St. Albert Leader - Jan. 17, 2013 by St. Albert Leader

Photo: MCPL. JAMES ROSS, Canadian Forces

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Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

St. Albert Public Schools

kindergarten INFORMATION EVENINGS, OPEN HOUSES and SCHOOL TOURS HALF AND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN*

HALF AND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN*

HALF AND FULL-DAY ENGLISH, FRENCH IMMERSION AND LOGOS KINDERGARTEN*

When you register your children with St. Albert Protestant Schools, you’ll start them on a path of adventure, learning and creativity that will last a lifetime. Opportunities in academics, sports, fine and performing arts, community service projects, extracurricular activities and more await your children at our schools. Choose from our English, French Immersion, Logos Christian Education or Cogito programming for your children – each program prepares students for Grade 1 and provides the foundation for success. We also offer different scheduling options to accommodate your family’s lifestyle – choose from our regular half-day Kindergarten programs, our full-day every-day programs, or our full-day, alternating day programs.

Please join us for our open houses and school tours, or call your neighbourhood school to arrange a visit any time.

HALF AND FULL-DAY ENGLISH AND FRENCH IMMERSION KINDERGARTEN*

HALF AND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN*

HALF-DAY KINDERGARTEN

HALF AND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN*

Elmer S. Gish School 75 Akins Drive 780-459-7766

Kindergarten Information Evening/Open House/ Cogito and Global Programs: Feb. 13, 6:00–8:00 p.m. School Tours: Call school for an appointment.

Keenooshayo School 40 Woodlands Road 780-459-3114

Open House: Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m. School Tours: Call school for an appointment.

Leo Nickerson Elementary School/École Elémentaire Leo Nickerson 10 Sycamore Avenue 780-459-4426 English, French Immersion and Logos Christian programs available. Kindergarten Information Evening/Open House: Feb. 11, 6:30–8:00 p.m. School Tours: Call school for an appointment.

Muriel Martin Elementary School/École Elémentaire Muriel Martin 110 Deer Ridge Drive 780-458-0205 English and French Immersion programs available. Kindergarten Information Evening: Feb. 6, 7:00 p.m. School Tours: Call school for an appointment.

Robert Rundle School 50A Grosvenor Boulevard 780-459-4475

Kindergarten Parent Meeting: Jan. 31, 6:30 p.m. School Tours: Call school for an appointment.

Ronald Harvey School 15 Langley Avenue 780-459-5541

Kindergarten Parent Information Evening: Feb. 12, 7:00 p.m. School Tours: Call school for an appointment.

Sir Alexander Mackenzie School 61 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue 780-459-4467

Kindergarten Information Session: Feb. 6, 6:30–8:00 p.m. (Library) School Tours: Call school for an appointment.

Wild Rose School 58 Grenfell Avenue 780-460-3737

Kindergarten Information Evening/Open House: Feb. 12, 6:30–7:30 p.m. School Tours: Call school for an appointment. Please note: As Alberta Education funds only the regular program, families must pay extra for the full-day every-day option.

*pending sufficient registrations

District Administration Office, 60 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue

780.460.3712 • www.spschools.org

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Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

Lead the

INDEX News . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . 8 Entertainment . . . . . 14 Fun & Games . . . . . . 16 Business . . . . . . 18 stalbertjobs.com . . . . 19

COVER

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons is all smiles aboard a Leopard 2A4M tank at CFB Edmonton on Sunday morning. Gibbons and four players were at the base as part of the club’s Winter Tour. See story, page 12.

BY THE NUMBERS

$200M

That’s how much golfer Rory McIlroy will earn over the course of a new endorsement deal with Nike that was announced on Monday. At age 23, the Northern Irishman is already a two-time PGA major champion and is currently ranked as the No. 1 golfer in the world.

Following in her dad’s footsteps GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

For Victor Fernandez, the apple truly hasn’t fallen far from the tree. Victor, a St. Albert Fire Services member and president of Canadian Aid for Fire Services Abroad, was one of 23 St. Albertans honoured with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal last week at the St. Albert Inn and Suites for his work taking lifesaving firefighting equipment to developing countries in Central and South America. And, this coming Tuesday, his 13-year-old daughter Balbina will also receive a Diamond Jubilee Medal at a ceremony at Government House in Edmonton for the work she has done sending much-needed humanitarian aid alongside her father, including four neonatal incubators that will be delivered this fall — one each to Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru. The double honour has certainly made for one proud papa. “It’s like daughter, like father,” Victor said with a laugh. “It’s cool that she has taken on a form of her own, that she’s doing her own thing. Now she has to decide which countries she’s going to help with the incubators, and the possibilities the incubators bring to the communities.” But Balbina is just as proud of her dad of he is of her. “I was really proud; he really deserves it,” she said. Receiving the award from Edmonton-St. Albert Conservative MP Brent Rathgeber was a big honour for Victor. “A pat on the back, it reassures you that you’re doing something right, that somebody knows, and it

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

Victor Fernandez and his 13-year-old daughter Balbina check out on of the four neonatal incubators that Balbina has collected to send to South America in the Canadian Aid for Fire Services Abroad warehouse in St. Albert. gives you more energy and another excuse to continue going,” said Victor, who was also named to the top 10 of Canada’s Champions for Change, put on by the CBC, in 2010. And Balbina is very excited for her turn in the spotlight next week. “I’m like, super duper excited,” she said. “My dad is like my idol; I really want to be like my dad,” added the Vincent J. Maloney Junior High School student. “And to get this [medal] is a lot; it’s really awesome.” As Victor has sent firefighting gear — like coats, helmets and even trucks — to places like Colombia, Chile and Gautemala, Balbina has been right beside him, taking up her own collections of things like shoes, school supplies and sports equipment for schoolchildren, as well as raising cash to buy

wood stoves to heat classrooms in Quinchamali, Chile. “When I was five years old, my dad was at the garage, and he was counting the firefighter boots. And I asked him if any of the firefighters’ kids had [shoes],” she recalled. “He said no, so I went to my bedroom and got two pairs of shoes.” But Balbina’s biggest donation yet will be delivered this September when she takes the four incubators to South America. “In Bolivia, for a regular person, they only get a dollar a day. They don’t have enough money to have an incubator, but as a country, they always have premature babies, and if they have a premature baby, it will often die within a month or two,” she explained. “So I thought it would be a good idea to get the incubators and help them, so that

the premature babies could maybe be the smartest scientist out there.” The incubators were donated by Alberta Paramedical Services. CAFSA just received a massive donation of breathing apparatuses from the Regina Fire Department, and some of those will also be headed to Paraguay in September. “These [firefighters], they’ve got nothing — they wet a towel and put it over their faces,” Victor said. “From the towel, they’re going to go to a breathing apparatus.” Further down the road, though, Balbina hopes to become a teacher, but she also wants to take over CAFSA from her father and expand it so they can give aid to educators as well as firefighters. “[She said], ‘I want to do your job, but do it better,’” Victor laughed. “But I like that. ... It would be cool to see.”

