St. Albert Leader - Dec. 29, 2011

Photo: Sun Media News Services

PERFECT GIFT Activate Telus Optik TV & Internet* and choose from:

$300 Amex Card, a Samsung Galaxy Tablet *Some restrictions Offer expires Dec. 31, 2011. or a Xbox 360apply. with Kinect bundle *Certain conditions apply, see in store for details.

20 Muir Drive 780-459-8444 www.globalcell.ca

2

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 400 Campbell Road St. Albert, Alberta t. 780.418.6088

GET A

kick start on your

adult specialized programs

New Year’s resolution

by registering for a program today at Servus Place.

Winter programs start the week of January 9, 2012.

preschool programs

youth programs

kinder cooks busy bodies munchkin tennis stomp, chomp, big roars, here come the dinosaurs... sports of all sorts take me out to the ballgame little yogis

teen cuisine smart start for teens youth fight club – youth self defence program young yoginis – yoga for teens

children’s programs magic mixtures it looks like spilt milk... let the good times roll fast feet dodge ball challenge yourself yoga for children zumbatomic bloom spring break camps

prenatal programs fit to deliver prenatal KINESIS circuit prenatal pilates prenatal yoga

postnatal programs baby & mama pilates mambo mamas mindful mama – postnatal yoga mom and baby aquafit mommy kicks butt circuit class postnatal KINESIS circuit postnatal spin strollerworks

adult mind-body programs smart start pilates – introduction progressive pilates

intermediate pilates smart start yoga – introduction friday night yoga – vinyasa flow gentle yoga hatha yoga sunrise salutations vinyasa winter groove yin yang toga yin yoga yoga for cancer survivors yoga and release for athletes

KINESIS smart start KINESIS foundation emerge KI-lates KINESIS for Multiple Sclerosis individual KINESIS training group KINESIS training

adult spin programs 5 S.T.A.R.R registered spin core revolution spin and soul spin-ESIS spin express straddle and swing

Register at servusplace.ca or 780.418.6088 like us: facebook.com/StaServusPlace

follow us: twitter.com/Sta_ServusPlace

360° strength ballet barre fitness boot camp (early morning) boot camp (evening) break in boot camp (early morning) KINESIS bootcamp iFlow introduction to resistance training K2 kickstart kettlebell kettlebell circuit KINESIS for golf last 10 lbs the ‘bigger’ loser toughen up!

TRX suspension training TRX strength TRX cardio circuit Zumba Zumba toning

adult dodge ball senior programs KINESIS silver KINESIS silver foundation flow Zumba gold

workshops learn to meditate partner yoga watch your back – yoga workshop for back pain hip opener (yoga workshop)

3

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

Lead the

INDEX News . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . 8 Entertainment . . . . . 12 Health . . . . . . . 14 Homes . . . . . . . 15 Quick Look . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Food . . . . . . . . 17 Business . . . . . . 18 stalbertjobs.com . . . . 19

COVER

Mixed martial artist Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo will have the chance to live up to his nickname on the biggest stage the sport has to offer: the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He enters the Octagon for the first time Jan. 20 in Nashville, Tenn. See story, page 5.

FUN WITH NUMBERS

Chamber to weigh in on signage GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

The St. Albert Chamber of Commerce wants to have their say on the issue of portable signs in the city.

After city council voted in late November to raise the fee for a 90-day portable sign permit from $103 to $200, the Chamber of Commerce announced on Thursday, Dec. 22, that it would begin a three-month study to see how other municipalities have dealt with the problem and how St. Albert could adapt some of those lessons.

“We were encouraged by a lot of people in the community to make it known what our views were on this issue,” said Lynda Moffat, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. “But we didn’t want to just give an opinion or a position on this without doing some work first.”

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader The three-month study will look at signage The St. Albert Chamber of Commerce is wading into the recent debate over portable signs in the city, bylaws in other communities and the impact kicking off a three-month study to see how other municipalities have dealt with the issue. they have had on economic growth and business The Chamber is in the process of installing $400 and $800 a year for someone who has a sign prosperity, and then the Chamber will get more digital advertising signs at either end of St. Albert for the entire year,” he said. “I don’t see it at all feedback from their membership.

Trail, but Moffat said there is no conflict between being changed, not even close.”

“There are cities in Alberta that have banned When the fee increase was approved at council’s those projects and what the outcome of this study portable signs, and others that have put firm may be.

Nov. 28 meeting, many councillors said they felt controls on them,” Moffat said, “so those are the “That’s not really a vehicle for many of the the hike would get rid of signs along St. Albert stories we’d like to hear: What did they do? How businesses, because the portable signs are quite Trail, which they felt should be the showpiece of did they do it? What was the reaction? It’s a very inexpensive,” she said. “Although are digital signs the city’s Botanical Arts brand. complex issue.” are extremely competitive compared to other However, Moffat said, council’s decision did Moffat added that, while some opponents — take the Chamber by surprise. digital signs, they’re still a more costly form of particularly those representing advertising than, say, a portable sign would be.

“We didn’t know — at all,” the portable sign industry — I don’t expect ever that [digital] would replace she said. “In their defense, if have voiced their displeasure that’s a result they want to see, [portable signs].” at city council meetings, the Moffat said the Chamber hopes to bring their I guess this is one way they Chamber has not heard much study to council by March 2012, and after that, may achieve it. But no, we negative feedback about the plans can be put in place to deal with the issue. were not given any warning; change.

“You can’t just jump and do a little quick we weren’t ready for it.”

“The ones who are upset Lynda Moffat One area the Chamber may mini jab at a problem. You really need to have a about it are quite vocal,” she Chamber president/CEO comprehensive look at what has affected or will look at in their study is the said. affect the solution,” she said. “Then [we need to] possibility of permits costing Mayor Nolan Crouse said more along St. Albert Trail as compared to the rest make some plans to fix it. You can’t just suddenly that the feedback his office has received on the fee pop things up and think it’s going to be a good of the city. change has been split right down the middle, but “It’s probably that should be [looked at],” Moffat fix.” he was glad to see the Chamber get involved.

Crouse said he hopes some solutions are said. “St. Albert Trail is our feature transportation “It’s good that they’re going to go out and get developed that involve permanent signs. route through our city — not only for the people input. I like that, because now we have more “[The Chamber] have a preconceived who live here, who say, ‘Yuck, do we have to look people involved in the dialogue,” he said. determination that [portable signs are] clutter, at this through the middle of our city?’ but also However, Crouse added, he can’t see anything which is the same preconceived determination people who are travelling through or who are the Chamber might come back with reversing or that I and most members of council have,” he said. visitors to our city. That’s the first impression they modifying the decision to increase the fees.

“That’s just the way it is, so let’s deal with it.” get.”

“We’re talking about the difference between

“The ones who are upset are quite vocal about it.”

$293M

That’s how much U2 earned during their U2 360 tour in 2011, making it the highestgrossing tour of the year. It consisted of 44 shows — one of which was at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on June 1 — and was watched by almost three million people.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY DEC. 29, 1967

The House of Commons votes to abolish the death penalty for murder, except when police officers or prison guards are the victims, for a five-year trial period. When the trial period expired, the ban on capital punishment was continued.

Pair of former residents arrested in drug bust

Two former St. Albert residents are facing a long list of charges following the execution of a search warrant in north Edmonton last week On Thursday, Dec. 22, St. Albert RCMP, along with the Edmonton Police Service, capped off a two-week investigation by conducting a search on a residence at 11413

138 Ave. in Edmonton, during which they seized six ounces of cocaine — with a street value of $17,000 — and a small amount of marijuana.

They also seized $6,835 in cash, believed to be proceeds of crime, a sawed off shotgun, a handgun and a 2000 BMW 328 CI. Daniel Timothy Brower, 26,

and Carly Diana Bodnarek, 20, both face a long list of drug and firearms charges as a result of the bust. Both are former St. Albert residents, and RCMP said Brower was known to be a “prolific” cocaine trafficker in St. Albert.

Both Brower and Bodnarek are each charged with possession of cocaine for

the purposes of trafficking; possession of marijuana under 30 grams; possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000; and eight various firearms charges.

Brower was also charged with one count of trafficking cocaine.

Both are scheduled to appear in court Jan. 9.

— GLENN COOK

4

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

New business park zone gets green light GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

Mayor Nolan Crouse adds a message of support to the Go Canada Go! banner at St. Albert Place.

Cheering for a good cause

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

When Team Canada took the ice at Rexall Place for the World Junior Hockey Championships, a group of locals hoped that they heard the cheers coming all the way from St. Albert.

Century 21 realtors Cindi Knight and Chuck Mulholland were joined

by St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse at St. Albert Place on Wednesday, Dec. 21, to kick off their “Go Canada Go” campaign, which, aside from showing the city’s support for Canada at the tournament, will also serve as a fundraiser for the 2012 Special Olympics National Winter Games, to be held in St. Albert from Feb. 28 to March 3.

