Red Deer Polytechnic homecoming featuring athletic, social, and academic events

As a way to connect with alumni, prospective and current students, employees and community members, Red Deer Polytechnic will host its inaugural Homecoming from October 20-22, 2022, on its main campus.

“The past few years have been challenging to fully engage with our stakeholders because of COVID-19, so we are extremely excited to open our doors for Homecoming,” says Stuart Cullum, President of Red Deer Polytechnic. “The range of events appeal to a diverse audience and it’s a great opportunity for the Polytechnic to showcase what we have to offer. With growing program offerings taught by industry experts in modern facilities, we are a premier polytechnic institution that serves not only in the region, but the entire province.”

Red Deer Polytechnic is intricately interconnected with the community in numerous ways. Students, staff and faculty make an important impact on the community through applied learning and research activities, community service and volunteerism, and as professionals.

At the same time, community members and alumni also contribute to learning experiences and the institution’s growth in many ways. This includes advocacy for post-secondary education, along with volunteering and enhancing the students’ education by providing experiential learning opportunities and support. Together, members of the Red Deer Polytechnic community contribute to the continued economic, intellectual, social and cultural development of central Alberta and province.

The network of Red Deer Polytechnic alumni continues to grow in numbers and impact.

“At Red Deer Polytechnic, we are extremely proud of our 58-year history, including the 80,000 alumni who are leaders in their professions and communities,” says Richard Longtin, Vice President, External Relations. “The valuable connections with alumni and community members enrich the Polytechnic, region and Alberta. Homecoming is an ideal opportunity for alumni to reconnect with one another, to meet current students and faculty, to interact with community members and to see how the institution has evolved as Red Deer Polytechnic.”

A variety of academic, athletic, cultural and social events will be held at the Polytechnic over the three days.

One of the Homecoming events is Palate: A Taste of Local, formerly known as Fine Wine and Food Tasting Festival. This elegant tasting event provides opportunities for guests to explore local, hand-crafted food and beverages. The new name reflects the increased diversity of items offered and the event’s mission to celebrate regional businesses and ingredients.

Open House provides an opportunity for prospective students to explore Red Deer Polytechnic’s programs and services, to tour main campus, to participate in interactive activities, and to apply for one of the institution’s more than 80 programs. Community members are also invited to explore main campus and learn more about the Polytechnic’s offerings. At Open House, application fees to study in 2023 will be waived.

Here is a summary of the Homecoming events:

Thursday, October 20

Palate: A Taste of Local | Cenovus Learning Commons | 7 pm
Philosopher’s Café | Library Information Commons | 7 pm
Queens and Kings Basketball Home Opener | Fas Gas – On The Run Gymnasium | 6 and 8 pm

Friday, October 21

Free 30 Minute Fitness Sessions | Collicutt Performance Fitness Zone | Cycle 6 pm | Fitness Step 6:45 pm
Library 20th Anniversary Celebration | Library Information Commons | 7 pm
Kings Hockey | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre Arena | 7 pm

Saturday, October 22

Open House | Main Campus | 9 am – 12 pm
Queens and Kings Soccer | Red Deer Polytechnic Main Field | 12 and 2 pm | tickets are not required

More information about Red Deer Polytechnic’s Homecoming is available online.

Featured Events

Palate: A Taste of Local

Cenovus Energy Learning Common

Thursday, October 20 | 7 – 10 pm

The Red Deer Polytechnic Alumni Association is proud to introduce a new, elevated rendition of our annual signature event – Palate: A Taste of Local.

Learn more

Get tickets

Philosopher’s Café

Library Information Common

Thursday, October 20 | 7 pm

Hosts: Dr. Stephen Brown & Dr. Carrie Dennett

No philosophical training or expertise required.

Free 30 Minute Fitness Sessions

Collicutt Performance Fitness Zone

Friday, October 21 – Cycle at 6 pm | Fitness Step at 6:45 pm

Saturday, October 22 – Fitness Step at 2 pm | Cycle at 2:45 pm

Learn more

Queens and Kings Basketball Home Opener

vs St. Mary’s University Lightning

Fas Gas On The Run Gymnasium

Friday, October 21

Queens at 6 pm | Kings at 8 pm

Get tickets

Library 20th Anniversary Author Reading

Library Information Common

Friday, October 21 | 7 pm

Featuring Jenna Butler, Joan Crate, Leslie Greentree, and Rod Schumacher.

NOTE: The Library will be open exclusively for this event. No other access or services will be available during this event.

Kings Hockey vs SAIT Trojans

Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre Arena

Friday, October 21 | 7 pm

Get tickets

Open House

Main Campus

Saturday, October 22 | 9 am – Noon

Join us for program and service information, interactive activities, and tours of our main campus and the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

Apply in person to Winter 2023, Spring 2023 or Fall 2023 programs at Open House and we will waive the application fee!

Learn more

Queens & Kings Soccer vs Olds College Broncos

Red Deer Polytechnic Main Field

Saturday, October 22 | Queens at 12 pm | Kings at 2 pm

Admission to all Queens & Kings soccer games is free.

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Cross-Canada NGL corridor will stretch from B.C. to Ontario

Published on July 12, 2025

Todayville

Keyera Corp.’s natural gas liquids facilities in Fort Saskatchewan. Photo courtesy Keyera Corp.

From the Canadian Energy Centre

By Will Gibson

Keyera ‘Canadianizes’ natural gas liquids with $5.15 billion acquisition

Sarnia, Ont., which sits on the southern tip of Lake Huron and peers across the St. Clair River to Michigan, is a crucial energy hub for much of the eastern half of Canada and parts of the United States.

