Red Deer
2 Red Deer Rebels invited to national camps – Coward to try out for the national junior team

News releases sent by the Red Deer Rebels
Chase Coward invited to Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp
Red Deer Rebels goaltender Chase Coward has been invited to Canada’s National Junior Team summer camp.
The camp goes July 23-27 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.
Coward, a native of Swift Current, SK, appeared in 35 regular season games with the Rebels in his first full season with the club in 2022-23. He compiled a 22-10-0-2 record with a 2.51 goals against average, .906 save percentage, and two shutouts.
In the 2022 WHL Playoffs, Coward was 4-3-1 with a 2.24 goals against average, .925 save percentage, and one shutout.
“This is an exciting first step as we begin preparations for the upcoming season and the opportunity to compete at the 2023 World Juniors on home ice in Halifax and Moncton this December,” said Alan Millar, Hockey Canada’s director of player personnel. “We are excited about this group of players, and we look forward to returning to the ice for a highly-competitive camp to kick off a new season.”
Hockey Canada announced in May that the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B., Dec. 26, 2022 to Jan. 5, 2023.
Kalan Lind invited to Canada’s Under-18 selection camp
Red Deer Rebels forward Kalan Lind has received an invite to Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp where he will compete for the right to play for Team Canada for the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer (July 31 – August 6).
Lind, a native of Shaunavon, SK, reached the 20-goal plateau in his rookie season with the Rebels in 2021-22 and had 38 points overall in 61 games played. He was also plus-17 and had a team leading 93 penalty minutes.
Selected sixth overall by the Rebels at the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Kind competed at the 2021 Capital City Challenge in Ottawa last November, helping Team White win the bronze medal. Lind scored three times and added one assist in five games in the four-team tournament that included the women’s national squad and three teams featuring the top under-17 players from across Canada.
A total of 44 players – including four goaltenders, 14 defencemen and 26 forwards – have been invited to the selection camp, which takes place July 20-23 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. Following the selection of the final U18 roster on July 24, Team Canada will play a pair of games against Red and White teams from Canada’s National Junior Team (U20) summer camp.
Health
Red Deer Hospital Lottery 2025 Winners

The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation is thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Red Deer Hospital Lottery prizes – including the Dream Home, a $100,000.00 cash prize, and Mega Bucks 50.
James Smith of Spruce View has won the $100,000.00 cash prize.
Montey Brehaut of Red Deer has won the Mega Bucks 50 jackpot, taking home $301,702.50.
The grand prize Sorento Custom Homes Dream Home, including furnishings by Urban Barn and worth $1,074,472 – has been awarded to Oscar Gunnlaugson of Sylvan Lake.
The winner announcements took place at noon on June 26 , 2025 – and was streamed live on Facebook from Red Deer Regional Hospital Center.
“We’re excited to celebrate this year’s winners and deeply grateful to everyone who supported the lottery,” said Manon Therriault, CEO of the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation. “Funds raised will directly enhance patient care at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.”
This year’s lottery proceeds will fund essential new and replacement equipment, ensuring Red Deer Regional Hospital Center can continue to serve the 500,000 people who rely on it. While plans for the hospital expansion move forward, healthcare doesn’t wait. Patients in our community need access
to life-saving technology today, and supporting Red Deer Hospital Lottery has made that possible.
A full list of winners, including electronics prize recipients, will be posted on July 2 at reddeerhospitallottery.ca.
Winners will also receive instructions on how to claim their prizes by mail.
The keys to the Dream Home will be presented at a special ceremony this summer.
Business
Carnival Cinemas moving downtown: Owner Bill Ramji buys former Uptown Cinemas from RDP

News release from Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP)
Red Deer Polytechnic Sells Welikoklad Event Centre
Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has sold the Welikoklad Event Centre in downtown Red Deer to a new owner who has plans to revitalize the facility as a movie theatre. RDP purchased the Welikoklad Event Centre in 2012. For many years, the Centre served as a valuable learning space for students in a variety of programming, including arts and business. The facility also served as a community hub, where RDP hosted a variety of events for different organizations. With the evolution of time, and RDP’s mix of industry-relevant arts and business programs transitioning back to main campus, the Welikoklad Event Centre no longer serves the same purpose for the post- secondary institution as it once did.
“As we’ve reviewed our future strategic plans relating to program growth and facility usage, to best serve our students, industry partners and community members, we are confident we can meet everyone’s needs at our other campuses,” says Jim Brinkhurst, Vice President, Finance and Administration & Chief Financial Officer, Red Deer Polytechnic. “We feel that now is a good time for the institution to sell this facility and we are pleased to see it repurposed for other community uses that will continue to serve Red Deer and downtown well.”
The Welikoklad Event Centre has been purchased by local business owner, Bill Ramji. He owns Carnival Cinemas, currently located in the Capstone neighbourhood. Future development is planned on the current site of this movie theatre and community gathering space. Ramji is excited to revitalize the theatre’s nearly three decades of history in Red Deer at its new location (which will be renovated before opening) in the heart of downtown.
“Carnival Cinemas is proud to announce the acquisition of the Welikoklad Event Centre from Red Deer Polytechnic, marking an exciting new chapter for this venue and the downtown arts community,” says Bill Ramji, Carnival Cinemas owner. “With this acquisition, Carnival Cinemas reaffirms its commitment to bringing the best value in movies to central Alberta while expanding its focus on supporting local theatre and the performing arts. The Welikoklad Event Centre, previously The Uptown Theatre, was a hub for film lovers and creative voices, and Carnival is eager to build on that legacy.”
Ramji continues, “We’re excited to move forward as Carnival Cinemas and Event Centre and our goal is to continue providing high-quality movie experiences, while also working hand-in-hand with local artists, performers, and theatre groups to enrich downtown Red Deer’s cultural landscape. Carnival Cinemas & Event Centre looks forward to collaborating with the arts community and the broader public to ensure the space remains a vibrant and inclusive gathering place for film and theatre alike.”
RDP will continue to have a presence in downtown Red Deer, with their downtown campus located in the Millennium Centre. The downtown RDP campus is home to RDP’s Continuing Education and Corporate Training programs.
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