5 MARCH Red Deer County News 5 MARCH 2010 2010 County Open Houses Draw Great Crowds WHAT’S INSIDE: HERITAGE PLAN MOVES FORWARD............10 & 11 BREAKING NEWS... ABANDONED WELL PROGRAM Mayor Earl Kinsella announced on March 2 INFORMATION ...................................................14 ESA OPEN HOUSE RECAP ...................................20 that he will not run in the upcoming election. More in the April issue of County News... Proud to be located in Red Deer County Gasoline Alley, Red Deer County 403-343-3736 www.reddeertoyota.com 1-800-662-7166 72120A8 Red Deer County News 5 MARCH 2010 PAGE 2 Mayor’s Message: Are you ready for one last winter storm? In this issue a feature called ‘You Asked Us’ answers roads can become impassable. For plows to complete an resident questions. At the end of each ‘You Asked Us’ entire rotation takes a fixed amount of time – usually column we provide contact information for residents three to four days. Timing can be severely affected by the with additional questions or concerns. amount of snow, temperature, continuing bad weather We receive a lot of the questions about County roads. such as wind causing drifts or by poor visibility. There are 3,285 kilometers of roads in Red Deer County There are a few things you can do to make life easier and since traveling a County road is part of our every when we get these winter storms. It is wise to have a day routine it is no wonder this is a popular topic with plan in the event that your road becomes blocked or you residents. lose power. Given that it is March, I expect that we will likely see one Obviously, it is important to have some emergency food more winter storm before Spring is official. Last March a supplies in case you do get ‘snowed in.’ flood of calls and questions came to our staff following We like to hear from our residents and do our best to just such a storm. Anticipating this, I would like to provide you with the information you are after. In this reiterate some of the points I made as a reminder to our case, forewarned is fore-armed. Information about how rural residents. to prepare for an emergency is available at http://www. Red Deer County places a high priority on maintaining getprepared.gc.ca Please take the time to plan ahead our roads for safety and convenience. The County and take responsibility to understand the nature of rural provides a high rate of plowing service to its residents living at this time of year, and stay safe! compared with many other municipalities, including our Earl Kinsella, Mayor urban neighbours. Still, in extreme weather, any and all Red Deer County MAYOR EARL KINSELLA Payment Notice - Important Update To all Scotia Bank Customers Due to feedback received by the Scotia Bank from their customers, the Scotia Bank has made changes to its billing system that will once again accommodate customer’s automatic or online payments to Red Deer Jennifer Dennis of Red Deer County rolls up her sleeve and gives much needed blood. Red Deer County. County staff are proud to be part of the ‘Partners for Life’ group. ALL DAY BREAKFAST Great Beginnings $ 95 Stuffed French Toast .............. 9 Thick white home style baked bread stuffed with cream cheese an mixed berries. Grilled to golden brown and served with your choice of syrup $ 95 Big Breakfast Special .............. 8 Two bacon, two sausages, two eggs & two buttermilk pancakes or two slices of toast & jam (NO SUBSTITUTIONS) Highway 2 South, Gasoline Alley, Red Deer Red Deer County News 5 MARCH 2010 PAGE 3 ‘Explore Local’ targets the home field advantage for agriculture New initiative supports regional market expansion The Alberta government’s new Explore Local Alberta and helps connect and support the initiative helps local farmers and industry in many different people and players involved or “capturing Alberta’s home field advantage.” interested in Alberta’s local market sector.” Explore Local pulls together existing efforts In the province, as in many other jurisdictions in areas such as farmers’ markets, farm direct across Canada and internationally, local market marketing, regional cuisine and Ag-tourism channels for agri-food products and services under one umbrella. are seeing record sales and unprecedented “With the increasing demand for all things growth. Farmers’ market direct sales in Alberta local, and the desire from our agriculture alone have jumped 30 percent in just a few community to find new ways to diversify years - helping push total sales across Canada earnings, selling directly into local markets to over $1 billion. seems to be a good fit,” says Mandi Carroll, The Explore Local initiative is in its early County Economic Development Coordinator. stages, with specific strategies taking shape “The County was host to an Alberta Agriculture that will evolve by working with industry. and Rural Development workshop in late But, clear target areas for progress are already January, with excellent participation from emerging, such as supporting new and the local