St. Albert Leader - Feb. 9, 2012

Page 1

Photo: glenn cook, St. Albert leader

When is it time for new Orthotics? IS IT TIME FOR A NEW PAIR? ARE YOUR FEET GETTING SORE EVEN THOUGH YOU WEAR YOUR ORTHOTICS? NOT SURE IF YOU EVEN NEED THEM? If your orthotics are more than 2 years old, they may not be doing what they originally intended. In fact, they may be doing you more harm than good.

Leading Edge Physiotherapy does complimentary orthotic checks.

Please call 780-458-2669 to arrange your check-up today.


BMW Retailers Bavaria BMW

Edmonton

Enjoy a nice 10 minute drive on the Henday to visit us....

Bavaria BMW

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

bmw.ca

BUILDING ST. ALBERT

Join us on for a fabulous breakfast at the Hole’s Enjoy Centre and hear from Mayor Nolan Crouse, St. Albert Business & Tourism Development, and Planning & Engineering as they share plans to build St. Albert.

After breakfast there will be an engaging and informative marketing workshop offered, with Jason Vance from Bubble Up Marketing. Whether you simply update your company’s Facebook status, or are preparing a marketing plan, you will not want to miss this opportunity!

The Ultimate Driving Experience.®

Have e an n

ULTIMATE RIDE HOME.

A GREAT SELECTION OF NEW AND USED BMW VEHICLES.

Visit our showroom today and you are one step away from the ultimate ownership of a BMW

View our inventory at wwww.bavariabmw.ca Ph: 780-484-0000

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.

2 Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

join us for the annual St. Albert Business Breakfast February 28, 2012

Tickets on sale NOW!

Get them at: www.cultivatebusiness.ca

Business and Tourism Development

MORE INFO + TICKETS AVAILABLE AT WWW.CULTIVATEBUSINESS.CA


3

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Agenda set for Lead town hall meeting the

INDEX

News . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . 8 Entertainment . . . . . 14 Homes . . . . . . . 18 Health . . . . . . . 19 Business . . . . . . 20 Lifestyle . . . . . . . 22 stalbertjobs.com . . . 23

COVER

Enjoy Centre employee Jessica Horsburgh shows off all three components of the Beers, Burgers and Bouquets event happening Monday at the shopping complex, with all proceeds going to the Lois Hole Hospital for Women. See story, page 9.

FUN WITH NUMBERS

1 million

That’s how many packets of birth control pills drug company Pfizer is recalling in the U.S. because the pills may not have enough of the contraceptive ingredient to prevent pregnancy. The company urged consumers to “begin using a non-hormonal form of contraception immediately.”

THIS DAY IN HISTORY FEB. 9, 1964

Brothers Vic and John Emery, along with Douglas Anakin and Peter Kirby, win Canada’s only gold medal of the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, in bobsledding.

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

The first in a series of regular town hall meetings being put on by St. Albert city council is set to cover a wide range of topics — if attendees allow it to. On Monday, councillors finalized the agenda for the meeting, which is set to be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Lacombe Park Clubhouse (145 Larose Dr.). First up is an open mike period for residents to let councillors know what concerns they have. If there is any time left, councillors will give updates on such topics as economic development, various department master plans and council priorities for the upcoming year. “I’m quite looking forward to this first town hall meeting, what the attendance is like and how the discussion flows,” Coun. Cathy Heron said. “Hopefully we’ll get some good dialogue.” Also on Monday, councillors made some minor amendments to the terms of reference governing the town hall meetings. One of the amendments proposed by City of St. Albert staff softened language around councillors’ attendance, saying that they would attempt to

ensure at least three council members would be present. Coun. Malcolm Parker, though, wanted to have three councillors there, or else have the meeting called off. “It’s important that we do have a good turnout of council members at all these session, particularly during the first year, which we said would be a trial period,” Parker said. “Anything less than three members, in my opinion, would send the wrong message to the public.” Others, though, felt the meetings must go on no matter how many councillors show up. “I don’t think we can always dictate 100 per cent of the time we’re always going to have three members,” Mayor Nolan Crouse said, “and I think it would be inappropriate, if there’s only two members, to cancel the meeting.” Council plans to hold three such town hall meetings over the course of 2012, with a concerted effort to hold them on different days, at different times of day, and in different areas of the city. After the Feb. 25 meeting, the next town hall will be held on Wednesday, May 30, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Morinville Room at Servus Credit Union Place. Another meeting is scheduled for 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Grandin Clubhouse (5 Grenfell Ave.).

Sign of support

Photo: glenn cook, St. Albert leader

Brenda Bourassa signs a banner at the St. Albert Walmart on Saturday in support of athletes competing at the 2012 Special Olympics National Winter Games, which kick off in St. Albert and Jasper on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Mayor gives state of city address Mayor Nolan Crouse is optimistic about St. Albert’s chances as the city moves forward into a new year. Crouse gave his annual State of the City address to almost 300 people at the St.Albert Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday at the Enjoy Centre. In it, he outlined St. Albert’s

Scan to read more

successes, such as being named the best place in Canada to raise a family by Today’s Parent magazine, as well as the challenges the city faces, like economic development and several capital projects yet to be built. For in-depth coverage of the mayor’s speech, please visit stalbertleader.com. — GLENN COOK

PUBLIC LOTS FOR SALE 780.484.4366

GENSTAR.COM


4

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

FREE SPEAKER SERIES

YOUR COUNCIL

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ST. ALBERT FIRE SERVICES Monday, February 13, 3:00 p.m. BOOT DRIVE East Boardroom, Third Floor St. Albert Place, 5 St. Anne Street

2nd Annual Muscular Dystrophy Rooftop Campaign

NEXT COUNCIL MEETING

February 11 & 12, 2012 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Inglewood Safeway, 395 St. Albert Trail

Tuesday, February 21, 3:00 p.m. Council Chambers, St. Albert Place 5 St. Anne Street

SUBDIVISION & DEVELOPMENT APPEAL BOARD

Firefighters will be on hand collecting donations. Win prizes. Come support a worthwhile cause!

ST. ALBERT FIRE SERVICES AT EAST SIDE MARIO’S

Wednesday, February 22, 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers, St. Albert Place 5 St. Anne Street

2nd Annual Muscular Dystrophy Rooftop Campaign

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

February 16, 2012 | 5 to 9 p.m. East Side Mario’s, 615 St. Albert Trail

Thursday, February 23, 6:00 p.m. East Boardroom, Third Floor St. Albert Place, 5 St. Anne Street

CONFIDENTIAL DRUG TIP LINE 780-460-DRUG (3784) Keep St. Albert safe and provide tips about drug dealers operating in our community.

Have dinner served by St. Albert Firefighters. All tips raised will go directly to the Muscular Dystrophy Rooftop Campaign.

DISCONNECT TO CONNECT ON FAMILY DAY

Be part of Family Day Unplugged! On February 20, unplug from technology and connect with yourself, your family and your community. Log the hours you and your family spent unplugged at www.fcssaa.ab.ca Download the form at www.stalbert.ca/ family-day-unplugged and send it to Family and Community Support Services Deadline: Feb.22

Planning Our Community Ecological Innovations

Presenter Brian Scott from Communitas will discuss how rainwater harvesting, biological water treatment, solar power, heat recovery and district energy are being considered for Station Pointe Greens, a new transitoriented, infill development in the Fort Road area of Edmonton and its applicability to St. Albert. February 29, 2012 | 7 p.m. St. Albert Senior Citizens’ Club, 7 Tache Street, St. Albert To register, call 780-459-1642 or email planninged@st-albert.net

ST. ALBERT RCMP REGIMENTAL BALL

March 3, 2012 The Enjoy Centre, 101 Riel Drive Cocktails: 5:30; Buffet: 6:30 Tickets $100 and includes a $25 donation to St. Albert Victim Services Uniform Dress: Walking Out Order Mess Kit Formal Attire Required For tickets: Wilma – 780-458-4341 Deadline: February 18

/StA_Recreation /StARecreation

FOUNTAIN PARK RECREATION CENTRE w:

stalbert.ca/fountain-parkrecreation-centre p: 780-459-1553 Standard First Aid Recertification Sign up for the recertification exam that re-tests all skill items and provides updated information. Register today for the February 25 exam. /StA_ServusPlace /StAServusPlace

SERVUS PLACE w: p:

servusplace.ca 780-418-6088

Family Day Activities Enjoy a day of family fun at Servus Place. Go for a swim, shoot some hoops or take in a workout while your kids are playing. Open February 20, 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

GRANTS BASEMENT SUITE GRANT PROGRAM w: stalbert.ca/basement-suite-information p: 780-459-1642

For more information and a list of Family Day activities, visit www.stalbert.ca/family- Grants of up to $15,000 are being provided for the development of a new basement day or call Family and Community Support suite and up to $10,000 for the renovation Services, 780-459-1756. of an existing basement suite. The City of St. Albert’s Basement Suite Grant Program COUNCIL TOWN HALL MEETING is available through the Government of Saturday, February 25 Alberta’s Affordable Housing Funding. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Lacombe Park Clubhouse 145 Larose Drive You are invited to meet Council Members to discuss any topic you like.