“It’s going to be kind of a guerilla marketing, crazy, run-the-banner, social media thing all over town,” Mulholland said.

Phil Zuk, a Special Olympics athlete from St. Albert, was on hand for the kickoff, and he was ecstatic that Special Olympics would benefit from the fundraiser.

“I’ve known Chuck for years, so when he called me and asked me

about it ... I was very happy,” he said.

“It just shows that the community is behind, first of all, the local athletes that are participating on behalf of Canada, and Canadians as a whole. And to partner up with Special Olympics, it just shows that, no matter what walk of life, there are people around the country, especially in St. Albert, that support athletes of all levels, of all age groups,” added Mike Edwards, games manager.

The campaign features a giant banner that people can sign with messages of support for the Canadian team, as well as a Buick Enclave SUV that has been decked out in Team Canada colours and will be seen throughout St. Albert and Edmonton during the tournament. The fundraising will come through a raffle, wherein hockey fans can make a minimum donation of $2 and put their names in a draw for prime seats to Canada’s New Year’s Eve showdown against the United States at Rexall Place.

“We had the tickets and decided we were going to do the draw, and we’ve done the banners in the past

and they’ve been successful. We want to keep reinforcing that St. Albert fan support,” Mulholland said. “We looked at what we would do with the money, and Special Olympics is just down the road, and it just kind of made sense.”

With about two months until the opening ceremonies, Edwards said the organization of the games is going well as they hit the homestretch.

“In some areas, we’re way ahead; in other areas, we’re right on schedule,” he said. “The community has been absolutely wonderful.”

Knight and Mulholland have done similar banners of support in the past, such as one for St. Albert native Jarome Iginla during the Calgary Flames’ 2004 Stanley Cup run and one for the Edmonton Oilers during the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

Like many Canadian hockey fans, Mulholland is thrilled to have the World Juniors in his backyard.

Zuk is excited, too, and predicted big things for Team Canada.

“I think they’re going to do awesome. I think they can take it,” he said.

LOOKING FOR GREAT STAFF? Advertising packages available that include both print in the St. Albert Leader and on stalbertjobs.com Email: blake@stalbertleader.com

Potential land owners in Campbell Business Park North have a lot more options for the types of businesses they can operate thanks to a decision

by St. Albert city council on Monday, Dec. 19.

Council unanimously approved the creation of a new Business Park 2 (BP2) Direct Control district under the City of St. Albert’s land use bylaw after a public hearing at Monday’s regular meeting, as well as the rezoning of the entirety of Campbell Park North to the new district.

The new BP2 designation allows about five more permitted uses and 15 more discretionary uses than the previous Business Park district.

As well, if an applicant wants to build something that falls outside these parameters, they can appeal directly to city council, who can approve or reject it as they wish.

David Klippenstein, a consultant appearing on behalf of Paul Wong of PJSJ Holdings, which owns most of Campbell Park North, told council that the restrictions in the old Business Park districting were costing them and the City business.

“It’s not the price and it’s not the location, but it’s because of the regulations,” Klippenstein said. “A number of potential sales have failed because of the

zoning.”

Most aspects of the new bylaw came out of a public meeting held in September at the Red Willow Community Church.

Another new discretionary use considered under the BP2 designation is a parking lot, which City staff might alleviate some concerns business owners have brought up in the area about the number of stalls the City requires per unit before a development permit can be issued.

Councillors did have some worries about some of the uses included in the new district.

Coun. Cathy Heron expressed concern about daycare facilities in the area, especially near drinking establishments.

Meanwhile, Mayor Nolan Crouse seemed very concerned about the inclusion of ministorage as a discretionary use, but Klippenstein assured him that the architectural and design standards from the previous BP district have been carried over to the new district.

In the end, council approved both the new district and the rezoning unanimously, with at least one lauding the change as a positive one for St. Albert’s non-residential tax base.

“We’ve listened to the developers, we’ve changed some of our standards,” Coun.

Malcolm Parker said, “and truly it’s a step in the right direction showing that we’re now open for business.”

May the spirit and joy of this season bring Peace and Goodwill to all

Ken Allred, MLA - St. Albert 14 Perron Street 780-459-9113 Allred.mypcmla.ca

BUY AND SELL WITH CONFIDENCE Visit www.nickgolden.com to view all my listings!

Call today for a FREE EVALUATION of your home Top 1% out of 125,000 ReMax Agents worldwide Over 2200 homes SOLD!

780-498-6437 NICHOLAS J.GOLDEN

ST. ALBERT

5

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

Jimmo ready to prove he’s a ‘Big Deal’

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo has lived up to his nickname on the local mixed martial arts scene — now it’s time to do the same on the biggest stage the sport has to offer.

Jimmo — originally from Saint John, N.B., but now living in St. Albert and training at the Hayabusa Training Centre in Campbell Business Park — has attracted the attention of officials at the Ultimate Fighting Championship, who have booked him in a light heavyweight match Friday, Jan. 20, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., against Karlos Vemola of the Czech Republic.

While some might find stepping into the Octagon and fighting under the UFC banner for the first time a daunting task, Jimmo said he isn’t fazed.

“If someone’s going to university, and let’s say they’re going to Harvard, and they’ve gone through all the paces in Harvard, all the tests and stuff, when they get out into the working world, it’s not that big of a deal,” he said. “If you go from high school right into the working world, it’s tough; you wonder why you’re only making 40 grand a year. But when you go to university and do all the right stuff and get all the right kind of experiences and knowledge, when you go out into the real world, you’re ready. You have the right tools to be successful.”

The scheduled main event of the Jan. 20 card, to be broadcast on U.S. cable network FX, pits UFC lightweight veterans Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller against one another.

Jimmo got the call from the UFC at the end of November — right around his 30th birthday.

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

Mixed martial artist Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo, who trains in St. Albert, is getting a shot to live up to his nickname on the biggest stage the sport has to offer next month in Nashville.

“It was a nice little birthday present,” he said. “But considering where I’m ranked in the world and what I’ve done and my resumé, it was a little bit long overdue. It was refreshing to hear, to finally get that call.”

Even with his resumé, though, Jimmo said that it was only recently that he felt he was ready for the big time.

“A year or two ago, I wasn’t a bad wrestler, but now I’m a good wrestler. I’m fighting a wrestler and I’m not afraid of him in the wrestling department at all,” he said. “I’m not afraid of anyone anywhere.”

While this will be Jimmo’s debut, Vemola has three UFC matches under his belt, including two unanimous decision losses and

From my family to yours,Merry Christmas and all the best in 2012!

Main Office: Offi #206B Mc #206 McLeod Avenue, Spruce Spru ce G Grove, AB T7X 2K5 Tel: (78 (780) 0) 9 962-6606 Fax: (78 (780) 962-1568

Satellite Office: (by appt) #10 - 516 St. Albert Road St. Albert, AB Tel: (780) 458-1393 correspondence to the main office please

email: sprucegrovesturgeon.stalbert@assembly.ab.ca ema

HHON.DOUG HORNER MLA

a win by technical knockout.

Jimmo said he knows a little bit about his opponent, and hopes to outmatch him in all areas.

“He’s very aggressive. He’s a very strong wrestler. But I’m a very tactical fighter; I’m very intelligent in the ring. If someone’s going to come out with full strength, if they can catch me in the first [round], it could turn out bad,” he said. “But he’s like a bull, and I’m going to be like a matador.”

After losing his first-ever pro MMA bout in February 2007, Jimmo has rattled off 16 straight wins, most of which have come in the Maximum Fighting Championship, an Edmonton-based promotion. He defeated Dwayne Lewis in February 2011 to become the MFC light heavyweight champion.

While the move to the UFC leaves the MFC title picture murky, Jimmo said MFC officials have been nothing but helpful and encouraging since he got the call.

“Mark [Pavelich, MFC owner] has been great. He’s 100 per cent supportive. ... We were always honest and upfront; he knew my

eventual goal was always to get to the UFC.” Jimmo’s last MFC fight was in October, edging out a slim win over Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at the Mayfield Trade Centre.

He said that, leading up to that fight, there were too many distractions, but he has refocused himself since.

“I had a lot of things that were taking my focus away,” he said. “There was too much media; I was doing three or four media pieces a day for the two weeks leading up. I was down in L.A., travelling a lot. ... I was focused on everything but the fight.”

He has had one small distraction, though: Travelling to El Paso, Texas, to film Manos: The Search for Valley Lodge, the sequel to 1966’s Manos: The Hands of Fate, a movie many critics have called the worst ever made.

It was not only Jimmo’s prowess in the ring that landed him the part, but also his famous post-fight robot dancing. “[The director] needed a guy who could fight, and there was an opportunity to do some robot poppin’-and-lockin’,” he said.

