Red Deer
Parker Thompson maintains position heading into wild weekend
Continuing the success from events earlier this year, Rounds 5 & 6 of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, showed close wheel to wheel racing action and parity deep in the field. Embroiled in battle with multiple drivers throughout the two races, Parker Thompson drove the #3 SCB Racing and Porsche Centre Victoria entry to 5th and 2nd place finishes. He completed the weekend, maintaining his second place standing in the Platinum Cup Championship.
The result was hard earned for Thompson, who started Race 1 from fourth position, but found himself near the back of the fourteen car field early on. Contact from behind in the opening corner forced the black and gold coloured #3 off the track, allowing multiple cars to pass-by. Making the most of the remaining laps, Thompson showed a steady offensive drive from that point on. He cleanly worked his way up to fifth place before the 45-minute race timed out.
“The #3 SCB Racing / Porsche Centre Victoria Cup Car certainly had more pace than the results sheet showed. For that reason, I’m disappointed by our result. In turn one on the opening lap, I took a solid bump from the inside and ended up putting the car off the track. I was forced to make a quick decision on whether to fight back and risk the whole race, or find a safe escape path that would allow us to continue racing. I’m proud of the fight we showed working our way back up the ranks. There are some great competitors in this series. That was no easy task.”
Race 2 saw Thompson make a move into second place on the opening lap, and then play defense against two hard-charging competitors. Former teammate, and fellow championship contender, Jeff Kingsley would present the greatest challenge. The two drivers were nose-to-tail until Kingsley spun on the sixth lap while trying to make a pass on Thompson in turn 10. Thompson would hold off another challenge from Patrick Dussault before creating a comfortable gap later in the race. He would finish second.
The strong finish is important leading into the most significant weekend on Thompson’s 2019 race schedule. Both the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, and Indy Pro 2000 will visit the Toronto Indy next weekend, giving Thompson four races over two days. His final race of that weekend will mark the 100th auto race of his young career.
“I’m excited about the chance to race in two different series next weekend at the Toronto Indy. I’m so blessed to have had so many opportunities in racing this far in my career. We’ve got a great group of people coming to celebrate my 100th race milestone, but more critically, there are four important races in two series where we are contending for the overall championship. Alternating race cars is certainly going to test my adaptability as a driver. I’m grateful to be working with the crews of SCB Racing in GT3 Cup, and Abel Motorsports in Indy Pro 2000. I’m confident that they will give me the support we need to get a good result.”
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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