READY SET GO

St. Albert residents are invited to nominate deserving individuals who have enhanced the quality of life in their community or enhanced the image of the community through their actions. Nominations for the 2012 Community Recognition Awards will be received until February 15, 2012. Details on the program and nomination forms can be found at

www.stalbert.ca/ community-recognition-program


Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Firefighters kick off MD drive

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

Most people camping on a rooftop in the middle of February would wish for warm weather. Not Adam Colameco, though. Colameco is one of seven St. Albert Fire Services members who will be camping out atop the roof of Fire Hall No. 2 on Boudreau Road later this month to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy Canada. And while the Capital Region has enjoyed mild temperatures so far this winter, he’s hoping for a cold snap to hit just in time. “The cold is by far better for us,” Colameco said. “It’s to show our small sacrifice. That’s the whole point of it, to be up there freezing and really driving home the point of why we’re up there. There’s a reason we don’t do it in July.” Last year was the first time St. Albert Fire Services members took on the rooftop campout challenge, and with windchills approaching –40 C, they raised $38,000 — more than double their goal of $15,000 and second only to the Edmonton Fire Department among

five Capital Region fire departments who participated in the challenge. This year, though, the firefighters are humbly keeping their goal the same at $15,000. “That’s truly a safe number. It’s really hard to base the next year off the first year,” Colameco said. “We don’t know if we just happened to get lucky. It’s a good motivator for us to beat our goal.” When it comes to both keeping warm and raising money, Colameco said the firefighters learned a few tricks last year that they’ll take back on the roof with them this year. “We learned that, believe it or not, people coming by and filling our boots was by far our biggest moneymaker,” he said. “We tried a lot of fancy ideas and stuff required a lot of man hours, a lot of setup, and we realized the good old grassroots [approach], getting out there and waving your hand, brought in the most [for us].” Muscular dystrophy is the name given to a group of genetic neuromuscular disorders that result in progressive weakness and the degeneration of voluntary muscles that control body movement. The

muscles involved are different from one disorder to another, as are the severity of symptoms, the age at which symptoms appear, how fast they progress and the pattern of inheritance the disorder follows. While MD can appear at any age, symptoms commonly show up in childhood. Currently, there is no cure. Firefighters have been raising money for Muscular Dystrophy Canada since 1954, and even though the two have been linked for so long, Colameco said it’s easy for firefighters to be reminded why they take on fundraising activities. “There are a few families in St. Albert that are affected [by muscular dystrophy], which makes it that easier,” he said. “It’s something you have a vision on, and it’s not like you’re aimlessly fundraising for this mystery thing you don’t know much about.” Aside from the rooftop campout, firefighters will be at the Safeway store at Inglewood Towne Centre Saturday and Sunday for their annual Boot Drive, and will be serving dinner at Eastside Mario’s in St. Albert on Thursday, Feb. 16, as part of their fundraising efforts.

5

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

Mayor Nolan Crouse works to do up his pants during a race to put on firefighting gear during St. Albert Fire Services’ muscular dystrophy drive kickoff on Monday.


6

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Waste diversion rate double Alta. average GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

St. Albert’s waste diversion rate is anywhere but down in the dumps, according to figures released last week. The City of St. Albert announced on Friday that the residential waste diversion rate — the amount of solid waste that is being diverted from landfills through recycling or composting programs — was 58.2 per cent for 2011. That’s more than double the average provincial rate of 29 per cent and one of the highest in the province. Solid waste program co-ordinator Christian Benson said that’s a figure the whole city can be proud of. “St. Albert has always been very good [at

diverting waste]; basically since we brought an improvement on that,” he said. “But 58 in the Pay As You Throw system in 1997, our per cent is fantastic. It’s a nice number to diversion rate has always been a little better have, especially since it’s already double the than the provincial average,” Benson said. Alberta average. But we still have a little “With our new numbers, more work to do.” we are definitely looking There was some to be one of the leaders in grumbling when the the province.” new program was first He added that it was introduced this past a bit of a surprise to see summer, but Benson said the city’s diversion rate so he’s seeing it really start to Christian Benson high after the new solid catch on with residents. City of St. Albert waste program had only “It was a huge change, been in use for about especially going to seven months. biweekly garbage [pickup], and I guess “We were definitely expecting an increase; maybe people needed to see how much I think we were at about 46 per cent [in material they had in their house that is 2010], and we were definitely looking for actually considered organic,” he said.

“But we still have a little more work to do.”

Plus, the City has spent a lot of time educating residents about the new program and which materials go in which bin. “It’s always a communication effort thing. There’s always an adjustment period for people to get used to the program. But it really is changing your habits, and it takes a period of time for people to change their habits,” he said. The City also hosted a large item drop-off event in the fall — which proved popular with 450 people attending — and introduced the collection of household hazardous waste at the Campbell Park recycling depot, along with collection of scrap metal, additional residential waste and motor oil. Ultimately, Benson said, the City’s waste diversion goal is 65 per cent.

McClure honoured with medal

“distributing documents, conveying messages and taking part in ceremonial events,” according to the program’s website. Monday marked the start of Queen McClure said she got started in the Elizabeth II’s 60th year on the throne, but program because she was very interested it was one St. Albert girl who walked away in politics, and she said her time in the with the honours. program has been a rewarding experience. Ellen McClure, a 16-year-old Grade “As somebody who is interested in politics 11 student at École Secondaire Sainte and wants to move forward in the world Marguerite d’Youville, was one of 21 of democracy, it’s great,” she said. “And as Albertans to receive the Diamond Jubilee a citizen of Alberta, I think it’s something Medal from Lt.-Gov. Donald S. Ethell at a everyone should have the opportunity to see special ceremony Monday at Government — to see the back workings of how it all goes House in Edmonton, kicking off a year of down has really been an honour and has celebrations in the province. helped me understand the province better.” “It’s a great honour,” McClure said. “I’ve It is a hefty time commitment, however; always been interested in the monarchy, and McClure often works 20 hours a week I think the monarchy is something that we Monday to Thursday when the legislature should absolutely honour is in session. But she said in Canada. So it’s a great she finds a way to balance honour to be recognized, it with school and other and a great honour to be activities. recognized with such an “It’s a challenge, but it’s amazing group of people.” worth it,” she said. “And Other notable being at a smaller school, Ellen McClure Albertans honoured my teachers have been Medal recipient Monday with the so understanding; I can’t Diamond Jubilee Medal thank them enough for included Premier Alison helping me along the way. Redford; Gail Vickery, chief judge of the The opportunity really is worth more than Provincial Court of Alberta; Métis Nation of anything I may struggle with throughout Alberta president Audrey Poitras; and Brig.- the year.” Gen. Paul Wynnyk, commander of Land With graduation only a year and a half Force Western Area. away, McClure hopes to keep stoking her McClure found out she would receive the interest in politics, possibly by studying medal thanks to a letter from the lieutenant overseas. governor that arrived in the mail about two “I’d love to continue with post-secondary weeks ago. studies, possibly something in political “I was very surprised,” she said. “I know science or arts,” she said, “and just sort of see I’ve made contributions in my own right, but what opportunities come available, whether considering what other people have done, I it be through the legislature or out in the didn’t exactly feel deserving. But very happy real world.” nonetheless.” Also honoured was Holly Strang, a 2011 Aside from volunteering and playing Bellerose Composite High School grad, who sports, McClure works as a page in the was recognized as a strong youth leader and Legislative Assembly, which involves advocate of tolerance in schools and society.

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

TF$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$A

“It’s a challenge, but it’s worth it.”

Get the rate that gets you more. Open a Tax-Free Savings Account and earn interest income that’s all yours. Visit a branch today to build a flexible investment portfolio that suits your needs. 700 St. Albert Trail, St. Albert Ph (780) 458-4001 cwbank.com * Rate subject to change without notice. WestEarner® TFSA Account only. Interest calculated daily, paid monthly. Available in-branch only.

Member of CDIC


7

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 400 Campbell Road St. Albert, Alberta t. 780.418.6088

Servus Credit Union Place offers an array of programs for every age and ability. For program descriptions and information about all programs offered, please go to servusplace.ca or pick up a program guide at any City of St. Albert facility.

New programs start the third week of February. spin–ESIS

boot camp (early morning)

tuesdays, february 21 – march 20 7:30 – 9:00 pm

mondays, wednesdays, & fridays, march 2 – march 23 5:30 - 6:30 am cost: $ 100.00 (10 classes) code: 16399

cost: $65.00 (5 classes) . . . . code: 16618

spin express tuesdays, february 21 – march 20 5:45 – 6:30 am

cost: $30.00 (5 classes) . . . .code: 16452

boot camp (evening) thursdays, february 23 – march 22 6:30 - 7:30 pm

cost: $50.00 (5 classes) . . . code: 16404

thursdays, february 23 – march 22 5:45 – 6:30 am cost: $30.00 (5 classes) . . code: 16453

the long hard ride wednesdays, february 22 – march 21 7:00 – 8:30 pm cost: $60.00 (5 classes) . . code: 16460

ballet barre fitness tuesdays, february 21 – march 20 8:15 – 9:15 pm cost: $50.00 (5 classes) . . code: 16394

break in boot camp (early morning) tuesdays and thursdays, march 1march 22 5:30 - 6:30 am

cost: $70.00 (7 classes) . . . code: 16407

saturdays, february 25 – march 24 10:15 – 11:00 am cost: $45.00 (5 classes) code: 16714

iFlow tuesdays, february 21 – march 20 1:15 – 2:00 pm

mondays, wednesdays & fridays, march 2 - march 23 noon - 12:45 pm

cost: $90.00 (10 classes) . . . code: 16712

cost: $60.00 (5 classes) . . . code: 16470

Zumba®

kickstart kettlebell

wednesdays, february 22 – march 21 8:30 – 9:30 pm

mondays, february 13 – march 19 (no class february 20) 6:15 – 7:15 pm

cost: $55.00 (5 classes) . . . . code:16422

tabata saturdays, february 25 – march 24 8:45 - 9:30 am

TRX strength tuesdays, february 21 – march 20 9:15 – 10:15 am

cost: $60.00 (5 classes) . . . . code: 16471

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

wednesdays, february 22 – march 21 6:00 – 7:00 pm

cost: $40.00 (5 weeks). . . . . code: 16413

cost: $40.00 (5 classes) . . . . code:16456

KINESIS™ bootcamp

TRX cardio circuit

follow us: twitter.com/Sta_ServusPlace

cost: $50.00 (5 classes) . . . .code: 16479

tuesdays, february 21 – march 20 noon – 12:45 pm

cost: $50.00 (5 classes) . . . code: 16482

fridays, february 24 – march 23 7:45 – 8:45 pm

cost: $50.00 (5 classes) . . . code: 16480

adult dodgeball mondays, february 27 - april 2 9:00 - 10:30 pm cost: $40.00 . . . . . . . . . code: 16628


8

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

OPINION

iStAlbert

Grits, Raj face identity crisis

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

@dylanammar We need another Timmie’s in St. Albert, preferably one near Oakmont.