Nominate Someone Today! Entry Deadline is January 25th, 2013

We are now accepting nominations for:

BEST WINTER YARD CATEGORY “A yard with a pleasing theme that compliments winter and botanical arts.” Thanks to Our Sponsor:

Details and entry forms at: www.cultivatebusiness.ca MPSSCS4590846MPSE

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

The St. Albert & District Chamber of Commerce welcomes you to the GENSTAR

2013 Chamber Gala Mardi Gras Magic! The Enjoy Centre 101 Riel Drive

Saturday, January 26, 2013—6:00 PM

Tickets $140 plus GST Table of 8 $102000 plus GST

· Excite your senses as you stroll along Bourbon Street, Cocktails 6:00 pm, Fine Dining 7:00 pm · Evening Of Masks, Beads, Dixieland Jazz, Aerialists, Burlesque Dancers and Entertainment Late Into The Night · Official swearing-in, by Mayor Nolan Crouse, of the 2013 Chamber Chair, Lynn Carolei and 1st Vice Chair, Paul Quantz, Mardi Gras Queen and King · Lively Auction Of An Original Creation By Lewis Lavoie And White Gold, Pink Sapphires And Diamond Necklace Donated By Concept Jewelry · Door Prizes

EVENING SPONSORS

• Visionary Entertainment • Concept Jewelry Design • Budget Car and Truck Rentals • i.d.ah Interiors

For more details, contact the Chamber office Phone (780) 458-2833 chamber@stalbertchamber.com MPSSCS4596847MPSE

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

Goodwill in lineup for SAMBA Cuba tour GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

When Dave Beattie takes a group of young St. Albert baseball players to Cuba next month, hitting and catching won’t be the only things on the schedule. Beattie is getting set to take the peewee AA St. Albert Cardinals squad that he coached this past season on a goodwill tour of Cuba in February, the third time he has done so over the past nine years. “I’ve always used baseball as the excuse to go down,” said Beattie, who also serves as the vicepresident of the St. Albert Minor Baseball Association, “but it’s the education, the awareness, [the things] they’ll see in their lives and realize how good we do have it not only in St. Albert but in Canada overall.” Beattie first took his peewee squad — made up of players 11 to 13 years old — to Cuba in 2004. “Back in 2003, I went to see a customer one day who worked at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and also one of my co-coaches. I was talking to my co-coach about

baseball, and my customer said, ‘If you like baseball so much, why don’t you go to Cuba?’” Beattie explained. “We sort of looked at each other and said, ‘That’s not a bad idea.’” After conferring with the team manager, they decided to go ahead with the trip. “We had the attitude of, why not?” Beattie said. A squad also made the trip in 2008. The years coincide with the years Beattie has coached at the peewee AA level. “For some reason, I enjoy that level the most, and I figure that’s the right age to take these young athletes to Cuba, to experience not only baseball but the culture,” he said. It’s quite a shock for most of the players — and a lot of the parents — to see the poverty and the conditions many Cubans live in. “They see hardships; they see people who still cannot drive and go around with a horse and cart. They’ll see that in at least one place we’ll go play ball,” he said. But it is a goodwill tour, and the St. Albert players will take along

baseball equipment and school supplies that they will leave with their hosts. “After each game, we give the players on the opposing teams some equipment, some school supplies, and we’ll definitely be doing that again this trip,” Beattie said. “Individuals will be taking stuff down themselves such as cosmetics and stuff that is very difficult for the Cuban people to get their hands on,” he added. Of course, that doesn’t mean the Cubans will take it any easier on the Cardinals between the foul lines. “Baseball is a religion in Cuba. They play 12 months a year,” Beattie said. “The first time my wife and I went down about 12 years ago, we realized how important baseball is in their lives. Everywhere you go — Matanzas, Havana, Veradero, all the major cities and small towns — you will see a baseball game going on with kids at all hours of the day. “The first time we went down there, it was competitive; they were very close games. But when we went down in 2008, I think they remembered us, and they put some very strong teams against us, which

Lacombe Lake still not safe

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

Four weeks after holes were first discovered in the ice at Lacombe Lake, the City of St. Albert’s public works director says skating and hockey is still a long way off. It was on Monday, Dec. 17, that public works crews set out to prepare the ice surface on Lacombe Lake, only to find five holes cut in the ice with a chainsaw, causing water to seep up through the holes and make the surface unsafe for equipment and for skaters. Public works director Dan Rites said this week that, despite cold temperatures over the Christmas holidays, the surface still isn’t safe to tread on. “We basically have two layers of ice: one about eight inches thick way down at the bottom, and then some water, and then some not-so-good ice that is about 10 inches thick and is not setting up properly,” Rites said. “At this point, we’re not going to to venture any equipment on the lake until there’s not water in between the surfaces, at least. We’re monitoring it consistently and keeping an eye on it, but until such time as that happens, we’re not going to get any equipment on there, just for safety reasons.” The temperature has fluctuated between about –20 C and 0 C since the time the

Photo Supplied

Players from St. Albert and from Cuba get together for a photo during SAMBA’s first goodwill tour of Cuba in 2004. taught us how well they play the game down there.” But Beattie stresses that the trip isn’t only about baseball — it’s an experience that has a lasting effect on the kids. “I still run into some of the players from the 2004 trip who certainly remember the experience they had,” he said. At this point, Beattie is still trying to drum up sponsors for the trip, but he’s already had several

step up with their generosity. “When there’s a good cause to be had, a lot of the businesses will step forward and donate not only merchandise toward a silent auction, but cash toward expenses,” he said. “Even the kids and parents have got involved with bottle drives and raffles.” For more information on the trip, email SAMBA senior rep director Colin Leathem at colinleathem@ shaw.ca.

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Leader file photo

City officials say that the ice surface at Lacombe Lake still hasn’t improved.

holes were discovered, but Rites said there are bigger problems than the weather. “The things that’s causing us the biggest problem is that the snow that’s on top of the ice is basically acting like insulation. It’s not letting the ice underneath really set up,” he said. Rites added that he has no idea when the ice might be usable, and events like the Family Day Frostival and the Canadian Progress Club Pond Hockey Championship could be in jeopardy. “It’s a waiting game; all we can do is check it and hope that the weather cooperates,” he said.

