Business
Downtown Business Spotlight: RYDE RD

We’re starting this year’s Business Spotlight off with shining the light on RYDE RD! This boutique spin and body studio is located at 47755 49th street in Bay D. We spoke with owner Alex Wood to learn more about his business.Ā
What is your business?
RYDE RD is locally owned and operated and is downtown Red Deerās only boutique spin and body studio. We’re dedicated to providing a fun, multi-sensory workout in a safe and friendly environment.
When did your business open?
We opened our doors October 2016.
What makesĀ your business unique?
Ryde is different with offering an unique experience while working out. Spinning to the beat of the music in a clublike atmosphere you wonāt even feel like you are working out for 45min.
What are some products/services that you offer?
We offer spin and body classes:
- Ryde 45: is the pride of Ryde RD. Our spin instructor motivates you through a music bumping, forty-five minute, full body workout class complete with hand weights & core.Ā Our instructors guide you through the movements, all to the beat of the music. You control the resistance of your bike, so Ryde 45 is as hard as you want it to be. With each instructor having their own flare & music choice, you can expect no two classes to be the same. Whether you’re a beginner or an avid ryder, this class is for you. Multiple classes on the daily to fit perfectly into your schedule.
- Body 45: is forty-five minute intermediate level class comprised of a variety of exercise modalities, including boot-camp, HIIT, plyometrics, kettlebells, strength training & flexibility. Participants will be educated in new exercises with instruction & demonstration with attention to proper form & safety. Each instructor provides their own unique style of teaching – sure to be a challenge & of course, a good sweat.
Why did you choose Downtown Red Deer as the location for your business?
Downtown Red Deer is a great central location that is easy to get to from everywhere in Red Deer. We are happy to be alongside other fantastic local businesses in the downtown area.
What do you think makes Downtown vibrant?
The sense of community in downtown Red Deer makes it vibrant. It is very attracting to be placed alongside other thriving local businesses.
I love Downtown Red Deer becauseā¦Ā because of the sense of community, central location and being alongside other great local businesses.
Check out RYDE RD’s website to sign up for a class and be sure to follow them for updates:
Website: https://ryde-rd.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryde_rd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RydeRedDeer/Ā
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ryde_RD
Check back next week for another business spotlight! If you would like to see your Downtown business spotlighted, please contact us at 403-340-8696 orĀ [email protected].
Business
Trump confirms 35% tariff on Canada, warns more could come

Quick Hit:
President Trump on Thursday confirmed a sweeping new 35% tariff on Canadian imports starting August 1, citing Canadaās failure to curb fentanyl trafficking and retaliatory trade actions.
Key Details:
- In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said the new 35% levy is in response to Canadaās āfinancial retaliationā and its inability to stop fentanyl from reaching the U.S.
- Trump emphasized that Canadian businesses that relocate manufacturing to the U.S. will be exempt and promised expedited approvals for such moves.
- The administration has already notified 23 countries of impending tariffs following the expiration of a 90-day negotiation window under Trump’s āLiberation Dayā trade policy.
Diving Deeper:
President Trump escalated his tariff strategy on Thursday, formally announcing a 35% duty on all Canadian imports effective August 1. The move follows what Trump described as a breakdown in trade cooperation and a failure by Canada to address its role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
āIt is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship,ā Trump wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney. He added that the tariff response comes after Canada “financially retaliated” against the U.S. rather than working to resolve the flow of fentanyl across the northern border.
TrumpāsĀ letterĀ made clear the tariff will apply broadly, separate from any existing sector-specific levies, and included a warning that āgoods transshipped to evade this higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.ā The president also hinted that further retaliation from Canada could push rates even higher.
However, Trump left the door open for possible revisions. āIf Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,ā he said, adding that tariffs āmay be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship.ā
Canadian companies that move operations to the U.S. would be exempt, Trump said, noting his administration āwill do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely ā In other words, in a matter of weeks.ā
The U.S. traded over $762 billion in goods with Canada in 2024, with a trade deficit of $63.3 billion, a figure Trump called a āmajor threatā to both the economy and national security.
Speaking with NBC News on Thursday, Trump suggested evenĀ broaderĀ tariff hikes are coming, floating the idea of a 15% or 20% blanket rate on all imports. āWeāre just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay,ā he told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker, adding that āthe tariffs have been very well-receivedā and noting that the stock market had hit new highs that day.
The Canadian announcement is part of a broader global tariff rollout. In recent days, Trump has notified at least 23 countries of new levies and revealed a separate 50% tariff on copper imports.
āNot everybody has to get a letter,ā Trump said when asked if other leaders would be formally notified. āYou know that. Weāre just setting our tariffs.ā
Business
Trump slaps Brazil with tariffs over social media censorship

From LifeSiteNews
By Dan Frieth
In his letter dated July 9, 2025, addressed to President Luiz InƔcio Lula da Silva, Trump ties new U.S. trade measures directly to Brazilian censorship.
U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a fierce rebuke of Brazilās moves to silence American-run social media platforms, particularly Rumble and X.
In his letter dated July 9, 2025, addressed to President Luiz InƔcio Lula da Silva, Trump ties new U.S. trade measures directly to Brazilian censorship.
He calls attention to āSECRET and UNLAWFUL Censorship Orders to U.S. Social Media platforms,ā pointing out that Brazilās Supreme Court has been āthreatening them with Millions of Dollars in Fines and Eviction from the Brazilian Social Media market.ā
Trump warns that these actions are ādue in part to Brazilās insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans,ā and states: āstarting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil a Tariff of 50% on any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.ā He also adds that āGoods transshipped to evade this 50% Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.ā
Brazilās crackdown has targeted Rumble after it refused to comply with orders to block the account of Allan dos Santos, a Brazilian streamer living in the United States.
On February 21, 2025,Ā Justice Alexandre de MoraesĀ ordered RumbleāsĀ suspensionĀ for nonācompliance, saying it failed āto comply with court orders.ā
Earlier, from August to October 2024, Moraes had similarly orderedĀ a nationwide block on X.
The court directed ISPs to suspend access and imposed fines after the platform refused to designate a legal representative and remove certain accounts.
Elon Musk responded: āFree speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudoājudge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.ā
By linking censorship actions, particularly those targeting Rumble and X, to U.S. trade policy, Trumpās letter asserts that Brazilās judiciary has moved into the arena of foreign policy and economic consequences.
The tariffs, he makes clear, are meant, at least in part, as a response to Brazilās suppression of American free speech.
Trumpās decision to impose tariffs on Brazil for censoring American platforms may also serve as a clear signal to the European Union, which is advancing similar regulatory efforts under the guise of ādisinformationā and āonline safety.ā
With the EUāsĀ Digital Services ActĀ and proposedĀ āhate speechā legislationĀ expanding government authority over content moderation, American companies face mounting pressure to comply with vague and sweeping takedown demands.
By framing censorship as a violation of U.S. free speech rights and linking it to trade consequences, Trump is effectively warning that any foreign attempt to suppress American voices or platforms could trigger similar economic retaliation.
Reprinted with permission fromĀ Reclaim The Net.
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