Red Deer Minute: Issue 228

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

📅 This Week In Red Deer: 📅

• Red Deer recorded its lowest municipal election turnout in more than four decades, with only 21.2% of eligible voters casting ballots. The City cited long wait times of up to two hours as a major factor, attributed to the Province’s new permanent registry of electors and the return to hand-counted ballots. Some voters reportedly left polling stations before voting due to the delays. Returning officer Jessica Robinson said the issue was not unique to Red Deer, as other Alberta cities, including Calgary and Edmonton, faced similar challenges. Despite extensive outreach efforts, advance voting turnout was also lower than expected. A planned mail campaign to inform residents was cancelled due to the Canada Post strike, which may have affected awareness. A post-election review will be presented to City Council later this year.
  
  
• Cindy Jefferies has been elected Mayor of Red Deer, receiving 6,237 votes, or 41%, well ahead of her nearest competitor, Gareth Scott, who earned 23%. Jefferies, a former Councillor and school trustee, expressed excitement about working with a Council that includes several newcomers. Elected Councillors include Tristin Brisbois, Cassandra Curtis, Chad Krahn, Kraymer Barnstable, Dianne Wyntjes, Jaelene Tweedle, Adam Goodwin, and Bruce Buruma. Jefferies highlighted priorities such as building a cohesive Council team, addressing the budget, housing, economic development, and finalizing the permanent shelter issue. She praised the respectful and supportive nature of her Mayoral opponents and emphasized representing the best interests of all Red Deer residents. 
  
  
• A recount changed one school trustee election result. Initially, Emily Huber appeared to win the fifth Red Deer ward trustee seat by a single vote over incumbent Murray Hollman, 1,037 to 1,036. Following a recount requested by Hollman, final results now show Hollman winning with 1,037 votes to Huber’s 1,034. The City of Red Deer conducted the recount using a hand-counting process with multiple verification steps, as required by Alberta’s election rules. Jessica Robinson, the Returning Officer, noted that recounts are common in very close races. Hollman has served on the board of trustees since 2013. Other elected trustees for Red Deer ward include Chris Andrew, Brenda MacDonald, Martin Reed, and Cynthia Leyson.
  
  
• The Mustard Seed in Red Deer has purchased two homes on 55 Avenue with plans to convert them into supportive housing by March 2026. These homes will provide affordable housing paired with support services for people experiencing homelessness, with residents selected from the shelter. The Red Deer Mustard Seed has operated for eight years, offering a 24/7 housing-focused shelter, drop-in services, community meals, and a school lunch program. Winter demand remains high, with about 70 people turned away each month due to capacity limits. Despite delays from the CPR Pedestrian Bridge construction, the shelter continues to serve its clients, providing alternate routes to maintain access. The organization says it is actively expanding its capacity to meet local needs.
  
  
• The Rural Red Deer Restorative Justice Program has received a $50,000 provincial grant to help address gender-based violence as part of Alberta’s 10-year strategy. The funding will be used to hire a gender-based violence consultant to assess cases, develop pathways for healing, and ensure interventions do not cause further harm. Executive Director Jo Phillips highlighted that gender-based violence includes not only sexual assault and domestic violence but also bullying, homophobia, transphobia, and non-consensual sharing of images, particularly affecting youth in schools. The grant is part of the Community Pathways to Justice program, which supports victim services, education, legal navigation, system coordination, and restorative justice. Phillips says that the program aims to complement existing community services rather than duplicate them, providing a restorative approach to help those impacted. Other central Alberta organizations, including Pembina Crisis Connection Society and Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association, also received funding. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Did you read our coverage of the recent election results?

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