“They needed someone who could do both.”

However, his role was small, allowing him a chance to continue training every day.

“We shot probably the first third of the film down there in a week, but I’m not in it for maybe the first 20 or 30 minutes. I only had two or three days of shooting,” he said. “I’d wake up in the morning, go to the gym, do a hard conditioning workout. ... It’s not like I wasn’t doing anything and then came back. I was in pretty good shape, and I kept in shape down there.”

That will be critical if Jimmo wants to reach the level of current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones, who recently defended his title against Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida at UFC 140 in Toronto.

“Everyone wants to be a champion yesterday; everyone wants to be an overnight sensation. But I don’t really have a desire to do that,” Jimmo said. “I’d prefer to have a year and a half to two years of a consistent building up, six or seven fights of proper building, and being a top-five guy. ... I’d rather go at a slow and sure pace than be a rocket man.”

Discounts up to 35% by combining your home and auto.

Tempura Battered Fish and Chips, with your choice of 10.95 Soup or Salad, served with dessert

$

& Scallops Linguini in white wine sauce, garlic toast 12.95 Mussels with your choice of Soup or Salad served with dessert

$

Bring in this ad to receive an additional 10% OFF

#

O L D FA S H I O N E D S E RV I C E MODERN SOLUTIONS

Call us today for a fast and friendly quote.

780-460-2123

On your side. www.jdrins.com

6

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

Teacher joins race for Tory nomination

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

The latest candidate for the Progressive Conservative nomination in the St. Albert riding is hoping to take his opponents to school.

Sleight Anstruther, 46, who currently serves as a viceprincipal at Georges H. Primeau Junior High School in Morinville, is the latest person to throw his hat in the ring for the PC nomination.

He said that Alberta is emerging once again as a world power thanks to its education system and energy resources, and he wants to be part of guiding it.

“I don’t think we’ve had an opportunity like this in the province for a long time, probably going back to the Lougheed days,” he said, “where we’re presenting ourselves as a world power in energy and can really dominate on that front, but also have these other attributes in the province with regards to education and health care where

they’re tremendous strengths and we’re recognized for some of our research worldwide.”

He added that there is plenty of experience that he can take from working as a school administrator and apply to provincial politics.

“You have to have that knowledge of the best practices, the latest research, in order to move forward, and it has to be a very informed process in the decision-making,” he said.

Anstruther — who has served on the board of the local PC riding association for several years — is the fifth person to enter the nomination race, joining former Canadian Forces helicopter pilot Jeff Wedman, local businessman Steve Khan, Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional District trustee Jacquie Hansen and Rendezvous 2011 volunteer Kent La Rose.

Seeing so many people interested in the race is very encouraging, Anstruther said.

“There are excellent candidates who have put their names forward, and that speaks to what an exciting time it is in this

Photo Supplied

Sleight Anstruther is the latest to put his name in for the PC nomination in the St. Albert riding.

province,” he said. “We really are at the edge of a great time in our province’s history, and to have qualified candidates like there are coming forward speaks volumes.”

He considered running for the nomination four years ago — which, along with St. Albert’s

seat in the provincial legislature, was won by Ken Allred — but the timing wasn’t right with two young children.

“My oldest son is now in Grade 11 and the other’s in junior high, so family-wise, it’s just a little better,” he said. “You want to spend as much time as you can with your kids when they’re at that critical mental development stage.”

He has also been energized by Premier Alison Redford and her performance since taking the reins of the party in October.

“There’s definitely a change going on on the political front.

She has attracted a group of voters to her that previously hadn’t been involved in the voting process,” he said. “She’s got some very good ideas with regard to where the province needs to be headed, and we need to be proactive in that whole process.”

The PC candidate, which will be determined on Jan. 31, will join the other nominated candidates — Nicole Bownes (NDP), Tim Osborne (Alberta Party) and

James Burrows (Wildrose Party) — on the ballot in the next provincial election, believed to be coming in spring 2012.

The Alberta Liberal Party has yet to hold their nomination race, and the only candidate so far, Alex Bossé, announced on his Twitter account on Wednesday, Dec. 21, that he is no longer seeking the St. Albert nomination and is now running in Edmonton-Calder.

No matter who winds up on that ballot, though, Anstruther knows it will be a challenge to hang on to the St. Albert seat, which has flip-flopped between the PCs and the Liberals a couple of times over the past two decades.

“You need to able to listen your constituents and find out what it is that’s really going on,” he said.

“It’s nice to know I’ve got enough individuals that I can fall back on as a resource base to get a good feel for what is coming down the pipe.

“I expect anyone who comes out of the nomination to be in for a good race.”

Sturgeon debuts new parent tool GLENN COOK

Connect with

LIKE US ON

FOLLOW US ON

Facebook.com/stalbertleader

twitter/@stalbertleader

Stay updated throughout the week

St. Albert Leader

Parents in a local school division can now check up on their kids’ progress from the comfort of their own homes.

The Sturgeon School Division has recently rolled out the Power School Parent Portal, an online social media tool that allows parents to access information on assignments, grades and attendance from wherever there is an Internet connection.

Mark Lockwood, Alberta Initiative for School Improvement co-ordinator at Sturgeon School Division, said that the program came about alongside the implementation of the Power School student information system as a result of upgrades required by Alberta Education.

“Sturgeon was in a place where we needed to look at, at that time, our student information system provider, and decide on whether we would stay there or move to a new one,” he said. “We chose Power School because of its capabilities, and one of the things we really liked about it was the parent portal piece.”

As other school districts in Alberta implemented the program, Sturgeon had the opportunity to learn from any pitfalls they may have encountered. Now, they are in a position to mentor other divisions that are just setting up.

“Folks with other school boards have been very open to sharing with us the successes and the challenges, and now that we’re in our second year, we’re certainly consulted by other boards that are making the move,” he said.

So far, Lockwood said they haven’t seen as many parents log on as they would like, but those who have are thrilled with the tool.

“We’d love to have 100 per cent of our parents logging in, but we know there are some limitations to Internet access, particularly being in rural communities, but we’d love to see a high percentage of parents logging in,” he said. “Those that log in, they’ve been very positive about it. They love the communication.”

While the portal is extremely powerful, though, Lockwood said he can’t see it replacing paper report cards or face-to-face parent-teacher interviews anytime soon.

“The potential is certainly there to do that,” he said, “but we’re not there yet as a school division, to say we’re not going to have paper report cards anymore. But the potential is certainly there, and the information parents find on the portal is a lot more detailed and richer than any report card cold possibly be.

They can drill right down and see individual assignments and comments from teachers there.”

The Power School Parent Portal can be accessed through the division’s website at www.sturgeon.ab.ca.

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

7

8

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

OPINION

iStAlbert

Bylaw tweaks just the start

Here’s what people are saying about #StAlbert on Twitter:

@HMClement Don’t suppose there are big boxing day hot water tank deals? #yeg #stalbert #ineedashower

O

ver the past couple of months, city council has taken aim squarely at smoke shops in the city, firing the latest salvo a couple of weeks ago when they instructed City of St. Albert staff to come up with amendments to key bylaws that could keep them from opening their doors

by Glenn Cook altogether.

If this is a pet project that council wants to take on, then so be it. If they feel that the majority of St. Albert residents want no part of smoke shops in their neighbourhoods — as the recent furor in Akinsdale over the opening of a shop in a local strip mall seemed to prove — if they feel it won’t further add to the city’s reputation as being not-sobusiness-friendly, and if they feel the risk of getting sued is less than the risk posed to young people, then councillors should go at it with gusto.

But, if those bylaw amendments materialize and wind up on the books, that’s not the time for council to sit back, dust off their hands and think to themselves, “That’s that taken care of.” In fact, such measures would only be the beginning of dealing with illegal drugs in St. Albert.

Smoke shops are only a fairly recent phenomenon in St. Albert, but drugs most certainly have been around a lot longer.

There have been multiple drug busts in the city over the years, some fairly substantial. Other raids have taken place in neighbouring municipalities like Edmonton, but have had a big impact in St. Albert. Take one in north Edmonton last week; despite the location, the pair arrested were former St. Albert residents, and one was known to be a “prolific” cocaine dealer here.

As police have noted many, many times in the past, crime doesn’t respect borders.

Shutting down a smoke shop in St. Albert won’t stop people from bringing drugs in or taking them out, nor will it stop anyone from getting their hands on drug paraphernalia if they are determined enough to get it.

Blocking smoke shops is a start to nipping St. Albert’s drug problem in the bud, but it certainly is not the whole solution.

@montymiff Instead of shopping, a #BoxingDay walk.

Thank you #StAlbert for plowing and gritting trails.

Don’t like icy falls.

EDITORIAL

@Nixx85 Few movies are worth watching twice,but the few I enjoy, I watch over&over.

