City of Red Deer
Update: City to deactivate the Emergency Operations Centre


Friday at noon, The City’s Emergency Operations Centre demobilized as flood concerns for our community have subsided.
Since Thursday afternoon, water levels on the Red Deer River and tributaries have stabilized, as well as outflow rates from Dickson Dam. However, the Red Deer River remains under a high streamflow advisory by Alberta Environment and boat launches into the river remain closed.
“We continue to urge people to stay off of the river and the shore while the high streamflow advisory remains in effect,” said Ken McMullen, Director of Emergency Management. “The river has risen significantly this week, and we are seeing natural debris in the river such as fallen trees which pose a significant safety concern to anyone recreating on the river.”
The Lion’s Campground, which was closed on Tuesday, re-opened to campers Friday at noon.
For more information, visit www.reddeer.ca/flood.
—————
From Thursday
Red Deer River levels peaked
Water levels on the Red Deer River have begun peaking, however the river remains under a high streamflow advisory.
“This afternoon we received information from the Dickson Dam and Alberta Environment that water levels have begun to peak on the Red Deer River, which is positive news and one factor we use when assessing flood risk,” said Ken McMullen, Director of Emergency Management. “Other factors we consider in addition to the level of the Red Deer River, is water levels on the Little Red Deer and Medicine rivers that feed into the Red Deer River downstream of the dam, how quickly snowmelt is occurring in the mountains, as well the precipitation our city and region are experiencing.”
Since Monday, the Red Deer River has risen approximately one and half meters. Some low-lying areas of the McKenzie Trail area saw isolated flooding, however no trails were closed or damage to park infrastructure occurred.
Residents are asked to continue to stay off the river and away from the shore while the high streamflow advisory remains in effect. All boat launches into the river remain closed, and barricades are in place.
The following amenities remain closed at this time:
• All boat launches into the Red Deer River
• The Lion’s Campground
The following amenities have reopened:
• Great Chief Park (both ball diamonds and Setters Place),
• The Outdoor Pool at the Recreation Centre
• The Capstone Fountain
• The Blue Grass Sod Farms Central Spray & Play
• Outdoor sports fields
For more information, visit www.reddeer.ca/flood.
City of Red Deer
Pop-up Spray Parks – City bringing family fun to your neighbourhood this summer


Pop-up spray parks are back this summer
Families and friends are invited to join Red Deer Emergency Services, Municipal Policing Services and the Red Deer RCMP to beat the heat at pop-up spray parks every Thursday this July and August.
Each spray park will run every Thursday from 6:30 – 8 p.m., visiting neighbourhoods across the city as follows:
Date | Location | Address |
July 7 | Barry Wilson Elementary School | 300 Timothy Drive |
July 14 | G.H. Dawe School | Holt Street & 59 Avenue |
July 21 | St. Francis of Assisi School | 321 Lindsay Avenue |
July 28 | Anders Park | Ayers Avenue & Anders Street |
August 4 | Kentwood Park | Kendrew Drive & Kent Street |
August 11 | Don Campbell Elementary School | 99 Irving Crescent |
August 18 | Joseph Welsh Elementary School | 4401 – 37 Avenue |
August 25 | Johnstone Park | Jordan Parkway & Jennings Crescent |
Events are weather dependant and will be cancelled if weather warnings are in place. The City will provide updates on social media each week if events are in question due to weather.
Information and schedule are available online at www.reddeer.ca/PopUpSprayParks.
For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications
The City of Red Deer
City of Red Deer
City Council grinding out a solution for the site of a permanent homeless shelter


Council approves Shelter Site Evaluation Matrix
SITE CRITERIA | SUB-CRITERIA | POINTS | PERCENTAGES |
Ability to acquire site | 20 | ||
Cost | 40% | ||
Zoning | 15% | ||
Timing | 40% | ||
General | 5% | ||
Adequate size | 20 | ||
Adequate land size (outside/inside) | 30% | ||
Can accommodate purpose built/dignified spaces | 20% | ||
Can accommodate on-site/integrated services | 30% | ||
Future flexible/expansion opportunity | 10% | ||
General | 10% | ||
Broad community impact | 24 | ||
Operational and Budgetary Impacts | 17% | ||
Alignment with Community Vision (Strategic Plan/Downtown Vision/Vision 2040) | 25% | ||
Impact to City Reputation | 13% | ||
Economic Impact | 25% | ||
Safety Impacts | 17% | ||
General | 4% | ||
Impacts to surrounding area | 26 | ||
Impacts to businesses | 23% | ||
Impacts to downtown | 19% | ||
Impacts to Parks, Trails and Greenspaces | 19% | ||
Proximity to Schools | 12% | ||
Impacts to Residential Neighbourhoods | 23% | ||
General | 4% | ||
Access to services & supports | 10 | ||
Access to transit and transportation | 10% | ||
Distance/proximity to supports/services | 20% | ||
Foot Traffic Patterns | 20% | ||
Enables delivery of 24/7 integrated service | 20% | ||
Enables delivery of basic amenities/services | 20% | ||
General | 10% |
Council approves Shelter Site Evaluation Matrix
In the above matrix, the sub-category identified as general under each criteria represents the remaining points allocated to the overarching site criteria.
“The site criteria evaluation matrix approved today will be utilized by administration and City Council to inform decisions about the future site of an integrated shelter in Red Deer,” said Lisa Perkins, Acting City Manager. “The process of developing this matrix has been all about our commitment to consider what we heard from the public, honouring the voice of the City Council in the development of the matrix and selecting a site for the future integrated shelter.”
Along with the criteria and weighting, Council adopted a resolution outlining conditions upon which City Council developed site criteria for the Shelter Site Evaluation Matrix. Ultimately, the site criteria within the matrix are the right criteria “if” the following are true:
- Shelter is for those who need short stay emergency housing. There are other services/facilities along the housing spectrum.
- Shelter is one site.
- Funding may limit scope.
- New services have potential to change outcomes.
- The permanent shelter will be a housing focused delivery model [(Per Council resolution Nov – 21) – GOA confirmed Jan 22]
- Shelter with wrap around services may not necessarily eliminate the need for those requiring shelter to access external services, to connect with community.
- There are innovative alternative delivery/service and systems that need to address the diversity of clients and impact on community.
- The shelter will operate 24/7
- The shelter will be designed to provide adequate spaces for short time stays that honour the dignity of each person
- There is a recognition and advocacy for the ongoing housing (eg. PSH & Affordable Housing) needs.
- Council will continue to have discussions with the Provincial Government on future Overdose Prevention Services/Supervised Consumption Services.
- A good neighbour policy will be developed.
- Community agencies are supportive of an integrated model and willing to work collaboratively towards this.
- The shelter would integrate or operate as many related services on site as reasonably possible.
These statements will be utilized to inform City Council’s advocacy position around the integrated shelter going forward.
“While the decision in front of City Council in the immediate future pertains specifically to site, we also know there are many conversations to be had with the Province of Alberta about other aspects of shelter including, but not limited to, shelter design, operations and service delivery,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “We look forward to continued collaboration with our provincial colleagues as we work in partnership to ensure a safe place for our vulnerable citizens to access required services on their journey to permanent housing, which is beneficial for the whole community.”
In addition to the resolutions about the shelter evaluation matrix criteria, City Council resolved that administration will begin preparing a list of possible sites alongside a commercial realtor with Mayor Johnston and the Deputy Mayor providing Council perspective.
Administration will come back to City Council on July 18 to share an update with City Council about the site selection process.
For more information on the shelter project process, please visit www.reddeer.ca/shelter. Citizens and community partners wanting to receive updates on the shelter project by email can subscribe here.
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