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More Recent Springbrook and Area News
Nov. 29, 2011
Springbrook Coming Events Sign Returns
The Springbrook events sign, taken down in September at its former
location east of the railway tracks along Airport Drive, has been
reinstalled at a location farther west between the county's
'Springbrook' sign and Redwood Blvd. The delay was due fulfilling the
county's requirements and acquiring a permit.
CARTS Meets With Penhold Council About Trans Canada
Trail
 Two
representatives from Central Alberta Regional Trails Society (CARTS) met
with Penhold Council yesterday to discuss the importance of getting the
Springbrook-Penhold Trail, a key link in the Trans Canada Trail system,
back on track. The Springbrook-Penhold Trail was stalled earlier this
year when Red Deer County decided not to continue with construction
until Penhold determined where and how it would link the town's planned
trails with the County trail. The trail along Range Road 281 from the
completed Springbrook natural area trail to Highway 592 was to have been
completed this year but was postponed when the County learned that the
Town wasn't prepared to link the community trail system with that
location in the foreseeable future. The town prefers to link with
Springbrook either along Highway 2A or Range Road 280 which would
involve a pedestrian crossing of Highway 2A where the speed limit is 100
km/h. CARTS President Debbie Olsen of Lacombe and Vice-President Paul
Pettypiece of Springbrook encouraged the town to participate in
discussions with other communities including Red Deer County to resolve
the impasse. In addition, plans are currently underway to determine a
trail route linking Penhold with Innisfail as well as communities
further south. CARTS representatives and the trail consultant hired by
Trans Canada Trail met with Innisfail town council last month.
Nov. 22, 2011
Robco Cabinets Ceases
Operations
After 32 years in business with much
of its business south of the border, Robco Cabinets, also operating as
Robco Kitchens, has ceased operations in Gasoline Alley south of Red
Deer in large part due to the stagnant U.S. economy, the high Canadian
dollar and difficulties with cross-border trade. The company started in
1979 and moved from west of downtown Red Deer to a new 69,000 sq. ft.
shop in Gasoline Alley in 2009. The company had about 45 employees.
Nov. 17, 2011
Heliport Consulting Service Sets Up at Airport
In May, GroundEffect Aerodrome Consulting Ltd. set up a heliport design and
consulting service at the Red Deer Airport to provide services to hospitals,
law enforcement agencies, private and commercial operations,
helicopter companies, airport commissions and municipalities. Partners
David Brown and Keith Walker believe that between them, they have
completed more helicopter projects in Western Canada over the past
several years than any one else. Working with engineering companies
Brown has designed 100 heliport projects, prepared operations manuals
and trained operators. Walker's background includes structural design
and service as an officer with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
Nov. 16, 2011
Location Sought for Forth Junction
Heritage Destination Project
 The
Forth Junction Heritage Society is currently exploring several possible
sites between 40 and 160 acres for a major transportation heritage park
to celebrate the evolution of trails, transit and the railway in Central
Alberta that will one day become a world-class destination for the Red
Deer area. At least five sites south of the city, two sites west
and a site north will be looked at. Depending on the site chosen, the
park will include at least two heritage centres, a family theme park, a
working 1/8 scale replication of a historic Jubilee steam locomotive and
the replication of several historic railway stations of the region. It
could also include a heritage-entertainment-gathering centre and
observation tower restaurant that was originally proposed for downtown
Red Deer.
 The
society was granted charitable status by Revenue Canada recently. A
separate not-for-profit corporation will soon be formed to build and
manage the more commercial and tourist-oriented aspects of the project
leaving the society to concentrate on preservation and education.
 The
society's short term objectives include the completion of a
management/feasibility study, the acquisition of building plans for the
stations and steam locomotive, the leasing of storage space for transit
and railway artifacts, the development of self-guided regional historic
tours, and the initiation of fundraising activities. The society
recently held its annual general meeting at which Paul Pettypiece of
Springbrook was re-elected President by acclamation.
Nov. 15, 2011
New Red Deer to Kelowna Flights Postponed
 Northwestern
Air Lease planned to inaugurate passenger air service between Red Deer
and Kelowna starting November 18 but the plan has been postponed to
early next year due to concerns from Transport Canada which has
requested further information before approving the service. The concerns
are related to flying into a mountain community using Jetstream 32
aircraft. Northwestern believed it had met all the requirements and the
last-minute request by Transport Canada came as a surprise. The aircraft
are already at the airport and will be used for charter service until
the scheduled service is approved.
Nov. 13, 2011
Penhold School Forum Draws a Crowd and
Suggestions
A forum held recently in Penhold by Chinook's Edge School Division
concerning the design of the new regional high school to be built next
to the Penhold Regional Multiplex drew about 100 students, parents and
residents. The meeting was held to get feedback and suggestions from the
community about how the 500-student, 4,000 square metre, Grade 7-12
facility will function and what it will need. Staff at schools that will
feed the new facility, expected to be open in 2014, as well as staff at
River Glen School in Red Deer have also been consulted as were over 150
parents by phone. Suggestion so far include sharing the Penhold library
located at the Multiplex, including lots of open space and providing
programs such as technology, health, fitness, cosmetology, arts, band
and drama. The school division is considering the concept of phasing in
the higher grades over a few years. The school will be built as a P3
partnership in which a company will build and maintain the facility for
30 years.