With more than 60 industrial facilities including refineries and chemical plants that produce everything from petroleum, resins, synthetic rubber, plastics, lubricants, paint, cosmetics and food additives in the southwestern Ontario city, Mayor Mike Bradley admits the ongoing dialogue about tariffs with Canada’s southern neighbour hits close to home.

So Bradley welcomed the announcement that Calgary-based Keyera Corp. will acquire the majority of Plains American Pipelines LLP’s Canadian natural gas liquids (NGL) business, creating a cross-Canada NGL corridor that includes a storage hub in Sarnia.

“As a border city, we’ve been on the frontline of the tariff wars, so we support anything that helps enhance Canadian sovereignty and jobs,” says the long-time mayor, who was first elected in 1988.

The assets in Sarnia are a key piece of the $5.15 billion transaction, which will connect natural gas liquids from the growing Montney and Duvernay plays in B.C. and Alberta to markets in central Canada and the eastern U.S. seaboard.

Map courtesy Keyera Corp.

NGLs are hydrocarbons found within natural gas streams including ethane, propane and pentanes. They are important energy sources and used to produce a wide range of everyday items, from plastics and clothing to fuels.

Keyera CEO Dean Setoguchi cast the proposed acquisition as an act of repatriation.

“This transaction brings key NGL infrastructure under Canadian ownership, enhancing domestic energy capabilities and reinforcing Canada’s economic resilience by keeping value and decision-making closer to home,” Setoguchi told analysts in a June 17 call.

“Plains’ portfolio forms a fully integrated cross Canada NGL system connecting Western Canada supply to key demand centres across the Prairie provinces, Ontario and eastern U.S.,” he said.

“The system includes strategic hubs like Empress, Fort Saskatchewan and Sarnia – which provide a reliable source of Canadian NGL supply to extensive fractionation, storage, pipeline and logistics infrastructure.”

Martin King, RBN Energy’s managing director of North America Energy Market Analysis, sees Keyera’s ability to “Canadianize” its NGL infrastructure as improving the company’s growth prospects.

“It allows them to tap into the Duvernay and Montney, which are the fastest growing NGL plays in North America and gives them some key assets throughout the country,” said the Calgary-based analyst.

“The crown assets are probably the straddle plants in Empress, which help strip out the butane, ethane and other liquids for condensate. It also positions them well to serve the eastern half of the country.”

And that’s something welcomed in Sarnia.

“Having a Canadian source for natural gas would be our preference so we see Keyera’s acquisition as strengthening our region as an energy hub,” Bradley said.

“We are optimistic this will be good for our region in the long run.”

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

Meanwhile, the governments of Ontario and Alberta are joining forces to strengthen the economies of both regions, and the country, by advancing major infrastructure projects including pipelines, ports and rail.

A joint feasibility study is expected this year on how to move major private sector-led investments forward.

Alberta

Alberta school boards required to meet new standards for school library materials with regard to sexual content

Published on July 10, 2025

Government of Alberta

Alberta’s government has introduced new standards to ensure school library materials are age-appropriate.

School libraries should be safe and supportive places where students can learn and explore without being exposed to inappropriate sexual content. However, in the absence of a consistent standard for selecting age-appropriate library materials, school boards have taken different approaches, leading to concerns about safeguards in place.

In response to these concerns, and informed by feedback from education partners and the public, Alberta’s government has created standards to provide school boards with clear direction on the selection, availability and access to school library materials, such as books.

“Our actions to ensure that materials in school libraries don’t expose children to sexual content were never about banning books. These new standards are to ensure that school boards have clear guidance to ensure age-appropriate access to school library materials, while reflecting the values and priorities of Albertans.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare

The new standards set clear expectations for school library materials with regard to sexual content and require school boards to implement policies to support these standards.

Standards for school library materials

Under the new standards, school libraries are not permitted to include library materials containing explicit sexual content. Non-explicit sexual content may be accessible to students in Grade 10 and above, provided it is age-appropriate.

“Protecting kids from explicit content is common sense. LGBTQ youth, like all children, deserve to see themselves in stories that are age-appropriate, supportive and affirming – not in material that sexualizes or confuses them.”

Blaine Badiuk, education and LGBTQ advocate

School boards must also regularly review their school library collections, publish a full list of available materials and ensure that a staff member supervises students’ access to school library materials. School boards will have to remove any materials with explicit sexual content from their school libraries by October 1.

School board policies and procedures

All school boards must have publicly available policies that align with the new standards for selecting and managing library materials by January 1, 2026. School boards can either create new policies or update existing ones to meet these requirements.

These policies must outline how school library materials are selected and reviewed, how staff supervise students’ access throughout the school day, and how a student, parent, school board employee or other member of the school community can request a review or removal of materials in the school library. School boards are also required to clearly communicate these policies to employees, students and parents before January 2026.

“A robust, grade- and age-appropriate library catalogue is vital for student success. We welcome the ministry’s initiative to establish consistent standards and appreciate the ongoing consultation to help craft a plan that will serve our families and communities well.”

Holly Bilton, trustee, Chinook’s Edge School Division

“Red Deer Public Schools welcomes the new provincial standards for school library materials. Our division is committed to maintaining welcoming, respectful learning spaces where students can grow and thrive. Under the new standards for school libraries, we remain dedicated to providing learning resources that reflect our values and support student success.”

Nicole Buchanan, chair, Red Deer Public Schools

Quick facts

The new standards will apply to public, separate, francophone, charter and independent schools.
The ministerial order does not apply to municipal libraries located within schools or materials selected for use by teachers as learning and teaching resources.
From May 26 to June 6, almost 80,000 people completed an online survey to provide feedback on the creation of consistent standards to ensure the age-appropriateness of materials available to students in school libraries.

Related information

Ministerial Order
School library standards engagement
Reference Materials: Content warning: this document contains graphic content that may be disturbing to viewers and is not appropriate for young viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.