Red Deer Minute: Issue 225

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

📅 This Week In Red Deer: 📅

• The Red Deer District Chamber appointed Frank Creasey as its new CEO at the organization’s 132nd Annual General Meeting, following Scott Robinson’s departure in June. Creasey brings nearly 20 years of leadership experience in tourism, marketing, and organizational management, having held senior roles with Caribou Chilcotan Coast Tourism Association, Fort McMurray Tourism, Travel Alberta North, and Korea Tourism Organization. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management and a Master’s in Tourism Management from Royal Roads University. Creasey expressed enthusiasm for building on the Chamber’s foundation and expanding opportunities for members, while Board President Mike Szyszka highlighted his proven track record in partnerships, strategic growth, and strengthening organizations. Also announced at the AGM were new initiatives, including a tiered membership model and four committees focused on membership, events, advocacy, and marketing. The Chamber has grown by 100 members this year, reaching nearly 800 members overall.
  
  
• The Red Deer District Chamber, together with the Red Deer Construction Association and BILD, will host a municipal candidates forum today (October 6th), from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Memorial Centre. The event will give residents an opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their priorities, plans, and vision for the city. Moderated questions will focus on topics identified by local employers, including business competitiveness, growth and housing, financial stewardship, construction and local jobs, and public safety. Candidates will discuss issues such as permitting timelines, zoning reforms, infrastructure planning, cost control, fair procurement, and practical public safety measures. The forum aims to encourage residents to “vote with prosperity in mind” by highlighting policies that support economic growth and efficient municipal governance. Tickets are available here.
  
  
• Red Deer Polytechnic will host a mayoral candidate forum on Wednesday, October 8th, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Margaret Parsons Theatre, with doors opening at 4:30 pm. The event, organized by the RDP Students’ Association, invites students, staff, faculty, and community members to attend. Mayoral candidates Cindy Jeffries, Victor Doerksen, Lawrence Lee, and Gareth Scott are scheduled to participate. Attendees can submit questions either in person at the forum or online beforehand.
  
  
• Restoration work on Red Deer’s historic CPR Pedestrian Bridge is continuing and the bridge is on schedule to reopen in summer 2026. The 117-year-old bridge has been undergoing repairs since February to improve safety, durability, and connectivity while preserving its heritage. Completed work includes repairing corroded steel trusses, removing the old bridge deck, constructing foundations, installing temporary protective wrapping, and building an access berm into the river. Upcoming work involves building an in-stream pier, a new timber trestle, painting the trusses, and staging cranes for truss installation. The City opted to restore the bridge rather than spend between $6 million and $8 million on removal. Once reopened, the bridge will offer safer walking and biking with new lighting and cameras, improved trail connections, environmental cleanup, and enhanced green spaces with public art.
  
  
• The City of Red Deer is preparing to offer School Closure Day Camps from October 6th to 10th in response to a potential teacher strike. Designed for children aged 5 to 12, the camps will run at multiple locations, including the Collicutt Centre, G.H. Dawe Community Centre, Michener Aquatic Centre, and Culture Services at the Intermediate School. Camps will provide full- and half-day options led by trained instructors, offering supervised activities such as games, crafts, and other recreational programs. The initiative aims to provide families with practical support and ensure children have a safe, engaging environment while schools are closed. Additional details and registration information are available on the City of Red Deer’s website.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Advance voting for the 2025 municipal elections runs from October 14th to 18th, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.

You can find all of the times, locations, and additional voter information online:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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