Red Deer Minute: Population Growth, RDP News, and a Drone Pilot Project

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

This Week In Red Deer:

• This morning, at 10:30 am, there will be a meeting of City Council. The meeting will begin with a closed session, wherein Council will discuss legal advice regarding the regulation of taxis, as well as an item entitled “Social Housing Corporation”. When the meeting opens up to the public, around 11:30 am, Council will consider a request by the Red Deer Housing Authority for $1.5 million to support land acquisition for the rapid development of 40 permanent supportive housing units, and a second phase of 60 additional affordable housing units. Also on the agenda are Second and Third Readings of the Vehicle For Hire Bylaw, as well as the Q1 Community Policing Report.
  
  
• The Housing and Homelessness Integration Committee will meet on Tuesday at 5:00 pm. The City has engaged KPMG to collect feedback from sector stakeholders and conduct an external analysis of the roles and governance within the homeless-serving system, and the Committee will be having a discussion about the feedback it can provide. The Committee will also receive a verbal update regarding Permanent Supportive Housing.
  
  
• Red Deer Cruise Night is back, marking its 24th year as a popular gathering for car enthusiasts. Running from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm every Thursday at Parkland Mall's northeast parking lot, the event showcases a variety of unique vehicles, attracting participants from as far as Edmonton and Calgary. Opening night on May 10th featured about 390 cars, with weekly attendance typically between 350-400 vehicles. The event, which has expanded to include food trucks and live entertainment, is family friendly.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• In a test scenario in Red Deer, an RCMP drone equipped with high-magnification and thermal cameras quickly located a suspect hiding among construction materials. This technology allows for swift identification of suspects and assessment of threats, apparently reducing risks for officers and bystanders. The RCMP is conducting a 12-day trial of drone first responder technology in Lac La Biche, Red Deer, and Stoney Nakoda First Nation. Drones can be launched from detachments and controlled remotely, providing real-time images to officers. The trial aims to enhance situational awareness and response times, with potential applications including crime scenes and emergency services. Drones cost between $10,000 and $30,000 whereas an RCMP helicopter costs around $2.5 million each year to operate.
  
  
• Red Deer’s population grew by 3.4% in 2023, reaching 109,262 residents. The increase included 1,277 Canadians relocating to the city, marking the highest interprovincial migration since 2005-06. Mayor Ken Johnston attributed the growth to factors such as lower housing costs, favourable taxation, and the city's strategic location. Key developments like the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre expansion and a new Justice Centre are expected to further boost growth.
  
  
• Isaac Nyamekye has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Institutional Planning at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP). Nyamekye previously worked at Athabasca University, where he held roles including Director of Institutional Research and Data Analytics, Manager of Institutional Data Analysis, and Senior Analyst of Program Analytics and Evaluation. He will join RDP on June 17th and aims to enhance evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement within the institution. In other RDP news, starting in Fall 2024, the institution will offer a two-year Executive Assistant Diploma program. This program builds on the one-year Administrative Professional Certificate, enhancing skills in business areas like accounting, computer software, and human resources. The program will be available both on-campus and online.

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