Red Deer Minute: Park Signage, Accelerated Diploma, and Official Election Results

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

This Week In Red Deer:

• There will be a City Council meeting this morning at 10:30 am. The meeting will begin with a closed session to discuss a labour update and a permanent shelter advocacy update. When the meeting opens up to the public, Council will discuss the 2023 Annual Financial Report as well as a loan deferral for the Central Alberta Humane Society. Council will also give Second and Third Reading to amendments to the Vehicle For Hire Bylaw.
  
  
• The City is encouraging Red Deerians to sign up for the Green Deer Spring Cleanup Campaign. To join, register online and pick up free cleanup supplies from specified locations. By registering, and walking around to collect litter between March 21st and May 31st, you can win prizes.
  
  
• The City of Red Deer plans to include more Indigenous and general history in new park signage, targeting parks like McKenzie Trails, Heritage Ranch, the Pines escarpment, and Three Mile Bend for updates. The City plans to update interpretive descriptions with input from the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society and welcomes historical information from residents to enrich park experiences. Old wooden signs will be replaced with longer-wearing metal signs, though the speed of replacement will be determined by the funds available.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• A winner was declared in Red Deer’s first by-election. Chad Krahn has been elected as the next Councillor, filling the seat left vacant by the passing of Michael Dawe. ​​Krahn is the former Executive Director of Common Sense Red Deer - he focused his campaign on spurring growth, keeping taxes low, and supporting essential services. His official swearing-in ceremony will take place during a special City Council meeting on May 13th.
  
  
• Red Deer Polytechnic has introduced an accelerated pathway for health care professionals to complete the Practical Nurse Diploma program, making it the first institution in Alberta to offer this option. The program targets internationally educated nurses and Canadian health care professionals interested in a faster route to completing the Practical Nurse program. Applicants with relevant health care credentials earned within the past decade may receive prior learning credit, potentially reducing the program's duration by half. The program's first cohort is set to begin in the Fall 2024 Term, offering 16 seats for interested health care professionals.
  
  
• Officials have warned residents in Red Deer to exercise caution due to the region's dry conditions, which have led to a fire danger risk of “Very High.” With no precipitation expected and warm temperatures continuing, the dryness is expected to escalate further. Consequently, the City of Red Deer is not issuing burn permits. Residents are advised to take preventive measures such as properly disposing of smoking materials, monitoring fire pits, and familiarizing themselves with fire pit regulations. While there's no fire ban yet, residents are urged to stay informed about fire ban statuses and follow voluntary outdoor water restrictions starting May 1st.

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