A

s Premier Alison Redford and her Progressive Conservative government delivered its Speech from the Throne on Tuesday — which was long on promises but short on the details of how they will be met — another announcement flew under the radar. by Glenn Cook That same day, the Alberta Liberal Party announced their platform for the upcoming provincial election. And, given that they have recently been polling in fourth place, perhaps it’s fitting that the Grits and their leader, Dr. Raj Sherman, built some planks into their platform that are bound to raise some eyebrows and grab some attention — good or bad. The most surprising of Sherman’s platform points is the elimination of postsecondary tuition fees by 2025. He also proposed fixing the province’s health care system within two years — although, like his former Tory colleagues, details were sparse — eliminating school fees, and establishing more long-term care facilities. This would all be paid for with $1.5 billion in new taxes, mostly on corporations and people who earn over $100,000 a year. Sherman said in his announcement Tuesday that, with crude oil around $100 US per barrel, it makes no sense for Alberta to be running deficits. That’s true, but it also makes no sense to hike taxes instead to pay for everyone’s university diploma. Through many of its points, the Liberals’ platform seems to lean out of the cetnre and to the left. But, at the same time, it also leans toward the right side of the political spectrum. Case in point: Sherman’s proposal to reduce the size of the Legislative Assembly to 66 members, and permanently set the number of MLAs at twice the number of MPs Alberta has in Ottawa. This all points to an identity crisis in the Alberta Liberal Party when they can least afford it. They have only seven seats in the current legislature, and have the Wildrose Party breathing down their necks. Sherman and his party need to figure out what they stand for before there isn’t an Alberta Liberal Party to speak of.

@ConserveAlberta More #owl facts: Snowy owl males are mostly white & turn whiter with age. Range roads 260 & 261 north of St. Albert are good #owling spots.

EDITORIAL

@greyexistent St. Albert busses have the comfiest seats. What the hell, #yeg? Get new seats for your busses!

@ShaniGwin Sturgeon Valley Food and Wine Festival @EnjoyCentre on October 27, 2012! #stalbert just got cooler!

Compiled by Swift Media Group swiftmedia.ca • @Swift_Media

Follow us at @stalbertleader

Servus Place a facility to take pride in

H

aving sat on St. Albert city council for about four years now, I can say that one of the issues I hear about most often from citizens is Servus Credit Union Place. I’ve heard lots of complaints, mainly about the locker rooms — they’re too small, there aren’t enough of them — and that the fitness areas were packed and more equipment was needed. So, when I started visiting Servus Place myself about six months ago to work out, I thought I’d check out some of these complaints first-hand. I’ve even made a point over the last month or so to go to the facility at different times during the day, from early morning to late evening, and checked out almost every corner, from the third-floor running track to the second-

Roger

LEMIEUX City Councillor My City floor weight room to the community gym on the main floor. And while I could see that some improvements could be made, they don’t require immediate attention. I’ve used the running track, the treadmills in the fitness centre, and the free weights. The track is never crowded, and in every corner are free weights, exercise bikes and floor mats free to use. And in the weight room, even in the busiest times, if had to wait for a cardio machine, it was only for a minute or two. The quality of the equipment is

Publisher: Rob LeLacheur rob@stalbertleader.com

Editor: Glenn Cook

glenn@stalbertleader.com

Sales Manager: Blake Bradburn blake@stalbertleader.com

state-of-the-art, and there are always staff roaming around, willing to help. As for lockers, there hasn’t been one time that I’ve had a problem finding a locker. Sometimes, it’s in the seldomused dressing room on the main floor by the basketball courts. Still, I don’t see any immediate need to spend taxpayer dollars on the facility. I’ve also noticed that there’s a real variety of users, from kids in the aquatic centre to seniors keeping fit to young mothers walking the track. It creates a wonderful, warm feeling that is welcoming to all. Servus Place is a facility that I, as a St. Albertan, am proud of, and it is something the whole city should be proud of. City council of the day locked in a price of $47.2 million for

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 without the express written consent of the publisher.

the facility; to build it today would cost upwards of $140 million. Of course, as St. Albert grows, so too will the recreational needs of our citizens. A new ice surface is definitely on the horizon and could be located at Servus Place, although it is not currently a funded item in the City’s capital budget. And, as north Edmonton neighbourhoods continue to build out and attract residents, it is conceivable that more of them will start making the short trip to use St. Albert’s facilities. But, for the time being, Servus Place is an excellent place to participate in family sports and individual health, and one that, in its present shape, should serve us well into the future. Owned and operated by

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

Phone: 780-460-1035


9

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

O Lever as 70 ed %

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

Jessica Horsburgh of the Enjoy Centre gets set to chow down in advance of the Beers, Burgers and Bouquets event in support of the Lois Hole Hospital for Women on Monday.

Hole’s teams up for Valentine’s fundraiser

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

It’s the perfect guys’ night out: Cold beer, tasty hamburgers, talking sports and — arranging flowers? Beers, Burgers and Bouquets is back at the Enjoy Centre Monday from 4 to 7 p.m., just in time for Valentine’s Day. For $149, men can pop in, have a couple of beers, eat a burger, and get a little help creating a custom arrangement of orchids for that special someone, to be delivered the next day. All proceeds from the event go towards the Lois Hole Hospital for Women. Jim Hole, co-owner of the Enjoy Centre, said last year’s event was a huge success, and he expects the same this year. “The guys had a great time. It was a real low-key, fun event,” he said, noting that they raised about $10,000 last year. “There was a real diversity of men here, a ton of different guys from different companies. ... We had about 110 last year, and we’re hoping to crank it up.” He added that he was surprised at some of the creativity he saw last year. “Some of the guys were quite serious; they did a good job,” he said. “What amazed me was, I thought some of the guys would just say, ‘Oh yeah, a bouquet.’ But they were very concerned about how to arrange it and do it right. The florists helped them with it, and when they took their picture with it, they

were quite proud of it. It was good to see that.” Participants will also have a chance to have their picture taken with their bouquet, and add-ons like wine and chocolate will also be available. Along for the evening will be host Craig Larkins from CTV and special guests from the Edmonton Oilers and the Edmonton Eskimos. Hole said that having some celebrities on board helps drive home the message of supporting women’s health. “It’s about breaking that barrier. [Men] might think it’s a separate issue, but no — there are mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, grandmothers. We’re all in this together,” he said. “By having those more macho guys saying that being involved in women’s health is an important thing, they go, ‘OK, I get it.’” Last year’s event was on a Sunday, bettering the chances of a good turnout but, to keep the flowers as fresh as possible, Hole wants to make sure the event stays the day before Valentine’s Day, even if that means going on a weekday. “Because it’s a 4 to 7 [p.m.] timeslot, I think it’ll work quite well,” he said. “Maybe kick out of work a little early if you can and cruise in.” Participants are encouraged to register ahead of time by calling 780-419-6800 and pressing 3 or by signing up online at www. beersburgersandbouquets.com. WED. WE D. GAZ OCT 12, 19, 26/ 6/11 11 – 3x 3x18 182 18 2 {p {pro roce ro cess ce ss}} ss


10

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Teens robbed at gunpoint GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

St. Albert RCMP are trying to find a trio of perpetrators after a group of teenagers was robbed at gunpoint last week. The six teens were stopped in the parking lot of the Lacombe Park Reservoir and Pump Station on Larose Drive, near W.D. Cuts Junior High School and Bertha Kennedy Catholic Community School, shortly after 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31, as one of the teens was driving the rest home. While they were parked, another car pulled up behind the teens and stopped, and the teens got out of the car to see who it was. That’s when police say two men got out of the passenger side of the other car, with one of them pulling out a firearm. He proceeded to fire a shot

into the air, then point the gun in the face of one of the teens, demanding his wallet. The victim handed over his wallet without incident. The suspect then told the whole group to turn around and start walking in the direction of the schools. The suspects then took off in a light-coloured four-door car. The driver of the car was described as a female with shoulder-length dark hair. The male who exited the front seat of the car was believed to be wearing a toque and dark clothes. The other male who brandished the firearm is described as having a short haircut with designs cut into the sides, clean shaven and wearing black clothes. All the suspects were described as being 16 to 19 years of age. Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Census shows slow growth for St. Albert Statistics Canada released the first findings from the 2011 Census on Wednesday, and the news was not good for St. Albert. The census pegged the city’s population at 61,466. That’s up from 57,764 in 2006, but only represents growth of 6.4 per cent over that five-year period. Other Capital Region municipalities saw much higher growth rates over that same period, including Beaumont (48.2 per cent), Leduc (43.1), Spruce Grove

