FEBRUARY 2013 Celebrating Families! Fun Family Day Events In The County - Page 9 Looking Ahead in Operations 2013 - Page 10 In Action! WHAT’S INSIDE SEASONAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES……. ..................................PG 8 Follow us on Twitter DISCOVER THE PRAIRIE POTHOLES…. ........................PG12 & 13 @reddeercounty MAKING FARM BUSINESS BETTER…. .................................PG 19 GALAXY LANTERN STREET RED DEER “Proud to be in Red Deer County” 73825A4 Gasoline Alley, Red Deer County • www.reddeertoyota.com 403-343-3736 1-800-662-7166 Red Deer County News FEBRUARY 2013 PAGE 2 JANUARY 23, 20077 Mayor’s Message: At our Council meeting on November future years before they can be dealt 20, Council awarded $250,000 in with. grants to 13 different groups in Red The community groups who oversee Deer County. The funds are allocated these buildings are strictly volunteer to improve different community hubs based. I would like to thank the members We Welcome and halls throughout the County. These of the hall boards for their commitment places are not only a strong connection to making our communities better Your to our past, but will also play a key role places. I know this is not glamorous Feedback! in the County’s future. work – filling out paperwork and It is important to note that the funds are putting together proposals can often be You can contact us with not given out in ‘blank cheque’ style. tedious. I hope that seeing these projects questions or comments at [email protected] Each group who received funding put come to life will be partial payback together a formal request. This request for all of the hours of work that goes Red Deer County News is outlined what the money would go into the management of our community a free monthly publication MAYOR Jim Wood to, how it would improve the facility, halls and centres. The real payback, available to all County residents. and what the benefit would be to the however, should come when the halls Current issues of the Facilities community at large. I am happy to are put to good use, and the laughter County News are available say that the funds are going to crucial of people young and old rings through free of charge at the Red grants and building components such as new these buildings when happy memories Deer County Centre, or can furnaces, windows, and roofing for the are being made. be viewed online at investment successful halls. Here is to the hard working people www.rdcounty.ca/news. I would also like to point out that who make our community halls the not every application can be approved. special gathering places that bring our MANAGING EDITOR: in the ADAM FERGUSON Although it would be nice to have community together. Please join me Corporate Communications unlimited funds for these projects, the and thank our community volunteers Coordinator County’s County must consider its overall budget when we see them, the strength of a PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION: and how these requests will impact that community comes from its volunteers. RED DEER ADVOCATE future budget. Some requests have to wait for ADVERTISING: For all advertising inquiries please contact the Red Deer Advocate Community Spirit at the 403.314.4343 SUBMISSIONS: Red Deer County welcomes Balmoral Hall reader submissions and The annual Balmoral Community Christmas reserves the right to Dinner was held this December at the approve/disapprove any Balmoral Community Hall in Division 2. and all submissions it receives. Send submissions to [email protected] Please note that submitted original documents cannot always be returned. Due Date for March submissions is Friday, February 15, 2013 WHAT’S HAPPENING? We are happy to list upcoming festivals, Santa arrived and all ages community fairs, reunions, enjoyed the evening. and other community events! To have your event listed in the ‘What’s Happening’ calendar of County News, contact us at: Tel: 403.350.2150 ext 272 Fax: 403.346.9840 Email: countynews@ rdcounty.ca FOLLOW US: WATCH US: www.twitter.com/ www.youtube. reddeercounty com/rdcounty Red Deer County News FEBRUARY 2013 PAGE 3 Red Deer airport is essential to building a thriving region RJ Steenstra, Red Deer Airport CEO, has been on airports and aviation infrastructure to remain connected to the world,” Steenstra says. “In a city with successfully spreading the word about the economic competitive. a population of 117,000 and 62 flights daily, Kelowna impact of the airport – and its importance to continued “Airports drive economies by attracting new business airport now realizes 300 million in direct economic growth – since he took over the reins in 2010. and encouraging the growth of current businesses, impact each year, and 600 million in indirect impact.” “The airport is an important ingredient in a broader Right