Okotoks gets $8.4 million for new health care centre
By Gillian Beckett
Staff Reporter
Christmas came early for the Town of Okotoks after Alberta Health Minister Gary
Mar announced Okotoks would be receiving $8.4 million to be used for a new community
health care centre.
The news came after two years of extensive community health studies and consultations
undertaken by the Headwaters Health Authority (HHA) as well as the Town of Okotoks.
After determining the health needs of the community, the authority made a request
for funds to the government earlier this year.
However, a funding announcement was not expected this early.
'The process usually takes a lot longer to get funding from the government. We were
just thrilled with the announcement,' said Lori Anderson, who is presently serving
as the community health services leader for Black Diamond and Okotoks.
'This $8.4 million is a significant amount of money and we should be able to get
a very nice community health centre out of it,' she added. 'We received more than
what was first recommended, but they probably built in a bit of an inflation factor.'
HHA board chairman Courtney Rousseau echoed Anderson's excitement.
'This is great news for both the Okotoks area and the whole region,' he said. 'We
are pleased that the province responded so quickly once we identified the future
health service requirements for this fast growing community.'
With the new funding in place Anderson said the objective is to bring better health
services to the community.
'We want to make sure we get in place what the community needs as far as health services
go,' she said.
Previous studies indicated that a community health centre would best suit the needs
of the Okotoks area, hence the application for funding.
Included in the proposal were various suggestions of services to be included in the
centre such as extended hours for urgent care; basic diagnostic services (laboratory
and radiology); expanded community rehabilitation services; specialist outpatient
clinics; health promotion and education programs; family planning services and other
preventative services.
Provision was also made for future continuing care services, including various housing
and residential options.
The next step to see the centre come to fruition is to develop a programming plan
which will identify the specific services to be offered, staffing issues and the
design of the facility as well as its location.
'Our next steps are to secure appropriate land in Okotoks and undertake detailed
programming studies,' said HHA chief executive officer Dwight Nelson. 'The programming
work will define exactly what services will be provided by health professional in
the new centre. Once we have an agreement on that, we can proceed with the necessary
design work and ultimately construction of the centre.'
So far the Town of Okotoks has provided the authority with a list of 10 potential
sites for the centre which each recognize accessibility.
Anderson said the authority will review those options with the town to determine
the future home of the centre.
However, Anderson expects the process to take a few years in order to best address
specific needs and requirements.
'This will be a long process in which we will need government approvals along the
way which does take time. However, it will be a very exciting process that I am looking
forward to,' she said. 'We want to make sure we take the time to do it right in order
to meet the needs of the community for a number of years.'
Despite rumors that the centre will take the face of a hospital, Anderson said that
the community health centre will be able to provide urgent care but not overnight
hospital care.
She explained that due to Okotoks' proximity to the High River, Oilfields and Calgary
hospitals it was determined that a more appropriate facility would provide access
to health services all under one roof.
With the recent funding announcement the community can now be assured that their
one-stop health shop will soon be a reality.
'I think it is going to be a success and a wonderful thing. It is about time. This
community really needs (the new centre),' said Anderson.
River reprieve
Literally hundreds of Okotoks and area
residents are taking in the cool solace of the Sheep River this summer as temperatures
soar to 32 degrees in the summer heat. The river offers some cool reprieve as swimmers
and tubers take to the riverbanks near Lions park and at various places west of town.
Although the river is a popular place this summer, those heading to the water should
be aware of its currents and take the necessary precautions.
photos by Cindy Ballance
Okotoks bylaw officers enforce reduced speed limit
on Highway 2A
By Cindy Ballance
Editor
While some people may think it is a burden and that it is the cause road rage
on Highway 2A, the recently reduced speed limit on that stretch of road has been
implemented for a reason -- safety.
Special Cst. Pete Smitz explained that the reduced speed limit from 100 kilometres
per hour on Highway 2A to 50 kilometres was imposed by Alberta Infrastructure but
is enforced by Okotoks bylaw officers and RCMP.
The reduced speed limit came into effect about three weeks ago and since then there
have been numerous accounts of road rage and speeding on the highway.
|
In this issue... Opinion Editorial Paul's Place News Sports Classified Ads Real Estate  New Rising Sun Fun Bus officially unveiled See News  Local athletes shine at Alberta Summer Games See Sports |
Last Wednesday Smitz was on the scene attempting to slow traffic down.
'Day to day the traffic changes and it is dangerous,' said Smitz while targeting various motor vehicles as they headed into and out of Okotoks on Highway 2A.
Overall on Wednesday Smitz said motorists obeyed the reduced speed limit. 'Generally today it has been good, but we have had to slow the driving members of the public down,' he said citing one driver was clocked at travelling 99 km/h in the 50 km/h zone.
Smitz explained that the purpose of setting up laser radar is not only to slow people down, but for the safety of the nearby construction workers and the public.
'The purpose is to protect the workers and the travelling public. Sometimes (during construction) the road edge will disappear when the road bed is being reconfigured and there will be no shoulder,' he said.
While the enforcement of the speed limit will attempt to increase the safety of Highway 2A, bylaw officers are also hoping that motorists will have patience.
'The inconvenience to the public is that it will take one or two minutes longer to get to Calgary,' said Smitz.
He added that the maximum fine for travelling 50 kilometres over the posted speed limit is $232. If a motorist is travelling 51 km/h over the speed limit they will have to make a mandatory court appearance in Okotoks where licences can be suspended from 30 to 90 days depending on the clocked speed of the vehicle.
The bylaw officers will continue to do periodic enforcement along areas of Highway 2A for the duration of construction.
The 50 km/h speed limit will remain in effect for the duration of the twinning of Highway 2A north of the Okotoks Animal Clinic south through town.