Dr. Andrew Schmidt, Dr.Suzanne Degner

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Across from the Wendy’s/Tim Horton’s, behind 7-Eleven

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

Bong shop bylaw nixed

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

Changes to St. Albert’s business licensing bylaw that were aimed squarely at drug paraphernalia shops have been struck down by a provincial judge. Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Judge Terry Clackson’s written decision was released Friday, which found that the bylaw oversteps municipal boundaries and is unconstitutional. “In my view, in legal effect and in practical effect, the impugned bylaw is about criminal law, a power which is plainly beyond the competence of the municipality,” Clackson wrote. “Therefore, both in terms of purpose and in terms of effect, the amending bylaw is legislation in relation to criminal law. As such it is ultra vires [beyond the power of] the municipality and must be struck down.” The amendments to the licensing bylaw were first brought forward to city council in late 2011, after Mayor Nolan Crouse made a motion asking City administration to look into the matter, and ultimately passed in April 2012, spelling out a range of “restricted products,” from grinders to digital weigh scales to detoxifying products, and not allowing a business to sell more than three such products in their store. The bylaw was challenged in court by the owner of Chad420 Smoke Shop in Gateway Village after the store was inspected and ticketed in May 2012. The trial was held Oct. 30, wherein Aleksandra Simic, the lawyer for Chad420

Smoke Shop, argued that the bylaw went beyond municipal jurisdiction and also interfered with freedom of expression under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Meanwhile, Steve Phipps, the lawyer hired by the City, argued that the purpose of the bylaw was to promote the safety, health and welfare of St. Albertans, but Clackson noted that justification was never used in the documents presented to council leading up to the vote on the bylaw changes. “In my view the amending bylaw has the look and feel of morality legislation,” Clackson wrote. “What was plainly in the mind of the City was illegal narcotics. The amending bylaw has the look and feel of a statement that ‘this kind of thing isn’t going to happen in my City’ and it is plainly designed to address the perceived enforcement difficulties associated with the Criminal Code provisions relating to items which might be considered drug paraphernalia.” Crouse said Friday afternoon that he wasn’t too distressed over the ruling. “We’ll go back and make corrections and honour the ruling,” he said during a break in a day-long planning session. “It was important that due process was followed. I’m absolutely OK with due process. We’ll make sure everything possible is in place to put enough emphasis on proper sale procedures and proper sale processes.” At the same time as the amendments to the business licensing bylaw were made, council also amended the City’s tobacco retail bylaw to add devices meant to facilitate smoking activity to the definition of “tobacco products.”

AHF, City ratify 5-year deal

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

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Months of tense and, at times, contentious negotiations drew to a close on Thursday, Jan. 10, as the board of trustees for the Arts and Heritage Foundation of St. Albert voted to approve a new five-year partnership agreement with the City of St. Albert. “Arts and Heritage St. Albert looks forward to continuing to champion the City’s cultural legacy and celebrate its historic diversity and artistic development,” said newly elected AHF board chair Brent Luebke in a press release issued Friday. “As with any new agreement, further discussions are desirable to reach a full level of mutual understanding and interpretation, and I will

be seeking to meet with the city manager on issues the board feels require further clarification.” “We recognize that there are fundamental changes needed in the funding provided to AHF and we will support them to make this agreement work,” added city manager Patrick Draper in the same release. “AHF will continue to manage those City’s arts and heritage assets that they have to date, and offer programming. However, over the next 12 months, we will work towards addressing duplication of services. This will be achieved through a collaborative process to ensure residents’ needs continue to be met.” Negotiations began in August after St. Albert city council voted to continue working with the AHF

rather than move any or all of the functions the City delegates to the foundation in-house. A report to council in July characterized relations between the two sides at the time as “strained.” The negotiations were directly responsible for AHF executive director Paul Moulton tendering his resignation, which took effect Dec. 31, as well as the resignation of board member Sam Azer. The new agreement takes effect April 1, and is based on several principles, including management oversight, accountability, financial reporting, collaboration, transparency, open communication and no duplication of services. The Jan. 10 meeting also saw Ann Ramsden appointed acting executive director.

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

S T. A L B E R T R E A L E S T A T E M A R K E T R E P O R T AKINSDALE

GRANDIN

NORTH RIDGE

Active Listings: 9

Sold Listings: 8

Active Listings: 9

Sold Listings: 11

Active Listings: 12

Sold Listings: 12

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Low $329,900 / High $448,000

Low $277,500 / High $376,000 Avg. days on market: 74

Low $294,900 / High $429,900

Low $281,900 / High $465,000 Avg. days on market: 40

Low $339,900 / High $679,900

Low $390,000 / High $635,000 Avg. days on market: 58

$380,775

$329,000

BRAESIDE

$359,866

$340,240

$492,591

HERITAGE LAKES

$511,166

OAKMONT

Active Listings: 2

Sold Listings: 10

Active Listings: 7

Sold Listings: 14

Active Listings: 16

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Low $329,900 / High $525,000

Low $260,000 / High $480,000 Avg. days on market: 39

Low $399,900 / High $469,900

Low $362,000 / High $520,000 Avg. days on market: 47

Low $379,900 / High $829,000

Low $415,000 / High $1,184,138 Avg. days on market: 48

$427,450

$368,500

DEER RIDGE

$438,990

$423,285

$587,507

KINGSWOOD

Sold Listings: 11 $710,727

PINEVIEW

***180-Days back

Active Listings: 9

Sold Listings: 16

Active Listings: 15

Sold Listings: 10

Active Listings: 5

Sold Listings: 6

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Low $369,900 / High $649,900

Low $288,000 / High $458,000 Avg. days on market: 38

Low $489,500/ High $1,895,000

Low $507,000 / High $1,170,000 Avg. days on market: 70

Low $399,900 / High $639,900

Low $338,000 / High $436,000 Avg. days on market: 84

$424,911

$373,187

ERIN RIDGE

$843,846

$650,330

LACOMBE PARK

$464,540

$383,416

STURGEON HEIGHTS ***120-Days back

Active Listings: 34

Sold Listings: 18

Active Listings: 25

Sold Listings: 13

Active Listings: 1

Sold Listings: 7

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Low $390,000 / High $989,888

Low $370,000 / High $810,000 Avg. days on market: 50

Low $329,900 / High $1,190,000

Low $312,000 / High $693,000 Avg. days on market: 70

Low $290,000 / High $290,000

Low $245,000 / High $389,000 Avg. days on market: 43

$595,891

$508,111

FOREST LAWN

$619,384

$437,707

MISSION

***120-Days back

$290,000

$318,928

WOODLANDS ***150-Days back

Active Listings: 2

Sold Listings: 6

Active Listings: 7

Sold Listings: 5

Active Listings: 3

Sold Listings: 5

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Average list price:

Average sale price:

Low $329,500 / High $350,000

Low $280,000 / High $350,000 Avg. days on market: 45

Low $289,000 / High $699,000

Low $240,000 / High $375,000 Avg. days on market: 27

Low $420,000 / High $495,000

Low $330,000 / High $480,000 Avg. days on market: 40

$339,750

$312,416

HOUSE FOR SALE

$368,400

$317,000

$450,666

$409,700

REALTORS Advertise your Listings on the St. Albert Real Estate Page

ADVERTISE ON THE ST. ALBERT REAL ESTATE PAGE A great way to market your real estate listings in over 20,000 copies of the St. Albert Leader.