(33.9), Fort Saskatachewan (27.4), Morinville (26.5), Strathcona County (12.1) and Edmonton (11.2). On the whole, Alberta’s population grew by 10.8 per cent between 2006 and 2011, the second-highest rate among provinces and territories behind the Yukon (11.7 per cent). Canada’s population grew 5.9 per cent over that period, from 31.6 million to 33.5 million. — GLENN COOK

Oakmont rezoning OK’d

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

A new development in the Oakmont subdivision got the goahead from St. Albert city council Monday evening. The bylaw for the rezoning of 3.1 hectares at 100 Orchard Court received three unanimous readings from councillors Monday, changing its designation from urban reserve to low-density residential. The land owner, Sarasota Homes, intends to turn the develop the property into a “heritage-themed” community of 32 single detached houses, much like the company’s Brickyard project in the same subdivision. “What they envision ... is a nice upper-end community,” said Chuck McNutt of Focus Engineering, which is working with Sarasota Homes on the project. There were some concerns, both from council and from an open house held in October, about the amount of traffic this development would add to the area, especially considering that the only access is

off Orchard Court. But City of St. Albert indicated that a traffic study had been done, and found the development wouldn’t result in excessive traffic. “Anything you put there will create more traffic,” said senior planner Lenore Mitchell, “but the impacts are minimal and they have been planned for.” Another concern council had was the fact that trails in the area would not be able to connect with the rest of the city’s trail system. “It’s not feasible because of the steepness of the banks,” Mitchell said. “It was challenging for us to get a trail down there, much as we would have liked to,” McNutt added. Lots will be set back at least 26 metres from the river banks. The proponents intend to name the development The Orchard of Oakmont. They hope to start construction this spring and have building completed by the fall. The land at 200 Orchard Court is owned by Landrex, and the City has yet to receive any application or indication of what they hope to do there.

St. Albert Protestant Schools

Academic Challenge Bring out the best in your gifted child

Is your child intellectually gifted? Are you seeking a more challenging learning environment for him/her? Then St. Albert Protestant Schools’ well-established Academic Challenge Program might be the right place for your child.

Academic Challenge

is offered at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary School Grades 4-6 Sir George Simpson Junior High School Grades 7-9

District Administration Office 60 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue

780-460-3712 www.spschools.org

Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary School Principal: John Strembitsky

780-459-4467 john.strembitsky@spschools.org

Academic Challenge is intended for those gifted students who have the capacity to acquire information rapidly and think abstractly. Students in the program also exhibit a wide range of abilities in general intellect, academics and creative thinking and may be under-achieving in, or struggling to fit into, the regular classroom. To qualify for the program, students must display above-average intellect, as measured by an IQ assessment.

Sir George Simpson Junior High School Assistant Principal: Randy Roszell

780-459-4456 randy.roszell@spschools.org


11

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Massacure takes over Ice Palace GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

Braidon Iwaschuk, 10, gets a little taken off the top by Ronald McDonald during the Hair Massacure Friday at West Edmonton Mall.

The Ice Palace at West Edmonton Mall was once again awash in a sea of pink on Friday. That’s because the 10th annual Hair Massacure took over the hockey rink all day, with participants getting their pink-dyed hair shaved off to support the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Alberta and Ronald McDonald House of Northern Alberta. The Hair Massacure started out small a decade ago, with organizer Tammy MacDonald’s husband Gord raising $37,000 among colleagues at Canada Post after their three-year-old daughter Kali was diagnosed with leukemia. MacDonald said she could never have imagined what it has grown into today. “It was just a little, intimate, familyand-friends kind of thing at Canada Post; we didn’t know,” MacDonald said. “It has just had a life of its own. People were already contacting us before the [second] year, so I guess we had to do it again.” By the end of the day Friday, Gord was able to announce that the event had topped $1.1 million, with more donations

Photo: TOM BRAID, Sun Media News Services

(L-R) OIlers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Lennart Petrell and Anton Lander show off their new ’dos.

Fresh AAA Beef Tenderloin Steak The Best Place to Meat

$9.99/LB Reg. $19.99/LB

Tuesday February 14th ONLY!

780-418-1200

118-205 Caregie Drive, St. Albert

HOURS: Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri & Sat 10:00am - 5:30pm Closed Sun & Mon

www.darcysmeats.com

Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Carter said. yet to come in. The event was extra special for Braidon, Three members of the National Hockey whose grandmother was recently League’s Edmonton Oilers — Anton Lander, Lennart Petrell and Ryan Nugent- diagnosed with terminal cancer. Braidon’s mom, Shauna, was very proud Hopkins — also came by in the afternoon of her son and his friends. to get their heads shaved. “His grandfather passed away from Edmonton-area Totem Building cancer, too,” she said. “So it touches close Supplies stores pitched in with a donation to home.” of $50,000, a total equalled by Save On Normally, the event is held a week later, Foods stores in the region. MacDonald closer to Valentine’s added that over 100,000 Day, but had to be paper Kali Bears were sold moved up this year at McDonalds, Totem and due to a scheduling Save On locations across conflict. Alberta. Martin Dugas, For St. Albert residents executive director of Braidon Iwaschuk, 10, and Martin Dugas Ronald McDonald Carter MacDonald, 9, this Ronald McDonald House House of Northern was the first time they had Alberta, had pink hair shaved their heads for the of his own Friday morning, as he was cause, which they did with a few of their getting set to shave it off for the third time teammates from the Atom A St. Albert alongside his son, who was participating Lancers. in the Massacure for the first time. “It feels pretty cool,” Braidon said as “I just love the excitement. It’s an he rubbed his newly chromed dome, the emotional day for people,” he said. “The pink elastics in his braces showing as he big thing is it represents people that are smiled. survivors — the people that have lost Between them, the pair raised almost people and the people who are fighting $1,800. currently, they get a place to come “I wanted to raise money for Ronald together and support each other.” McDonald House, the Stollery and the

“I love the excitement. It’s an emotional day.”


12

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

FEBRUARY 19 & 20

Play Together Stay Together

Free Park and Ride

www.stalbert.ca/Family-Day Proud Media Sponsor

Recreation Services


13

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

FEBRUARY 19 & 20

Play Together Stay Together

r

You are invited to participate in a fun and interactive festival that cultivates families and community spirit while revitalizing your winter spirit. Take a look at some of the amazing events going on in our great city. Along with enjoying the many activities, the community can get involved by volunteering.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Come in Out of the Cold: Tropical Day Presented by the St. Albert Library Activities: build your own tropical island, join other families to play an assortment of family board and card games throughout the Library, and experience the power of video games on the big screen with surround sound with Wii and Xbox 360 games. 1:30 to 4:30pm

Family Craft Workshops, St. Albert Place Lobby Build your own Story House Time: 1:30 & 2:30pm

Interactive Story House Exhibit, St. Albert Place Lobby Artist Samantha Williams Activities: Story House Building demonstrations and write a story. Time: 1:00 to 4:00pm

Interactive Story House Exhibit, St. Albert Place Lobby Artist Samantha Williams Activities: Story House Building demonstrations and story writing Time: 1:00 to 4:00pm

Musical Entertainment, St. Albert Place Lobby Presented by Blue Harvest Promotions Come out and listen to young St. Albert talent. Time: 1 to 4:00pm Family Fun Night at Grosvenor Outdoor Rink Presented by the Spirit of St. Albert Activities: tobogganing, ice skating, shinny hockey, snowshoeing, milk jug curling, fire pits, FREE hot dogs, hot chocolate and marshmallows and entertainer Reign of Fire! Food Bank will be on location, please bring non-perishable food items. Time: 6:00 to 8:00pm

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Lacombe Lake 1:00 to 4:00pm Activities: ice skating, shinny hockey, entertainment, horse drawn wagon rides, milk jug curling, human curling and much, much more. Special Olympics Canada Winter Games will be onsite handing out free hot chocolate, tattoos, and providing snowshoeing. L’Association canadienne- francaise de L’Alberta, ACFA, will be onsite providing french entertainment and the Maple Sugar Shack free to all participants. Check out the Warming Tent 1:00 to 4:00pm Activity: Winter Nature craft. Sessions will run every 20 mins.

Family Craft Workshop, St. Albert Place Lobby Build your own Story House Time: 2:00pm Heritage Lakes Community Association Activities: Sleigh rides, smooshing boarding, hockey shoot, snowshoeing, milk jug curling, target toss, human dog sledding, Free S’mores and hot chocolate and much, much more. Time: 1:00 to 4:00pm, Ecole La Mission, 46 Heritage Drive Park N Ride - FREE Park N Ride will be available on Monday Feb 20 as parking at Lacombe Park Lake and area is limited. Park N Ride will go and from St. Albert Exchange to Lacombe Park Lake. Parking is also limited at Ecole La Mission for the Heritage lakes Community Association Family Day activities. Park N Ride will be available to and from Village Transit Station to Ecole La Mission. St. Albert Exchange: 12:45 to 4:15pm Leaving every 30 mins. Last bus leaves Lacombe Park at 4:15pm. Village Transit Station: 12:45 to 4:00pm Leaving every 30 mins. Last bus leaves Ecole La Mission at 4:00pm.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

There are a number of ways to join in the fun, but you can’t beat volunteering for the Family Day Winter Festival! Its a great way to be apart of cultivating our community spirit. It is a great way to meet new people, beat the winter blues, and to share your skills or build new ones. We have been busy planning a community celebration that we guarantee will be a fun, interactive, “free” event for the citizens of St. Albert. We expect upwards of 2000 people in attendance. We can’t plan an event of this magnitude, without Volunteers. Volunteer opportunities include everything from event planning to children’s activities and site set up. You can help us by being a part of this exciting festival! For Information: Micah Seon-King Email: mseonking@st-albert.net Phone: 780.459.1716



15

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Will Smash splash or crash?