agriculture sector, all interested and expanded operations, building awareness and excited about new profit opportunities.” partnerships, and working with industry to This project was sponsored by Growing address barriers to growth and expansion. Forward, a federal-provincial initiative. Keep tuned to County News for details of a second Explore Local: “Capturing Alberta’s home workshop series titled Expanding…Local field advantage” is part of Growing Forward, Foods, Local Markets, which will target those a federal-provincial initiative. individuals who are already involved in selling The Alberta government has a clear plan for a into local markets. strong economic recovery. An important part “Local agriculture and locally-produced food is of The Way Growing Forward is maintaining a rising market force in Alberta and around the support for programs and services Albertans world,” said Jack Hayden, Minister of Alberta need most, such as health care, education Agriculture and Rural Development. “Explore and safe and vibrant communities. For more Local presents new growth opportunities for information about Explore Local visit www. agriculture food products and services in explorelocal.ca. New web portal helps increase businesses’ productivity Alberta’s productivity key to global competitiveness The Alberta government has launched The website is just one action government www.productivityalberta.ca to help Alberta is taking to help increase productivity. businesses assess and improve their overall Government also provides on-site productivity. productivity assessments and training for “In today’s market, businesses can’t afford firms wishing to improve their productivity, to be wasteful with their resource inputs,” efficiency and overall competitiveness. says Mandi Carroll, County Economic “Increasing productivity is part of Development Coordinator. “Whether you government’s approach to ensuring Alberta run a farm, an office or a shop, Productivity becomes one of the most innovative and Alberta has tools to measure your current competitive regions in the world,” said Ted input-to-output efficiencies and provide Morton, Minister of Alberta Finance and ways for improvement.” Enterprise. “This online resource provides one convenient location for any Alberta The Productivity Alberta web portal will business to start improving their productivity connect Alberta companies to tools and and global competitiveness.” resources to help them tackle productivity Improving productivity and competitiveness challenges and improve their competitive is part of the Government of Alberta’s plan position in international and domestic for a strong economic recovery. The Way markets. Growing Forward will bring Alberta back into The website provides links to a wide variety a surplus position in three years by trimming of government and industry information government spending; using cash reserves to and resources. It contains the most up- protect key programs; continuing to invest to-date information on best practices in public infrastructure; and ensuring that and productivity strategies, and there are our province’s industries are competitive assessment tools to help companies compare and continue to attract investment to provide their processes with industry benchmarks. jobs and prosperity. 71292L3 Red Deer County News 5 MARCH 2010 PAGE 4 “What’s Happening” In Red Deer County? Lowry Olafson at Fensala Hall Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Event - Driving Privileges – Driving & Law Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Society and West County “Visions Country Gospel” – Sunday, June 6 at 2:30pm at the March 17 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Find out how one acquires FCSS present Singer/Songwriter Lowry Olafson for two Elnora Hall. Refreshments will be served. Tickets are $15. driving privileges, under what circumstances they can be concert performances at the Fensala Hall in Markerville on There will also be a mini silent auction. For more informa- lost, if it is possible to reacquire them, and if so, how. The Saturday, March 27. The first will be a concert for children tion, please call 403.773.2270. fee for this workshop is $20 per person. Please register by at 2:00pm, promoting his popular CD for Kids – My Dog In the Key of Compassion – A Concert For Haiti March 12. All Workshops and Learn @ Lunch Sessions will be held at the Ate My Homework: Songs for School Kids. Tickets for this On Sunday, March 7 we will be raising the roof to help Bowden Community Engagement Site (Bowden Grandview performance are $7 for children, $10 for adults, and $30 rebuild a country! Join us at the Ol’ Moose Hall in Innisfail School) Video Conference Room. For more information, for a family. and dance to the music of Oldbury, Denver Daines, Flying or to register please call Tammy Olsson at , or The second performance will be a concert for adults on Colors and Sam Druckers General Store. Doors open at 403.559.7495 send an email to [email protected].