deer three years ago. On this night he was dressed as usual in black, wearing a head-band to cover his ears, and a very bright headlamp strapped on his head. The only thing different than his usual attire was a white scarf around his neck. Bozdech was tucked in, going downhill at about 18 km/h. “Suddenly I felt a whack over my head from behind, and sharp pain. It was really odd. Those two seconds when you register something is wrong.”
Please see OWL on Page A3
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Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Not taking anything to chance, Miloslav Bozdech has taken to wearing a helmet while cross-country skiing at Heritage Ranch in Red Deer. Earlier this week, the avid skier was attacked by an owl while out for a ski after dark. Until the puncture wounds on his scalp heal, he says he will wear the helmet.
Mind over matter for ultra runner Sitting across the table from Kristina Meyer, I’m immediately struck by her passion and humility. Story on PAGE B7
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