City of Red Deer declares local emergency

From the City of Red Deer

State of local emergency declared in Red Deer amidst COVID-19

The City of Red Deer declared a state of local emergency at 9:20 a.m. Monday, March 16, to assist the Province of Alberta’s efforts to combat and respond to the spread of COVID-19. The state of local emergency gives The City access to additional resources, and special powers under the Emergency Management Act including personnel, from other orders of government if required.

“The City of Red Deer takes emergency management very seriously,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “We are actively working with other orders of government, agencies and partners to ensure our community response is in alignment with the recommendations from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw. Our top priority is the health, safety and well-being of all our citizens as we respond to the issue and work to maintain essential services to our community.”

While the risk to residents remains low, we remain vigilant and prepared to support our community’s needs

Other measures being taken by The City at this time include:

All City of Red Deer operated recreation and culture facilities are closed to the public effective Sunday, March 15, 2020.
Continued activation of The City of Red Deer Emergency Operations Centre
Continued activation of The City of Red Deer call centre daily from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. for residents to make non-emergency inquiries about City services and policies (403-342-8111)
Enhanced cleaning and janitorial services in high traffic areas
Mandatory 14-day isolation period for City employees who are symptomatic and/or have returned from international travel after March 12, 2020.
Notifying customers affected by program cancellations and City facility closures.
Revised cancellation policies for passes, programs and room rentals. Details are posted at www.reddeer.ca.
Security and staff will remain on site at the closed facilities to support the management of the city assets.
In addition, the following City facilities remain open to the public at this time, however with potentially amended service levels.• City Hall and Professional Building
• Sorenson Station and Red Deer Transit service • the downtown Red Deer RCMP detachment

“We know this is a difficult and stressful time for everyone, including residents and our employees,” said Allan Seabrooke, City Manager. “We are working around the clock to protect our community. We have implemented a number of measures already and we will continue to do so to protect our residents. I want to thank everyone for support and patience so far.”

Residents are reminded not to attend City facilities or any public facilities if they are feeling ill. Call Alberta Healthlink at 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information about COVID-19 and 9- 1-1 only in the case of a life-threatening emergency or crime in progress.

The COVID-19 outbreak remains a fluid situation and information can change quickly and often. The City of Red Deer is prepared to make additional changes to policies as required in order to keep residents safe and reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Residents are urged to visit the Alberta Health Services website at www.ahs.ca for the most up to date information.

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City of Red Deer

City of Red Deer Employee Honoured with Bob Stollings Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions

Published on April 10, 2025

City of Red Deer

Annette Scheper, Community & Program Facilitator in the Safe & Healthy Communities Department is The City’s 2025 recipient of the Bob Stollings Memorial Award.

The Bob Stollings Memorial Award is given out each year to a City employee who displays outstanding performance in alignment with The City’s RISE cornerstone values – respect, integrity, service and excellence. Nominations for the award are submitted by fellow coworkers detailing the employee’s achievements professionally and interpersonally, along with letters of support. The award is considered a great honour among City staff.

With an impressive 22-year career, Annette has played a pivotal role in shaping Red Deer’s cultural and special events landscape. Her leadership and innovation have brought thousands of successful events to life, creating lasting traditions that enrich the lives of residents. Her commitment to excellence and resourcefulness has ensured that community initiatives are inclusive, accessible, and impactful.

One of Annette’s most notable achievements is the development of the Community Loan Program, which provides essential resources for local groups, contributing an annual value of $86,778.95 back into the community. In addition, she has successfully led and executed a variety of large-scale events, demonstrating remarkable problem-solving skills and a dedication to sustainability. From creating elaborate event designs with repurposed materials to managing complex logistics, she continuously sets the standard for excellence.

“Annette exemplifies the best of our organization,” said City Manager, Tara Lodewyk. “Her unwavering dedication, innovative thinking, and ability to bring people together has made a profound impact on our city. This award is a testament to her hard work and passion for creating meaningful experiences for our community.”

The Bob Stollings Memorial Award was first established in 1985 and is presented every year to honour Robert (Bob) E. Stollings, a loyal and dedicated City employee from 1960-1984.

City of Red Deer

Red Deer will choose a new Mayor as Ken Johnston decides to step away

Published on January 23, 2025

Duane Rolheiser

It’s a telling detail about the person who leads Red Deer City Council. Always putting the city’s needs ahead of his own, Mayor Ken Johnston has announced his intentions within days of the opening of Nominations for October’s municipal elections,

After 12 years on council, Mayor Ken Johnston has decided against running for a second term as Mayor this fall. Johnson shared his decision in front of colleagues and supporters in a touching announcement on Wednesday.

At 71 years old, Johnston remains vibrant, passionate and healthy. He says that’s exactly why he and his wife Carolyn have decided now is the right time to start their next stage of life together.

Mayor Johnston listed a number of highlights and achievements he can look back on, including his help advocating for the redevelopment of Red Deer Regional Hospital, the growth of Red Deer Polytechnic, and positive moves in Economic Development.

All these lead of a feeling of ease about the decision to step away, though affordable housing and a permanent shelter for the homeless remain pressing concerns.

With about 8 months remaining in his term, Mayor Johnston is planning to push hard to move the needle on these housing issues.

“We’re looking forward to some more work and we’ll be going to the community shortly about it. So I still have optimism that maybe before the term is out we can have an announcement.”

This is the second major political announcement in Central Alberta in the last number of days. Earlier this week Red Deer Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen announced he won’t be running in the next federal election.