It was a busy year at North Battleford City Hall, but the events that happened on one afternoon in July of this year overshadowed other activities.
July 22 was the day the heavens opened up as North Battleford was hit by the Flood of 2010. A vicious storm developed suddenly over the city during the early afternoon and promptly wreaked havoc. The mass of hailstones overwhelmed the drainage system and vast portions of the city were under water.
The scene of some of the most obvious damage that day was at the Boys and Girls Club building on 104th Street, a building that ended up surrounded by floodwater and icy hail. Throughout North Battleford, there were reports of flooded basements and cars completely engulfed by water.
The weather disaster resulted in a state of emergency being declared in North Battleford, and the City formally asked the province for provincial disaster assistance. Provincial public safety minister Yogi Huyghebaert joined other civic officials in inspecting the damage in the city.
Unfortunately for provincial officials, dealing with floods was old hat for them by this point, as North Battleford was just the latest in a long line of Saskatchewan communities hit by damage during Saskatchewan's infamous "Summer of Storms."
Serious flooding also hit Maple Creek, Saskatoon and Yorkton at various points during the year, while a tornado hit Kawacatoose First Nation. While the damage to North Battleford was widespread, it was not the worst situation in the province - which in itself highlights the wide extent of the damage across the province from the 2010 storms. The community was able to recover quickly compared to the other cities and towns that were, at year's end, still picking up the pieces.
While storm damage and North Battleford's rebuilding effort was one story in 2010, the other story was the "building" that went on in the city of North Battleford and surrounding area during the year.
The commencement of construction of two components of the long-awaited multipurpose facility dominated the year, as tenders were awarded to APM Construction Services for the theater component and to Jen Col Construction Ltd. for the aquatic centre. By fall, construction crews were hard at work in the southeast quadrant location where the multipurpose facility began to take shape.
Community fundraising efforts also got moving in 2010 as naming rights for the components were awarded. Innovation Credit Union secured the overall naming rights for the entire complex, to be known as the Credit Union CUPlex. By year end, naming rights had also been secured for the four individual components of the facility, with the Raise the Roof! fundraisers successful in securing almost $8 million in commitments towards the facility.
Securing naming rights for the curling component was the Ontario-based power company Northland Power, who provided the community with a major boost in 2010 with the commencement of construction of a 260-megawatt base load power facility in the Brada subdivision east of the city, dubbed the North Battleford Energy Centre. The official sod-turning took place in June.
Construction also continued throughout the year on SaskPower's Yellowhead Power Station project in the city's southeast, a peak power facility that was nearing completion by the year's end. Both projects created a large number of construction jobs and a heavy influx of new workers to the Battlefords in 2010.
Building also got under way on a number of other projects, including a much-needed expansion of Water Treatment Plant No.1 costing approximately $7 million, along with other public works projects. The refurbishing of the terminal building at Cameron McIntosh Airport was unveiled in 2010.
Announcement of construction of a new 90-bed assisted-living facility, Harwood Manor, in the city's north end was made by former North Battleford mayor Glenn Hornick in June, answering calls from many local residents outlining the need for the addition of an assisted-living facility in the area.
Plenty of new businesses were seen renovating or building in 2010, including a new Great Canadian Oil Change on Territorial Drive and the new McDonald's restaurant on Railway Avenue. The Super 8 Motel unveiled the results of its expansion in 2010. Not to be outdone, Battlefords Tribal Council announced major plans to expand accommodations at Gold Eagle Lodge in the coming year, and Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs also planned to build a new hotel in the city's south end.
The pace of building in 2010 was evident in the value of building permits issued during the year. By November, $39 million worth of building permits had been issued, shattering 2009's numbers. The permit value in 2009 had been a healthy $24 million, but the numbers compiled by Building Inspector Jerry Wintonyk were so far ahead of 2009's pace that they had beaten that mark by April.
While development across the city was healthy in 2010, one continuing source of concer for council was the state of affairs in the city's downtown core.
