City closing playgrounds, introducing safety measures to transit system to prevent spread of COVID-19

From The City of Red Deer

City takes additional measures to protect Red Deerians

As part of the ongoing effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, effective tomorrow, all playground in the city of Red Deer, will be closed.

“This was a difficult decision for us to make, as we know families are at home with children, looking for ways to keep active and enjoy warmer temperatures,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “We must make these hard decisions in order to stop the spread in our community. We know we are doing the right thing.”

Playground closures affect all play structures within Red Deer, including fitness parks. The City has not applied closures to any public trails, open park spaces or pathways at this time.

“We endeavor to keep trails and pathways open and our ability to do that will be directly linked to our citizen’s cohesion and respect to social distancing practices,” said Mayor Tara Veer.

Residents are reminded while out using city pathways and trails, to be sure to keep the recommended two metre distance between people you pass on the trails. Avoid touching handrails, garbage cans or any other object or surface while you are out, and wash your hands when you return home.

Yesterday, adjustments to Transit services were announced, moving from 30 minute service to one hour service, with the first buses departing from Sorenson Station at 7:45 a.m. Today, residents reached out to The City saying this change wasn’t ideal for riders using Transit to get to work in the morning. Starting Wednesday morning, the 6:45 a.m. departure time will resume in order to allow riders access to morning Transit service.

“We heard from residents that the changes implemented today made it difficult to get to work for early morning shifts,” said Karen Mann, Emergency Operations Centre Director. “We thank residents for reaching out to us and providing us with invaluable feedback. We are happy to be able to make this adjustment for the first departure to be at 6:45 a.m. beginning on Wednesday morning, to provide this service to the residents who need it.”

The City of Red Deer continues to explore all options and measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

We encourage all citizens to follow the recommendations of Alberta Health Services. For the latest information on COVID-19 visit alberta.ca/covid19 and the latest on how City services are impacted visit reddeer.ca/covid19. Please call the Call Centre, open 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. with questions at 403-342-8111.

City reduces transit hours and frequency effective tomorrow

As part of the ongoing effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, reduced transit hours and frequency will be implemented on all conventional routes beginning Monday, March 23, 2020.

Red Deer Transit will move to an hourly schedule from a 30 minute schedule. From Monday to Saturday, the first departure from Sorensen Station will leave at 7:45 a.m., and the last departure (from Sorensen Station) at 7:45 p.m. Sundays and holidays will continue to operate on the one hour service, with the first departure from Sorensen Station at 8:45 a.m., and the last departure (from Sorensen Station) at 6:45 p.m.

In addition, new safety measures are in place to encourage social distancing. All passengers are to enter and exit through the rear door, with the exception of wheel chairs and disabled customers. Every other seat will be blocked off to ensure social distancing between passengers.

Action Bus trips for accessible transportation will continue for our registered clients. Effective Monday March 23, 2020, this service will be limited to bookings for essential travel for medical appointment, work and grocery shopping only. A two-passenger maximum limit will be implemented across all Action Bus vehicles as an added measure of protection for the safety of customers and operators.

“The changes to transit beginning tomorrow will ensure we are providing the service many in our community rely upon for getting to work or medical appointments in the safest way possible as we all work to minimize exposure,” said Bart Rowland, Emergency Operations Centre Director.

The City’s decision to reduce transit hours and frequency is being done in an effort to be vigilant in The City’s response and planning related to COVID-19.

The City of Red Deer continues to explore all options and measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

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City of Red Deer

Bus fares and transit fees rising next month: City of Red Deer

Published on August 21, 2023

City of Red Deer

Increase to fees and fares, effective September 1

Starting September 1, 2023, there will be an adjustment to fares and fees for Transit, Recreation and Cemetery Services.During 2023/2024 budget deliberations City Council agreed that an increase to bus fares, recreation fees and cemetery fees was necessary to keep up with the rising costs for operating.