Watching the Sound of Music & belting out the tunes! #StAlbert

@Rbca_8 Spitz, cold beer and hockey. Another good night in St. Albert!

Compiled by Swift Media Group swiftmedia.ca • @Swift_Media

Follow us at @stalbertleader

Proud past, bright future for hospital

I

n November 2001, our experience at the Sturgeon Community Hospital forever changed our lives. My wife, Cathy, had our third child at Sturgeon and we quickly learned of the benefits of a community hospital. We found the care to be truly unique, having both top-notch facilities and a more relaxed approach.

Our experience was fantastic and we left appreciative of our hospital and its doctors, nurses and health care providers.

In 2002, I was given the opportunity to serve as a trustee on the Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation, allowing me to give back my time to the benefit of the institution that had just provided such a wonderful experience. I accepted and have enjoyed fundraising on behalf of our local hospital.

Rob

HERON Sturgeon Hospital Fdn. My City Many often ask about the purpose of our hospital foundation as it relates to publicly funded health care.

Our objective at the foundation is to identify the “wants” at the hospital and then raise money to pay for those items.

The money raised stays at our Sturgeon Hospital and does not get commingled into Alberta Health, nor does it go to any other facility. We support those items that make our facility better for our community.

The Foundation is proud to have supported some of the following initiatives: • Digital Operating Room

Publisher: Rob LeLacheur rob@stalbertleader.com

Editor: Glenn Cook

glenn@stalbertleader.com

Sales Manager: Blake Bradburn blake@stalbertleader.com

Upgrades: Equipment purchases and upgrades to the surgical suite include the most advanced digital equipment.

These allow our surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgeries resulting in faster healing and a return to a fully productive life sooner.

• Emergency Department Redevelopment: The number of patients through the emergency room doors has more than doubled over the past 20 years, from 22,000 in 1992 to 47,000 in 2010. To meet the needs of the patient base, the hospital redeveloped its ER and we raised money to help provide state-of-the-art equipment.

• Maternity Theme Rooms: Funds were used to create two professionally designed maternity theme rooms to give a mother the time to treasure the first few hours with her

Delivery concerns? Email us at delivery@stalbertleader.com All claims of errors in advertisements must be received in writing by the publisher within 5 days after the first publication. Liability for errors or failure to publish is limited to the amount paid for the space occupied. The opinions expressed within publication are not necessarily those of the St. Albert Leader or RJ Lolly Media. Material published may not be copied or reproduced with the express written consent of the publisher.

newborn child in a warm and inviting private environment.

• New Intensive Care Unit: Funds raised complimented the new state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit with defibrillators, ventilators and other equipment. With these additions, we can offer a wider range of surgeries and provide patients with complex care services.

• CT Scan for Diagnostic Imaging: The foundation is proud to have contributed $500,000 toward the $3.2-million scanner.

In 2012, the foundation is very proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Since its formation, it has raised $6.5 million to the benefit of the local hospital. I am proud of the foundation’s accomplishments and look forward to continued patronage.

Owned and operated by

RJ Lolly Media Inc. 13 Mission Ave. St. Albert, Alta. T8N 1H6

Phone: 780-460-1035

9

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

As the City of St. Albert continues to reshuffle its corporate structure, officials say the goal is make sure the delivery of services to residents is not affected.

In the wake of former city manager Bill Holtby’s firing in October, the City has taken the opportunity to restructure itself and focus on economic development.

Part of that restructuring, though, has led to more city departments reporting directly to the city manager’s office, including legal services and financial services.

General manager of planning and engineering Guy Boston — who filled in for acting city manager Chris Jardine last week while Jardine was on vacation — said that these departments work very closely with the city manager anyway, providing advice on many different matters, so it only made sense to bring them under the same umbrella.

“Some of the things we looked at were what we can do to make the organization more responsive and supportive of the city manager,” he said.

“The chief financial officer was one that made sense — council and the city manager, of course, want to have their finger on the pulse of City finances,” Boston added.

As well, a business manager formerly with the corporate services department now reports to the city manager. Business managers look after the day-to-day operations of various City branches.

The broader scope of the city manager’s office should put more resources at the disposal of city councillors, as the city manager is the only employee under council’s direct supervision.

“It allows those types of resources to be brought to bear on things that are in support of the city manager, which ultimately is in support of city council,” Boston said.

Mayor Nolan Crouse said that council welcomed the changes both in the city manager’s office, which should give them more help in doing research and crafting motions, and in the corporation as a whole.

“To a person, council was very supportive. ... There was a lot of good comments,” he said. “We talked about it, all seven of us, and not once did anybody have any frowns about if this was the right thing.”

In the end, though, Boston stressed that the divisions affected by this restructuring are usually ones that deal with internal matters, so residents hopefully won’t see any negative impact on service delivery.

“This is all about being much more effective and a continuous improvement in the way we manage and serve council, and ultimately the public,” he said.

Elsewhere in the restructuring, several departments in the City’s former corporate services branch have been split up into other departments, including a new corporate and strategic services branch headed up by Jennifer Jennax, which includes information technology, legislative services, business and strategic planning, corporate communications and marketing, and human resources.

Legion feeling the pinch

The local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion could be in deep trouble if they can’t get help from the City of St. Albert.

Dave Frizell, first vice-president and treasurer of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 271 on Taché Street, came before St. Albert city council on Monday, Dec. 19, to ask for any money the City of St. Albert could spare out of its community capital grants program, which has already been administered for 2011.

Frizell said the club is already running a deficit and has used up the provincial lottery grant money they were allocated over the past two years, most of which was spent on the replacement of kitchen equipment, a new roof and partial recarpeting — a total cost of more than $157,000.

They still need $107,000 in 2012 for major capital projects, the most pressing of which is the replacement of their parking lot.

“The branch is currently in a deficit situation and, to be quite honest, we’re barely keeping our head above water these

days,” Frizell said. “Without any additional grant funding, we’re probably not able to proceed with any of these projects.”

Other improvements needed include window replacement, a new dishwasher and the remainder of the recarpeting.

The Legion shares the building with the Cornerstone Society, and are on the hook for two-thirds of the cost of major expenses.

Revenue streams are somewhat limited, he added.

“We get revenue through our annual poppy campaign, but there are restrictions on what we can use that revenue for — basically help for veterans and the like,” he said. “Our other main source of revenue is the products we sell in the branch.”

Frizell hoped there would be money left over from this year’s community capital grants that they could access rather than it being carried forward to 2012.

Councillors said they needed more specific information from the Legion on what they need.

— GLENN COOK

Edmonton Bavaria BMW BMW Retailers

BMW

ULTIMATE YEAR END

bmw.ca

The Ultimate Driving Experience.®

SALES EVENT

IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO DRIVE HOME A BMW. BUT THIS IS THE BEST TIME. The BMW Ultimate Year End Sales Event is on now. Finance any new 2011 BMW for only 0.9%.

It’s our best pricing of the year and it’s happening right now – but hurry, this offer is only available until January 3. Visit your BMW Retailer or bmw.ca for more details.

ONLY UNTIL JANUARY 3.

Bavaria BMW

18925 Stony Plain Road West, Edmonton, AB 780-484-0000 AMVIC Licensee

ALL 2011 MODELS

0.9

%

*

FINANCE FOR 36 MONTHS

OFFER ENDS JANUARY 3

European models shown. Features and equipment may vary in Canada. Finance rates are those offered by BMW Financial Services Canada only on approved credit (OAC). * Finance rate of 0.9% available for 36 months on all new 2011 BMW vehicles. Example: $25,000 borrowed for 36 months at 0.9% equals a monthly payment of $704, a cost of borrowing of $348, and a total obligation of $25,348 plus tax. Freight and PDI, A/C surcharge, PPSA registration fee, AMVIC fee, tire levy, administration fees, and similar taxes levied on the manufacturer (if charged by the Retailer) are extra. Excess wear-and-tear charges may apply. Additional province-specific fees, taxes, and charges may be extra. Retailers are free to set individual prices and charge administration fees, which may change the APR or the price of the vehicle. Offer expires January 3, 2012. Delivery must be taken by January 3, 2012. Offer requires Retailer participation. Offer is subject to availability and may be cancelled or changed without notice. Certain conditions apply. See your local BMW Retailer or bmw.ca for full details. ©2011 BMW Canada Inc. “BMW”, the BMW logo, BMW model designations and all other BMW related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and/or trademarks of BMW AG, used under licence.

Restructuring continues

10

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

Vader sentenced on unrelated charges PAMELA ROTH Sun Media News Services

Travis Vader is not a free man, but his supposed link to the disappearance of a St. Albert couple has resulted in a significantly reduced sentence on unrelated charges for the 39-year-old.

