Red Deer
Red Deer Rebels hire Steve Konowalchuk as new Head Coach

News Release from the Red Deer Rebels
Brent Sutter, President and General Manager of the Red Deer Rebels, is proud to announce that Steve Konowalchuk has been named the 6th Head Coach in team history.
Konowalchuk joins the Rebels from the New York Rangers, where he is currently a Pro Scout. Prior to the Rangers, he served as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche (2009-11), and Anaheim Ducks (2017-18). From 2011 to 2017, he lead the Seattle Thunderbirds as their head coach, including back to back WHL Finals appearances in 2016 and 2017, culminating in a WHL Championship in his final season. Over the 6 seasons, he lead the Thunderbirds to a 219-176-22-15 record, and coached notable NHL players including Matthew Barzal (NYI), Ethan Bear (EDM), Shea Theodore (VGK), & Keegan Kolesar (VGK).
Prior to his coaching career, Konowalchuk spent 13 seasons as a player in the Washington Capitals organization, before retiring after 2 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche in 2006. He appeared in 790 NHL games, compiling 396 points in that time.
Konowalchuk will officially join the Rebels in August, after his duties with the Rangers are complete. The team will look to add an assistant coach this summer.
Brent Sutter – “Steve is the right coach at the right time for our hockey club. He is a person of high character, whose intensity and work ethic match that of our organization and community. With Steve’s winning pedigree, we have the right leadership to become a championship calibre team. We welcome Steve and his family to Central Alberta.”
Steve Konowalchuk – “I would like to thank Brent Sutter and the Red Deer Rebels for the opportunity to coach in the WHL again. The organization has established itself as a top franchise in the league, and I look forward to working with the staff and players on reaching the organization’s high expectations. I would also like to express my gratitude to the New York Rangers for the opportunity given to me over the past 3 seasons.”
Season tickets for the 2021-22 are now on sale! Contact Shaun Richer at 403 341 6000, or [email protected] to select your seats!
Health
Red Deer Hospital Lottery 2025 Winners

The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation is thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Red Deer Hospital Lottery prizes – including the Dream Home, a $100,000.00 cash prize, and Mega Bucks 50.
James Smith of Spruce View has won the $100,000.00 cash prize.
Montey Brehaut of Red Deer has won the Mega Bucks 50 jackpot, taking home $301,702.50.
The grand prize Sorento Custom Homes Dream Home, including furnishings by Urban Barn and worth $1,074,472 – has been awarded to Oscar Gunnlaugson of Sylvan Lake.
The winner announcements took place at noon on June 26 , 2025 – and was streamed live on Facebook from Red Deer Regional Hospital Center.
“We’re excited to celebrate this year’s winners and deeply grateful to everyone who supported the lottery,” said Manon Therriault, CEO of the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation. “Funds raised will directly enhance patient care at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.”
This year’s lottery proceeds will fund essential new and replacement equipment, ensuring Red Deer Regional Hospital Center can continue to serve the 500,000 people who rely on it. While plans for the hospital expansion move forward, healthcare doesn’t wait. Patients in our community need access
to life-saving technology today, and supporting Red Deer Hospital Lottery has made that possible.
A full list of winners, including electronics prize recipients, will be posted on July 2 at reddeerhospitallottery.ca.
Winners will also receive instructions on how to claim their prizes by mail.
The keys to the Dream Home will be presented at a special ceremony this summer.
Business
Carnival Cinemas moving downtown: Owner Bill Ramji buys former Uptown Cinemas from RDP

News release from Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP)
Red Deer Polytechnic Sells Welikoklad Event Centre
Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has sold the Welikoklad Event Centre in downtown Red Deer to a new owner who has plans to revitalize the facility as a movie theatre. RDP purchased the Welikoklad Event Centre in 2012. For many years, the Centre served as a valuable learning space for students in a variety of programming, including arts and business. The facility also served as a community hub, where RDP hosted a variety of events for different organizations. With the evolution of time, and RDP’s mix of industry-relevant arts and business programs transitioning back to main campus, the Welikoklad Event Centre no longer serves the same purpose for the post- secondary institution as it once did.
“As we’ve reviewed our future strategic plans relating to program growth and facility usage, to best serve our students, industry partners and community members, we are confident we can meet everyone’s needs at our other campuses,” says Jim Brinkhurst, Vice President, Finance and Administration & Chief Financial Officer, Red Deer Polytechnic. “We feel that now is a good time for the institution to sell this facility and we are pleased to see it repurposed for other community uses that will continue to serve Red Deer and downtown well.”
The Welikoklad Event Centre has been purchased by local business owner, Bill Ramji. He owns Carnival Cinemas, currently located in the Capstone neighbourhood. Future development is planned on the current site of this movie theatre and community gathering space. Ramji is excited to revitalize the theatre’s nearly three decades of history in Red Deer at its new location (which will be renovated before opening) in the heart of downtown.
“Carnival Cinemas is proud to announce the acquisition of the Welikoklad Event Centre from Red Deer Polytechnic, marking an exciting new chapter for this venue and the downtown arts community,” says Bill Ramji, Carnival Cinemas owner. “With this acquisition, Carnival Cinemas reaffirms its commitment to bringing the best value in movies to central Alberta while expanding its focus on supporting local theatre and the performing arts. The Welikoklad Event Centre, previously The Uptown Theatre, was a hub for film lovers and creative voices, and Carnival is eager to build on that legacy.”
Ramji continues, “We’re excited to move forward as Carnival Cinemas and Event Centre and our goal is to continue providing high-quality movie experiences, while also working hand-in-hand with local artists, performers, and theatre groups to enrich downtown Red Deer’s cultural landscape. Carnival Cinemas & Event Centre looks forward to collaborating with the arts community and the broader public to ensure the space remains a vibrant and inclusive gathering place for film and theatre alike.”
RDP will continue to have a presence in downtown Red Deer, with their downtown campus located in the Millennium Centre. The downtown RDP campus is home to RDP’s Continuing Education and Corporate Training programs.
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