City of Red Deer
Current COVID-19 situation in Red Deer leads to emergency order for temporary shelter
“Our healthcare system is overloaded and cases are surging in our community. The decision to put the emergency order in place to allow the operations of the temporary shelter at the Cannery Row site did not come easy, we took into consideration the current outbreak status among our vulnerable population, the pressures on our emergency response services and the ability to support community-based outbreak protocols. We want to make sure our vulnerable population have access to care and resources, with the intent of diverting non-emergent issues from the hospital,” said Ken McMullen, Director of Emergency Management. “The site will allow us to monitor, test and mitigate any further community-based spread and increased dependency on our already strained health supports.
A third party organization will continue to operate the shelter, with the Provincial Government to continue funding the operations. Mitigation strategies implemented in May will continue in the area while the temporary shelter is operational.
“We have extended the mitigation tactics in place to mirror the timeframe of the order, tactics such as security, cleanup, area liaison and fencing will continue for the time being to help minimize issues faced by surrounding residents and businesses,” said McMullen. “Our number one goal here is to keep our community safe and minimize the spread while protecting our healthcare system. We are in a situation where hard decisions need to be made to protect all Red Deerians, and we believe that this order will help meet our goal.”
The ability to implement the order comes following the State of Local Emergency (SOLE) being enacted on September 17 for up to 60 days by the Emergency Advisory Committee. The SOLE gives The City access to additional resources and special powers under the Emergency Management Act, including personnel, from other orders of government if required.
City of Red Deer
Woody’s Spray Park among three recreation facilities to be enhanced by donation from Red Deer business leader
Enhancing recreation through community partnership
A long time community supporter and local business owner is contributing to three recreation amenities within Red Deer through personal financial contribution. Woody Paylor has graciously donated funds that will see the replacement of a community park and the naming of the new spray park and a current athletic park.
Woody’s contribution will be honoured for years to come with the naming of the new spray park at G.H. Dawe Community Centre, which will be named Woody’s Spray Park; and the track at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School will be named Woody’s Athletic Park. A portion of the contribution will also be used to replace the playground at the Bower-Kin Community Centre.
“Over the years, Woody has supported many community initiatives that lead to enhanced quality of life for Red Deerians. He is passionate about initiatives that enable individuals of all ages and abilities to have opportunities to get outdoors, be active, and build community in a city they call home,” said Mayor
Ken Johnston. “His financial contribution to the three amenities speaks to this and will leave a lasting legacy on our beloved recreation amenities for generations to come.”
Each of the three amenities that will benefit from his generosity have a personal connection to him and his family. The track is where he and his family have spent numerous hours training and supporting annual community events. The Bower-Kin park has provided hours of entertainment to the youth
connected to his family as well as the surrounding neighborhood. The spray park will bring joy to generations for many years to come, as one of the many enhancements occurring at the G.H. Dawe Community Centre.
“Red Deer and Central Alberta have been very kind to my family and supported our business in tremendous ways. I feel privileged to give back to a community we care about. The outdoor trails and parks have been the jewel of our city and my family wants to see that continued,” said Woody Paylor.
“My wife Val and I have spent many hours at community playgrounds, and we are excited to be part of building one together with the Bower Community Association. Our entire family has enjoyed events at the track, and we are thrilled to see this amenity continue to provide a similar experience for others in
the community”.
The City will coordinate the playground replacement. As part of the design process, the neighbourhood will be involved in the playground design through engagement with the Bower-Kin Community Association that will help bring the vision to life. Planning is anticipated to begin over the winter, with construction to take place in the spring and summer of 2023.
Woody’s Athletic Park has preplanned construction beginning in Summer 2023 with an anticipated completion by Fall 2023. Woody’s Spray Park has an anticipated opening of early Summer 2023.
The City will be hosting community events for each of these amenities upon completion, where we can celebrate Woody’s legacy in our community.
Woody’s commitment to community spirit, togetherness, and active living, are all exemplified with this generous contribution. The contribution amount and the terms of the agreement will not be publicly disclosed. Although Woody wishes these terms remain confidential, we can share that it is one of the
largest personal contributions made to City recreation spaces.
The G.H. Dawe Community Centre Expansion project is expected to be open in late February 2023, with Woody’s Spray Park opening in the summer of 2023. For more information on the project, visit www.reddeer.ca/daweexpansion.
Community Culture Development Fund continues support of local arts, culture and heritage groups
The Culture Development Category provides long term support (up to three years) to service providers to offset operational costs required to deliver culture programs and services within the community. A maximum of $30,000 is available per application, and eligible organizations may submit multiple applications.
$573,875 was requested of the $400,000 in available funds for this funding cycle and approximately 60 per cent of requests were approved. $20,000 was assigned to the next intake of the Community Culture Development Fund – Culture Opportunities Category in 2023. The remaining funds of $33,175 have been allocated to the next intake of the Culture Development Category.
“The City is proud to support the variety of events and educational opportunities provided to Red Deerians by these important community organizations,” said Bobby-Jo Stannard, Community Development Superintendent. “From arts, music and children’s theatre to heritage, improv and annual festivals, the vibrancy of Red Deer’s arts scene is evident from this list of not-for-profit groups.”
The following organizations were each awarded three years of funding for the 2023-2025 funding cycle.
| Organization | Amount Approved per year |
Project description/support for: |
| Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra | $10,000.00 | Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra regular season concerts, educational and community outreach performances |
| African Caribbean Centre of Central Alberta | $5,000.00 | Annual Red Deer Afro-Caribbean Festival |
| Against the Wall Theatre Society | $9,375.00 | Improvisational theatre programming, education and performance |
| Association Canadienne Francophone de l’Alberta Regionale de Red Deer (French Canadian Association of Alberta, Red Deer Region) | $5,000.00 | A bilingual Celebration of Winter event |
| Central Alberta Film Festival Association | $10,000.00 | Growth and expanded engagement: annual Central Alberta Film Festival, educational workshops and film challenges |
| Friends of Sunnybrook Farm Society | $30,000.00 | Sunnybrook Farm Museum programs: preservation, education, entertainment and access to historic site |
| Norwegian Laft Hus Society | $15,000.00 | Expanding public cultural and educational programming |
| Prime Stock Theatre Co. Society | $30,000.00 | Bard on Bower outdoor summer Shakespeare festival |
| Red Deer Arts Council | $30,000.00 | Arts presentation programming |
| Red Deer Arts Council | $30,000.00 | Arts outreach programming |
| Red Deer Arts Council | $15,000.00 | Arts development programming |
| Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society | $30,000.00 | Canada Day celebrations |
| Red Deer Family Services | $15,000.00 | Central Alberta Children’s Festival |
| Red Deer Festival of Performing Arts Society | $25,000.00 | Annual Red Deer Festival of the Performing Arts |
| Red Deer Pottery Club | $5,450.00 | Year-round ceramic arts program opportunities for members and community outreach programs |
| Red Deer Summer CentreFest Society | $30,000.00 | CentreFest Street Performer Festival |
| Red Deer Symphony Orchestra Association | $12,000.00 | Symphony @ the Snell programming |
| Red Deer Symphony Orchestra Association | $20,000.00 | RDSO Community Concerts: Accessible performances in the community |
| Tree House Youth Theatre Society | $20,000.00 | Tree House Youth Theatre skill development programs and productions |
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