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Call us today for details. 780-460-1035 or email: homes@stalbertleader.com *The above area market averages represent the trailing 3-month averages, except where otherwise indicated, of single-family homes only as of the Friday prior to publication week. Data is provided by CRAIG PILGRIM of RE/MAX Real Estate (St. Albert), member of the Real Estate Association of Edmonton. Data does not include condos, townhomes or apartments, and does not differentiate between styles of homes. All efforts are made to ensure data is accurate for information purposes, but please consult a licensed real estate agent for additional market information. MPSSCS4595562MPSE

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

OPINION

iStAlbert

Politics can’t tarnish medals

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

@JBH8 Power issues in St. Albert tonight due to freezing rain on power lines, says Altalink. No one without power for very long. #yeg #StAlbert

he sad reality of the age we live in is that folks who do good deeds and make significant contributions to the community are simply not recognized enough. So it was a nice gesture to see the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal program implemented last year to do just that, and it by Glenn Cook has been even nicer to see so many St. Albertans finally get their due and a moment to shine in the spotlight. It’s too bad, though, that some people across Canada have decided to turn the medal program into something political. There are some nominees who have had legitimate reasons for turning down the medal, like Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simons, who posted on Facebook in October that, after discussing it with her editor-inchief, “as a working journalist, [she] could not ethically accept the award.” But she was still gracious and humbled that someone would think to nominate her. And perhaps, as an Ottawa Citizen editorial from Oct. 24 that Simons links to in her Facebook post points out, the selection process has been flawed and led to some MPs handing out medals like “flag pins or ballpoint pens,” like one MP who nominated two anti-abortion activists, drawing much criticism. But there are others who have turned the medal into a chance to grandstand politically. Take author Naomi Klein, for example, who posted to her Twitter account on Jan. 11 that she had declined a medal in solidarity with the Idle No More movement. That’s a noble gesture, but also a bit of a slap in the face to her nominator, who likely submitted papers well before Idle No More protests started, and to other recipients by trying to place herself on higher moral ground. Here in St. Albert, MP Brent Rathgeber recently handed out 30 medals, and there’s no one on that list who wasn’t deserving. There were many people who have served their communities for years without asking for anything in return. Those people deserve to enjoy their recognition without having politics tarnish their medals.

@darcysmeats

While I guess we’ll cut a whole bunch of steaks since its 7 above outside today!!! #yeg #yegfood #stalbert

EDITORIAL

@StAlbertFRC Listening so some wonderful songs coming from our Sing, Learn & Grow program this morning. #stalbert #earlylearning

@liamcrotty Just watched 7 deer cross a foggy #RayGibbons into #stalbert just south of LeClair. #yegtraffic #careful

Compiled by Swift Media Group swiftmedia.ca • @SwiftMediaGroup

Town hall to shed light on City’s LRT plans

ark your calendars! The City of St. Albert is holding a Town Hall meeting on Saturday, Feb. 23, starting at 10 a.m. at the Hawks’ Nest at St. Albert Catholic High School. This is your opportunity to learn about plans for light rail transit (LRT) to come to St. Albert. What are the benefits of of having LRT? What are the costs? What plans are in progress? Who is involved? What is the potential timeline for implementation? We are hoping to have a member of Edmonton city council present to talk about LRT plans for the Capital Region, which includes Edmonton and surrounding municipalities like St. Albert. St. Albert city council members will also be in

Len

BRACKO City councillor My City attendance to receive your input and hear your questions during this information session. Dovetailing with LRT planning is a park-and-ride site that will be located south of Anthony Henday Drive and east of St. Albert Trail in the Transportation Utility Corridor. St. Albert is working in partnership with the City of Edmonton and the Alberta government to finalize plans for the park-and-ride site. The goal of St. Albert city council is to initiate the development of this site in 2013. Initially, the park-and-ride site will be

Publisher: Rob LeLacheur rob@stalbertleader.com

Editor: Glenn Cook

glenn@stalbertleader.com

Client Services: Michelle Barstad michelle@stalbertleader.com

used by commuters to access St. Albert transit buses. In the future, we expect that this site will house an LRT station that will be the final stop on the Edmonton NAIT LRT line. To ensure St. Albert is ready to access LRT service for its citizens, a functional alignment study has been approved in the 2013 budget. The study will be complete by 2014 and will determine the route for LRT through St. Albert, as well as specifying station locations. The estimated costs associated with development of an LRT line will also be outlines in the study. This study is a critical step that will allow city council and residents to make informed decisions regarding our future transportation options. In anticipation of the

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.

development of an LRT line through St. Albert, council has initiated work to determine how this project could be funded. Potentially 66 per cent of the cost could be covered through the provincial Capital Region Green Trip Program. An additional 25 per cent could be covered through the federal Canada P3 Program. This would leave just eight per cent of the cost to be covered by the City of St. Albert. Join city council for an opportunity to view a display that shows the route and station locations of the NAIT LRT line and presentations from both the City of St. Albert and the City of Edmonton. This meeting is co-hosted by the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce and Sarasota. We look forward to seeing you there! Owned and operated by

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

Phone: 780-460-1035

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

Provincial data shows City finances strong GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

The City of St. Albert is making the grade in terms of financial performance and operational efficiency, according to a report presented to city councillors this week. The report from City staff was presented to the Standing Committee on Finance — which is made up of all seven city councillors and chaired by Coun. Cathy Heron — on Monday afternoon, using financial indicator data provided by the Alberta government for 2011 to

highlight St. Albert’s performance versus similar comparator communities across the province. “The City’s overall performance indicators, in both the financial position and an operational efficiency perspective, are very sound and well-positioned,” said City chief financial officer Anita Ho. The communities to which St. Albert was compared in the provincial data included Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Airdrie, Spruce Grove, Leduc, Fort Saskatchewan, Okotoks, Cochrane and Camrose. One area that the City is doing

particularly well in is debt, with St. Albert using only 30 per cent of its debt limit and having a longterm debt per capita of $1,017, both figures near the low end of the comparator group.

“[City finances] ... are very sound and well-positioned.” Anita Ho City of St. Albert CFO Another highlight of the data for City staff came in corporate

expenses, which clocked in at $2,273 per capita, lower than the group median ($2,543). Salaries, wages and benefits were at $973 per capita, slightly lower than the group median at $976. The only area in which St. Albert’s expenses were significantly higher than the group median was in recreation and culture at $592 per capita, but those were still off the group maximum of $701 per capita. One area of concern for staff was the City’s continued reliance on property taxes, which make up nearly half of the City’s total revenue.

