Red Deer Minute: Resolution Proposals, Candidate Forum, and an Education Town Hall

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 9:30 am. The meeting will begin with an approximately three-hour closed session, wherein Council will discuss Utilities Governance. Once the meeting opens back up to the public, Council will consider three policy resolutions that the City may put forward at the Alberta Municipalities Convention. The first resolution proposed is for Alberta Municipalities to advocate to the federal government for a return to a funding program for non-electric buses until 2035, in order to allow municipalities to transition their fleets in a realistic way. The second is for advocacy to the Alberta government for the creation of a comprehensive emergency shelter strategy for the entire province, and the third is to advocate for all levels of government to increase funding for cities for permanent supportive housing. There will also be a public hearing regarding the new zoning bylaw.
  
  
• There will be a Byelection Candidate Forum this evening at 5:00 pm at the Golden Circle. You’ll be able to hear the candidate’s positions and ask them your questions. The election is on April 22nd, but advanced voting starts this week. Residents can vote on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm at Parkland Mall, the Baymont by Wyndham (Gull Lake Room), and Westerner Park (Salon B - Prairie Pavilion). You can find more information regarding the candidates and voter eligibility online here.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 6:00 pm, our friends at the Alberta Parents’ Union are hosting an education town hall at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. