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Hector Goudreau MLA: Grande Prairie welcomes the world for the 2010 Arctic Winter Games
Hector Goudreau MLA, Dunvegan – Central Peace
for Smoky River Express
More than 2,000 athletes, coaches and cultural participants from the northern hemisphere are gathering in Grande Prairie for the 21st annual Arctic Winter Games, March 6 - 13.
Participants from Nunavut, Greenland, Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavik, Sapmi, and Yamal-Nenets will compete against Team Alberta North athletes in 20 sports. These international Games provide northern-based athletes with their own version of the ‘Winter Olympics’ with a variety of different events.
While the Arctic Winter Games includes traditional winter sports such as alpine skiing and speed skating, there are also unique Indigenous-based competitions like arctic sports, snowshoeing and dog mushing.
Dual sport athlete Sam Carstairs, from Grande Prairie, will be the flagbearer for Team Alberta North. Carstairs’ participation in the Arctic Winter Games tops off his achievements as a competitor in every provincial competition available to him as an amateur athlete in Alberta. Carstairs also earned a bronze medal in the Men’s team wrestling at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island.
Volleyball player, Kaitlyn Cordingley of Rycroft, and Snowshoer, Melissa Ross of Slave Lake, will carry the Team Alberta North Banner at the opening ceremonies. These athletes will be part of Team Alberta North consisting of 350 participants who will compete in 20 sports, and represent 40 communities north of the 55th parallel.
The 2010 Arctic Winter Games come to Grande Prairie for the first time and mark the third time Alberta has hosted the Games.
Slave Lake hosted the 1994 Arctic Winter Games, and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo held the Games in 2004.
Alberta North has competed in the Arctic Winter Games since 1986. The 2010 Arctic Winter Games are made possible with the assistance of dozens of corporate sponsors, host municipalities and the Government of Alberta.
For more information on the 2010 Arctic Winter Games and Team Alberta North please visit www.asrpwf.ca or www.teamalberta.org.
Rural programs help Albertans connect and diversify
Two Government of Alberta programs continue to help rural communities create business opportunities and access high-speed broadband services.
An additional 27 projects have been approved for over $5.9 million in funding through the Rural Community Adaptation Grant Program and Rural Connections: Community Broadband Infrastructure Pilot Program. Both are three-year programs, now in their second year.
The $15-million Rural Community Adaptation Grant Program aims to increase the ability of rural communities and regions to address economic, environmental and social challenges by creating diverse economic opportunities. To date, $7.3 million has been approved for 33 projects that help rural communities adapt to changing economic circumstances. Project examples include the following:
– Canadian Badlands Ltd. will use a $444,300 grant to help implement the Canadian Badlands tourism cluster development initiative in rural southeast Alberta;
– a $500,000 grant will assist a business incubator in the Fort McKay First Nations area that accelerates entrepreneurial development; and
– the Town of Peace River will receive $135,000 to assist the Municipal District (MD) of Peace River, the MD of Northern Lights, Northern Sunrise County, the Town of Peace River and the Town of Grimshaw to complete a Regional Airport Business Plan.
Under the $9-million Rural Connections: Community Broadband Infrastructure Pilot Program, priority is given to community-led broadband infrastructure projects where rural Albertans have limited or no access to broadband connectivity. To date, over $6.2 million has been approved for 20 projects to increase internet access in rural Alberta. Project examples include the following:
– two rural gas co-ops (Gull Lake-Deer Creek, Northern Lights) will receive $500,000 each to help deploy a wireless broadband network to provide coverage to non-serviced areas of the province; and
– two Metis Settlements (Buffalo Lake, Elizabeth) will receive $500,000 each to help deploy a wireless broadband network to non-serviced areas of the Buffalo Lake and Elizabeth Metis Settlements.
For descriptions of all the approved projects or more information on either program visit www.rural.alberta.ca or call 780-427-2409.
Funding for these grant programs was made available through the Government of Canada’s Community Development Trust Fund to help provinces and territories assist communities, organizations and workers move toward greater economic sustainability.
Ad campaign boosts drive to reduce workplace injuries
The Alberta government has launched a new public awareness campaign to educate Albertans about workplace health and safety. The television and radio advertisements focus on how to avoid injuries that can be caused by everyday objects such as a bucket, a ladder or a nail.
Government’s goal is to reduce current injury rates by 25 per cent by the end of 2012.
The ads originally ran in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, and have since been adopted by New Brunswick. By sharing resources with other provinces Alberta is able to get the word out to more Albertans with the existing budget.
Additional information, including the TV and radio advertisements and printable posters can be found at www.worksafe.alberta.ca.
Alberta Capital Bonds raise $74.5 million for seniors’ facilities
Sales of Alberta Capital Bonds raised $74.5 million for the construction of seniors’ accommodations in the province.
The $74.5 million raised through the bonds will help fund government’s commitment of $100 million to build accommodations for seniors, including long-term care and supportive living facilities.
Alberta Capital Bonds offered a competitive rate of return of 3.3 per cent per year for five years, providing a secure investment for Albertans backed by the province’s triple-A credit rating—the highest credit rating among Canadian provinces.
More than 4,600 Albertans and Alberta businesses and organizations purchased the bonds, which were available only to Albertans from February 16 to March 1.
The Government of Alberta has a clear plan for a strong economic recovery.
The Way Forward will bring Alberta back into a surplus position in three years by trimming government spending; using cash reserves to protect key programs; continuing to invest in public infrastructure; and ensuring that our province’s industries are competitive and continue to attract investment to provide jobs and prosperity.
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