Red Deer Minute: Issue 204

Red Deer Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Red Deer politics

📅 This Week In Red Deer: 📅

• On Wednesday, at 1:00 pm, the Audit Committee will review the City of Red Deer's annual Whistleblower Report. In 2024, 17 reports were filed through the City's anonymous third-party system, with 6 substantiated and 11 unsubstantiated. Most complaints related to sensitive concerns, unethical conduct, or policy violations. All cases were investigated internally. No incidents of retaliation were reported, and Administration noted that awareness of the reporting process remains high.
  
  
• A major new fibre-optic network build is underway in Red Deer, with TELUS PureFibre set to reach 90% of homes by the end of 2027. The $168-million project, led by F3 Networks, comes at no cost to homeowners or the City. Mayor Ken Johnston estimates a $2.70 return on every dollar invested, supporting 240 full-time jobs and generating nearly half a billion dollars in economic benefits. Fibre-optic service will enable equal upload and download speeds, boosting capabilities for remote work, education, telehealth, and small business growth. Construction is already underway in Morrisroe, with over 400,000 metres of fibre to be installed city-wide. TELUS is also investing $10 million to improve wireless infrastructure alongside the fibre rollout.
  
  
• Red Deer saw a steep drop in building permit values this April, falling to $7.5 million from $35 million in April 2024. The City issued 94 permits, slightly down from 103 the year before. Residential permits accounted for over $3 million, while commercial, public service, and industrial permits made up the rest. Year-to-date totals are also lagging behind, with $35.8 million issued compared to $51 million at this time last year. Notable projects include a $900,000 school upgrade, an $800,000 daycare renovation, and several large commercial renovations.
  
  
• Red Deer Polytechnic has broken ground on a major expansion of its Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing-Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC), increasing the facility from 15,000 to 25,000 square feet by fall 2026. The centre supports applied research and prototyping across sectors like energy, aviation, and agriculture, helping companies bring new products to market. Once completed, it will offer hands-on experiences to 450 post-secondary and over 500 high school students annually. The expansion is funded with $12.9 million from the Alberta government, $4.8 million from the federal government, and $3.5 million from RDP’s reserves. RDP President Stuart Cullum highlighted the project’s role in driving regional productivity and economic growth. The expanded centre will also provide enhanced training, research opportunities, and work-integrated learning for students.
  
  
• Red Deerians are being warned to stay vigilant as very dry conditions raise the fire risk across the city. The fire danger rating is now “Very High,” and no rain is expected in the coming week. The City and Red Deer Emergency Services are asking residents to avoid careless behaviours like tossing cigarette butts into dry grass or mulch. Fire pits must be monitored closely and fully extinguished after use. While no fire ban is currently in place, residents should check Alberta Fire Bans for updates. Voluntary outdoor water restrictions also began May 1st to address province-wide drought concerns.

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