“It’s an exciting opportunity to be participating in the helium market, and obviously there is a lot of excitement over the helium generation capacity that we have in the Prairies, and the general opportunity to diversify the economies,” says Ernie Maurier, President of ARJAE Design Solutions Ltd.

The plant will be located in Steveville, 40 kilometers north of Brooks.

And the project is through its engineering phase, materials have been ordered for the long leads, and the manufacturing process is now being started.

Maurier explained what the Steveville Helium Gas Production Facility will be doing . . .

“It’s gonna be taking predominantly nitrogen stream from the reservoir and we’re trying to extract um a small percent of helium that’s in there and purify it to um 99.999 percent pure helium stream.”

Maurier adds they can stop trace hydrocarbons and some CO2 production from being released into the environment through that process as well.

“I believe this is the only helium generation plant in Alberta, or it would be the first one that’s coming online.”

A cost estimate for the project is yet to be provided.

The closure is expected to remain in place until Friday, July 23, 2021 while construction crews complete the pathway’s restoration work.

Trail users are asked to use alternate trails, obey signs and give the crew room to work.

(City of Red Deer)

Mandeep Parmar, Senior Distribution Engineer for the City’s Electric, Light and Power department says heat waves come as no surprise in the summer, so historic data is used to plan for the increased demand.

“And we use live data to help us do some analysis to prepare for what kind of loadings we can expect,” he explains. “Then we have contingency schemes that allow us to essentially compensate for any types of additional loads or subtraction of loads, depending on what’s going on.”

He adds, however, that help from residents to lessen that demand is always welcome, such as not using major appliances during peak periods of the day.

“Those being first thing in the morning and kind of right after work until the early part of the evening,” he points out. “Washers and dryers the later part of the evening, that always helps. Items like that. If we can switch some of the loading to a little bit off of those peaks, we usually will be in pretty good shape.”

Parmar says heat waves tend to bring a five to 10 per cent increase in power consumption in Red Deer.

“We’re watching it constantly. We’re on it from a 24/7 operational perspective. We’re watching it by the hour and we can even watch it by the minute,” he concludes. “So we’re very well in tune with any type of peak demands or anything that would come up for this current week. So I believe that we’re in good shape.”

The approx. 1,400-seat facility will be home to the AJHL’s newest club, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, and boast an impressive new public library.

Sean Barnes, the Town’s Director of Community Services, says construction is about three-quarters complete.

“We’ve probably got another two-and-a-half months to go. We’re currently pouring the ice slab, corrugated steel is going up on the outside of the building, and drywall is going up in some meeting rooms and throughout the facility,” says Barnes. “It is getting pretty exciting in the community as it nears completion.”

A second floor view of the under construction public library at the Eagle Builders Centre in Blackfalds. (Town of Blackfalds)

Barnes adds the $24.6 million project is on budget, noting the cost of material during the pandemic has allowed builders to save around $10 million.

“Seats are going in probably mid-July, and we’ve got a lot of finishing to do, so coming forth is all the millwork, cabinetry and flooring,” he says. “Delmar Construction is very confident it will be done by the September 15 deadline.”

Though the regular season schedule isn’t yet out, the AJHL’s opening night is slated for Sept. 17.

Signage is also going up on the exterior, with wayfinding being installed inside.

Meantime, the Dual Ice Development Society (DIDS) is selling seat sponsorships to help reach its goal of $1 million raised by the community towards the arena. It’s currently raised more than $750,000.

Barnes, a Town rep on DIDS, says corporate sponsorships remain available for the visitors bench and one meeting room.

RELATED: Blackfalds Bulldogs hosting first development camp this weekend

The intersection will be closed as crews pave the newly widened intersection. Detours will be in place at 50A Street, 41 Avenue, 47 Street and 39 Avenue.

Project updates can be found at www.reddeer.ca/constructionseason.

Pedestrians and drivers are reminded to slow down in construction areas and obey all signs. All road construction is weather dependent and schedules may be subject to change.

(The City of Red Deer)

The lights at the intersection will be off starting at 9:00 a.m. for approximately two hours and four-way stop signs will be temporarily installed for the duration of the work.