Star-spangled banner

Photos: glenn cook, St. Albert leader

St. Albert painter Lewis Lavoie (above) arranges the tiles in his latest Mural Mosaic project, E Pluribus Unum, in his studio on Thursday, Feb. 2. Lavoie and his partner Phil Alain packed up the tiles the next day and shipped them to South Jordan City, Utah, where the mural (below) will be unveiled in a couple of weeks’ time.

SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – NBC’s new musical drama Smash could hardly have a stronger pedigree: Idea by Steven Spielberg, songs by award-winning Broadway producers, stars including Anjelica Huston and Debra Messing, and screen icon Marilyn Monroe holding the whole show-within-a show together. Yet success couldn’t be harder to assess in the high stakes prime-time TV gamble for NBC as the struggling network looks for its first scripted series hit since 2006. “You can’t pin a network’s fate on any one show. But having said that, if you ever could, it would be this network and this show,” said James Hibberd, senior staff writer at Entertainment Weekly. Smash, which makes its debut on Monday, is a backstage tale of writers, directors, producers and aspiring actresses working to create a new Broadway musical based on the life of Monroe. The idea came from Spielberg, and the show is being written by playwright Theresa Rebeck (“Seminar”). It features both cover versions of hit songs and original material written by Tony winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. TV viewers have seen nothing quite like Smash in recent years. Show-stopping musical numbers are interspersed with darker casting couch moments and theatrical back-stabbing, giving industry watchers little to compare it

with. “It’s the type of show that could either be a huge hit, or just go down in flames. It’s a little bit different,” said Brad Adgate, senior vice president of research at advertising firm Horizon Media. Spielberg, who producers say has been very closely involved in the script and editing, believes there is enough tension in the creative process to make Smash interesting to all. “I think audiences will be able to relate to (it) whether or not they ever had seen a Broadway show because this is really about the drama of the characters,” the Oscar-winning director told TV reporters in a January video message. NBC, which has been mired for years at the bottom of the four biggest U.S. networks, is leaving nothing to chance. The Smash pilot was screened in 10 major cities and on American Airlines flights in January. The network has been streaming the first episode on its website and on Hulu, and made it available to download on iTunes, PlayStation and other platforms three weeks before Monday’s official premiere. The network is desperately in need of a hit after what entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt admitted last month was “a really bad fall”. Pricey new dramas The Playboy club, Prime Suspect and comedy Free Agents were cancelled, and audiences in the prized 18-49 demographic fell 11 per cent.

In Celebration of International Women’s Day

Levine, Jackson trade barbs

SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – Maroon 5 star Adam Levine has taken aim at rival TV talent show judge Randy Jackson after the American Idol regular poked fun at the Moves Like Jagger singer’s The Voice. Levine admits he was hurt by Jackson’s remarks suggesting The Voice was just a second-chance show for Idol rejects and he has accused the musician/ producer of “irresponsible” behaviour. Appearing on the ellen Degeneres Show on Friday,

Levine stated, “Shame on Randy Jackson for saying that because he out of anybody should know that if you’re in this business you need second, third, fourth and fifth chances. So we love and embrace that being part of the show. “God bless Randy. He was a working musician for a long time and had a lot of success and then the show Idol kind of blew him out of the water. And he is a household name now. It was an irresponsible thing to say that.”

N I N E M WO S S E N I S U B

T N E V E & E R U T A E F L A I C SPE 2 1 0 2 , 8 H C R MA R

Join us as we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. As a Leader within the St. Albert business community, this special feature in the St. Albert Leader will allow you to promote your business in over 20,000 copies delivered Thursday, March 8, and enjoy a great event at the Enjoy Centre that same day. Photo: Sun Media news Services

Adam Levine.

FOR MORE DETAILS Call 780-460-1035

www.stalbertleader.com


16

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Locally Owned & Operated

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

IS NOW HIRING

- Delivery only once per week - every Thursday. - No flyer inserting - Earn $0.15 per copy - Best first job ever!

Carriers

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

Charity (played by Rachel Bokenfohr) and Oscar (Duncan Lotoski) get stuck on an elevator during a scene from Bellerose Composite High School’s production of Sweet Charity.

Bellerose ready to line up Sweet sounds at the Arden

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

They say charity begins at home, but for musical theatre students at Bellerose Composite High School, Sweet Charity begins at the Arden Theatre. Bellerose students are putting on their rendition of the ’60s musical Sweet Charity from Feb. 15 to 17 at the Arden, and as they head down the homestretch of preparations, everyone involved is getting excited. “There’s only a week left, so we have to make sure everything’s right,” said Grade 12 student Duncan Lotoski, who plays Oscar, one of the leads. “We’re getting down to the nitty gritty,” added Rachel Bokenfohr, a Grade 11 student who plays the title character. “We’ve been working on it since September, so it’s nice to see all that work come together,” said teacher and director Mark Samuel. “It seems like, no matter what we do in terms of preparation, it’s like a wedding — there are details that you have to get done at the last minute, and there’s no other time to do them.” Sweet Charity follows the character of Charity, a dancer-for-hire, through her adventures in New York City, including meeting a shy accountant named Oscar in a broken-down elevator. It is perhaps not as well-known as some other musicals Bellerose has tackled over the years, like Annie or The Sound of Music, and that gives actors like Bokenfohr and Lotoski a little more freedom. “If you’re doing something more like Wicked, everyone knows what it is,” Bokenfohr said. “It allows us to bend some things that we may not bend normally in a show that

we do,” Lotoski added. “We can bend the cast, in terms of who they can play and characters.” However, with a book written by Neil Simon, the original Broadway version directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, and some classic showtunes like “Big Spender” included in the score, it was somewhat daunting to take on. “I often get stressed, whether I’m going to live up to the standards that people have set for these songs,” Bokenfohr said. “But I just do the best I can do.” For Samuel, one of the most challenging parts of the play is the amount of dancing that takes place. “We’ve kind of been picking shows that increase that element as we’ve gone along,” he said. “And Miranda Holmes, one of our Grade 12s, has been instrumental in pulling together almost 90 per cent of the show’s choreography.” And the cast enlisted help with some of the numbers from a rather unexpected source, Bokenfohr added. “We didn’t have enough people, so we had to lure some of the football [players] to come join us,” she said. “And they’ve been doing great; they show up to rehearsals and they actually try. Some of them have discovered they can dance ... we’re our own glee club now.” For Lotoski, though, the bigger challenge is finding a balance between the lighthearted and deeply emotional aspects of the story. “It’s a very lighthearted play, but there are a lot of deep scenes within the play,” he said. Sweet Charity hits the Arden Theatre stage Feb. 15 to 17 at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are $15 each and are available at Bellerose Composite High School (49 Giroux Rd.) or by calling 780-460-8490.


17

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Pixar misses Oscar nomination for first time BRUCE KIRKLAND

KUNG FU PANDA 2

Sun Media News Services

CHICO & RITA

A CAT IN PARIS

RANGO

Welcome to the wacky and often wonderful world of animation. As Oscar sees it, this is one of the most unusual years ever. When the nominations for the 84th Academy Awards were announced for the mainstream best animated feature category, audiences and experts were shocked — but pleasantly so. Only three of the five nominees come from the Hollywood mainstream that usually rules this roost. They are: Gore Verbinski’s Rango, Chris Miller’s Puss in Boots and a sequel, Jennifer Yuh Nelson’s Kung Fu Panda 2. That eliminated John Lasseter’s Cars 2, the first time a Pixar production has not been nominated since animated features got their own category 11 years ago. Also missing is Steven Spielberg’s motion capture picture, The Adventures of Tintin, because the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has introduced rules discounting mo-cap in the animation categories. More debate is needed. The two additional nominees

this time around are European. They are both almost unknown here and totally out of the box office orbit of the American movies. Alain Gagnol and JeanLoup Felicioli’s A Cat in Paris is another French film to celebrate at this year’s Oscars. Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s Chico & Rita is a Spanish film set in Havana, New York, Las Vegas, Paris and even Hollywood. Both are multi-national coproductions. Compare costs and box office. The Hollywood productions cost ten times more and have generated hundreds of millions for a total of $1.4 billion in ticket sales. Kung Fu Panda 2 is the leader, costing $150 million but earning $665.7 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Puss in Boots cost $130 million and generated $506.8 million. Rango cost $135 million and made $245.4 million. All three are hits on DVD, Bluray and digital download. I personally favour Rango to win, but I have not yet see either Chico & Rita or A Cat in Paris (Une Vie de Chat, or A Cat’s Life, in its original French title). Rango works because it is so bizarre, yet fun and funny. Johnny Depp, who channels his inner Eastwood

as well as Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, is brilliant as a chameleon who becomes a reluctant gunslinger in a dusty old west town. A water-hoarding plot right out of Chinatown drives the story. Rango is also Industrial Light & Magic’s entrée into animation features. Puss in Boots, meanwhile, is a blast, with Antonio Banderas relishing his title role. Kung Fu Panda 2 gives kids a great time with familiar characters. But I cannot discount A Cat in Paris or Chico & Rita. This category has gone foreign before, most famously when Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away won in the category’s second year. This is also the year that Oscar favours France, and not just for cheese and wine. The Artist is still odds-on favourite to win as best picture. As for animation in general, you can celebrate that there are five nominees in the best animated feature category. This is only the third time in 11 tries that nominees jumped from three to five. It is a sign of a robust production and release schedule. That is because the Academy’s rulebook says at least eight animated feature have to be released in Los Angeles for the category to even be activated. If 16 are quality, then eligible nominees jump to five. Business is booming. In the animated short category, there are different rules — and major Canadian content. Of the five nominees, two are Canadian, two are American and one is British. The Canucks are Patrick Doyon with Dimanche/Sunday and the duo of Amanda Forbis

and Wendy Tilby with Wild Life. The NFB produced both films. The British entry is Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe’s A Morning Stroll — although it is set in New York City and involves a chicken. The American entries are Enrico Casarosa’s La Luna and the duo of William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg with The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

