Signed, sealed and delivered

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

A deal was signed Feb. 19 allowing Peace Country Health to officially purchase 13.9 acres of land formerly owned by Peavine Metis Settlement to build the new High Prairie Hospital. “I am delighted this deal has been signed and I look forward to seeing construction start later this year,” says Marie Savill, one of two High Prairie board members on the PCH board of governors. “I’m glad it’s a done deal,” adds George Keay, chair of the steering committee for the new hospital. “It’s taken a long time but it’s done. “I think it gives people a positive outlook on the new facility,” he adds. “I think you’ll see gravel and piling and the foundation (started) as soon as the frost goes out.” As promised, Peavine Metis Settlement sold the land at a Feb. 19 meeting. The ratification of the deal effectively transfers the land, located on the east side of High Prairie at Peavine Estates, to PCH. “This is the formal documentation of the initial agreement that was signed earlier with the Peavine Metis Settlement,” says Dalton Russell, PCH’s senior projects manager. PCH also announced the hiring of Gary Hartman as project manager to oversee the next phases of the hospital’s construction. Hartman is an associate and senior project manager with Stantec Consulting Ltd. in Edmonton. “He’s going to bring a lot of knowledge to us,” says Russell. “We’re really glad to have been able to bring Gary aboard for this project because he has extensive experience working with health care facility projects in Alberta.” Hartman has more than 40 years of experience working with health care facility projects in Alberta. “I look forward to working on the High Prairie Health Complex project,” says Hartman. “It’s exciting to be involved in the construction of a health care facility from the ground up.” Hartman was also involved in the construction of the Sacred Heart Community Health Centre in McLennan. The schematic design for the new High Prairie Hospital approved by PCH’s board of governors in December 2007 and submitted to the provincial departments of Infrastructure and Health and Wellness for their approval. While awaiting provincial approval of the design, PCH continues to proceed with other key planning phases for the hospital, including a recent meeting to gather input to achieve silver-level standards in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. Construction of the $50-million facility is expected to begin in the fall of 2008.

Fast start propels Raiders to win over crosstown rival Saints

Prairie River’s Amadeus Giroux, in front, dribbles past St. Andrew’s Saint Justin Monahan.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The Prairie River Raiders jumped out to a quick lead and never trailed in winning their season opener 51-39 over their crosstown rivals, the St. Andrew’s Saints. The game marked the first boy’s action in Smoky River Junior High School Basketball League action this season. PRJH led 19-8 after the first quarter. They used their speed and a lack of effort defensively at the St. Andrew’s end of the court in bolting out to a big lead. However, as the game wore on the Saints started to adjust. The bottom line was, for the last three quarters the teams were only one point apart. Nathan Lang-Oke- maw led all scorers with 19 points while Amadaus Giroux chipped in with 16 points of his own. Offensively, they did most of the damage. Jarett Abram and Zach Auger each had six points while Harold Johnson and Colin Bjornson netted two points each. Jared Dumont scored a team high 15 points for the Saints. The rest of the scoring was spread out between four players. Zak Stokes had nine points, Justin Monahan eight, Mike Ochran four and Josh Perry three points. Both teams head into the Christmas break and will not resume action until Jan. 9. The Raiders travel to McLennan to play the Eagles while the Saints play their home opener against Valleyview St. Stephen’s School.

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