Red Deer
Red Deer Transit workers authorize strike action if City refuses to address concerns
Submitted by the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569
Red Deer Transit Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Authorize Strike
ATU Local 569 Members Frustrated by City’s stall tactics at bargaining table
Pushed to the brink by the City of Red Deer’s refusal to negotiate a contract for fair wages, fair scheduling, improved health measures, and other issues, Red Deer Transit workers voted 99% in favour of strike action in their dispute with the City.
The contract between the workers’ union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569-Edmonton, AB, and the City expired on December 31, 2022, and the parties have been in negotiations since then.
“The City has refused to negotiate beyond their unilaterally set mandate,” said Local 569 President/Business Agent Steve Bradshaw. “It’s as if we can only negotiate by their rules and within their artificially set limits. They’ve built a brick wall and are huddled up behind it.”
When asked what issues are still outstanding, Red Deer Union Representative Lawanda Ramsey said that there are many outstanding issues, like forcing people into part-time positions, working them six days a week, and wages.
“We were there on the frontline throughout the pandemic and accepted zeros two years in a row while the inflation rate soared to 6 and 8 percent,” Bradshaw continued. “Now that the City is in a better financial position, they expect us to take sub-inflation increases.”
The mediator filed his report and the provincially mandated “cooling off” period is underway.
“Our Union uses a full strike only as a last resort since we don’t want to abandon our riders who depend on us. If the City of Red Deer continues to refuse to come to the table to address our concerns and treat our members like the heroes they are, we will take action,” said ATU International President John Costa. “Rest assured, our Local 569 members at Red Deer Transit have the full support of our members across Canada and the U.S.”
The new casino location offers a first-of-its-kind gaming experience in central Alberta
You may remember it as the Capri. Then it briefly joined the Sheraton brand. More recently it was known as the Cambridge. Over the last few years Central Albertans have become accustomed to the largest hotel complex in the city changing it’s name regularly.
It would seem those days are over. When the O’Chiese First Nation purchased the Cambridge in the summer of 2021, they definitely had long term plans in mind. Over the last month those plans have become visibly obvious as the Red Deer landmark has taken on significant structural changes which will alter the view of the hotel at the intersection of Gaetz and 30th for decades to come.
From the newly designed white brick exterior to an entire makeover of the tower, the exterior of Red Deer Resort and Casino offers an exciting new look
Even more significant changes have taken place inside as September 2023 marked the Grand Opening of Red Deer Resort and Casino.
“The completion of the casino is a major milestone for us and the City of Red Deer,” said George Yammine, CEO, O’Chiese Business and Investment Center, the owners of Red Deer Resort & Casino. “The casino will be a key driver of tourism and economic growth in the region, becoming a hub for entertainment for the region and beyond.”
The expansion of the casino and upgrades to the hotel are expected to increase employment by up to 20 per cent with an increased need for dealers, servers and housekeeping professionals.
The casino will serve as a major entertainment destination for residents and tourists alike. Located in the heart of Downtown Red Deer, it will offer a wide range of gaming options such as slot machines, table games, poker room, dining rooms and bar and more. The casino is expected to become a hub for entertainment, attracting visitors from all over the region and beyond.
The casino’s design also respects the cultural heritage of the O’Chiese First Nation. The sunrises over the Alberta prairies and the sunsets over the Rocky Mountains inspired the design for the casino space. An integrated waterfall symbolizes shared values of a deep connection to nature, ancestral lands, and the spiritual importance of water. With more than 38,000 square feet of play space, the casino’s design highlights the region’s beautiful landscape.
Red Deer Resort & Casino is expected to significantly contribute to community investment through its hotel and casino operations and create numerous employment opportunities for the city.
“We look forward to welcoming guests to Red Deer Resort & Casino and providing them with a world class entertainment experience,” said Adrian Strawberry, Hotel Operations Manager, O’Chiese Hospitality. “We have worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition and we cannot wait for you to experience it.”
The next massive project will take place on the north side of Red Deer Resort and Casino where the former dance bars have been demolished to make room for a new exhibition hall featuring space for 2,000 visitors.
The Red Deer Resort & Casino features 241 unique guestrooms, 15 modern meeting rooms, a sprawling conference centre covering 53,000 square feet.
For more information, please visit www.reddeerresortandcasino.ca.
The Alberta Sport Development Centre – Central (ASDC-C) is pleased to announce that the ASDC-Central Athlete of the Month for September 2023 is the Red Deer Renegades 17UGirls Soccer team.
This past competitive season, the Renegades 17UG finished 2nd in the Alberta Soccer Tier 1 Provincial Championship in a notable and unique performance for the Renegades Soccer Club.
Additionally in the 2022-23 season, the team captured the Tier 1 Gold Medal in the Fall 2022 Caledonia Cup; the Silver Medal in the 2023 Tier 1 EMSA Indoor League; the Gold Medal in the 2023 BTB Spring Cup; the Bronze Medal in the 2023 Tier 1 EMSA Outdoor League. Further the team travelled and competed at the 2023 Southern California Del Sol PDT in Phoenix, and the 2023 Premier International Cup in Vancouver.
Team Roster
Jaymin Ball, Ava Balon, Amanda Beasley, Arden Berry, Bryce Hanusich, Jenna Jennings, Emma Larochelle, McKenna Leslie, Olivia Lundell, Emma Lundell, Jaeda Marquart, Isabella Pritchard, Kylie Ross, Hallie Ross, Fati Sesay, Brielle Simonot, Kennedy VanArragon, Jaidin Wiebe,
Coaching Staff
John Leslie, John Beasley, Kristen Leslie, Ajdin Sarcevic
Technical Staff
Ado Sarcevic, Esad Elkaz, Steve Fullerton
It is clear to the Red Deer soccer community that the athletes, staff, and families of the 17UG Renegades will continue their successes into their futures as they have shown an outstanding commitment to their sport and their development. In fact, seven (7) players from the team have already signed scholarship offers with the RDP Queens Soccer team beginning in the 2024-25 ACAC/CCAA season.
ASDC-Central thanks Tom Bast Sports for celebrating the ASDC-Central Athlete of the Month recipients by the provision of commemorative apparel for each recipient.
ADSC-Central Athlete of the Month – Renegades 17UG Soccer
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