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2019 CANADA WINTER GAMES NAMED STC CANADIAN SPORT EVENT OF THE YEAR

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From the Canada Games Council

The 2019 Canada Winter Games have won the 2020 Sport Tourism Canada (STC) Canadian Sport Event of the Year Award with an event budget greater than $1 million.

The presentation of the 2020 PRESTIGE awards, postponed from last year, were hosted virtually as a gala on-line production. The presentation was hosted by Olympian, World Cup medallist and CBC Broadcaster Kelly VanderBeek.

The STC Canadian Sport Event of the Year Award recognizes the overall success of an outstanding single-sport, multi-sport or collegiate event held in Canada in 2019. The criteria states that the event rights holder is a Canadian governing body/entity and that a Canadian community bid against other Canadian communities and/or was awarded the right to host the event.

Thank you from 2019 Games CEO Scott Robinson, Mayor of Red Deer Tara Veer, and 2019 Games Chair Lyn Radford

2019 Canada Winter Games Facts

-The 2019 Canada Winter Games took place from February 15 – March 3, 2019 in Red Deer, Alberta

-The Games were organized by the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society led by Chair Lyn Radford

-The Games featured 19 sports and 150 events alongside a major arts and cultural festival

-Red Deer welcomed over 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches, 4,600 volunteers, and more than 26,000 visitors throughout two weeks of competition

-The Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for Canadian amateur athletes, and were the largest event that Red Deer has ever hosted

-Sport infrastructure legacy generated from the Games includes the construction of the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre which is a multi-purpose venue built specifically for the 2019 Games that includes an ice rink, gymnasium, basketball court, running and sprint tracks, and squash courts

-The Games raised over $12M in sponsor and donor fundraising, resulting in the most successful sponsorship program in Games history

-Financial legacy from the Games includes generating a total net economic activity (GDP) of $44.7M for Red Deer and $60.6M for the Province of Alberta

-The Host Society donated over $500,000 in sport equipment and assets post-Games to over 40 local and provincial sport organizations and not-for-profits

Quotes

“The 2019 Canada Winter Games were a life changing experience for all participants. It was a time for dreams to become reality and for community to come together to deliver one of the elite hosting events in 52 years of history of Canada Games. The Canada Games framework gave Red Deer and Alberta an opportunity to build legacy, support sport development and deliver life long friendships to all. We thank Sport Canada, Government of Alberta, City of Red Deer, Canada Games Council,  volunteers, staff, sponsors and partners for this fabulous journey. Thank you to the sponsor, Québec City Business Destination, of this event category of the STA Prestige awards. Your sponsorship allows for all of Canada to see the wonderful work done in our Sport Tourism industry. Merci beaucoup!”

Lyn Radford, Chair, 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society

“The 2019 Canada Winter Games were an incredible event that showcased our nation’s top amateur athletes and left behind a legacy of infrastructure, sustainability, and community pride in Red Deer. The City of Red Deer, Host Society staff, and the thousands of volunteers should be proud of what they accomplished and the 2019 Games are truly deserving of this award and recognition.”

Evan Johnston, Chair, Canada Games Council

“Thank you to Sport Tourism Canada for recognizing the 2019 Canada Winter Games, with the honour of this recognition. This award is a tribute to the incredibly hard work accomplished by our local Host Society, our generous partners and the more than 5,000 incredible community volunteers who made this opportunity possible. To the people of Red Deer, be incredibly proud of what you accomplished. We are here because you courageously said yes. We are here because you said we will find a way. We are here because you said we’ll do it together. Thank you, Canada Games, for the opportunity to welcome our fellow Canadians to our community for this once-in-a-generation opportunity.”

Tara Veer, Mayor of Red Deer

Enjoy this wonderful look back at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, hosted by Ron MacLean

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Alberta

Highway 11 to be twinned from Sylvan Lake to Rocky Mountain House

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Major highway upgrades keep Alberta moving

Budget 2024 includes $1.9 billion for planning, design and construction of major highway and bridge projects.

Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors is investing in the provincial highway network to keep Albertans safe and on the move, now and into the future.

This investment enhances Alberta’s competitive advantage by building and improving our economic corridors to provide vital links to markets in and out of Alberta. These projects will increase the safety and efficiency of our provincial highway network, ensuring Albertans spend less time stuck in traffic and more time doing the things they love.

“Alberta’s highways connect families and friends and get local products to market. We all count on well-built roads to get where we need to go, and that is why we are investing in major upgrades to our road and bridge network. With smoother and more efficient traffic flows, families can spend less time on the road and more time together.”

Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

Investing in upgrades to the provincial road and bridge network creates thousands of jobs, improves traffic flows and supports the development of the province’s major economic corridors. These investments in key projects are vital to ensuring communities across the province have the infrastructure needed to get their goods to new markets and to support the higher traffic counts that come with a growing population.