Drivers are reminded to slow down when driving in construction zones and obey all signs, and pedestrians are reminded to cross only at designated crosswalks.

Also happening Thursday is a temporary road closure along 60 Street between 51 and 54 Avenue and Taylor Drive as crews complete storm utility replacements.

The closure will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 24 and continue until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 16.

Drivers can take 59 Street to detour construction. Pedestrians and drivers are reminded to slow down in construction areas and obey all signs.

Construction is weather dependent and schedules may be subject to change.

(The City of Red Deer)

The enhanced ER at the AHS facility opens its doors following a major renovation project that began in March of last year, with the goal of enhancing visibility, accessibility, privacy, security and workflow.

New treatment chairs in the ER space at the Stettler Hospital and Care Centre. (Photo: AHS)

“These improvements to the emergency department will improve the quality of care for people in and around Stettler,” says Health Minister Tyler Shandro. “The Alberta government’s commitment to projects like these ensures those who need emergency services receive the best care possible, in a modern space that keeps them healthy and safe. The support of the Stettler Health Services Foundation is a reminder that this hospital truly belongs to the people of Stettler.”

The ER renovations are part of a multi-year, $9.3 million renovation project slated to be done by early next year, the funding for which comes from the province’s Infrastructure Maintenance Program.

Renovations include:

• A new, larger space for improved patient flow

• A more secure and safe department for patients and staff

• A two-stretcher trauma room

• A new entrance to the ER

• Upgraded cardiac monitoring system

• Upgraded patient lifts

• Improved lighting

• Private physician consultation area

• More stretcher and treatment chairs.

waiting room (Photo: AHS)

This was the third phase of a renovation project that began in 2019. The first phase included the building of a new pharmacy and gift shop and modified cafeteria. The next phase included a Labour and Delivery reconfiguration enabling mothers and their partners to stay in the same space for labour, delivery and postpartum care for the duration of their stay, with more privacy and comfort.

“This is an important milestone for this AHS project and for the community,” says Dr. Verna Yiu, AHS President and CEO. “This new space will provide a safer, more secure and accessible ER dedicated to exemplary patient care in Stettler.”

The final piece of the project is a new nutrition and food services area, which will include a new cafeteria attached to a more efficient kitchen and upgraded equipment. Ground work is complete, construction will resume in two weeks and anticipated completion is February 2022.

“I am grateful for the work that’s been achieved, appreciative for the foundation and the community for their generous support of this project, and to staff, physicians and volunteers for the care they provide to Stettler and area residents,” says Nate Horner, MLA for Drumheller-Stettler.

The Stettler Health Services Foundation has raised a total of $650,000 to support all phases of the renovation project.

“Our foundation is very committed to our hospital, and we are extremely grateful it holds the same priority among our community,” says Chair Leona Thorogood. “Through a number of events such as the Festival of Lights, and through the generosity of community members, we have raised funds to purchase a variety of equipment for the ER and to support healthcare delivery in our region.”

A new entrance has been created for more direct access to emergency care. The new emergency entrance will be available 24/7 for patients requiring emergency care. After 8 p.m. individuals will have to be buzzed in for increased security.

The main entrance will be open for all other services and visitation from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Afterhours, patients and families will have to use the emergency entrance.

The ambulance bay, which was temporarily relocated during construction, is back in use at its historical location. It can be used by any patient that arrives by vehicle and requires urgent and immediate assistance.

new stretchers (photo: AHS)

(With file from AHS media release)

On Tuesday, June 22, 52 Avenue south of 43 Street will close for two days to complete underground work. Local detours will be in place directing motorists to access the hospital from Gaetz Avenue.

The intersection of 39 Street and 52 Avenue will be closed from Wednesday, June 23 to Friday, June 25, and motorists will be detoured through the hospital roadway system.

Pedestrians and drivers are reminded to slow down in construction areas and obey all signs. All road construction is weather dependent and schedules may be subject to change.

(City of Red Deer)

It was announced last week by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions that the facility will be located on the city’s north end, along Highway 2A within Chiles Industrial Park.

