East View Lodge gets green light

Minister approves sale to Town of Neepawa
By Ken Waddell/The Neepawa Banner

Although it's been stalled in amongst political traffic for about 8 months, the old East View Lodge housing project in Neepawa has finally been given the green light. The five story former care home, a land mark on Neepawa's east entrance, was de-commisioned in the spring of 2009 when residents were moved to Country Meadows Care Home located at Neepawa's west end.

Throughout the planning and constructions stage of Country Meadows, a big question was always "what to do with East View"? The building had been turned over by the community to the Marquette Regional Health Authority in the mid 1990s. MRHA later amalgamated with South-West Regional Health Authority and was named Assiniboine Regional Health Authority. EVL is considered to be a solid building, just not suitable for the high level of care needs that are being met at Country Meadows. The ARHA had always intended to dispose of EVL and had wanted to do so as soon as it was empty. The monthly costs of taxes, hydro, heat and maintenance have eaten an unnecessary and unwanted hole in the ARHA budget. That disposal didn't happen as wished as the provincial government, specifically Health Minister Theresa Oswald held up the process. Although no clear reason was given for the delay, it was assumed that the government wanted to try and get some value for the old building and wanted a clear and transparent process. As it turned out the delay was costly both in terms of time, money and delaying much needed housing

The Town of Neepawa had submitted a plan in conjunction with Adler Properties, a consortium of three companies who planned to turn the building into apartments.That proposal and the accompanying agreements lapsed as the months dragged on. The government then agreed to put EVL up for tender and tenders closed late in 2009. No bids were received.

Local MLA Stu Briese, the Town of Neepawa lobbied hard to get a decision from Minister Oswald.

On Jan, 13 the word finally came down that the ARHA had been given permission to go ahead with the deal. ARHA VP of Finance Ted Bartlett said, "The board has received approval from the minister of health to dispose of East View to the Town of Neepawa for one dollar." Bartett explained that as of Jan. 14 the documents had been forwarded to the Town's solicitor for the paper work to be processed.

Town of Neepawa Mayor Bob Durston confirmed that the Town had received the go ahead. "Agreements have to be signed," said Durston which confirmed what Bartlett had said. It also means that the Town of Neepawa can now go ahead with updating the lapsed agreement with Adler properties.

Adler Properties' plan calls for renovations to begin as soon as the documents are in place. They have workers and sub-trades lined up and have blueprints ready to go that call for turning the EVL into apartment style housing.

Neepawa has a huge and chronic housing shortage in part due to 225 immigrant workers coming to Neepawa to work at Hytek-Springhill hog plant. Hytek plans to bring in several more workers to staff the expanding plant.

Historical side note: In 1999 it was announced that EVL was to be replaced. The government changed in 1999 and the project was delayed and not completed until 2009. The cost more than doubled to $29 million. Around 2000, the then CEO of the MRHA anticipated the new care home project might go ahead soon and offered to sell the EVL for a dollar. I happen to know that's true as I was mayor of Neepawa at the time and the offer was extended to me on behalf of the Town of Neepawa. I assured the CEO that the Town would look favorably on that offer. Neither of us knew how many years would pass before it came true.

The cauldron is lit!

Posted by Kate/Neepawa Banner

Neepawa's community torch bearer Muriel Gamey lit the cauldron at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay community celebration in Neepawa today.

On January 8 at 12:48 p.m., John Nelson kicked off Neepawa's leg of the Olympic Torch Relay riding on a 1940 International Harvester Model H tractor owned by Barrie Baker. The Olympic flame came from Gladstone, where torchbearers carried it north on Morris St and then west on Dennis St.

After stopping in Neepawa, the flame headed west to Minnedosa.

In Neepawa, volunteers and torch run organizers began early this morning setting up tents and stages for the community celebration which ran over lunch. Initially scheduled to take place outside at the Yellowhead Centre, the entertainment was moved inside due to temperatures reaching -30C.

Despite the cold weather, as the flame made its way down Mountain Ave., the streets were lined with people cheering.

Community torch bearer Muriel Gamey took the flame to the Yellowhead Centre for the community celebration. After passing through the hall, she went outside to light the cauldron.

When torch bearer Karen Hickman left the Yellowhead with the flame, she was joined by runners from Hazel M. Kellington School.

Read more in next week's Neepawa Banner


See a video of the torch run.

Check our YouTube Channel for additional videos.

Want to know where the torch is now? Click here!

VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY TORCHBEARER LIST

Day 71: January 08, 2010 - Portage la Prairie, MB to
Brandon, MB

Billy Meeches
Joshua Pashe
Oleksandr Kondrashov
Brandon Ashcroft
Chris Coppinger
Stephanie Reling
Jim Anderson
Warren Beleyowski
ken koots
Phillip Fontaine
Chad Dedelley
dale kasper
Roger Merrick
Eryn Wiebe
Peter Reid
Janelle Lafantaisie
Justin Ford
Jovan Hofer
John Nelson
Lise Leflour
Murray Lang
Allison Snezyk
Elorie Macchia
Harold Isfeld
Muriel Gamey
Karen Hickman
Cheryl Dixon
Gregory Wiebe
Denise Tinkler
Kenny Proden
Meghan Classen
Patrick Gross
Jessica Biggs
Debra Kasprick
Paige Krueger-Trottier
Bonnie Glasman
Michael McNabb
Kara Falkowski
Doug Fansher
Elaine Feniuk
Nina Crawford
Carmen Henry
kristjana schure
Matt Chartrand
Kaitlyn Spulnick
Marc Lavoie
Adam Cyr
Sean Osztian
Mark Pelletier
Andrew Evans
Marco Lauzon
Candace Mundy
Sheri Fisher
Jason O'Neill
Chelsea Braybrook
George Kennedy
Paul Caines
Tom Foster
Donald Askeland
Michael Tintor
Michael Burns
Glen Kirkland
Ryan Coward
Julie Joannette
Jamie McKinley
James Mackenzie
Thomas Mauthe
Dale Fust
Michael Blatherwick
Maria Leach
Barry Hales
Allison Manning
Jaime Manser
Jaimee Schmidt
Jonathan Tyler Blatz
Kris Prior
Drew Caldwell
Debbie Burkart
Lowell Haugen
Marla Fontaine
Johnathan Kelly
Grace Farmer
Orlando Sanchez
Brad Alexander
Benjamin Kay
Jean-Paul Bellamy
Patrick Rae
Ken Shepherd
Grace Krinke
Richard Amann
Don McNabb
Wade Strand
Marcus Krinke
Leo Collins

ROUTE MAP LINK
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/torch-relays/olympic-torch-relay/theroute/
interactive-map/-/58040/17ckajb/index.html