On Thursday, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Joanne Veit handed Vader a 33-anda-half month global sentence on a number of charges, including break-and-enter and arson, stemming from a crime spree in the Whitecourt and Barrhead areas back in December 2009.

At the time of his arrest at a home near MacKay in July 2010 for multiple outstanding warrants, Vader had been identified

by RCMP as a person of interest in the disappearance of Lyle and Marie McCann, Photo: Sun Media News Services Travis Vader, the only named suspect in the who went missing in July 2010. disappearance of Lyle and Marie McCann, has The couple have since been declared dead and presumed murdered. Their remains have been sentenced on unrelated charges.

“The court recognized the undue suffering yet to be found. that he experienced in administrative The case garnered national attention, segregation,” said Mol, who noted there could noted Veit, causing Vader to have a target on be a lesson learned in the value of discretion. his back when he arrived at the Edmonton “He was held in administrative segregation Remand. He was placed in administrative because the authorities had no option. The segregation for seven months for his own judge correctly recognized that. The reason protection. they had no option is because of the intense Earlier in the sentencing hearing, Vader media scrutiny.” testified he was also subjected to abuse by On Oct. 6, Vader was convicted of 12 both guards and fellow inmates as a result of charges, including break-and-enter, theft, being linked to the couple’s disappearance. arson, possession of stolen property and He also spoke of the effect being locked up in driving while disqualified. segregation had on him.

The court heard how Vader broke into Veit took this into account when handing a rural business and stole a $60,000 truck, down the sentence, noting authorities had no which he later torched in a choice but to place him in ditch near Whitecourt. He segregation for his own also tried to steal a trailer protection. on a rural residential As a result of his property, but the attempt experience behind bars, failed.

Veit gave Vader extra In the case of the credit for time served, Justice Joanne Veit McCann’s disappearance, reducing his sentence to Court of Queen’s Bench Vader has never been one day. But he remains in charged. custody as he awaits for his Lyle, 78, and and Marie McCann, 72, were April trial on other property offences in the last seen fuelling up their motorhome in St. Barrhead area.

Albert on July 3, 2010, before heading on a “The publicity was such that there was no trip to British Columbia. Two days later, their provincial institution that would have been RV was found engulfed in flames near the able to deal with him any better than the Minnow Lake campground, 20 kilometres Edmonton Remand Centre,” said Veit. “Mr. east of Edson.

Vader didn’t deserve to be there, but he was The SUV they were towing was soon there. Authorities couldn’t do anything else discovered near Carrot Creek, 30 kilometres but that.” east of Edson.

Crown prosecutor Michelle Doyle was Mounties soon named Vader as a person seeking a three- to four-year sentence, and of interest in the case and released a photo of wasn’t surprised Veit treated Vader’s time in him to the public with hopes of tracking him segregation as an unusual circumstance. down.

Vader’s lawyer, Daniel Mol, told reporters Police believe Vader may have information outside court it was a very “well reasoned that could assist in the investigation. decision.”

WED. WE D. GAZ OCT 12, 19, 26/ 6/11 11 – 3x 3x18 182 18 2 {p {pro roce ro cess ce ss}} ss

“Mr. Vader didn’t deserve to be there, but he was there.”

11

O Lever as 70 ed %

12

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

ENTERTAINMENT

Twice the Spielberg, twice the movie fun JIM SLOTEK Sun Media News Services

It’s usually an accident of scheduling when Steven Spielberg releases two films simultaneously, as in 1993 with Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List.

This time — with the performance-capture thrill-ride The Adventures of Tintin and the First World War-themed emotional ride War Horse — the legendary filmmaker says it was deliberate.

“I don’t think there’s a problem with this movie and Tintin coming out at the same time,” he says to the suggestion that he’s competing with himself.

“Yes, it’s both the same audience. But my philosophy was, if I didn’t make War Horse, someone else would. And it would have come out at Christmas right on top of Tintin, so what the heck?”

Photo: Sun Media News Services

Steven Spielberg.

Spielberg was in postproduction on the adaptation of the cartoonist Herge’s Tintin when his longtime production partner Kathleen Kennedy decided to take in a play in London.

It happened to be the acclaimed theatrical adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel about a boy and his farm horse Joey, a steed that’s drafted into the British cavalry when the First World War breaks out and has adventures en route home. The Tony-winning play was notable for its ingenious use of equine puppetry.

“I took my kids during vacation because I was looking for something fun,” says Kennedy.

“Often times I am frankly looking for things that might be something we want to collaborate on, but I didn’t go to the play with that in mind.

“I went because I’d heard wonderful things. And I was stunned by how emotional people were in the audience. When I got back, Steven and I were doing early scoring on Tintin. And I said, ‘I just saw this remarkable play.’ And Steven said, ‘Oh my God, that sounds like a great story for a movie.”

So off to the theatre Spielberg went. “Some people came out of the play talking about the brilliant puppetry. But I came out admiring a very strong narrative: a beginning, a middle and an end.” The result was a moving piece, full of British actors like Tom Hiddleston, Peter Mullan and newcomer Jeremy Irvine in the human lead.

Photo: Sun Media News Services

(L-R) Captain Haddock (voiced by Andy Serkis), Tintin (voiced by Jamie Bell) and Snowy are shown in a scene from the new film The Adventures of Tintin, directed by Steven Spielberg. The film opened over the Christmas weekend.

There are any number of ways War Horse seems in Spielberg’s wheelhouse: 1) It’s a war story. Spielberg has made a few of those, from Saving Private Ryan to producing Clint Eastwood’s Iwo Jima films and TV’s Band Of Brothers. “I do not consider War Horse to be a war movie,” he demurs. “I consider it to be a love story between a horse and a young man, and a story of great hope and great connection that this horse makes on what is almost an odyssey.”

2) It makes grown men cry, emotional button-pushing being his forte. “Well, that was not my intention,” he says with a laugh.

“But the play made me cry. I

cried because I honestly felt a catharsis. And when I read the book, it also brought a lump to my throat.”

3) He is a horse person. “It’s why my back is still out today. I did ride in the mid-’80s and I got my back hurt, so I don’t anymore.

My wife rides, and my 15-yearold daughter is a competitive jumper. We have 12 horses on our property, so I’ve been interacting with horses for a long time.”

4) He hangs the movie on Irvine, a film newbie. “I’m a veteran of foolhardy casting,” he says, “giving Drew Barrymore her first chance to help carry E.T., and letting (13-year-old) Christian Bale totally carry Empire of the

The Best Place to Meat

Email: photos@stalbertleader.com

780-418-1200

118-205 Caregie Drive, St. Albert

Sun. I’ve risked everything on new people I’ve believed in. Because if I think they’ve got it, they can work with what they bring to me.

And Jeremy had it. He’s affable, he had a tremendous connection with these animals, even though he didn’t ride until War Horse.”

5) He loves historical stories (his next movie is Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis). “I’ve always worried that history is so fleeting now that we are so busy consuming contemporary culture.

“And so I make a lot of movies about history because I think we really can’t see ourselves unless we can see our grandparents, our great-grandparents, our history.

We need that.”

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR NEW YEARS EVE ENTERTAINING Call us with any special requests We can help with meal planning IT’S NOT TOO LATE HOURS: Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri & Sat 10:00am - 5:30pm Closed Sun & Mon

www.darcysmeats.com

13

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

Paula Patton and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.

Photo: Sun Media News Services

M:I4 lands Cruise back on top

SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol easily beat its rivals in the race to No. 1 at box offices over the Christmas holiday weekend, returning action star Tom Cruise to winning form after several recent flops.

Ghost Protocol, the fourth movie in Cruise’s Mission: Impossible series, earned an estimated $46 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters in the four days ending on Monday, according to its distributor Paramount Pictures. Its total estimated ticket sales have reached $78.6 million after debuting in Imax and other large-screen theaters last weekend.

At international theaters, the movie dubbed MI4, which cost around $145 million to make, sold an additional $140 million worth of tickets through Sunday.

Paramount noted its audience rating from researcher CinemaScore was an “A-” and Rottentomatoes.com, a website that combines critics’ reviews, gave the movie a 94 per cent positive rating overall.

“We’re pleased with the way we went with the movie, starting with premium pricing on large screens and letting the reviews and word-of-mouth (publicity) get out ahead of the movie,” said Don Harris, president of distribution for Paramount.

Important for leading man Cruise, 49, is that after several box office flops in recent years, including dramas Valkyrie and Lions for Lambs, and action-packed Knight and Day, the success of Ghost Protocol has meant a return to the top of box office charts.

Elsewhere, Warner Bros.’ Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows took the No. 2 spot with an estimated $31.8 million over the four days, followed by 20th Century Fox family comedy Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked with a $20 million total that barely put it ahead of No. 4, adult thriller The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, at $19.4 million.

Since its midweek debut last week, Dragon Tattoo has earned $27.7 million.