RELATED: Province selects north end location for Red Deer’s recovery centre

The province is providing $5 million for its construction, starting this fall, but had requested the municipality complete servicing for water and sanitary.

On Tuesday, city council unanimously gave first reading to the $1.5 million expenditure, which will come from the City’s off-site levy program.

Council also approved monetary support for the project in the amount of 50 per cent of the off-site levy fees. The other half will be paid by the province. The total amount of the fee is projected at $600,000.

The City will also provide monetary and staff support in the amount of $50,000 for landscaping purposes to be funded through already approved operating dollars.

“It is a rare exception for a municipality to partner on a project of provincial jurisdiction to this magnitude, but [this is] recognizing that the national addictions crisis has prompted many of the health and social challenges that our community’s experiencing,” says Mayor Tara Veer, noting the City’s community drug and alcohol strategy commissioned a couple years ago.

“It was imperative we had a timely solution to this. It would’ve been unacceptable for us to wait for another provincial budget year because it would’ve delayed not only the therapeutic community, but also the implementation of the drug treatment court.”

RELATED: Red Deer’s drug treatment court to open by mid-2022

Veer says for those reasons and others, the City was willing to come to the table with the province.

“Our first partnership was the sale of the land for a dollar, because they are underutilized public lands. The second was what we dealt with now, the $1.5 million for servicing to secure water for the site,” Veer explains. “We also agreed in order to help make the site a community within a community, [and with] there being natural landscaping on the east side of the site, in order to provide privacy for residents and visual screening, we will provide a landscaping component for the north and west side of the site.”

The underground work and landscaping are things that would’ve needed to happen at the site eventually anyway, the mayor adds.

Final approval of the funding will come before council in six weeks.

The college has been able to upgrade roofing, mechanical control systems, and lighting.

Over the past 12 months, RDC received $10.8 million in maintenance funding from the provincial government. Officials say the additional $2.2 million is from previous government grants, which have been repurposed for the roofing project.

“I am very thankful for the Government’s commitment to enhancing teaching, learning, and working spaces at RDC through the Alberta Advanced Education Capital Grant and Capital Maintenance and Renewal Program,” says Dr. Peter Nunoda, RDC President. “As we look towards our future as a modern polytechnic institution, these improvements will help us to better serve our students and communities with an on-going commitment to sustainability.”

The roof of RDC’s Four Centres, which is a hub for innovation and creativity, is currently being replaced with a multi-ply roof membrane system. These upgrades will enhance several related building components. With a solidified barrier to all kinds of weather and increased insulation capacity, this project will reduce heat loss and utility costs. This roof replacement is expected to be completed in September 2021.

Sections of the roof on RDC’s west-end of campus were replaced in April, upgrading the insulation and air vapour barrier systems. These improvements help facilitate a more comfortable environment for students, employees, and guests in this area. In addition, it is expected that these enhancements will contribute to RDC’s environmental stewardship, reducing energy usage and expenditures.

The modernization of RDC’s mechanical control system, which operates the major mechanical heating, ventilating and cooling systems on campus, is also underway. This will allow the college to transition from manual control to a more advanced centralized system through using modern software, increasing the ease and ability to better control these systems while reducing energy demands and costs.

RDC says it continues to replace inefficient interior and exterior light fixtures across campus with LED lighting, increasing the lifespan of the lights which conserves energy and reduces ongoing replacement costs. These changes have also resulted in a brighter learning environment and improved visibility on campus. Currently, RDC has converted about two-thirds of its campus to LED lighting.

“While all of these projects at the College will result in long-term operational savings, they also will contribute to RDC’s Green Energy Master Plan, which aims to reduce our overall carbon footprint to net zero during the next two decades,” says Jim Brinkhurst, RDC Vice President College Services.

In addition, these projects provide RDC with the opportunity to employ, and collaborate with, several central Alberta businesses.

“This is especially valuable as our region helps to reignite the economy,” says Nunoda. “The entire College community will benefit from the workers’ expertise, and the positive impact will be felt in the region for many years to come.”

College officials say the four projects will create more than 11,800 hours of labour for local companies and their employees.