City Council requests the Province of Alberta make changes to OPS in Red Deer

City Council made decisions (Friday) related to Red Deer’s Overdose Prevention Site (OPS), requesting the Government of Alberta (GOA):

• formalize an orderly transition of the existing OPS out of Red Deer by the end of 2025;
• provide in its place greater harm reducing options within our community that focus on health, wellness, and recovery, including more detox capacity, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), recovery coaches, counsellors, and culturally appropriate health and wellness supports, etc.;
• provide dedicated grant funding to provide a continuous police presence/enforcement in the immediate vicinity of the OPS and temporary shelter, until the crime and social disorder impacts associated with these provincial services are better mitigated for the safety and security of our public;
• substantially increase front-line supports for mental health and addictions within our community/region to better address the root causes leading to drug and alcohol addictions.

These decisions stem from a Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Higham on December 18, 2023. After being read into the record on January 22, 2024, a non-statutory public hearing was scheduled for yesterday, February 15, 2024. Approximately 40 members of the public attended the non-statutory public hearing, with approximately 30 individuals speaking to the Notice of Motion, sharing their thoughts on the issue.

After hearing from the public yesterday, City Council debated the motion today, with Mayor Ken Johnston now having City Council direction to take the issue forward to the province and proceed with advocacy efforts.

“The public hearing and the debate of this motion were harrowing and emotional experiences for everyone. Each of us have been touched in some way by addiction; we heard that very clearly, and I am no exception. We heard heartfelt testimony from many members of our community, citizens, some who use the OPS, some who are service providers in the community, business owners, doctors, family members that have lost loves ones, and more,” said Mayor Johnston. “Council approached this most sensitive of issues with open minds, open ears, and open hearts. We are trying to improve lives for those suffering from addiction. This is a complex challenge, as these are areas where municipalities do not have jurisdiction. What we know is that Red Deer needs robust support from the provincial government for people with addictions; we need support for our community that is grappling with the fallout of addictions; and we need that support in the most immediate way.”

Mayor Johnston added, “Following this meeting, I will reach out to the Ministry of Addictions and Mental Health to book meetings where we can discuss how to move forward in the best interest of our city.”

Currently the OPS is located 5246 53 Avenue in downtown Red Deer.

From the City of Red Deer: Downtown parking changes for this afternoon

Michael Dawe Obituary from Arbor Memorial 

It is with deep sadness that the family of Red Deer City Councillor Michael J. Dawe, announces his sudden passing on the evening of December 24, 2023, in Red Deer, Alberta.

Michael was a much beloved brother, parent, uncle, friend, councillor, writer, archivist, and was often referred to as “Red Deer’s Beloved Son”.

Born in Red Deer, Alberta, on March 7, 1956, he was a fifth-generation resident of Red Deer, Pine Lake, as well as a seasonal resident of the Summer Village of Norglenwold, Alberta.

After attending Red Deer College, Michael received a Bachelors Degree in History and Economics from the University of Alberta in 1976. In 1979, he became the first full-time Archivist with the Red Deer and District Archive and served as City Archivist until 2017.

Michael lived a life devoted to public service.  He served as Councillor with the City from 2017 until his passing. Among the many boards and committees on which he served, Michael was the most proud of being a founding member of the Alberta Archives Society, as well as serving as a trustee of the David Thompson Health Authority, the Red Deer Hospital Board and being a 35+ year member of the Red Deer East Rotary Club.

Michael was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades. He was named Citizen of the Year by the Council on School Administration of the Alberta Teachers’ Association for his work with local schools. He also received the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs Commendation for his work with Veterans. Michael received both the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2013 Michael was named Red Deer Citizen of the Year and was twice named Red Deer’s “Most Beloved Citizen” by readers of the Red Deer Express. Many will know Michael from his historical columns in the Red Deer Advocate, Red Deer Express, and the Sylvan Lake and Innisfail Province. Michael was the author of six books, including Red Deer: The Memorable City, written to commemorate the City’s centennial.

Apart from his professional accomplishments, Michael will be best remembered for his warm, jovial and outgoing personality and for how he loved the City of Red Deer and its residents.  Genuinely interested in all he met, Michael made time for everyone who cared to have a chat with him – and those people were many. An incredible astute observer of human nature, Michael loved the ridiculous and the sublime in all of us, never judged our weaknesses of foibles, and celebrated us at our sometimes questionable best. The quality of acute observation and kindly acceptance was arguably what also made him a fine historian. He was possessed of the rare gift of  making all people feel both interesting and heard. And the concerns and stories he was entrusted with undoubtedly fueled his dream to make Red Deer a better place through his many years of political commitment.  No one was shut out of Michaels’ heart including those he was close with; he was generous to a fault and never boasted about his generosity or his accomplishments. It can be truly said of him “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy”. Rabindranath Tagore

Michael touched many lives, and he will be sadly missed, not only by the City of Red Deer, but by the many who knew and loved him. Predeceased by his parents G.H. (Harold) Dawe and L.J. (Jean) Dawe, nee Hodgkinson, his nephew and namesake Dr. Michael Jensen, his four uncles including W.B.(Wellington) Dawe, Michael is survived by his Daughter Janvier Williams (John Sowinski) and their children, close friend Beverly Williams, brother Robbin Dawe, sister Dorothy Dawe (Barry Dommasch), numerous nieces, nephews, and grandnieces; and beloved aunt Rita A. Hodgkinson.