However, city manager Patrick Draper pointed out that other cities often simply have to collect that revenue in other ways, like through franchise fees for municipally owned utility companies. “If the City of St. Albert’s energy franchise fee was equal to Edmonton’s, it would mean, on an equivalent basis, that our residential property taxes would be 10 per cent lower than they are today,” he said. “The City would not generate any more revenue; it’s just a matter of which of which method would be used in terms of collecting it.”

Capital fund needs tweaking

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

A proposal for a $40-million fund for new capital projects in St. Albert needs a little tweaking after gathering feedback from community stakeholders, City of St. Albert staff said this week. Staff reported to the Standing Committee on Finance on Monday afternoon the results of their consultations with various community groups on the proposed Capital Partnership Fund — formerly known as the Capital Growth Fund — and said that there are adjustments that need to be made before the idea can go further. The idea for the fund first came forward in June 2012 as, during the 2013 budget process, City staff noticed that a vast majority of the capital budget was going toward replacement and maintenance of infrastructure, with little left over for new projects. Community groups could access this fund for up to one-third of the cost of new facilities, so long as they can raise the other two-thirds themselves. The fund would be built over five years through a mixture of internal borrowing and

allocating $1.7 million per year of Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding provided by the Alberta government. Property taxes would need to be raised 0.3 per cent each year for those five years to repay the internal borrowing. Discussions were held with more than 20 community groups in December. Some of those groups, city manager Patrick Draper noted, were very enthusiastic about the fund. “There was one group in particular that almost wanted to submit their application right away. But we’re not there yet; we need to have a little patience,” he said. The major recommendation from the groups was, although they want to keep the program flexible, there should be more clarity around project eligibility, debt assumption, operational control and final ownership of facilities, and any requirements for collateral. Other feedback from the community groups included the need to favour small to medium-sized projects and not have the majority of the fund eaten up by a single project, and that the fund be allocated in just one year, rather than over five years as originally proposed.

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the Blue Jays organization has often talked about how they represent the whole country, but Gose said seeing the support they’ve received throughout the tour has reinforced that notion. “The support and the reception we got everywhere we’ve been is unbelievable,” he said. “The people open their arms up wide for us, and you can see genuinely how much they care and appreciate the team.” With the re-hiring of Gibbons and some blockbuster moves in the offseason, Blue Jays fans are excited to see the team hit the field and contend in 2013. But Gose said no one is more excited than the players in the clubhouse. “If the fans are that excited, imagine the team having the opportunity to go out there and perform and get the fans excited,” he said. “It’s an incredible feeling.”

Serving Alberta for over 30 Years!

support for the military was as big an honour for them as it was for the soldiers who hosted them. “I’m always honoured to meet the military. The things they do for us, for our country, and the same thing for the Canadian military,” Rasmus said. “I have a great respect for what they do.” The military is especially meaningful for Gose, who has a friend in the United States Army who has taken him on a tour of his base in Colorado Springs, Colo. “I never really thought about what’s involved in the military until you actually get on the base and see some of it with your own eyes, take it in and appreciate it,” he said. “It’s the same thing here, the same sense — seeing it, actually being around them and appreciating everything they do.” Being the only Major League Baseball team based in Canada,

The New

was an autograph session at West Edmonton Mall Sunday afternoon. Maj. Vince Kirstein, commanding officer of B Squadron of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), said that having the Blue Jays out was “spectacular.” “It’s neat to get to meet some of the people you see on TV and shake hands. They’re huge stars, but you get to see they’re real dudes,” said Kirstein, who is also a St. Albert resident. “[I was surprised at] how excited they were,” he added. “I forget how exciting my job is, because I do it every day. So having someone come up who you think has seen it all, because they’re a famous guy, and be as excited as you were the first time you were on a tank, it’s kind of neat.” For the players, showing their

We make it simple

Photo: GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Gose (right) gets instructions from a member of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) before they set off for a ride in a Leopard 2A4M tank at CFB Edmonton Sunday morning.

We Deliver Anywhere in Alberta!

It was a whole new ballgame for several members of the Toronto Blue Jays as they visited Canadian Forces Base Edmonton on Sunday. Four Blue Jays players — catcher J.P. Arencibia, pitcher Drew Hutchison and outfielders Colby Rasmus and Anthony Gose — and manager John Gibbons traded their jerseys and caps for body armour and helmets as they were hosted by the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Sunday morning, getting the opportunity to visit with soldiers, check out simulators, try on a bomb suit and even go for a ride in a Leopard 2A4M tank, despite temperatures around –15 C. “The tank ride was unbelievable,” Gose said, “but it was freezing to my face. The wind just swept through me. It was like pins and needles. But being out there was pretty cool. It’s a monster machine.” Meanwhile, Rasmus was impressed with how well the tanks handled on the snow and in cold weather that is a far cry from what he grew up with in Alabama. “That thing moves pretty good on the snow; I thought it would be a little worse than that,” he said. “We slid a little bit ... but that thing is bad to the bone. We were doing about 40 mph; I couldn’t even feel my face. I couldn’t imagine someone shooting at you while you were doing that.” The visit was part of the Blue Jays’ winter tour, which also saw players make stops in Toronto, Winnipeg and Saskatoon. While in Edmonton, they also visited the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Their last stop in the city

184 St.Albert Trail

St. Albert Leader

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GLENN COOK

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Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

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ENTERTAINMENT

Country singer gets happy on new EP

songs on the disc. Even though she fits most comfortably into the country mould, Seal draws on blues Life is finally a happy song for Emily Seal. and pop influences in her music, something The St. Albert-born country singer she said has come naturally to her ever since is getting set to celebrate the release of she was young. her latest EP, If You Keep This Up, in her “I decided that I like other types of music hometown on Saturday at LB’s Pub (23 too, so I started taking influences from Akins Dr.). other genres and kind of incorporating The title of the EP comes from one of the those into my songwriting now and a lot of five songs on it, and what Seal said was the the songs I do sing now,” she said. “Rather first “happy song” she has ever been able to than it just being country, I like to classify write. my music as alternative “Writing is a way of country, because a lot of venting for me,” she said. my influences are from “When I’m going through indie music, actually.” an experience that maybe The first single from the isn’t so great, I like to EP, “Crash and Crumble,” write, because it’s kind was released to radio of a relief from it. And, stations in September, Emily Seal I don’t know, I feel so and has been gaining Country singer cheesy when I’m writing airplay across Canada happy songs. ever since. “But I was so lucky to co-write ‘If You “I’ve gotten a lot of good responses Keep This Up’ with Aaron Goodvin, and it from it,” Seal said. “I’m really happy with just came together so great.” everything that’s happened so far with that Seal, 19, graduated from Bellerose single, and hopefully everything goes really Composite High School in 2011, and is well with this CD.” thrilled to be back in her hometown to show The title track from the EP will be off her work. released to radio at the end of January. “It’s so exciting. I’m really happy I got Seal started singing when she was eight to so this event where I’m from,” she said, years old, first dabbling in musical theatre. adding that she is expecting lots of family “Soon enough, I realized that I really and friends to come out and help her wanted to sing country music,” she said. celebrate. That turned out to be a good decision, Seal has travelled to Nashville four times as she won the junior singing competition over the last four months to work on her at the Dauphin Country Fest in Dauphin, EP with producer Eddie Gore at Insomnia Man., in 2004, and was the grand winning Studios. act in the junior division at the Northlands “It was so amazing. Everyone there is just Park Country Vocal Spotlight in 2005. From so talented and so welcoming. They really there, she competed at a North American appreciate new talent coming in,” said Seal, Country Music Associations International who had a hand in writing four of the five competition in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., where