PUSS IN BOOTS

HOCKEY SHOOTING RANGE

• 1 on 1 and group sessions to improve your shot (all ages, all levels) • Learn wrist shot, snap shot, slap shot and backhand • Get rid of bad habits • Stick Advice (curve, flex, what stick is right for you?) Visit our website for more information on our upcoming Euro Hockey Tour, Body Checking Clinics and Power Skating Clinics Located in Athletes Nation #107, 125 Carleton Drive, St. Albert, AB Phone: 780-569-3315 • Email: shootingrange@mail.com

WWW.MAREKS.BIZ

Michael’s @ The Inn

WEDNESDAY STEAK SANDWICH SPECIAL 10.95

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

12.95

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

$

$

Bring in this ad to receive an additional 10% OFF

#

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

9.95

$

12.95

Bring in this ad to receive an additional 10% OFF


18

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

HOMES

Keep moisture, mould at bay in your home ROB PARKER Sun Media News Services

Recently, I’ve received more calls from people concerned about mould in their homes. Moulds are organisms found both indoors and out. Mould is a fungus and plays an important role in our ecological system by breaking down and digesting organic materials. Because most homes are constructed with materials such as drywall, plywood or oriented strand board (chip board), and contain furniture and other objects that may also be made from wood or other organic materials, homeowners need to be aware of the potential for mould. Moulds grow in moist, dark areas; therefore, controlling moisture is key to controlling mould and mould growth. Mould doesn’t need a lot of moisture to grow, and because of this, a little condensation in bathrooms or around window sills is all that is needed for mould to flourish. Common sources of water or moisture include roof leaks, condensation due to high indoor humidity, slow leaks at plumbing fixtures, humidification systems and floods. Mould has been found to germinate, grow and produce spores in as little as 24 hours after water damage occurs.

REBATES EXPIRE SOON! Call now for a FREE quote

24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE FURNACE and AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRS and SALES

780-458-0912 www.a1heating.ca

Indoor relative humidity (RH) should between 20 and 40 per cent in the winter and less than 60 per cent the rest of the year. Some experts recommend that indoor humidity levels in general should be between 40 and 60 per cent. You can monitor the humidity in your home with a simple humidistat that can be bought at most home stores and generally includes a thermometer. You can help control the moisture level in your home by ensuring your kitchen and bathroom, especially ones containing a bath tub and/or shower, include a fan vented directly to the exterior of the home and not just into the attic or another part of the house. Improper ventilation from these two areas in the home is the most common cause of moisture problems I see in homes today. If you have a humidifier attached to your furnace, ensure it’s either working properly, or else shut it off. Many homes do not need a humidifier as the lifestyle of the occupants produces enough moisture. Dryers should also be vented to the exterior of the house. I’ve seen cases where the homeowner has purchased an attachment for the dryer vent that directs the heat from the dryer back into the house. Although some may think this helps to keep heat indoors, especially in the winter months, it should be said that along with the heat, comes a lot of moisture. If you have a leak in the plumbing, roof or foundation, have it repaired and the moisturedamaged material around the leak removed. I also receive a lot of calls about visible mould in corners of rooms. This is most commonly caused by

Photo: Sun Media News Services

A mould inspector shows off a piece of drywall with mould on it. the fact that corners, especially the seal and insulate the area. Most moulds grow in moist exterior corners of a home, are not dark areas and therefore are well insulated becase of the way they’re constructed. difficult to find. The use of an infrared camera can sometimes When warm moist air comes help locate these areas. A moisture in contact with a cold wall, the meter can also be used to detect moisture in the air condenses and moisture; however, detection is mould can grow. Cleaning the area with a mild soap solution will limited to point of contact whereas an infrared camera can look at a remove the mould but, over time, much larger area at one time. it may return. The best solution is A single or repeated exposure to to correct the cause by trying to

CALL NOW 780-489-8118

Coffee Soon?

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

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

mould, mould spores and mould fragments may cause a person to become sensitive to mould, and repeated exposure has the potential to increase sensitivity. Allergic responses include hay fever-like symptom such as headaches, sneezing, runny nose, irritated eyes and skin rash. If a person experiences these symptoms only when occupying a particular building, then that person may possibly be experiencing symptoms of mould exposure. If you have symptoms of mould exposure, or have visible signs of mould in your home, you should have a qualified person take an air sample that is then sent to a lab for analysis. The report will include a comparison of the amount and type of mould spores in the sample collected inside compared with two samples taken from outside the home. Culture swabs or bio tape samples can be taken of visible mould and also sent to the lab. The swab or bio tape sample will tell what type of mould was collected. Because much precaution needs to be taken to prevent the spread of mould spores during the clean and removal of affected materials, if test results come back confirming an elevated level of mould from inside of the home compared to the exterior, a qualified mould remediation company should be contacted for the cleanup. Rob Parker is a registered home inspector with the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors and certified master inspector with the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors who does home inspections in the London, Ont., area.

www.alwaysplumbing.ca

780-489-8118 Like Us on

Let’s sit down and talk about your real estate needs

Lorene LecavaLier 780-458-9399 Direct 780-990-6266 lorene@sutton.com


19

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

HEALTH

NFLers faced biggest battle before Super Bowl kickoff

Photo: Sun Media News Services

New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich needed six months of chemotherapy to beat a rare form of cancer.

Screens for colon cancer on the rise SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – Canadians received good news on Saturday, World Cancer Day. According to a new poll, half of Canadians age 50 to 74 said they have been screened for colon cancer, showing a Canada-wide increase when compared to similar data recorded in 2009. However, more than half (53 per cent) of those surveyed wrongly believe that people should only get checked after experiencing symptoms. Commissioned by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, the survey questioned 4,050 Canadians aged 45 to 74 on their understanding and attitudes on getting checked for colon cancer. “Screening programs are now in place across the country and great work is being done to encourage Canadians to talk with their family, friends and health care providers about colon cancer and the importance of screening,” Dr. Heather Bryant, a spokeswoman for Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, said in a statement. “Most importantly, there has been an improvement in screening rates over the last two years. But, there is still much to be done..” An estimated 22,200 Canadians were diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011 and 8,900 people died of it.

SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – There could only be one winner in Sunday’s Super Bowl but for two opposing players, a bigger battle had already been won — victory over cancer. New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich and New England Patriots offensive lineman Marcus Cannon have both had to deal with life-threatening illness and came through their treatment to achieve their sporting dream, a place in the biggest game in American sport. After an outstanding season for Boston College, Herzlich was diagnosed, in May 2009, with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer affecting bone and soft tissue. He underwent a six month course of chemotherapy and radiation and also needed surgery and a titanium rod inserted into his leg, which remains in place to strengthen his bone. The linebacker said his aim of making it in the National Football League (NFL) motivated him through the arduous treatment. “Playing football again was the goal and that really pushed me. After six hours of chemotherapy you’re sitting there and your body just feels drained,” he said. “You don’t want to move but I said, ‘I am going to be playing football again in eight months, so I need to go and work out. I need to go ride a bike, get some cardio in.” Herzlich said he made a highlights video of his 2008 season to keep him motivated. “I would put that on in the chemo room and watch it over and over again just to see myself succeeding,” he said. “The physical pain was intense. The

pain that I would get in my leg and my lower back felt like knives being stabbed into my legs. The pain coming after the surgery where I had to get the scar tissue kind of kneaded out with massage and stuff. ”That was probably the worst pain I have ever been in because they had to actually tear the muscle off the bone and tear the scar tissue away. I was screaming on the massage table,“ said Herzlich. Cannon’s treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma was less painful but going through chemotherapy inevitably weakened him. ”I still had faith I was going to get into the NFL. I didn’t know if I was going to get drafted or not but I still believed I would play in the league,“ he told Reuters. ”I was blessed not to get all the side effects that so many other people get.“ Cannon entered the draft but his illness pushed him down the list. Nonetheless, the Patriots took him in round five with the 138th pick. After missing training camp and the early part of the season due to his treatment, Cannon was finally activated in Week 10 of the season and was part of the team which beat the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game to secure a Super Bowl spot. ”The confetti was coming down and I’m sat there thinking how am I supposed to feel? It’s hard to take all of this in,“ he said. Herzlich returned to college football in 2010 but went undrafted and his only contract offer came from the minor UFL league, a chance he turned down to keep alive his dream of reaching the NFL.

Photo: Sun Media News Services

Patriots offensive lineman Marcus Cannon was treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Giants picked him up as an undrafted free agent in July and he featured in 11 games this season. Herzlich says his doctors played a perfect game but knows he has won one of the toughest challenges anyone can face. ”I think it is a little bit of a miracle. It’s a case of beating the odds,“ he said.

STIs up dramatically among 50+ crowd

SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – Drugs that make men last longer in the bedroom may also be responsible for a rise in sexually transmitted infections in adults over 50 in the U.K., U.S. and Canada, according to the Student British Medical Journal. STIs have doubled in 50- to 90-year-olds in the past decade, the journal says in an editorial published Thursday. Cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis in Canada more than tripled among those 40-59: cases of gonorrhea increased to 1,502 from 379; chlamydia rose to 3,387 from 997; and syphilis increased to 527 from 34. Similar statistics were seen in the U.K. and U.S. Furthermore, the over-50 age group — not typically considered to be high-risk for HIV infection — now

accounts for 20 per cent of adults accessing care for it. While this may be a function of HIV patients living longer, the article says new diagnoses in those 50-plus doubled between 2000 and 2009. The authors of the editorial — med student Rachel von Simson and consulting doctor Ranjababu Kulasegaram — speculate on the reasons behind the rise in STIs. “One theory has been that the development of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors to treat erectile dysfunction has allowed men to stay sexually active, and therefore at risk, beyond previous limits,” the editorial says. Women may also be more vulnerable to infections due to physiological changes after menopause.