A Sony spokesman called it “a good start” that should build this coming week and

into the new year.

Indeed, many new movies hit theaters ahead of, and during, the Christmas holiday weekend — including Dragon Tattoo, two movies from Steven Spielberg, War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin, and the Cameron Crowe comedy, We Bought A Zoo. The studios expect strong demand in the days ahead while many families take time from work and school, but it is unlikely a surge can lead the domestic box office to topple last year’s nearly $10.6 billion in annual ticket sales.

In fact, the top 12 movies this past weekend generated $114 million at box offices, down about 15 per cent from last year, according to box office watcher Hollywood.com.

Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com now estimates total 2011 annual domestic (U.S. and Canada) box office at $10.1 billion by year’s end, down 4.45 per cent from 2010. Attendance so far in 2011 is off about five per cent, while the average ticket price increased to $7.96 from $7.89.

Still, movie demand did pick up for some new titles over the weekend, and among those making a surge was Fox comedy We Bought a Zoo, starring Matt Damon.

It saw ticket sales jump 139 per cent from Saturday to Sunday, its distributor 20th Century Fox said, landing it at No. 6 with $15.6 million, just behind family film Tintin at No. 5 with $16.1 million.

“I think playability and word-of-mouth is finally getting out” about Zoo, said Chris Aronson, who heads domestic distribution for Fox. He noted the movie generated an “A” overall from moviegoers polled by CinemaScore.

Spielberg’s War Horse landed in the No. 7 spot with $15 million, and another newcomer, thriller The Darkest Hour, opened eighth with $5.5 million over the four days.

Rounding out the top 10 were holdovers New Year’s Eve at No. 9 with slightly under $5 million and George Clooney drama The Descendants in 10th with $3.4 million.

IS NOW HIRING

who? { what? { when? {

You! Deliver the St. Albert Leader

Routes available immediately

where? {

In your community

why? {

To earn money

Carriers

Thursday Delivery Only call 780.468.0384 or email operations@edmontonexaminer.com

14

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

HEALTH Photo Supplied

Tae Bo fitness guru Billy Blanks.

Top tips from ’11 to keep in shape in ’12 CARY CASTAGNA Sun Media News Services

Didn’t quite accomplish all your fitness goals in 2011?

I feel your pain, because neither did I. Sigh.

Of course, there’s always 2012.

But if the doomsday prophets are right, there won’t be a 2013. So let’s get ‘er done this coming year!

To help ensure we all fit into our “skinny jeans” before next December’s much-ballyhooed apocalypse, here are the top tips and inspirational tidbits from several high-profile fitness enthusiasts who spoke to Keeping Fit in 2011.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF: Molly Morgan, registered dietitian and author of The Skinny Rules: The 101 Secrets Every Skinny Girl Knows, says believing in yourself is crucial for long-term success.

“You CAN fit fitness into your life. You CAN eat healthier. You CAN make

it happen. Believing in yourself is really the first step.”

BE CONSISTENT: Tony Horton, chiseled creator of the wildly popular P90X fitness program, doesn’t like to miss workouts. And neither should you.

He says none of his personal training clients has ever told him that they felt worse after exercise.

“The answer’s always ‘better.’ So why wouldn’t you want to feel good every day?”

CHALLENGE YOURSELF: Rising to new challenges, explains Tae Bo legend Billy Blanks, “will teach you how to go through the fire and come out of there. … Challenge yourself, and really learn how to communicate with your body and how to educate your mind to pull your body into control.”

EXERCISE ANYWHERE: Tara Stiles, named the coolest yoga instructor ever by Vanity Fair, looks for ways to be active no matter where she is — even on a plane.

“I’ll just get up, go to the bathroom and do some twisting from side to side. You can do things like that during your day that take pressure out of your body, lengthen your spine and make you feel a lot better in a short period of time.”

MAKE IT A FAMILY AFFAIR: “To be successful in any fitness program, you’ve got to be able to involve the entire family unit,” says Dai

y p p a H Year! w e N

Manuel, co-owner of western Canadian fitness equipment store Fitness Town. “As soon as you start to integrate fitness in your daily routine, it doesn’t become such a chore anymore.”

WORK OUT IN THE A.M.: Hollywood heartthrob Josh Duhamel makes exercise a priority by working out first thing in the morning whenever he can.

“I try to get up (and work out) because inevitably I’m going to feel better and the day’s going to go better,” he says. “If I wake up and go right to work, it takes me until noon to get my s*** together.”

BALANCE EXERCISE WITH NUTRITION: You can’t do one without the other and expect optimal results, says Tommy Europe, retired CFLer and host of reality TV weight-loss shows The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp and Bulging Brides.

“A lot of people will only work out and they’ll eat like crap. Or they’ll eat well and don’t want to train. You gotta live in balance.”

CONTROL PORTIONS: Robin Antin, famed Pussycat Dolls creator, practises a simple portioncontrol strategy she dubs the “half-diet,” where she eats half of what’s on her plate when she goes to a restaurant.

“The servings are so big, especially in America.

Everything is just so massive that sometimes you’re just not supposed to eat that much.”

Fr�� �y ����ly t� ���rs, ��� t�� �es� t��s h��iday �e����.Th��� ��� t� ��r gre�� c������ty ��r ��� t�� ��pp�r� �s �� l��nc�e� t�� S�. A���r� Lead�r. W� �r� l����ng �����r� t� �� exc���ng 2012.

Bes� W���es,

Tanner, Mackenzie, Kim, Rob & Parker - St. Albert Children’s Bridge 2011

R�b L�Lac���r Own�r, t�� S�. A���r� Lead�r

15

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

HOMES

Kitchen designers focusing on the future MARK SALERNO Sun Media News Services

By incorporating flexibility and adaptability into kitchen design, the life and usability of a kitchen are increased and families, couples and individuals are able to stay in their homes and neighbourhoods as family size changes or older adults want to “age in place.”

The successful design of a universally accessible kitchen starts with identifying potential users and anticipating their needs. For example, are you a gourmet cook or do you prefer to microwave-prepared food? Do you have a disability that affects the way you prepare food?

Traditionally, kitchen designers have focused on a compact work triangle formed by the sink, stove and refrigerator. In reality, we must expand the triangle to include all work areas as well as garbage disposal and the dishwasher. If your ability to move around the kitchen while carrying things is limited, it is even more important to consider these additional elements within the traditional work triangle.

Designing an efficient kitchen also involves keeping the work triangle compact. Logical, sequential, routine movements will define the way your family uses the kitchen and will help

Photo: Sun Media News Services

Flexibility and adaptability are key in designing kitchens that can be used as family members grow older. to work, a lower workstation, and Baking is easier if baking supplies you design a kitchen with a work adequate manoeuvring space in are close to a work surface and triangle that meets your needs. front of controls, work areas and the oven. Meal clean-up is easier Designing for minimal effort appliances for someone using a if the table is located close to the is another important principle wheelchair or walker. sink, dishwasher and garbage or of universal kitchen design.

Other kitchen design recycling bins.

Planning for efficiency considers components that increase Flexibility and efficiency the location and relationship usability include: continuous of effort and ease of use of a of all major elements within countertops that allow pots, kitchen can be achieved through the kitchen. The result is the dishes and so on to slide along; such design considerations as placement of similar or related hands-free faucets; a wallproviding storage options at a items in the same location within mounted oven at countertop variety of heights so materials the kitchen. height; open shelving rather can be easily seen and reached.

For example, emptying the than cupboards with doors; and Other features to consider are dishwasher is easier if the dishes resilient flooring rather than a more lighting, a place to sit down and glasses are stored nearby.

Region builders in running for national awards

JEFF HOLUBITSKY Sun Media News Services

A little bit of Christmas came a few weeks early for a handful of Edmonton home builders as the Canadian Home Builders’ Assocation announced the finalists for its 2011 National SAM Awards on Dec. 5.

The finalists from Alberta’s Capital Region for single detached home under 1,500 square feet

include Homes by Avi Edmonton Inc. Sherwood Park for Dwight Paul Tanner in Ellerslie Heights and Sterling Homes Edmonton Ltd. for Oakshire.

The Edmonton finalist for single detached home between 1,500 and 2,200 square feet is White Eagle Homes Ltd. for Blue Pearl II. White Eagle Homes is also a finalist in the single detached home category between 2,500 and 4,000 square feet.

Rohit Group of Companies is nominated in the

community development category for Callaghan Ravines.

Homes by Avi Edmonton is also a finalist in the best sales officer category for Avi Definitions — Interior Selection Centre. Homes by Avi Edmonton scored its final nomination in the Grand SAM Award category, which recognizes the builder that demonstrates the highest level of excellence in both building and marketing.

The awards will be handed out March 17.