now, Red Deer Airport has a $38 million direct economic plan for the region,” he says. “The Red Deer impact on the area annually, thanks to jobs at the Airport is a gateway to the region – we’re a conduit to airport and the 16 businesses that make their home the growth they’re planning for.” here. Those numbers come to us from the Province And decision-makers in central Alberta are taking note and a study done by the Canadian Owners and Pilots of the message. Steenstra is diligent in engaging with Association, and they translate into an indirect benefit the corporate community, municipal and provincial to the region to the tune of $80 million every year. governments, and the community at large to make sure The numbers clearly demonstrate Red Deer Airport the airport develops to meet the needs of the region as an important economic pillar for the region right now and prepare to meet growth goals in the future. now, while the Kelowna numbers are indicative of the “Right now, we’re deferring much of our economic potential we have yet to tap. With rising passenger and power to Calgary and Edmonton,” he says. “Airports infrastructure improvements, the importance of the drive economies and facilitate business growth. A airport as an economic catalyst will only increase in the city can’t be competitive without development, and future. development occurs when a city has the appropriate “Airports are a major force in the local, regional and airport infrastructure and air links to other centres.” but they are also a big contributor to communities national economy, with an impact that goes well Steenstra notes that airports are a significant draw to in many other ways,” Steenstra says. “We provide beyond the airport fence,” says Steenstra. “Where one employers who are considering where to base their direct and indirect employment, and contribute to the mile of new highway or rail track gets us one mile operations. “They provide a channel for goods and sense of community. As landlords, we also provide an farther down the road, one mile of runway takes us to people to move efficiently across the country, and environment where businesses – especially aviation- the world. across the globe,” he says. “Ease of access and links to related and time-sensitive ones – can flourish.” “The airp ort is a vital ingredient in the Red Deer region’s the rest of the country are vitally important.” The City of Kelowna did a recent study showing economic plans for the future, and it’s important to Airports also encourage growth for existing companies, that the arrival in their city of a single 737 every day do thoughtful planning now rather than incur huge opening up new opportunities for businesses to ship resulted in $950,000 annually in economic impact, expenses later to catch up.” their products and ideas to new markets. As globalization and 16 person-years of employment. “They started out www.flyreddeer.com continues to take hold, industry increasingly relies with a field and a vision, and now they’re completely “What’s Happening” In Red Deer County? Valentine’s Day Tulip Farm Open House Topic: Ric Henderson, Red Deer County School. Everyone welcome! February 9, 13, and 14. Enjoy the “Tulip Director of Community and Protective Green Hectares Presents Free SLAP Workshop Field” with approximately 40,000 Tulips in Services, showcasing Red Deer County for Businesses & Entrepreneurs different stages! Located 6 miles east of Red Technical Rescue Task Force & Livestock On March 14th at the Red Deer County Deer on Hwy 595 (Delburne Road) and 1.5 Response. For more info please call Yvette at Office. Think of it as “weight watchers” for miles south. 403.746.3429. small businesses! To find out more details Folk Art Class Hunter Brothers Concert and to attend, please RSVP to Lesley Pohl February 11, 2013, Spruce View Drop-In Join Koinonia Christian School and the at 403.963.2287 or email at lesley.pohl@ Centre, 10:00AM to 5:00PM, Cost: $60 per Hunter Brothers for an evening of inspiration greenhectaresonline.com person, Register by Feb 8, Contact Linda and worship at CrossRoads Church in Red International Women’s Day Longhurst at 403.728.3222, Lunch will be Deer. The Hunter Brothers, brothers from Celebrate International Women’s Day on included! Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, grew up on a March 8 at Fensala Hall in Markerville. Be Benalto & Area Rural Crime Watch Society family grain farm where life was full of farm, part of an energizing evening in support General Meeting work, school, hockey, and music. March 13 of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Innisfail. For February 28, at 7 PM at the Benalto Leisure at 7:00PM. All tickets are $5.00 and available information and tickets contact Kathleen at Centre, Ag. Grounds. Guest Speaker and at Scott’s Parable or Koinonia Christian 403.728.3145.