Opinion

During the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games slam poet Shane Koyczan, between all the pageantry and glitz, gave the world his take on what defines Canada.

The renovations to the G.H. Dawe Community Centre, costing at least $29.9 million, are nearly complete. Come September the upgraded facility will at last be reopened for Red Deerians.

The City is already busying itself with the 2010 budget – holding public meetings and forums. That is fine. It is good strategic planning. So now, let us ask some questions.

For Red Deer hockey fans this year has not been the time of their lives. The Rebels were quickly blown out in the playoffs and the NHL Flames and Oilers both failed to earn the right to move beyond the regular season.

Where have all the fine candidates gone? In past Red Deer municipal elections, reams of candidates have stepped forward to throw their hats in the ring for posts as councillor or mayor.

While the City of Red Deer has for the most part moved at a snail's pace over the past decade to make the downtown core more exciting and attractive for visitors there is cause to celebrate today.

When Kyle Reed took his two-year-old son Elijah down the new slide during last week's opening of the revitalized G.H. Dawe Community Centre we wonder if the big smiles were small snapshots of contented Red Deerians or just dad and son having fun.

At last. A candidate for the 2010 Red Deer civic election campaign has issued a press release.

The City is hell bent on making sure the Alberta government delivers on its intentions. Last week, a huge splash was made in Red Deer with the Municipal Planning Commission's (MPC) approval of a $57 million expansion for the Cancer Centre.

The election campaign signs went up Sept. 1 on 34 public sites across the cityscape. Even Mayor Morris Flewwelling, who so far is facing no competition in his third and probably last bid to lead the City, has joined the billboard craze.