Red Deer
Great vibes in the dressing room as RDC Queens Hockey squad gears up for new season
From RDC Athletics
Tight-knit Hockey Queens ready to hit the ice in 2019-20
Queens Hockey Head Coach Kelly Coulter is thrilled about the 12 returning student-athletes and 11 new additions he has assembled for the 2019-20 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Hockey season.
“The vibe in the dressing room is fantastic. The girls seem to really get along and care about each other,” he says. “They seem to be really connected so I think that bodes well on the ice for us as well.”
Goaltender Karlee Fetch is back to play her fifth-year after an outstanding bronze medal performance in last year’s playoffs. Bachelor of Science Nursing student Madison Fox will share the duties in net, after joining the Queens from the Pacific Steelers of the Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL).
“Karlee is really mature in her game and as a person, so I think she will be a very good role model for Madison in terms of prepping for games and being a student-athlete,” says Coulter. “Madison is a very good young goaltender who likes to compete, so it’s a very good tandem.”
Despite the absence of 2018-19 Second Team All-Conference defenceman Catherine Longchamps, the Queens have a solid returning group on the blue line. Victoria Johnston, Kirsten Baumgardt, Sydnee Decorby, Ashley Sutherland and Mariah McKersie are back at RDC. Bachelor of Science Nursing student Shelby Ballan is recovering from a lengthy injury, but will help the team. Joining the defensive corps are Wetaskiwin’s Abby Fonteyne, Glendon’s Brooke Skrypichayko and Spirit River’s Tessa Ross.
Jenessa Fournier, Camryn Wallan, Neisha Germann, Jessi-Lynn Sumaling, Mary Hirsch and Hannah Petrie return up front. Sydney Rowley, Brooklyn Rowley, Madison Sansom, Carissa Hogan, Tyra Anderson, Braxton Shawara and Red Deer’s Avery Lajeunesse join the forwards.
“Some of the student-athletes have been more dominant goal scorers on their teams, so we’re hoping that will parlay into this season,” says Coulter. “Character and compete level are common traits that we see with all of our players, which makes us extremely happy.”
Madison Sansom is one of those added offensive weapons. The first-year Open Studies student from Saskatoon recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in 25 games with the Battlefords Sharks of the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League (SFMAAAHL) a season ago. Another talented first-year forward, Carissa Hogan had 12 goals and 13 assists in 28 games with the Swift Current Wildcats, and Coulter views Hogan’s impact extending beyond the ice.
“We are finalizing our leadership group and we have seven girls – Camryn Wallan, Kirsten Baumgardt, Neisha Germann, Victoria Johnston, Sydnee Decorby, Ashley Sutherland and Carissa Hogan, a rookie on our team this year,” says Coulter. “That’s the group that we’re going to be working with, but we are open to adding more as we feel we have a lot of character in our room this year.”
The RDC Queens competed in six exhibition games, picking up three victories and some valuable playing time. The Queens defeated the SAIT Trojans 4-0, the Central Alberta Amazons 2-1 and the Olds College Broncos 3-1.
“Our girls have come in very good shape. The games that we’ve had in the exhibition season, we’ve been very happy with the compete level,” says Coulter. “They are an intelligent young group and are very willing to learn. We are trying to figure out some chemistry and how people play together.”
The Queens dropped a 3-1 decision to the Broncos, 5-2 game to the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns of U Sports, and a very close 1-0 contest to the defending champion MacEwan University Griffins, but they gained important preseason experience.
“The game that we played against MacEwan was a very good game. It had a lot of pace to it back and forth and I was happy that our girls were able to compete at that level,” says Coulter. “I think it helped our girls, especially the rookies, to see the pace and compete levels. MacEwan has been the champions for three years, so they’ve set the bar.”
The RDC Queens will open the season on Thursday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. against the Broncos in Olds. Then 24 hours later, the Queens will host the Broncos at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
“That should be a good series right off the bat,” says Camryn Wallan, a third-year forward from Beaverlodge. “We’re going to have to make sure that we use our speed, get pucks to the net and make sure we capitalize on our opportunities.”
After many practices, hours of training and six exhibition games, the RDC Queens are ready to begin the season.
“I’m excited to get started. We had our team builder on August 25 and 26, and we’ve been together for a while,” says Coulter. “All the girls are ready to compete.”
For more information on RDC Queens Hockey, the student-athletes, scores, and game recaps of conference games, please visit: rdcathletics.ca
The new Red Deer Justice Centre will help Albertans resolve their legal matters faster.
Albertans deserve to have access to a fair, accessible and transparent justice system. Modernizing Alberta’s courthouse infrastructure will help make sure Alberta’s justice system runs efficiently and meets the needs of the province’s growing population.
Alberta’s government has invested $191 million to build the new Red Deer Justice Centre, increasing the number of courtrooms from eight to 12, allowing more cases to be heard at one time.
“Modern, accessible courthouses and streamlined services not only strengthen our justice
system – they build safer, stronger communities across the province. Investing in the new Red Deer Justice Centre is vital to helping our justice system operate more efficiently, and will give people in Red Deer and across central Alberta better access to justice.”
Government of Alberta and Judiciary representatives with special guests at the Red Deer Justice Centre plaque unveiling event April 22, 2025.
On March 3, all court services in Red Deer began operating out of the new justice centre. The new justice centre has 12 courtrooms fully built and equipped with video-conference equipment to allow witnesses to attend remotely if they cannot travel, and vulnerable witnesses to testify from outside the courtroom.
The new justice centre also has spaces for people taking alternative approaches to the traditional courtroom trial process, with the three new suites for judicial dispute resolution services, a specific suite for other dispute resolution services, such as family mediation and civil mediation, and a new Indigenous courtroom with dedicated venting for smudging purposes.
“We are very excited about this new courthouse for central Alberta. Investing in the places where people seek justice shows respect for the rights of all Albertans. The Red Deer Justice Centre fills a significant infrastructure need for this rapidly growing part of the province. It is also an important symbol of the rule of law, meaning that none of us are above the law, and there is an independent judiciary to decide disputes. This is essential for a healthy functioning democracy.”
“Public safety and access to justice go hand in hand. With this investment in the new Red Deer Justice Centre, Alberta’s government is ensuring that communities are safer, legal matters are resolved more efficiently and all Albertans get the support they need.”
“This state-of-the-art facility will serve the people of Red Deer and surrounding communities for generations. Our team at Infrastructure is incredibly proud of the work done to plan, design and build this project. I want to thank everyone, at all levels, who helped make this project a reality.”
Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.
Quick facts
- The new Red Deer Justice Centre is 312,000 sq ft (29,000 m2). (The old courthouse is 98,780 sq ft (9,177 m2)).
- The approved project funding for the Red Deer Justice Centre is about $191 million.
City of Red Deer
City of Red Deer Employee Honoured with Bob Stollings Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions
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.
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