GLENN COOK St. Albert Leader

“I feel so cheesy when I’m writing happy songs.”

Photo Supplied

St. Albert-born country singer-songwriter has been hard at work on her new EP in Nashville, but is thrilled to come back to her hometown to celebrate its release this Saturday at LB’s Pub. she was named International Vocalist of the Year and International Entertainer of the Year for her age group. In August 2012, Seal was among the top 30 singers from across Canada to be featured on the CMT series Big In A Small Town, where her original acoustic version of “Crash and Crumble” earned praise from the show’s judges. Through all her success so far, though, Seal has kept her feet on the ground and continues to give back by supporting several charities and events in the Edmonton area, like the Stollery Children’s Hospital,

Easter Seals, the Bell Walk for Kids and Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS). “I feel like there needs to be more done for [charities], and I feel selfish if I’m not doing something like that,” she said. Emily Seal’s release party for If You Keep This Up will take place on Saturday, Jan. 19, at LB’s Pub, starting at 8:30 p.m. Special guests include Joanne Janzen, Asin Chin and Sean Sonego. Tickets are $20 each and are available at LB’s or through yeglive.ca. “Crash and Crumble” is currently available for purchase on iTunes.

Producer quashes rumours over Bowie’s health

Photo: Sun Media News Services

British singer David Bowie.

SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – David Bowie’s producer Tony Visconti has spoken out to clarify longstanding rumours about the musician’s health, assuring fans his boss is “not dying” and “has not lost a single brain cell.” The reclusive rock icon returned to the music scene this month to share a new song with fans nearly 10 years after his last release. He hasn’t played live since 2006 and has rarely been seen out in public over the last few years, and his decision to shun the spotlight for such a long time led to intense speculation about his health. However, Visconti, who has

spent the last couple of years working on Bowie’s upcoming album The Next Day, has now spoken out to silence the gossip for good. He tells Britain’s The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, “People thought he was dying. He’s not dying any time soon, let me tell you... He couldn’t have done two years’ work if he was a sick man. He’s very healthy, he’s very fit. He had the heart operation (in 2004) and that’s it. He’s long since recovered from that.” Bowie, 66, famously collapsed on stage at a music festival in Germany in 2004

and subsequently underwent emergency heart surgery to treat an acutely blocked artery. In recent years, rumours have also suggested that Bowie has been dealing with degenerative brain condition Alzheimer’s disease, but Visconti is adamant the story is not true: “He is as sharp as a tack. He is sharper than ever. This boy has not lost a single brain cell.” Visconti goes on to refute reports suggesting his boss will never play live again, insisting Bowie does not want to put himself through a full tour, but is not opposed to playing one-off live shows.

He adds, “He doesn’t want to tour any more. He’s had enough of it. But he hasn’t ruled out that he might do a show. It was a relief to me to hear that he was open to that.” The producer also hints that Bowie is planning to release another album after The Next Day hits the charts in March: “We recorded 29 titles. We have at least four finished songs that could start the next album. If all goes well, we will be back in the studio by the end of the year. He’s back. Bowie has found out what he wants to do: he wants to make records. Nothing else.”

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

Kimmel cleaning up

That old feeling returns for Arrested Development cast

BILL HARRIS Sun Media News Services

A few years ago on Family Guy, Peter Griffin was contemplating a quiet evening at home. “We’ll stay in tonight, pop some popcorn and watch Jimmy Kimmel try,” Peter said. Jimmy Kimmel has gone from trying to flying. ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live moved from midnight to 11:35 p.m. last week, putting it in direct competition with The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC and The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS. For one week at least, Kimmel was the ratings winner. “Don’t get used to it,” said Kimmel, who worships Letterman but decidedly does not worship Leno. “Honestly, I think that ultimately we’ll end up being the No. 3 talk show.” Kimmel’s management of expectations aside, the fact that he’s in the conversation is a testament to his perseverance individually and, frankly, the high quality of his show. In terms of perception, what a difference a half-hour makes, huh? “It’s not even that, it’s 25 minutes, actually,” said Kimmel, interviewed on the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live during the Television Critics Association tour. “I think people like the drama of late night, ‘Who will be the king of late night?’ “The truth is, Johnny Carson retired with the crown; there is no king of late night anymore. There are a bunch of shows that split up a very small part of the audience pie. That’s the reality of it. “We could continue with three shows or four shows, maybe even 10 shows at 11:35, and everyone still would do OK.” Well, I don’t know about that. For a long time it was assumed that if Kimmel ever was going to get a shot at 11:35, he’d have to go to another network. Leno and Letterman have to retire at some point, right? And might Fox ever join the

BILL HARRIS Sun Media News Services

You know that feeling when your family gets together at a grandparent’s house, and no matter how old you get, you can’t shake your childhood memories and you end up feeling like a kid in that familiar environment? That’s what Michael Cera experienced being back on the set of Arrested Development. “Yeah, it’s exactly that feeling. You get zapped back,” says Cera, 24. “It was 10 years ago (that Cera began playing George Michael Bluth). So it was a strange family reunion, where you kind of regress to what it was like when I was 14 around these people. You know, being so impressed by these guys, and wanting them to like me, and wanting to be funny with them. “Being in the room on the one day we all had a scene together, Mitch (Hurwitz, creator) made a speech, and it was hard to digest, just wow, how uncanny this is.” The reunion many believed never would happen becomes reality on Netflix this May. Arrested Development is returning for what essentially is its “fourth season,” although Jason Bateman, who plays George Michael’s dad Michael Bluth, doesn’t like that term. It’s not going to be a TV season in the traditional sense. There will be 14 new episodes, all released at the same time.