CALL NOW 780-489-8118 790 + $500

$

Provincal

Federal

WE Give You, up to: $ $

250 + 1290 Energy Audit

SAVE... $ UP TO

2830

ENTER ONLINE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A Brand New Goodman Furnace and Installation Air Conditioning & Heating

Doris Theriault Realtor®

780.264.0010

www.StAlbertAb.com REAL ESTATE

Let ALWAYS PLUMBING & HEATING & The Government PAY FORYOUR NEW FURNACE Government Gives You, up to:

hard surface.

Adaptability can be achieved by installing adjustable height counters; buying a refrigerator with a left-right-hinged reversible door; installing adjustable shelving in cupboards, and drawers for storage rather than under-counter cabinets.

When making decisions about new appliances, floors and countertops, remember to consider surface finishes. For example, glass cooktops tend to be easier to clean and some countertop surfaces need yearly maintenance with a sealer to protect them from staining and harbouring bacteria.

Finally, safety considerations in the kitchen deserve the highest consideration. Small rugs and mats in the kitchen should be avoided because they are a tripping hazard and an obstacle for many people with mobility impairments. Also, be sure to plan for easy access to water, a fire extinguisher and the gas shut-off valve in case of emergency.

To help you learn more about designing your kitchen, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has an About Your House fact sheet called Accessible Housing by Design – Kitchens. Download your free copy at www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642.

www.alwaysplumbing.ca

780-489-8118 Like Us on

This is Your Year, Lets Make It Happen!

Free Market Evaluation!

17

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

FOOD

Turkey leftover ideas that you’ll gobble up PAUL SHUFELT Sun Media News Services

Ahhh, the age old question — what will we do with the fridge full of leftovers after another holiday season?

It never fails that the morning after Christmas the fridge is bursting with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and (insert your family’s favourite vegetable here).

Then there’s the turkey carcass. It would be a shame to just toss that thing out. As if all of this wasn’t bad enough, what about the worst leftover of all: the half used can of gelatinous cranberry jelly? No matter how hard you try, you can never use up the whole thing.

Then there’s the matter of actually having to cook anything. After slaving over the stove all day, and likely for about a week before, there’s not a chance you want to be strapped to the darn thing again today.

These soup and sandwich recipes should do the trick when it comes to

Chef Paul Shufelt.

Photo: Sun Media News Services

cleaning out your fridge, and they won’t leave you stuck in the kitchen all day long either.

Enjoy these tasty dishes completely guilt-free because it’s the holiday season and you deserve to indulge a little extra. Besides, that’s what New Year’s resolutions are for anyways.

Happy holidays to you one and all, and best wishes to each and every one of you in 2012!

Photo: Sun Media News Services

Turkey dinners are great the first time around, but what to do with the leftovers?

TURKEY AND BRIE MONTE CRISTO 1 loaf sourdough bread (or your personal favourite bread)

• Mound the turkey on nicely.

Cranberry jelly (there’s always leftovers of that, right!)

• Top with 3-4 slices of brie, then the arugula.

Thinly sliced turkey meat (brown or white, your preference)

• Place the top bread on.

12 thin slices of brie or camembert 1/4 cup fresh arugula

CLASSIC TURKEY NOODLE SOUP

3 eggs

1 turkey carcass, most skin removed

1/2 cup milk

1 cup carrots, chopped 1 cup celery, chopped 2 cups onion, chopped 6 litres water 2 sprigs rosemary 2 sprigs sage 2 sprigs thyme 1 tsp. black peppercorns 3 bay leaves 1 cup white wine 1 cup orzo pasta (or your personal favourite) 2 cups leftover turkey meat, chopped • Rinse the turkey carcass to remove any impurities.

• Place in a soup pot and cover with cold water.

• Bring to a simmer and skim the surface of the water to further remove any impurities.

• Allow to simmer slowly for at least one hour, continuing to skim periodically.

• Add the bay leaves, peppercorns, herbs and white wine.

• Allow to simmer one more hour, at which point you should have a well flavoured stock.

• In a separate pot, cook your orzo pasta in well salted water. Cook it to al dente, strain and cool.

Nutmeg Salt and pepper • Cut two 1-inch thick slices of sourdough (you’re building this like a grilled cheese).

• On the insides, spread the cranberry jelly.

• In a bowl, combine the eggs, milk, and seasoning, and whisk all together.

• Heat a frying pan to medium high heat.

• Dip your sandwich into the egg mixture, then put it straight into the frying pan.

• Cook until golden brown and flip, and brown again.

• Slice this tasty treat and serve it up!

Michael’s @ The Inn

• Now, remove your stock from the heat and strain through a cheese cloth, or even a coffee filter, preserving the rich stock you have created.

WEDNESDAY STEAK SANDWICH SPECIAL

• Return the stock to a clean pot and bring to a simmer, adding your chopped vegetables. Allow them to cook for 12-15 minutes.

4:00PM – 9:00PM Steak Sandwich with Garlic Toast, with choice of Fries, Baked Potato or Rice, $ choice of Soup or Salad served with dessert.

• Complete the soup by adding the cooked turkey and orzo pasta, and season to your liking, and serve.

11:00AM – 2:00PM Steak Sandwich with Fries & Garlic Toast, with choice of Soup or Salad served with dessert.

9.95

$

12.95

Bring in this ad to receive an additional 10% OFF

nect18with

der

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

BUSINESS

Making dental tourism less painful

DOLLAR

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

FOLLOW US ON

twitter/@stalbertleader

hroughout the week

�Office Spaces �Administrative Services �Business Education �Coaching & Mentoring

www.nabi.ca 780.460.1000

Missed someone on your list?

5 Visits for $2500 expires dec.��/��

5 BBU BUCK UUCCCKK SSPECIAL!!!

PPEC ECCIAL IAL! L!!!

Your Bacon and Egg Alternative

To get through a dental procedure, some folks might imagine themselves in a tropical destination.

Now, thanks to a local company, that vision could become reality.

Daren Frick is the owner of Holiday Dental, which operates out of the Northern Alberta Business Incubator in downtown St. Albert. With his help, clients can find dentists in Mexico, saving thousands of dollars on their procedures while getting to spend their recovery time at a sunny resort like those in Puerto Vallarta or Cancun.

Frick said it was his experience with a procedure in Mexico that spurred him on.

“I was told by my dentist that I needed a dental implant, and looked around the Edmonton market a fair bit and found that the going price was somewhere between $5,000 and $6,000,” he said. “But then I happened to encounter a co-worker whose distant relative had just been to Mexico for some dental work, and she highly recommended the dentist she went to.”

In the end, Frick saved about $3,000 on the procedure itself. Even with other travel expenses, he came out over $1,000 ahead.

“And getting two weeks in Puerto Vallarta. Where’s the downside in that?” he added with a laugh.

After visiting a few other dentists’ offices during that first trip and seeing what they had to offer, he saw the potential to go into business back in St. Albert.

“I thought maybe I could coach people through dental tourism and tell them, ‘Here’s what you do when they do the heavy duty upselling on you,’” he said.

“Then it occurred to me, why even bother with that? Why not just screen out all the practitioners for whom you would have to coach people?”

Thus Frick set out creating a strenuous screening process for dentists based partially on North American standards, evaluating qualifications and cleanliness.

“It’s [also] based on the dentist’s ability to support dental tourism — do they speak English fluently? Will they pick you up

Choice of Croissant with Coffee for $5.00 Egg Frittata with Ham & Cheese Monkeys Love (Peanut Butter, Nutella & Banana)

Ham & Cheese Available untill 11:30am ~ While quantities last HOURS: Mon-Tues 10am-4pm, Wed, Thur & Fri 9am-5pm • Sat 10am-4pm

Group

Carpets, Janitorial & Restoration

www.dkcsparklean.com 780-459-4539

Up 0.78¢

98.13¢ US S&P/TSX

Up 199.42

11,926.67 NASDAQ

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

His own experience having dental work done in Mexico led local businessman Daren Frick to develop a rigorous screening process and set up Holiday Dental in St. Albert. from the airport or your hotel if necessary?

Is their clinic located in a nice area of town?” he said.

That screening process, he said, is the difference between what he offers and what other agencies are offering, and the response so far has been very good. “[People are saying,] ‘I’ve been told for years I need this work done, but I just can’t afford it. I don’t even care about the vacation; I just want to go and get it done and get quality work done and save the money.’ That’s been kind of a surprise.”

Frick offers his services to clients free of charge, as he is paid by the dentists to whom he refers patients.

Running a service referring patients to Mexican dentists seems like quite a change from Frick’s full-time job as an assistant warden at the Edmonton Institution, but he said even that has given him some valuable experience in this new part-time venture.

But, with medical tourism growing in the past few years, he hopes that there will come a day fairly soon where running Holiday Dental becomes a full-time job.

“I think it will at some point, but when that will be, it’s kind of hard to say,” he said.

For more info, visit holidaydental.ca.

