Archived Springbrook and Area News
June 2008

June 26, 2008
Casino Move to Gasoline Alley Well Into the Future
A proposed casino, hotel, restaurant and convention complex for the southernmost part of Gasoline Alley could be well into the future. Cash Casino is considering a move from its north Red Deer location to the site but several regulatory steps need to be taken including an application to Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission for the transfer of the casino license. A relaxation of parking stalls has already been granted by Red Deer County. The proposed entertainment complex would include a 600 to 900 seat casino, a 120-room hotel, a 150-seat convention centre and a 125-seat restaurant. Cash Casino would run the casino with the remaining facilities the responsibility of other operators.

June 24, 2008
County Adopts Public Transit Study
The Public Transportation Feasibility Study was adopted by Red Deer County council today paving the way for the implementation of transit bus service between Springbrook, Gasoline Alley and Red Deer. However, the county still has to determine the cost of providing the service, the level of service and funding sources. The consultant indicated that there is an immediate need for service in Gasoline Alley as 90% of the people who work there live in the city. The consultant also determined that there are two distinct markets for public transportation -- those who work and shop in Gasoline Alley and those who need access to medical services and leisure activities. One option addressed is an hourly service six days a week between Bower Mall in Red Deer and Gasoline Alley and Springbrook using Red Deer Transit.

June 23, 2008
Penhold Multiplex Waits on High School Decision
The town of Penhold is waiting for Chinook's Edge School Division to make a decision on the location of the regional junior/senior high school before proceeding with the $19 million 117,300 sq. ft. multiplex project on 23 acres in the northeast part of town. The school division is considering Springbrook and Gasoline Alley/Liberty Crossing as well as Penhold for the school site but is waiting for provincial funding related to the disposition of River Glen School in Red Deer. Chinook's Edge plans to turn over the school to the Red Deer Public School Division for Gateway Christian School. If Penhold is chosen for the new school site, more land will need to be acquired and a close working relationship developed with the division on the project. The town plans to proceed regardless next spring with phase 1 which includes a 39,000 sq. ft. 400-seat ice arena. The provincial and federal governments have already invested $6 million in the project. The second phase would include a lobby and library and the third phase a gymnasium and sports fields.

June 21, 2008
Springbrook Under Construction This Summer
The long-awaited water and sewer line rehabilitation of 50-year-old infrastructure in the former Mynarski Park part of Springbrook is under way and will result in detours, restricted parking, short periods of no water, early morning construction noise and probably periods of muddy roads. The airport, adjacent businesses and the former base will also experience the same inconveniences over the next several months. In the end, however, a new system will be in place that will hopefully provide reliable service for another 50 years. In addition, the road through the Malibu subdivision will be connected up with Oak St. and, sometime before September 1, the current Oak St. entrance at Airport Drive is scheduled to be closed. Meanwhile, more housing construction is expected to take place in both Malibu and Harvard Park subdivisions.

June 19, 2008
Air Canada Cuts May Help Airport Passenger Service
The Red Deer Regional Airport Authority is preparing to make a formal pitch to Air Canada Jazz to persuade it to fly out of the airport at Springbrook. Recently-announced cuts at Air Canada could provide surplus planes for a possible profitable east-west service out of the local facility. The authority will suggest to AC Jazz to pick up the Red Deer to Vancouver route using Dash-8 turbo-props, which are cheaper to fly that the jets currently flying to Vancouver from Calgary and Edmonton. Research indicates that 72% of Red Deer area people who drive to Calgary and Edmonton to fly to Vancouver use WestJet, providing a competitive opportunity for Jazz.

June 14, 2008
Springbrook Volunteers Recognized at Afternoon Tea
Certificates of appreciation were handed out today to Springbrook volunteers, including children and youth, at the new Community Centre followed by refreshments that included sandwiches, cake, coffee, tea and cold drinks. Residents who have served on boards and committees as well as those who have contributed to fundraising, community clean-ups and other functions were recognized.
Home Based Trade Show Postponed Until Fall
Due to several conflicting regional events and insufficient registered participants, the Springbrook Community Association Events Committee has decided to postpone the Home Based Business Trade Show scheduled for July 12. It was decided that a fall date would attract more exhibitors.