20

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

BUSINESS

Chrysler No. 1 as car sales strengthen SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – Vehicle sales in Canada started 2012 on a surprisingly strong footing helped by a recovery in production at Japanese automakers that were hit hard by last year’s earthquake and tsunami, and good demand for European brands. Chrysler Canada also surprised by taking the No. 1 sales spot in Canada last month from Ford of Canada. General Motors of Canada slid to third spot from No. 2 last year after a tough sales month in January. Total passenger car and light truck sales jumped 15.4 per cent last month to 97,497, according to data compiled by independent market analyst Dennis DesRosiers. “Sales have been anemic for about four years and this is an excellent start to the year ... January sets us up for some positive surprises through the rest of the year,” DesRosiers said in an email. Chrysler said it sold 16,584 vehicles in January, up 22 per cent from January 2011. “We have been the fastest growing automaker in Canada for the past two years, and it is great to start 2012 as the highest-selling vehicle company in Canada,” Dave Buckingham, chief operating Officer at Chrysler Canada, said in a statement. Chrysler, which was No. 3 in sales last year, has increased its market share steadily since emerging from bankruptcy two and a half years ago. DesRosiers noted that Chrysler shot to No. 1 spot last February too but was not able to maintain that position. Chrysler, whose strength in Canada has also traditionally been its trucks, said its passenger car sales in January were led by the made-in-Canada Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger. It said it sold 2,527 passenger cars in the month, up 158 per cent. A lackluster vehicle lineup and an untenable cost structure pushed Chrysler to the brink of collapse

Up 0.68¢

100.43¢ US S&P/TSX

Up 60.27

12,512.42 NASDAQ

Photo: Sun Media News Services

Chrysler employees work on the assembly line during the production launch of vehicles at the plant in Brampton, Ont. cent for Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands, and a strong before the U.S., Canadian and Ontario governments reversal from last year when a shortage of parts bailed it out in 2009. Chrysler emerged from due to the March earthquake and tsunami slashed bankruptcy under the management control of Italian production. automaker Fiat SpA. At Honda, combined Honda and Acura sales Fellow Detroit car-maker, Ford Motor Company, rocketed 127 per cent in January to 9,168 units. This which was Canada’s top-selling automaker in 2011, was largely due to strong late-2011 orders for its Civic also had a strong month selling 14,978 vehicles in January, an increase of 4.6 per cent over January 2011. model being delivered in January as production ramped-up. Ford’s total car sales in Canada rose 7.5 per cent to DesRosiers noted that, in the past seven months, 2,928 while its truck sales, its traditional mainstay, Japanese automakers have recouped about 70 per increased 3.9 per cent to 12,050. cent of the market share they lost, and predicted they Sales at GM Canada were down 11 per cent, it would regain all of it by year-end. said in a short press release. The company was not Among European car makers, Audi sales jumped immediately available for comment. Meanwhile Toyota Canada started off the year with 31.7 per cent, Mercedes-Benz rose 32.9 per cent and Volkswagen increased 8.7 per cent. a “record-setting” 10,660 sales in January, up 18 per

Target has St. Albert Centre location in crosshairs GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

Group

Carpets, Janitorial & Restoration

www.dkcsparklean.com 780-459-4539

Graham & Associates

DOLLAR

American retail giant Target has St. Albert squarely in its sights. The company announced last week that, as part of their takeover of Zellers stores starting next year, the St. Albert Centre location will be one of four stores

in the Edmonton area to be converted to the Target brand. It is expected the new stores will open their doors in the spring of 2013. Others stores in the Capital Region to be rebranded include West Edmonton Mall, Bonnie Doon Shoping Centre and Mill Woods Town Centre. Last January, Target

bought up the leases on 220 Zellers stores across Canada from the Hudson’s Bay Company. That transaction was worth an estimated $1.3 billion. The American company, based out of Minneapolis, Minn., plans to convert 135 of those 220 stores into Target locations. Most will open their doors in 2013

— after approximately $10 million in renovations to each store — and will employ somewhere between 150 and 200 people. Target, with their trademark bull’s-eye logo, currently operates 1,763 stores across the United States. It is the second-largest chain of discount retail stores in the U.S. behind Walmart.

Up 90.24

2,904.08 DOW

Up 202.45

12,878.20 GOLD

Up 13.30

$1,751.20 US OIL

Up $0.26

$98.72 US Figures as of closing Tuesday, compared to one week prior. For information purposes only.

Call us today for all your St. Albert Real Estate Needs

Accounting and Tax Specialists

Free Business Consultations Phone: 780-458-8720

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

Pierre Hebert

780-459-7786 www.bermontrealty.com

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

Guy Hebert

www.nabi.ca 780.460.1000


21

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Opposition parties call for stimulus KIRSTY KIRKUP Sun Media News Service

Opposition parties said the Canadian economy needs stimulus instead of austerity after the latest job numbers released Friday highlighted a sluggish job market. The NDP and Liberals want the government to consider changing its economic course because Canada’s jobless rate inched higher in January to 7.6 per cent — the highest it has been in nine months. “The unemployment rate in our country is up. Their strategy is simply not working,” said Opposition House critic Joe Comartin. “Does the government realize just what is happening in the economy in Canada?” Statistics Canada says more people were looking for work and only 2,300 net new jobs were created in January. Fulltime employment fell by 3,600, while part-time employment rose by 5,900, according to the data. The Tories maintain jobs are being created Joe Comartin and it is focused on NDP MP creating growth. “We are very fortunate that Canada has been doing well relative to other major developed economies during what has been the most dramatic global economic downturn in my lifetime,” said government House leader Peter Van Loan. “That is in large part due to the fact that our government has pursued an economic action plan, a low-tax plan for jobs and growth that has delivered over 600,000 net new jobs for Canadians.” Liberal finance critic Ralph Goodale insists Canada’s new jobless numbers are “disturbing,” and he fears the problem could worsen after the government unveils its 2012 budget, which is expected to focus on austerity measures. “It could well make the problem significantly worse if it has the effect of increasing unemployment and has the effect at the same time of doing nothing on the stimulation side of the equation,” Goodale said. The federal budget is expected to be released in late February or early March. Economists say U.S. jobs numbers should be a slice of encouragement for Canadians. The January job market surged in U.S. in January, when 243,000 jobs were created. America’s unemployment rate now sits at 8.3 per cent, which is the lowest it has been in three years.

“Their strategy is simply not working.”

Development values down GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

The value of development projects undertaken in St. Albert was down slightly in 2011, according to statistics released last week. The City of St. Albert’s business and tourism development department released the stats on Friday, showing that the total value of developments for which permits were issued in 2011 was $115,203,000 — about $1.5 million less than the figure of $116,708,000 in 2010. Some of the most significant industrial permits issued in 2011 included those for the Water Garden Spa, Prairie Bistro and Liquid Harvest liquor store in the Enjoy Centre in Riel Business Park, as well as for a new storage building at LBH Building Supplies, the construction of the Java Mama coffee shop in Campbell Business Park, and a new Canada Post building on Carleton Drive. In the commercial sector, it was mainly permits

Suncor not worried about ’08 repeat SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – Suncor Energy Inc , Canada’s largest oilsands producer, said on Wednesday it is not concerned about a renewed round of inflation for new projects in the region, even as costs rise for its rivals. The company, which reported a jump in fourth-quarter profit of more than 10 per cent earlier on Wednesday, moved to ease fears that a flurry of new investment in the oilsands would spark another round of the hyper-inflation that plagued the industry prior to the 2008 financial crisis. Rick George, who is retiring in May after serving as Suncor’s chief executive for 21 years, said inflation is not imperilling the company’s multibillion-dollar plans to boost output to more than a million barrels a day by 2020. “I feel this cycle is very different than the 2005 to 2008 cycle,” George said on a conference call. “I think the industry in general is showing more much more discipline ... And in addition to that we are not seeing material

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!

for renovations to existing business that drove permit sales, including two McDonald’s locations along St. Albert Trail, Ron Hodgson Chevrolet Buick GMC, medical offices at 51 Inglewood Dr., and the new McBain Camera location in St. Albert Centre. In the residential sector, single family home starts decreased from 204 in 2010 to 188 in 2011. However, multi-family unit starts jumped by four units to 126. The North Ridge subdivision saw the greatest number of housing starts at 103, followed by Oakmont (32), Erin Ridge (26), Lacombe Park (20), Kingswood (5) and Braeside (3). The five most active home builders in the St. Albert market in 2011 included Sarasota Homes (34), Daytona Homes (29), Reid Built Homes (22), Homexx (17) and Ironstone Builders (11). The largest total development value over the past five years came in 2007, when the figure reached $195,661,000. In 2009, the total value reached $145,090,000, spurred on mainly by the construction of the Hole’s Enjoy Centre in Riel Business Park.