“Like every business, our operating costs have increased and in order to maintain our current levels of service for our riders we had to consider increasing our bus fares,” said Jeremy Bouw, Manager, Transit & Fleet Services. “This year we have seen our ridership slowly increasing and we want to keep that trend moving upward by maintaining our transit services and continuing to attract new riders.”

As of September 1, the following rates will be applied to Transit services:

Cash Fares
- Adult (18-64 years) – $3
- Youth (6-17 years) / Student / Senior – $2.50
12 Ride Pass
- Adult – $33
- Youth / Student / Senior – $27.50
Unlimited Ride (Monthly Pass)
- Adult – $75
- Senior – $62
- Student – $62

MyRide, The City’s electronic bus pass, is available for purchase at Transit Customer Service in Sorensen Station or at City Hall. MyRide can be conveniently reloaded with the fare type of your choice in 12 ride bundles or unlimited monthly passes at Transit Customer Service, City Hall or one of the seven reload stations located throughout the community.

As of September 1, the following recreation services will experience rate changes:

Daily admission at the Collicutt Centre, Recreation Centre, Michener Centre, Servus Arena, Kinsmen Community Arenas and Setters Place at Great Chief Park
Monthly Recreation All Access Passes and Recreation Value Passes*
10 punch passes at the above-mentioned facilities
Group admission fees at the above-mentioned facilities
Childminding fees at the Collicutt Centre and G.H. Dawe Community Centre
Facility rental fees

* The Recreation Plus Pass fee was adjusted with the opening of the newly expanded G.H. Dawe Community Centre in February, and will not receive another adjustment in September.

“Our intent is always to provide as much access to recreation as possible, while managing increased costs, staffing levels and maintenance demands,” says Tammy Greba, acting Recreation Superintendent. She continues, “as a demonstration of this, we continue to offer the Fee Assistance Program to those needing financial help accessing City Arts and Recreation programs and services.”

For more information on fees and fares visit:

Fee Assistance Program reddeer.ca/FeeAssistance.
Recreation admissions and passes reddeer.ca/recreation.
Transit reddeer.ca/transit.
Cemetery Services reddeer.ca/cemetery.

City of Red Deer

City welcoming evacuees from Northwest Territories

Published on August 17, 2023

City of Red Deer

The City of Red Deer is welcoming up to 1000 evacuees from the Northwest Territories, including The City of Yellowknife.

A reception centre will be ready at noon on Thursday, August 17 at the GH Dawe Community Centre (6175 67 Street).

People arriving in Red Deer from the Northwest Territories are asked to register at the GH Dawe Community Centre (6175 67 Street). Additional supports for evacuees are available including assistance for lodging, meals, medical and pet care.

The GH Dawe Community Centre remains open to the public and all recreation activities are running as scheduled.

People looking to support evacuees can do so by donating to the Canadian Red Cross or Central Alberta Humane Society (to support evacuees with pets). Both these organizations are accepting monetary donations only.

To donate to the Red Cross: Donations can be made either online at www.redcross.ca or at the local Red Cross Office (105 – 5301 43 Street).
To donate to the Central Alberta Humane Society: https://cahumane.com/

More information on The City’s response is available at reddeer.ca/evacuees

Information for Evacuees:

People arriving in Red Deer from the Northwest Territories are asked to register at the G.H. Dawe Community Centre (6175 67 Street).
If you or anyone you’re evacuating with require additional supports (meals, medical, lodging, pet care) staff are available to support at the G.H. Dawe Community Centre.
Evacuees will receive free transit and recreation passes. More information is available at the Reception Centre (G.H. Dawe Community Centre).

Information for Residents:

The G.H. Dawe Community Centre remains open, with programming not impacted at this time.
While we greatly appreciate our community’s desire to help, the best way to help is by donating to the Canadian Red Cross or Central Alberta Humane Society (to support people with pets). Both these organizations are accepting monetary donations only to support evacuees.

- To donate to the Red Cross: Donations can be made either online at www.redcross.ca or at the local Red Cross Office (105 – 5301 43 Street).
- To donate to the Central Alberta Humane Society:https://cahumane.com/