June 10, 2008
County Delays Transit Study Recommendations
The recently completed Public Transportation/Transit Feasibility Study was presented to Red Deer County council today for approval in principle to the recommendations of the plan but council decided to delay the approval until they had had time to go over in detail those recommendations. The plan would provide conventional transit service, possibly by Red Deer Transit, to both Gasoline Alley and Springbrook and limited action-bus type service to other rural areas based on need. Existing volunteer-driven bus service provided by some municipal service groups would also be encouraged.
Harvard Park Streets Receive Aviation Names
Red Deer County council approved today the naming of two new closes in Phase 2 Harvard Park development currently under construction. Mynarski Close, off Mynarski Way, is named after the Second World War Victoria Cross recipient Andrew Mynarski and Sabre Close is an extension of the northern portion of Sabre Road, named after a fighter jet.
Casino, Hotel, Convention Centre Proposed for Gasoline Alley
The Red Deer County planning commission today approved a proposed 600-900-seat casino, 120-room hotel, 150-seat convention centre and 125-seat restaurant on a 12.6 acre site at the gateway to Gasoline Alley west of Highway 2 south. It is expected that when the complex is built, the landscaping will create a good first impression as the first business seen on the highway entering both Gasoline Alley and the city of Red Deer. There is no indication as to when the proposed complex would be built.
Airport Preparing for Funding, Upgrades and Expanded Service
New Red Deer Regional Airport Authority CEO Liam O'Connell gave a quarterly report to Red Deer County council today stating that applications are being prepared for funding to upgrade airport equipment and to conduct runway and taxiway overlays. Further funding applications will proceed to extend the main runway from 5,000 ft. to 7,000 ft. Eventually the terminal building will also need to be expanded or relocated. Upgrades to the runway lighting are expected to get under way this summer and rehabilitation of underground services will occur over the next couple of years. The airport is also pursuing Air Canada Jazz for regular east-west passenger service.

June 7, 2008
Garage Sale and Barbecue Hampered by Rain
About 10 hardy families proceeded with the annual community garage sale today in spite of the wet weather. The community barbecue that followed at the new Community Centre attracted about thirty people of whom half were children. Phil Heck braved the wet weather to provide the hamburgers. The kite contest was cancelled.

June 6, 2008
Cineplex CEO Officially Opens Galaxy Theatre Complex
Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob is confident that people still want to see movies on a 50-foot screen as he spoke at the Grand Opening of the Galaxy Cinemas Red Deer in Gasoline Alley on Wednesday. The Canadian company currently owns and operates 132 theatres across the country with brands including Cinema City, Cineplex Odeon, Famous Players, Galaxy and SilverCity. The new 10-screen stadium-seating first-class Red Deer facility was taken over by Cineplex from the original builder, Landmark Cinemas.

June 4, 2008
Groundwater Map Being Developed from the Air
An airborne electro-magnetic survey of groundwater supplies is being done in Central Alberta by Fugro Airborne Services out of the Red Deer Regional Airport over the next couple of weeks. The project, by Alberta Environment and the Energy Resources Conservation Board, is part of the first of a 15-year assessment that will ultimately form a map of the entire province's groundwater supply. The Calgary-Edmonton corridor has the highest priority due to the rapid population growth and economic development of the area. The technology, similar to an MRI,   determines the mineral level of rocks by magnetic pulse revealing the amount of water around them. The specially-equipped twin-engine plane flies at 120 metres off the ground requiring vigilance by its pilots for obstacles and weather conditions.

June 3, 2008
Airport Authority Announces New CEO
The Red Deer Regional Airport Authority announced yesterday that Liam O'Connell will replace Merv Phillips as the new CEO of the airport. He was one of the original members of the authority in 1996. He also holds a commercial pilots license and has a mechanical engineering degree.
Outdoor Swimming Pool Going, Going, Gone
The outdoor swimming pool, built around 1964 for the CFB Penhold base recreation centre, has finally met its fate. The pool has been closed for several years due to badly needed repairs. Attempts were made by Trinidad Training and Fitness Centre to get the funding and usage agreements in place to get the repairs done to re-open the pool but were unsuccessful in those attempts. The decision was made for safety and liability reasons to dig out the concrete and fill it in.

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