Monthly Archives: October 2012

Design contact for Crossings Ice Complex to ring in at $2.1 million

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City council today approved the selection of an architectural design team for the Crossings Ice Complex – a twin-ice arena and curling centre to be built in West Lethbridge.

QYA Group 2 Architecture Interior Design of Calgary in association with Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects of Lethbridge has been awarded a $2.1-million design contract based on being the highest-evaluated proponent. A total of 11 proposals were submitted proposals for the design work, and the successful proponent was among three who were short listed. The design cost is included in the project’s overall $41.35-million budget.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/a8spk8a

Council to hear report about bridge possibility

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It cost the railway $1.33 million – 105 years ago – to build Lethbridge’s iconic bridge.

To add a second landmark, one that city residents could actually walk or cycle across, would cost at least $60 million.

That’s the forecast cost of a level “bank to bank” crossing, taking the shortest route across the Oldman River. Building at a wider point could cost $95 million.

Those are the figures from a bridge engineer, included in a report city council will review today. They come in response to a proposal earlier this year, suggesting the city could secure federal funding to build a “signature” crossing as part of the nation’s 150th birthday celebrations in 2017.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/bylhv3p  

Higher standards eyed for financial advisers

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Canadian securities regulators are weighing the pros and cons of imposing a stricter fiduciary or “best-interest” standard on financial advisers who provide advice to retail clients.

Investor rights advocates say advisers should be held to a higher standard of care, similar to the fiduciary duty of a company executive or lawyer – and note that other jurisdictions, including the United States, are moving in this direction.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/8cwo9f9

Unprecedented demand fuels Calgary retail development boom

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CALGARY— The demand from retailers for new retail projects in Calgary has reached a new and unprecedented level, says a new report by Colliers International.

The commercial real estate firm said developers are responding to the strong retailer interest as 42 projects comprising nearly 10.9 million square feet are in the planning, permitting or construction stage.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/8duatjw

Debate on suburban-style garages in mature neighbourhoods put over until January

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Community leagues and activists will have more time to collect their thoughts and lobby council after a series of contentious changes to the mature neighbourhood overlay were postponed Monday.

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues sent out an alert Sept. 17 after they saw the proposed changes, which they argue would make it easier for developers to build homes with large, suburban style front garages in mature neighbourhoods.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/9amshqt

Penny tax could go a long way to solving city fiscal challenges

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The pitch for a Calgary penny tax is raising its head once again with tales of success from a former Oklahoma City mayor.

Ron Norick is the guest speaker at a private presentation Monday hosted by Transformation Calgary, a local group concerned with the deficits of municipal facilities in Calgary and across Alberta.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/9q99fy8

Cities thrive when governments focus on parks, not mega-projects

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CALGARY,AB, Oct. 29,2012/ Troy Media/ – Mayors and councillors across North America regularly spend taxpayer cash trying to revitalize neighbourhoods or entire cities. They often do so in expensive and ineffective ways: grand schemes that wipe away existing neighbourhoods or street markets, only to be replaced with massive convention centres (mostly unused by locals) or costly new arenas for professional sports teams.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/9gm5cdx

TransCanada, Phoenix team up to build $3-billion Alberta pipeline

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TransCanada Corp.and Phoenix Energy Holdings Ltd. are forming a partnership to build a $3-billion pipeline project in Northern Alberta to serve an area of emerging oil sands production.

Each of the companies would own half of the Grand Rapids project, which they expect will carry crude oil and diluent for oil sands producers northwest of Fort McMurray, Alta., starting in early 2017.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/8qt7jkx