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Construction of a new curling rink and two NHL-sized ice arenas will begin next year in Lethbridge.
City officials confirmed plans for the two facilities, worth nearly $38 million, following announcement of a $10-million federal grant on Jan. 26. They said the new facilities — replacing the aging Civic Ice Centre downtown — should be complete by the summer of 2015.
A leisure centre is also expected to be part of the westside “recreation campus,” planned for a 25-acre site near the city’s new high schools and library. Two open house sessions will help determine what it will include. The final open house is Feb. 1 at City Hall from 7-9 p.m.
Speaking at a press conference held in the Nicholas Sheran Arena, the Mayor Rajko Dodic said the two new arenas would have the same full-sized ice sheets. But their 900-seat spectator capacity would be somewhat smaller.
With twin arenas, officials added, the city would also be in a better position to host figure skating competitions. They’ll also increase the hours of ice time available for leagues and public skating.
The adjacent curling club would contain 10 sheets of ice but could be expanded in the future. It would also have a lounge — and plenty of parking — and would continue to be operated for the city by the Lethbridge Curling Club.
Contractors for the hockey and curling rinks are expected to be commissioned through a request for proposal process, Dodic said. Architects will be hired to complete final design work before summer.
The city hopes to select a builder next winter, he added, so work could be completed by June 2015.
Officials say elements of the adjoining leisure centre — like food concessions — could link the curling and hockey arenas with other features like waterslides or a wave pool.
Lethbridge MP Jim Hillyer announced approval of the federal grant, first applied for in 2010. He said the money, from the “major infrastructure” section of the federal “Building Canada Fund,” will help provide facilities to serve the community for years to come.
Meanwhile, there’s been no decision yet to level the 62-year-old building downtown.
The present facilities, a 1950s-style hockey arena and a 10-sheet curling rink, will be maintained for the next few years. But engineers will be asked to report on their life expectancy, said Ashley Matthews, the city’s recreation and culture manager.
Bridget Pastoor wins Lethbridge East PC nomination
Bridget Pastoor won the nomination for the Lethbridge East Progressive Conservatives in a close vote announced shortly after 10 p.m. on Jan. 26.
The vote was close with 652 ballots cast and two spoiled votes. Pastoor and Lorne Hickey, the other nominee, decided they wouldn't reveal the exact number of votes each candidate received.
Pastoor was first elected to Lethbridge city council in 1998 and went on to provincial politics in 2004 when she was elected as the Liberal MLA for Lethbridge East. She was elected to a second term in March, 2008. Shortly after Alison Redford became premier last October, Pastoor crossed the floor.
Hickey has been reeve of the County of Lethbridge for the past seven years and has 14 years of experience serving on county council. Hickey told the Lethbridge Herald earlier he'd had political aspirations for some time but opted to serve another term as reeve to get more political experience.
MLA pay review session nixed
A special commission created to examine MLAs’ pay and perks cancelled the Jan. 30 Lethbridge public hearing after no one from the area signed up to attend.
Similar sessions in Medicine Hat, Red Deer and points north were cancelled for similar reason.
The panel, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Jack Major, opened its hearings last week in Edmonton and will close with a session Feb. 2 in Calgary.
The base pay is just $52,000. That's what Albertans pay their Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Yes, they get an extra $26,000 in tax-free expense allowances. But it's almost the lowest in Canada. Only Prince Edward Island — with a population not much bigger than Lethbridge — pays its MLAs less.
Anyone can still send their comments by email at mlacompensationreview.ab.ca.
School trustee resigns
Lethbridge School District trustee Dennis Wickham resigned from the board, a day after he was sentenced in Lethbridge provincial court.
Board chairman Gary Bartlett said the board supported Wickham’s belief that his continued presence would be a distraction to the district’s operations. Wickham met with trustees before its Jan. 24 board meeting and then submitted his letter of resignation.
On Jan. 23, Wickham pleaded guilty to one count of forgery and was given a four-month conditional sentence during which time he must adhere to a curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. The charges stemmed from incidents in 2009 and 2010 when Wickham was president of the Lethbridge Minor Softball Association and wrote himself cheques using the signatures of two board members.
The most recent sentence runs concurrently with a six-month conditional sentence and house arrest Wickham received in October in connection with writing himself unauthorized cheques and stealing and altering other cheques totalling more than $4,000 from the Alberta Football Referees’ Association in 2009.
The school board trustees opted not to call a byelection and will continue for the balance of the term with six trustees. The next municipal election is scheduled for October 2013.
Intra-league derby bout Saturday
The Lethbridge Roller Dery Guild rolls out its two new house teams at its first intra-league bout, “High Level Hijinx” on Feb. 4 at the Lethbridge Exhibition Park North Pavilion.
Tickets are available from derby members and online by visiting www.lethbridgerollerderby.ca.
The guild created the house teams, the Coalbank Crushers and the Windy City Wenches, to accommodate the growing interest in the sport.
“That was our goal when we first started that we were just going to start small and build up on it, and we’re really happy that after playing a full season and then coming back, we're able to now expand,” said guild vice-president Martina Emard, a.k.a. Cherri Blaster, adding new skaters are always welcome.
Having three teams in the league means skaters now have more opportunities to play and gain bouting experience. The expansion also means more games for fans to attend.
London Road hopes to be home to Great Neighbourhood award
The London Road Neighbourhood is garnering national attention as one of best places to live in the Great Places in Canada contest.
“It’s great. It’s exciting,” said Sharon Hudemka, president of the London Road Neighbourhood Association (LRNA). “The more votes the better. We’re up against any of the neighbourhoods in Canada.”
The annual contest recognizes special places that Canadians love most. A panel of judges will view the most popular places and declare a winner in April. Visit www.greatplacesincanada.com to vote before midnight on Feb. 29.
The nomination comes just one year after London Road was named one of 12 Best Old House Neighbourhoods in Canada by “This Old House” magazine.
Hudemka said London Road in the spotlight will not only showcase the neighbourhood, but the city as well, which could help increase tourism and attract more people to move here.
5th on 5th launches fundraiser
5th on 5th launched its 16th annual Investing in Youth fundraiser Jan. 26 at Integra Air’s hangar, which will host a Taste of Lethbridge donors’ dinner when the fundraiser wraps up March 31.
5th on 5th president Jeff Meadows said the organization hopes to raise at least $45,000 this year for youth programs.
“They’re looking for, basically, anything and everything we can provide. Anything from our job postings to help with resumes, help getting prepared for interviews, things like that. A lot of our clientele really don’t know where to start when it comes to going out and trying to find a job. And we even help after they get jobs. We coach and help them keep the jobs they’ve managed to find.”
This year’s fundraising goal is up from a record $38,000 raised last year after the provincial government cancelled its Youth Connections program and cut $275,000 in funding.
“Despite losing that entire program funding, we’ve maintained our services and managed to tap into some other funding sources,” Meadows said, explaining the centre has had to expand its clientele age maximum to 30 to qualify for new funding.
Bees promote spelling success
The Lethbridge Public Library offers a chance for students in Grades 1-3, who eventually hope to enter the national spelling bee, to participate in the library’s third annual mini bee taking place Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. in the main branch’s Theatre Gallery.
Registration forms are available at the main branch, The Crossings branch and www.lethlib.ca.
The library is hosting Saturday study sessions where participants can play word games, learn how a spelling bee works, prepare and have fun. The remaining sessions are Feb. 4 at the main branch and Feb. 11 at The Crossings branch.
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