Photo: Sun Media News Services

Funnyman Jimmy Kimmel is thriving in his new, earlier timeslot on ABC.

fray? But the flicker of possibility that Kimmel might be able to stay at ABC and move to 11:35 emerged when Ted Koppel — the former host of news magazine show Nightline, which previously occupied the slot — left the network. “You never would consider replacing (Koppel),” Kimmel said. “But whenever they make changes in late night, you start to think about these things. “With that said, I was very happy to be in my (midnight) time slot for 10 years. It allowed me time to develop the show, as opposed to what usually happens, which is developing a show under the spotlight of a premiere.” Ten years, seriously? Has Jimmy Kimmel Live really been on the air that long? Why the heck do we still think of him as a newcomer? “It’s a good thing and a bad thing,” said Kimmel, 45. “But I think it’s better to be considered a newcomer than an old-timer.”

Each episode primarily will focus on one character. Part of that was simple logistics, with many of the actors tied to other projects. The original Arrested Development aired on Fox from 2003 to 2006. Most critics adored it, but the wider public never embraced it, and low ratings justified its cancelation. A cult fan base never stopped pushing for a revival. This Netflix foray still is something of a means to an end, with the creators and at least some of the cast holding out hope this could lead to a feature film. Cera, a Canadian, has done plenty of feature films since Arrested Development disappeared, including Superbad, Juno, Year One and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. But now he’s back with the Bluths, and he has been a regular contributor in the writing room this time around, too. Cera says he never imagined that after Arrested Development exited, the legend of the show only would grow in its absence. “It did have that kind of following on a very small scale while we were on TV,” Cera recalls. “There was this message board that was so devoted to the show, and the show so devoted to it, we would actually interact with it through the show. “There’s an episode called Save Our Bluths, I think (shortened to S.O.B.s, airing in season three). It’s named after a blog called Save Our Bluths.” Finally, the Bluths are saved.

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Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

FUN & GAMES

KNOW?

by Margie E. Burke

30 33 39

38 43

53 56

JAN. 18, 1958

54 58

64 67

31 33 36 37 40 41 44

50 52 54 55 56 58 59 60 63

Golf peg All present Golf club High-spirited Extreme anger Religious flyer Wander aimlessly 47 Add pizazz to 49 Paid player

Willie O’Ree takes the ice for the Boston Bruins, becoming the first black player to play in the National Hockey League.

JAN. 19, 1946

DOWN 1 Socket insert 2 October birthstone 3 Flow like slime 4 Patella 5 Rockies resort 6 Wedding setting 7 GPS predecessor 8 Mideast ruler 9 Remove, as cargo 10 Madam or mom 11 Wipe clean 12 Clerk's call 15 Circus animal 21 Use a divining rod 23 "We ___ the World" 25 Share a workstation 27 Trading post item 28 Lotion additive 29 1973 Timothy Bottoms film, with "The"

Withdraw Listerine rival Worn out Thick slice Drug bust qty. Kewpie, for one Protection: var. Relaxed gait Bellboy's bonus

Country singer and actress Dolly Parton is born in Sevierville, Tenn. Her biggest hits include “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene” and “9 to 5.”

JAN. 20, 1981

Fifty-two American hostages are released from the United States embassy in Tehran, Iran, thus ending the 444-day Iran Hostage Crisis.

JAN. 21, 1976

Answer to Last Week's Crossword A G R E E

C L O W N

N E C E S S A R I L Y

E E K

G L E N A C O N A T S E R C H H A D H A E G S B E E R I T R O U T U S A D O W N S T O N I C E T E N E T

N O V I C E

A G E L E S S

T A D D E P L R O A R P E

T E N T H E S A O T D E R R O S O P K E I A E R

A C U I T Y

L E A S H H A V O C

C A S T E

B R O

 

  



I A S L L O L L Y I M A G I N A T I O N

C O L O N

S T O N E

R E N A L

D A D D Y

Today, there are more than 2,700 different languages spoken in the world, with more than 7,000 dialects. International airline pilots can communicate with their local Air Traffic Control in their home language. But should the air traffic controller (in any country) prefer, he may choose to communicate in English. (didyouknow.org)

The first Concorde jets with commercial passengers take off simultaneously from Heathrow Airport in London and Orly Airport, outside Paris.

JAN. 22, 1973

The Supreme Court of the United States hands down its historic ruling in the case of Roe v. Wade, decriminalizing abortion.

JAN. 23, 1957

Edited by Margie E. Burke

Difficulty : Medium



A 6.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Los Angeles, killing 54 people and causing billions of dollars in damage.

41 46

This week in history and celebrity birthdays

JAN. 17, 1994

Milestones

44 48

22 25

8 15

24 27

The Wham-O toy company rolls out the first batch of their new aerodynamic flying discs, now known the world over as Frisbees.

       

• Spot the Difference? •

DID YOU

There are five differences between these two photos. Can you spot them all?

ACROSS 1 Make a reservation 5 Highest point 9 Store window sign 13 Atop 14 Fats Domino hit, "Ain't That a _____" 16 Meter reading 17 Kick back 18 Class attendee 19 Fiber-yielding plant 20 Hemophiliac 22 Pragmatic one 24 Spiral shell 26 Lying face-down 27 Melonlike fruit 30 Quick-tempered one 32 Pass, as time 34 Brewed beverage 35 Faucet flaw 38 Cut off 39 Plain to see 42 Miner's find 43 Crawl (with) 45 Bard's "before" 46 Small earthquake 48 Keep in check 51 With regard to 52 Like horror films 53 Sailing vessel 55 Blockhead 57 Charleston college, with "The" 61 Batch of laundry 62 Gunpowder ingredient 64 Cancellation 65 Altar area 66 Shorten, in a way 67 Cut out, as coupons 68 MGD, e.g. 69 Columnist's page 70 If all ___ fails...

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HOW TO SOLVE:        Answer to Last Week's Sudoku

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Photo: MCPL. JAMES ROSS, Canadian Forces

Blue Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus directs traffic from atop a Leopard 2A4M tank on Sunday morning at CFB Edmonton.

ANSWERS: 1. Logo removed from gloves; ‘9’ on garage door changed to ’6’; 3. Red patches on gloves changed to green; 4. Different Jays logo on jacket; 5. Canadian Forces logo added to tank.

The Weekly Crossword

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HOYLE & GUS

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

Kids Krossword FRUITS & VEGGIES

Answers online at stalbertleader.com

PROF. DONKEY’S DICTIONARY

WHAT IF?