“Alberta is the fastest-growing province in Canada, so it’s imperative we get to work today planning, designing and building the highways and bridges we need for tomorrow. This investment from the Government of Alberta will strengthen the province’s transportation network and expand our economic corridors so we can build our businesses, boost our exports, and create good-paying jobs.”

Tim Bennett, senior vice-chair, Alberta Motor Transport Association

As the province continues to grow, so does the need for new and improved highways to get more people and goods to their destination. Expanding Alberta’s economic corridors keeps the province connected, strengthens supply chains, and is important for economic growth and diversification. These investments will enhance Alberta’s competitive advantage, making it easier to transport goods in and out of the province.

By investing in highways and bridges, Alberta’s government is not just improving transportation; but also laying the groundwork for a stronger, more connected Alberta, ensuring prosperity for generations to come.

“ACC is supportive of the capital investments the province is making in major corridors across Alberta, including Highway 3. Improving our economic corridors is critical in ensuring we have stronger supply chains and more efficient movement of goods and people.”

Shauna Feth, president and CEO, Alberta Chambers of Commerce

“Strengthening and expanding economic corridors is a strategic priority for the EMRB. By working together, our 13 member municipalities are finding efficiencies so we can ensure people and goods can move seamlessly to, from and throughout the region. The EMRB would like to thank the Government of Alberta for its significant investment in this critical work. As the province’s population approaches five million, transportation networks have never been more important.”

Karen Wichuk, CEO, Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board

Projects across the province that are receiving funding include:

  • Highway 3 twinning, Taber to Burdett
  • Highway 11 twinning, Sylvan Lake to Rocky Mountain House
  • Safety and road improvements on Highway 881
  • The Highway 22/1A interchange at Cochrane
  • Highway 40 Twinning, south of Grande Prairie
  • Highway 201 Bow River Bridge on southeast Stoney Trail
  • Deerfoot Trail upgrades
  • Terwillegar Expansion

Budget 2024 also looks to the future by investing $151.2 million over three years for 56 engineering projects, with $100 million in new funding over three years for 36 engineering projects to address future infrastructure needs as our province continues to grow. This will fund projects such as:

  • Highway 60 capital improvements
  • Highway 40 grade widening between Hinton and Grande Cache
  • New intersection/alignment at Highway 16A and Range Road 20
  • Highway 2 Balzac Interchange Replacement
  • Highway 63 twinning, north of Fort McMurray
  • Vinca Bridge replacement

Budget 2024 is a responsible plan to strengthen health care and education, build safe and supportive communities, manage the province’s resources wisely and promote job creation to continue to build Alberta’s competitive advantage.

Key Facts

  • Alberta has a vast provincial highway network that includes more than 64,000 lane kilometres of highways, of which about 58,000 lane kilometres are paved.
  • The province has more than 4,800 bridge structures, including river crossing bridges, overpasses and culverts.

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Blackfalds

New Catholic Elementary School for Blackfalds

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News release from Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools

RDCRS receives full construction funding for new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in Blackfalds

On Monday, March 4, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) received full construction funding from the Government of Alberta to construct a new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in Blackfalds.

“The full construction funding for the new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in the vibrant growing community of Blackfalds marks a significant milestone in our government’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art education infrastructure for our communities. This investment illustrates our dedication to meeting the evolving needs of our students and ensuring they have access to modern, innovative learning environments,” stated MLA for Red Deer North and Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange.

RDCRS appreciates the construction funding provided by the Government of Alberta. Over the past several years, Blackfalds has seen tremendous growth. RDCRS’ current Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 9 school located in Blackfalds, St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, has grown by 64% since its establishment in 2017.

“We are very pleased to receive full construction funding for a new Catholic elementary school in Blackfalds. The funding will allow the division an opportunity to build a much needed new school and meet the learning needs of our Blackfalds students,” said Board Chair Murray Hollman at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools.

The schematic design for the new school has progressed smoothly since RDCRS received design funding from the Government of Alberta in March 2023. The plans look excellent and work is ongoing between Alberta Infrastructure and the Town of Blackfalds to ensure the steps to secure the land in the new development are completed. The land needs to be ready for construction according to the timelines and criteria established in the P3 project.

“We are pleased that the progress achieved thus far has demonstrated the collaborative efforts necessary to warrant this full funding announcement, “ added Board Chair Hollman.

The new school is expected to be ready for occupancy in September 2027.

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools serves over 10,650 students in 21 schools in Red Deer, Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Innisfail, and Olds. It also supports the learning of over 850 students in a Home Education Program. The Division is committed to serving children and parents with a complete offering of learning opportunities delivered within the context of Catholic teachings and within the means of the Division.

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