780-498-6437 Nicholas J.GoldeN

St. Albert

costs for equipment, pumps, compressors, valves, escalating at the rate we saw in that last cycle.” Cost inflation was a huge problem for the oilsands sector during the last development boom, triggered by the run to $147-a-barrel oil. Operators scrambled to boost output from the world’s third-largest crude reserves, but there were only so many skilled workers to go around. Labor and material costs skyrocketed and construction costs for the huge projects soared by half or more. Fears that costs might again spiral higher have been one of the factors behind the weak performance of Suncor’s shares, which have dropped 17 per cent over the past 12 months. Those worries were further stoked when Imperial Oil Ltd. said in December that the cost for its 345,000-barrel-per-day Kearl oilsands mine had jumped by 25 per cent to more than $28 billion Cdn. However, George said Suncor does not expect the company’s

current expansion plans, which include two new mines and an oilsands upgrader as part of a joint venture with France’s Total SA, to face the same inflationary pressure. “Some of the numbers that you’re seeing, for example on Imperial’s Kearl project, look extremely high to us. Those look really way out of range,” he said. “Our current estimates are significantly below those they’ve announced ... We’re not seeing those kinds of numbers.” George said Suncor and Total will make a final decision on whether to proceed with their slate of projects early next year.

WHERE ARE THEY?!? Call Matt today to talk about GPS Fleet tracking solutions

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



23

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

STALBERTJOBS.COM

Blogging to pay the bills LINDA WHITE Sun Media News Services

Whether you’ve been writing a blog to connect with people who share your interests or see untapped potential to grow your business, blogging is still in its infancy with plenty of opportunity to generate income. That’s according to Al Davis, a product manager with Telus by day and the instructor of the WordPress for Blogging and Web Design at Toronto’s George Brown College Centre for Continuous Learning by night. “The course attracts both hobbyists who want to have a website and talk about their passion and others who want to turn their website and blog into an e-commerce store or to monetize it,” says Davis. He’s also the creative force behind www. wpteach.com, a blog about WordPress, the largest self-hosted blogging tool in the world. He answers questions about blogging: Q: What do you need to start a basic blog? A: There’s no need to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars out of the gate to build a website. If you want to get your feet wet, you can download free software like WordPress. Sign up and within minutes you can start writing … When it comes to domain names, I think the good ones are gone but most people won’t type out your domain name. They’ll bookmark you or add you to their feed. A catchy name for your blog is helpful. “Adventures in Plumbing” is more interesting than “Al’s Plumbing Store,” for example. Q: What does it take to be successful? A: Have a passion for what you write about. Without that passion, you’re going to come across as insincere and nobody will pay attention to you. You need to have a voice and an opinion about what you’re writing about. You do need to post regularly … Some people believe that you need to post daily but I’d rather see bloggers post

RECEPTION/OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Education: Completion of college, vocational or technical training Skills required: Must know excel and have knowledge of Simply Accounting Overall Responsibility: Provide day to day accounting related duties for a number of small businesses working out of one office. Duties include but are not limited to assisting with AR and invoicing. Ideally you will be able to demonstrate your ability to meet deadlines with an eye for detail in our fast paced environment. Term of Employment: Full time, salaried Skills • Simply accounting knowledge and experience is required • Strong written and oral communication skills • Proficient personal computer skills in MS Outlook, and Excel • Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail Remuneration: A competitive remuneration and benefit package is offered dependent on skills and experience

Email resumes to: ldika@abconcretepumping.com

when they have something relevant to say. People will pay attention to that. Posting for the sake of posting won’t garner attention: people will see a lot of useless dribble. Q: How do you generate and track followers? A: Find forums for people with similar interests. Leave posts on other blogs and include your website. Guest blogging is another way to generate traffic. It becomes an exercise in marketing. Q: How do you make money from your blog? A: Any business website that doesn’t have a blog is really missing opportunities. You can track the number of visitors through free analytic programs like Google Analytics. From a business perspective, creating an e-mail list by having people sign up to receive a newsletter is one of the easiest ways to monetize your blog. Revenue sources include Google AdWords, which requires reaching a threshold of followers, as well as selling ad space on your website or using a service that places ads on your site … You could make a good second income or, if you work hard enough, a primary income from your blog. Q: Is the market still ripe for new blogs? A: There’s so much opportunity out there. Blogging is in its infancy. Businesses are just starting to grasp the concept of web marketing and marketing through a blog. For a small business owner or entrepreneur, it’s a musthave and a great way to level the playing field against bigger companies. I believe there’s an audience for every topic … Is it important to your next-door neighbour? Perhaps not, but with the Internet, you’re dealing with a global audience. If you knit sweaters for cats, there’s an audience for you; it’s just a matter of finding it.

We are presently expanding our team and seeking enthusiastic, dedicated individuals to fill the following full time positions in our Edmonton locations. • Shop Labourers - Apprenticeship Enrollment Opportunities • Inside Sales Representatives • Junior Buyers • Financial Analyst We offer Paid Training, Competitive Wages, and Comprehensive Benefits! If you are interested in these opportunities, please submit your resume in confidence to careers@tgcgjobs.com or fax to 780.452.9910.

1 in 10 had sex at work SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – A new survey has revealed that one in 10 workers have admitted to having sex in the office. In the poll, conducted by leading office design company Maris Interiors, it showed that 11 per cent of employees surveyed had got intimate in the work place, while seven per cent stated it’s something they do regularly. Statistics also showed that 44 per cent of men said they would consider an office liaison, while only 27 per cent of women said it appealed to them. Human Resources partner at Maris Interiors, Claire Walker, says, “For the 11 per cent of people having sex in their office, I would recommend trying not to get caught! You may well be in breach of your employment contract if you’re thought to be bringing the company’s reputation into disrepute. And even if your job is safe, it will make for pretty embarrassing chats around the water cooler!”

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:

• General Manager, Economic Development • Accounts Payable Coordinator • Asset Management Supervisor • Lifeguard 2 • Night Shift Caretakers • Pilates Instructor • Senior Long Range Planner • Senior Project Manager • Utility Engineer • Utilities Project Coordinator 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.


24

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

St. Albert Dodge 1 in Sales & Service #

The Finest Used Vehicles With Factory Warranty And Local/Owner Driven! Why Pay More For City Prices, We Guarantee The Best Price!

OVER 100 PREOWNED VEHICLES TO CHOOSE FROM!! Fully Loaded, A/C, auto trans., tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

2011 CHRYSLER 200 LIMITED MSRP $31,975

NOW $

K45074B

7,995

$

NOW

Z9762

12,995

NOW $

2008 PONTIAC G6

L42616

9,995

$

NOW

K42168A

18,995

NOW $

2007 DODGE AVENGER SXT

Z9764

24,995

L4243A

12,995

NOW $

26,995

2009 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT

Z9770

18,995

NOW $

2007 CHRYSLER SEBRING

L42020A

2011 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED SAHARA MSRP $39,715

NOW $

11,995

33,995

Z9577

14,995

NOW $

2007 DODGE CHARGER SXT

Z9761

19,995

NOW $

11,995

Z9766

NOW $

27,995

MSRP $52,900

NOW $

2008 KIA SPORTAGE LX V6 AWD

L4122B

15,995

NOW $

42,900

2007 HONDA CIVIC

Z9710

21,995

NOW $

12,888

L42011A

Fully Loaded, A/C, pdl, pw, pm, low kms, leather, sunroof

2007 VW BEETLE

NOW $

L42004C

12,995 Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

Fully Loaded, A/C, tilt steering, pdl, pw, pm, Stow n Go & more

2009 CARAVAN

L4501A

15,995

$

2008 FORD ESCAPE XLT

2011 VW JETTA HIGHLINE

L42022A

24,888

NOW $

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

Z9759

Z9755

18,995

NOW $

Fully Loaded, A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

2010 GMC SIERRA SLE

L4124A

NOW $

Fully Loaded, A/C, tilt steering, pdl, pw, pm, leather & more

2007 RAM 1500 LARAMIE 4X4

L9770

4 door, Fully Loaded, A/C tilt steering, pdl, pw, pm

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, pdl, pw, pm

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm, leather, sunroof & more

2007 CHRYSLER ASPEN LIMITED

Z9758

NOW $

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

2009 FUSION SEL AWD

2012 RAM 1500 CREW CAB SPORT

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

2007 DODGE DAKOTA SLT 4X4

L9733

Fully Loaded, A/C, auto trans., tilt steering, pdl, pw, pm, navigation, sunroof & more

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, pdl, pw, pm

2012 RAM 1500 QUAD

NOW $

Z9771

24,995 Fully Loaded, A/C, pdl, pw, pm, Rare!!

2011 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED SAHARA

Z9733A

NOW $29,995 NOW $34,995 28,995 CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: www.stalbertdodge.com

NOW $

24,995

Z9653

NOW $

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm, leather & more

2007 RAM 2500 QUAD CAB 4X4 LARAMIE

Fully Loaded, A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

2011 CHRYSLER 200 LIMITED

NOW $

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

Fully Loaded, auto trans., A/C, tilt steering, pdl, pw, pm, leather & more

2009 DODGE JOURNEY ALL WHEEL DRIVE

MSRP $36,891

L4193

Fully Loaded, A/C, tilt steering, cruise, pdl, pw, pm

4 door, auto trans., A/C, pdl, pw, pm

2008 FORD FOCUS

2011 GRAND CARAVAN

L9764

23,995

Low kms

2006 CHEVY OPTRA

Auto Trans. tilt steering, pdl, pw, pm, rear DVD, Stow n Go & more

NOW $

NOW $

FOR MORE INTERNET SPECIALS AND A HUGE SELECTION OF CARS, TRUCKS & SUVS! NEW & USED!!

We Deliver Anywhere in Alberta!

The New

Serving Alberta for over 30 Years! Local & Long Distance

1•877•570•8784

We make it simple

St. Albert Dodge Disclaimer: Prices do not include taxes and fees if applicable. Vehicle images may not be exactly as shown. Please see dealer for details.

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.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.