IN THE STANDS

PRINCESS

THE BOO BIRDS

Compiled by Leader staff

DOWN 1) White flowers 2) Round & fuzzy 3) Small trees 8) Summer staple

9) Drink base 11) Go man go! 12) The musical fruit 13) Blue fruit 16) Keep the doctor away

ACROSS 4) Chocolate covered 5) Nothing rhymes with it 6) Come in twos and threes 7) Fruit or vegetable 10) SpongeBob lives in one 12) Monkey’s treat 14) Main salad ingredient 15) Rabbits love them 17) Young raisins

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Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

BUSINESS RRSPs stress out Canadians: survey SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – As the March 1 deadline for contributing to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) approaches, a BMO study reveals that the deadline causes many Canadians stress as they scramble to find the money to make a contribution. The results of the study, released Saturday, shows that the majority of Canadians say they would feel less stressed if they switched their approach and made smaller contributions throughout the year. While three-quarters of Canadians with an RRSP have already made or plan to make a contribution to their RRSP before the deadline, 60 per cent admit that the deadline causes them stress, the study says. “Uneasiness around the RRSP deadline is understandable when Canadians have other financial priorities to manage, including paying down household debt,” Marlena Pospiech, a spokeswoman for BMO Financial Group, said in a statement. “Yet, there are ways to manage and eliminate that stress. “For example, opening a Continuous Savings Plan alleviates the worry about having to come up with a large lump-sum RRSP contribution as the deadline looms.”

Feds announce venture capital SUN MEDIA NEWS SERVICES – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a plan on Monday to provide $400 million in venture capital to stem the loss of young entrepreneurs to the United States and to rekindle investor interest in providing start-up funds for new ventures. The money comes in response to consultations that showed venture capital returns have been poor across the world and venture-capital fundraising in Canada has declined since 2001 following the burst of the dot-com bubble. Governments have been the dominant source of venture capital funding in Canada recently, and a government statement on Monday said the consultations found that reasonable government incentives would be needed “to attract institutional investors who have left the asset class in Canada over the past decade.” “We will provide the resources needed to put Canada’s venture capital industry on the path to sustainability and ensure Canada’s high-potential firms have the resources they need to succeed,” the statement quoted Harper as saying. One of the goals is to deepen the pool of experienced fund managers in Canada, “including by attracting foreign expertise and capital to Canada’s venture capital market,” the statement said. The overall amount was announced in the March budget, but the government has now decided how to allocate the funds over the next seven to 10 years. The breakdown is as follows: • $250 million to establish two new, private-sector-led national “funds of funds” that will invest in other venturecapital funds, in partnership with institutional and corporate strategic investors as well as with interested provinces; • Up to $100 million to recapitalize existing large private sector-led funds of funds in partnership with willing provinces; • Up to $50 million in three to five

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Photo: Sun Media News Services

Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks to a group of young entrepreneurs in Montreal Monday as part of an announcement of $400 million in venture capital. existing, high-performing venturecapital funds in Canada. “The principal focus here is on young entrepreneurs and the fact that we are losing young entrepreneurs and their businesses to American enterprises, to larger enterprises,” Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, flanking Harper at a news conference, said. “We know of thousands of young entrepreneurs in Quebec and across the country that need the kind of support that is contemplated.” Montreal in particular is a hub for start-up companies involved in video games. The government is also planning at some point to create a new startup visa to attract high-tech and other entrepreneurs to immigrate to start new

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companies. Venture capital funds would identify candidates for the visas. Harper, a Conservative who once railed against corporate welfare, said that his philosophy was the reason the venture-capital package is stressing that the private sector will take the lead in the program. “We don’t want governments to choose winners and losers by political criteria, and therefore we’re working with the private sector,” he said. Peggy Nash of the left-leaning opposition New Democrats said the new funding would have little meaningful impact in addressing a sector that has been underperforming for a decade. “The prime minister’s venture-capital plan amounts to just peanuts and won’t get the job done,” she said.

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Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013

STALBERTJOBS.COM

Adjusting back to academics

LINDA WHITE Sun Media News Services

Whether you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to pursue a promotion or want to switch careers so you can enjoy greater job satisfaction or earn a bigger paycheque, returning to school can be daunting — especially if you’re also juggling work and family commitments. Get off on the right foot with the following tips from academic advisors who work with mature students just like you: 1. Have a support system in place “School is stressful and will take a lot of resources,” says Lindsey Fiebig of Calgary’s Bow Valley College. Your support system should include people who will encourage you when you’re feeling overwhelmed and be able to lend a helping hand when you’re cramming for exams. “Know that there’s going to be more stress in your life,” she says. “There’s no way to eliminate stress — you just have to learn how to manage it.” 2. Attend orientation sessions The better you know your new school, the more comfortable you’ll be. Bow Valley, for example, offers a learning boot camp that introduces students to the institution, members of the supportservices team and strategies on such things as how to ask an instructor for help. “On their first day of class, students already have a toolbox of strategies and are familiar with the school environment,” says Heather Deacon, also of Bow Valley College.

3. Manage your time wisely Time management is critical to being successful at school, especially if you’re also working and have family commitments. Give yourself enough time to complete work properly and mark nonnegotiables — such as classes — in your calendar. “Accounting for your time from the moment you awake until you go to bed will help you find pockets of study time,” Deacon says. For every hour of class time, expect to spend one hour on homework and assignments. 4. Remember why you’re returning to school “There’s a reason why mature students come back, whether it’s to upgrade their skills or to learn something new as our economy shifts from manufacturingoriented to service-oriented,” says Parm Batthal, manager of learning centres at Toronto’s Seneca College. “Students will be more engaged in their learning if their courses are related to their skills, interests and abilities. Find something you’re passionate about.” 5. Make connections Create informal support networks with fellow students. Communicate with instructors about challenges you may experience in the course and don’t be afraid to ask questions, says Batthal. 6. Upgrade technology skills Depending on how long it’s been since you were last in school, technology has likely evolved. “Once students are comfortable with technology, they’ll be more eager to use it,” says Batthal.

7. Use social media as a learning vehicle Post-secondary institutions are increasingly connected virtually so students can ask a question online or tweet a question to the student services team or librarians and get a response almost immediately. “It allows you to access those services from wherever you are,” says Batthal. In addition to offering assistance over the phone, Bow College uses Adobe Connect web conferencing and FaceTime video calls from the iPhone or iPad to provide tutoring offsite.

DITCH POOR MEMORIES High school may not have been the best time of your life but that’s no reason why you shouldn’t look forward to returning to school as a mature student. A positive attitude will go a long way to making the experience transformational. “Some students remember one comment a teacher said to them in Grade 10 about how stupid they were,” says Lindsay Fiebig of Bow Valley College in Calgary. “That remains in the back of their head and they’re almost waiting for it to happen again. If you had a negative experience in school before, some of that might still be sitting there.” She encourages students to discuss those negative experiences with a member of your school’s academic support team.

Looking for a New Career?

STURGEON

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Photo: Sun Media News Services

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