Up 22.94

2,625.20 DOW

BIZ BYTES • Pair up for awards Two local businesses have been nominated for the Alberta Chambers of Commerce awards of distinction.

Quantum Chemical, based in Riel Business Park, has been nominated for the provincial small business award of distinction, while Penzen Ltd., a home-based bookkeeping and manual writing company, has been named a finalist for youth entrepreneur of the year.

The awards will be given out March 2 at the River Cree Resort.

Up 185.31

12,291.35 GOLD

Down $33.50

$1,593.70 US OIL

• Esso raring to go A long-awaited coffee shop/gas station in Campbell Business Park is finally up and running.

After delays set back opening day a few months, the Esso and Tim Hortons location at the corner of Campbell Road and Corriveau Avenue opened in mid-December.

Up $3.30

$101.27 US Figures as of closing Tuesday, compared to one week prior.

For information purposes only.

D’Arcy’s Casual Catering

Accounting and Tax Specialists

Take a little stress out of Christmas

Free Business Consultations

We even cook for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Phone: 780-458-8720

780-914-7444

www.darcyscasualcatering.com

Graham & Associates

Fax: 780-460-2167 Email: info@grahamtaxandaccounting.com 110-20 Circle Drive, St. Albert, AB T8N 7L4

19

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

STALBERTJOBS.COM

Occupy protests offer lessons in management at U of Sask. students land jobs as managers and make decisions that affect their employees.

The resulT: Both goals were accomplished, says What could the Occupy Wall Street movement MBA student Jan Baxter-Jones, who was in class that possibly have to do with an MBA course titled “Strategic dramatic day, and recalls that, “The atmosphere in the Human Resources Management” at the University of classroom was like a bubbling pressure cooker with a Saskatchewan? rising temperature.”

Plenty, explains Dionne Pohler, assistant professor at Baxter-Jones says that, after about 10 minutes of the Saskatoon campus’s Edwards School of Business. bewilderment and anger, some of the outraged students In October, shortly before Occupy Saskatoon began decided to prepare a petition to university management pitching tents a block from Pohler’s classroom, she demanding restoration of the original terms of their staged what she calls an “experiential exercise in course. “But before we got very far, the dean and deception.” The deliberately shocking object lesson Prof. Pohler told us it had all been staged.” ended up implicitly connecting the dots between the The Take-away: Were the desired take-aways protesters’ actions and what she believes her students from the exercise absorbed? “Absolutely,” says Baxterneed to learn to be effective managers Jones. “It was a fantastic learning in their future careers. tool because when you touch people’s The lie: The teachable-moment emotions like that, the lesson goes exercise took place after approximately from theory to practice.”

40 students had already done intensive Student Erin Holm agrees: “It put work and racked up crucial credits. At into perspective for me how I had the lectern that day, the department acted as a manager in the past, not Jan Baxter-Jones dean surprised the class by telling necessarily putting much thought into MBA student them a whopper: Their professor how letting someone go, or changing was not there because she had been their schedules, would affect them,” abruptly suspended for committing an ethical violation. she explains. “In what I hope will be my future in senior In Pohler’s place was a new professor, who announced management, this exercise will always resonate with that he was now in charge, that everything the students me.” had accomplished so far was being tossed out, and that Lately, Pohler and her students have passed Occupy they would have to buy an expensive textbook and write Saskatoon protesters on their way to class. And she says onerous research papers if they wished to graduate. she hopes her deception has resulted in at least some of “The deception was designed to make them feel that her students “questioning their assumptions,” just as the an injustice had been done to them, and then to see if people in tents around the world are doing. they would decide to take collective action” resembling “It’s not that I want them to think like I do,” she that of the Occupy movement, Pohler explains. explains. “I just want them to question those take-it-forThe exercise “was also meant to simulate granted ways we operate our society, which sometimes powerlessness on the students’ part,” Pohler adds, and to means rethinking their attitude toward collective action. prompt empathy — not so much for the issues involved People who do that, and think outside the box, become in the Occupy movement, but for the future, when the good leaders and good managers.”

TERRY POULTON Sun Media News Services

“The atmosphere ... was like a bubbling pressure cooker.”

OPPORTUNITY AWAITS YOU.

ADULT CARRIERS WEEKLY DELIVERIES

The St. Albert Leader is currently looking for adult carriers to deliver newspapers and flyers packs door to door once a week. Deliveries are flexible on Thursdays prior to 7pm.

Earn over $400 per month only working a flexible 4-5 hours, every Thursday delivering the St. Albert Leader.

If you are interested please email: operations@edmontonexaminer.com or call 780.468.0384

FURNITURE INSTALLER

Salary Range: $44,281.26 to $50,785.38 per annum Comp # 11-172 Closing Date: January 6, 2012 The AGLC, St. Albert Office, is looking for an experienced Furniture Installer to install, dismantle, assemble, move and store systems furniture, along with general maintenance within the AGLC complexes.

The AGLC is responsible for regulating gaming and liquor activities across the province. Our work environment offers challenging opportunities, career growth, and supports work-life balance.

50 Corriveau Avenue St. Albert, AB T8N 3T5 fax: 780.447.8918 email: hr@aglc.ca

To apply, visit our website: aglc.ca

Photo: Sun Media News Services

Dionne Pohler, an assistant business professor at the University of Saskatchewan, says a radical experiment in her class taught valuable lessons about managing employees.

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to grow your career in a place where people care?

Our employees take pride in providing more than 60,000 residents with high-quality programs and services. A wide array of opportunities are available to suit your passion and experience. You can cultivate your career in a place where staff not only care about the work they do but also the people they work alongside.

We have the following employment opportunities available: • • • • • • • • • • • •

City Manager General Manager, Economic Development Aquatics Instructors Aquatics Recruitment & Training Associate Emergency Services Personnel Fitness Instructors Night Shift Caretakers Pilates Instructors Senior Long Range Planner Senior Project Manager Temporary Payroll Support Utility Engineer

For information on these and other current opportunities available at the City of St. Albert please visit our website at www.stalbert.ca/employment or drop by our Human Resources department.

Human Resources The City of St. Albert 216, 7 St. Anne Street St. Albert, Alberta T8N 2X4 Fax: (780) 459-1729 Online applications: www.stalbert.ca/employment We wish to express our appreciation to all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position but only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

20

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

The New

66 0

!

days days

St. Albert Dodge GUAR ANTEED

LOWEST

PRICES

OF THE YEAR !

UP TO

ALL ON ABLE S A E R OFFE RS D !!

A C C E P TE

$5000

P RE PAID M AST TE ER RC CA AR D friends family & R

GUAR ANTEED CRED IT APP ROVAL

W

A

R

2012 GRAND

Stock# K2116

0 DOWN OAC $ 122 B/W

D

TruCa$h

S

04/18

CHEROKEE

5 TO CHOOSE

$32,998

0 DOWN OAC $ 199 B/W

2012 GRAND CARAVAN

$20,898

E

5440 00 0000 00 0000 0000 5440 ST. ALBERT D DODGE ODGE

CALL DONNA

STALBERTDODGE.COM

The New

Serving Alberta for over 30 Years!

Local & Long Distance

1•877•570•8784

2012 RAM MONSTER

OR O D K E E W G N I BOX CreIceAivLe a!

E P S R E H S A R ill w C 3 Customers per day e FREE. 1ST nance packag 3 year maintep. Jan. 1/12 Ex

Stock# L2162

Get Approved Now for a NO HASSLE CAR LOAN

We Deliver Anywhere in Alberta!

!

TRUCK

SPECIAL FINANCE CAR LOANS or visit us online at

cars cars & trucks trucks

$39,995

Stock# K2191

0 DOWN OAC $ 239 B/W

IT’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK!

Now there’s a way to get auto financing for a new or used vehicle even if you have a bad credit history.

With our Special Finance Department, there is no hassle, no waiting, and no pressure. In fact, you can even submit a auto loan request online! We’re the experts on bad credit, so let us make it easy for you.

STEP 1 Submit a loan application online or call our Special Finance Department to submit an auto loan application and get pre-approved.

STEP 2 After you send your application, one of our Special Finance Consultants will process your car loan request. Same day approvals are common.

We make it simple

St. Albert Dodge *All vehicles may not be exactly as illustrated

STEP 3 One of our Consultants will inform you of the required documentation needed to complete your special finance car loan package.

STEP 4 Visit St. Albert Dodge and, select a new or used automobile, and close your loan. You can buy a car in less than 24 hours.

Christmas Hours: Dec. 24th - 9am - 5pm, Closed Dec. 25th Dec. 26th - 11am - 4pm, then regular hours: Open Mon - Thurs 8:30-9:00, Fri & Sat 8:30-6:00, Sun 11:00-4:00

184 St.Albert Trail

15 minutes north of West Edmonton Mall on 170st.