Nov. 5, 2011
Charter Helicopter Service Opens at Airport
Aviation charter service Heli Source Ltd. has set up at the Red Deer
Airport with a fleet of 10 helicopters. Most of the company's business
is expected to be oilpatch-related, followed by forestry and mining
work. Heli Source, with a current staff of 25, will fly Hughes 500D and
Bell 206 helicopters.
Nov. 3, 2011
 Red
Deer Airport Rebrands Itself
The Red Deer Regional Airport Authority has announced a new branding
that drops the word 'regional' from the airport name. A new Red Deer
Airport logo with the slogan "going places. together" accompanies the
change. The three boxes of the logo represents the windows of an
airplane through which a rising jet stream can be seen. One is green
symbolizing ground; another is orange depicting people and cargo; the
third is blue representing the sky. The shorter name reflects the
location rather than its operations. Built during the Second World War
to train pilots, the airport continued to be an air force training
facility until 1965. The City of Red Deer operated it as the Red Deer
Industrial Airport until 1999 at which time a partnership between the
city, Red Deer County and the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce formed the
Red Deer Regional Airport Authority.
Oct. 26, 2011
Condo Association Elects Board at AGM
 The Springbrook Condominium Corporation held its Annual General Meeting
at the Springbrook Fire Hall today with a handful of owners in
attendance. A new board was elected and a new executive elected by the
new members. Mike Pye has been re-elected President, Paul Pettypiece
Vice President, Cindy Ellsworth Secretary and Marcel Landry Treasurer. Jodi Dunn
continues as a Director.
Oct. 24, 2011
Community Association Elects New Board
The
Springbrook Community Association
held its Annual General Meeting at the Springbrook Community Centre
today.
The Board of Directors includes Dan Smith (President), Paul Pettypiece
(Vice-President), Cathy
McKechnie (Secretary), Tara Lind (Treasurer), Virginia Holt, Don
Holt, Jim McKechnie, Tara Dyck and Bill Gibbons.
Oct. 20, 2011
Municipalities
Negotiate New Plasco Contract
Nine Central Alberta municipalities are in the process of
negotiating a new contract with Plasco Energy Group for the $90 million
waste-to-energy plant proposed for a site east of Penhold next to the
Horn Hill Waste Transfer Station. The original contract outlining how
much garbage each municipality would provide and signed in 2008 expired
in mid-2010 after several extensions. The commitment of Plasco to fund
the project remains. The gasification plant was first proposed in 2007
and a commission of 15 municipalities, including Red Deer County,
Penhold and Red Deer, was established to pursue the project. Six have
since dropped out.
Oct. 19, 2011
Lethbridge-Red Deer-Fort McMurray Air Passenger
Service Considered
 In a quarterly update to Red Deer County council yesterday, Red Deer
Regional Airport Authority CEO RJ Steenstra indicated that Integra Air
is seriously considering a Lethbridge-Red Deer-Fort McMurray route in
the near future. This follows the recent announcement that Northwestern
Air Lease is returning to the airport with flights to Kelowna starting
in November. However, the airport lost Swanberg Air in September leaving
the airport without any scheduled service for two months. Due to the
situation, Transport Canada has allowed an extension to the normal
deadline to hit required passenger numbers to qualify for federal ACAP
(Airports Capital Assistance Program) funding.
Two New Tenants Locate at Airport
During the quarterly update to Red Deer County council, it was announced
that two new tenants have located to Red Deer Regional Airport.
GroundEffect Aerodrome Consulting Ltd. provides heliport design and
consulting service to hospitals, private and commercial operations,
helicopter operators, airport commissions and municipalities. Heli-Source
will operate a fleet of 10 helicopters and will lease 9,000 sq. ft. for
helicopter parking and fuel facilities.
Two Malibu Plan Relaxations Approved by County
Red Deer County municipal planning commission approved a small
relaxation in the number of parking stalls for a multi-family
development along Oak Street in the Malibu neighbourhood. In order to
accommodate as many stalls as possible, stalls will be narrower than
outlined in the area plan. The development will include four 8-plexes
between Oak Street and Airport Road. Later, Red Deer County council
approved a relaxation in the Malibu neighbourhood plan yesterday to
allow four lots along Redwood Blvd. to have street-facing garages due to
there being no alley at the back of the lots.
Community Survey Indicates Satisfaction with Quality
of Life
An Ipsos Reid Citizen Satisfaction Survey of 250 county residents phoned over the summer and
summarized at Red Deer County council indicates that 96% stated that
quality of life in the county is good or very good. A highlight of the
survey was that improvements could be made by the county to communicate
more effectively with residents. The biggest issues raised by residents
were roads and snow removal. Although 70% were very or somewhat
satisfied with their last contact with county staff, 14% were not
satisfied at all. In terms of value for property taxes, 64% indicated
good or very good value while 35% indicated poor or very poor value.
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