Red Deer Minute: Issue 227

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

📅 This Week In Red Deer: 📅

• It’s Election Day! Polls are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. In case you missed it, check out our 2025 Municipal Election Survey, revealing where Mayoral and Council candidates stand on key issues like safety, affordability, taxation, and accountability. We have published their unedited responses so voters can make informed choices. Some candidates answered, others declined - but all responses, or lack thereof, offer insight into their priorities.
  
  
• Alberta’s 2025 municipal election results are expected to take several days to be finalized due to new provincial legislation requiring all ballots to be hand-counted. Municipalities across the province have doubled or even tripled their election staff to manage the process. Counting will begin immediately after polls close but is expected to continue in shifts, with overnight pauses to prevent errors from fatigue. Advance voting and regular ballots will be tallied using these manual methods. Officials stress that the priority is accuracy over speed, with official results required to be submitted to the Province by noon on October 24th. While the changes have drawn criticism from some municipal groups, the provincial government maintains that hand-counting ensures greater confidence in the election outcome. Residents are being asked to exercise patience as officials carefully process and verify each ballot.
  
  
• The Red Deer Homeless Foundation thanked the four mayoral candidates - Victor Doerksen, Cindy Jefferies, Lawrence Lee, and Gareth Scott - who participated in its October 9th forum, “The Homeless Question,” held at Red Deer Polytechnic. The event, organized in partnership with BILD Central Alberta and the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, aimed to foster an informed discussion on homelessness without endorsing any candidate. The Foundation says that homelessness is both a housing and community issue, calling for collaborative, evidence-based approaches that balance compassion with public safety. It advocates for expanding the entire housing spectrum - from supportive to market units - while aligning housing with recovery supports and cultural reconciliation.
  
  
• The Red Deer District Chamber of Commerce celebrated Central Alberta’s leading businesses at its 42nd annual Business of the Year Awards on October 15th at the Red Deer Polytechnic Arts Centre. Out of more than 120 nominees, 21 finalists were recognized, with PASS Electric Inc. winning Large Business of the Year and Beyond Insurance taking the Small Business award. Other honourees included Red Deer Polytechnic’s Division of Applied Research for Innovation, The Mustard Seed as Not-for-Profit of the Year, Jessa Fiel of Feet Terrific Nursing Footcare as Emerging Businessperson, Dr. Michael Heinzlmeir of Pure | Elevate Your Health as Business Leader, and Booyah Bagels as New Business of the Year. Chamber CEO Frank Creasey and Servus Credit Union representatives praised the winners for their innovation, resilience, and contributions to Red Deer’s economic growth and community spirit.
  
  
• Red Deer Neighbourhood Watch is at risk of shutting down if the Central Alberta Crime Prevention Centre (CACPC) closes due to funding shortfalls. The 13-year-old CACPC has faced a significant reduction in City funding - from $160,000 to $75,000 in recent years - and received no operating grant this year, while also losing a federal summer student grant. The Centre provides resources, advice, and a community hub for crime prevention initiatives, including supporting over 765 Neighbourhood Watch members and 85 block captains. Without the CACPC, Red Deer Neighbourhood Watch would lose its operational base and the ability to coordinate community safety programs. The CACPC is attempting to raise funds, including opening a thrift store, to continue its work.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Make sure to cast your vote in the municipal election today! 

Polls are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. 

Click below to find your polling station and other relevant voter information.

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!