The pawn shop and vagrancy riddled downtown has been a constant source of concern for city councillors during the year, with consultant Christopher Doll from Nuguru outlining some ways to deal with the situation in his meetings with council. Development of the city's community plan promises to be a focus for the city in 2011, with downtown sure to be part of the discussion.
The height of alarm over the state of the downtown core came early in the year following a well-publicized robbery and stabbing of a woman using the ATM at the Royal Bank Feb. 12. The accused, Michael John Duperron, later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, and a hearing to determine whether he will receive a "dangerous offender" designation is set for May 2011.
The robbery followed a wave of crime incidents early in the New Year, including a gang-related home invasion on 98th Street and a violent robbery at the Queen's Hotel in Battleford. The crime wave alarmed the community and prompted formation of a Safer Community Task Force by Mayor Ian Hamilton.
Crime and cleanliness issues became a major focus of council meetings from that point forward, and the three rookie councillors made their mark with their efforts on those issues.
Councillor Ron Crush was vocal throughout the year in calling for a stepped-up visibility by police officers in 2010. He made a point of calling for foot patrols during meetings attended by the new staff sergeant of the Battlefords detachment, Phil Wilson, who arrived in the city this year.
The City's curfew bylaw came under the microscope in June following a wave of vandalism. A group of youths engaged in a tire slashing spree, with city officials among those victims.
One of those victimized was first-term councillor Trent Houk, who wanted to see efforts made to crack down on youth crime following that incident. Houk complained the curfew bylaw lacked teeth, and offered his help to revive Neighbourhood Watch in the community.
Houk also led efforts to rewrite the proposed new Nuisance Abatement bylaw. He claimed the bylaw's provisions, cracking down on graffiti, made people hit with graffiti vandalism feel they were being "double-victimized" - first by the graffiti vandals, and then by the bylaw forcing them to clean it up.
The proposed graffiti fines were eventually withdrawn from the proposed bylaw, which eventually passed with Houk's support.
Another first term councillor, Rhonda Seidel, did her part to help improve the look of the city by leading efforts to enter North Battleford in the Communities in Bloom competition.
The Boys and Girls Club would play a major role in helping bring about a downtown revival, successfully getting off the ground the first-annual Christmas parade in November.
Efforts continued in 2010 to crack down on slum landlords, with the city moving ahead in demolishing a 105th Street property that had been placarded by local authorities.
There was less controversy in 2010 over the city budget than there was the previous year, with a 3.9 per cent property tax increase making it through council without much difficulty. Houk cast the lone "no" vote, but it was a far cry from the fiery debate and division seen at council the previous year when a proposed 5 per cent tax hike was first adopted, but later reversed and lowered by council under heavy pressure from the business community.
Across the country, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver were selected by Canadian newsrooms as the News Story of the Year. The Battlefords got to share in that celebration in what was perhaps the high point of the year.
The Olympic Torch Relay made its way through the streets of North Battleford and the town of Battleford in January, during a celebration that helped put the Battlefords on the map from coast to coast. North Battleford also made its presence felt at the games. They hosted a booth at the Saskatchewan Pavilion where the community was able to showcase the opportunities available in the Battlefords and around the region.
Finally, it was a year of celebration in the province as the Saskatchewan Roughriders celebrated its 100th anniversary of existence.
The Battlefords worked hard to show its "Rider Pride" during the summer as it submitted a bid in the football club's "Riderville" contest.
Ultimately, the community's effort fell short, with Avonlea winning the contest and earning the title of "Riderville" in 2010.
Still, that disappointment didn't dissuade Rider fans in the community from displaying their Rider Pride. After the Riders clinched their second West Division title in a row in November, Mayor Ian Hamilton and the rest of council once again held a meeting in council chambers wearing the green and white of the Riders, just as they had done for the Riders' Grey Cup appearance in 2009.
The Riders weren't able to bring the cup home in 2010, either, but that didn't dissuade the Battlefords area fans. They stood in a long line that extended out the doors of Territorial Mall to meet four Riders who visited the community to sign autographs just days after the heart wrenching loss.
Maybe this year.
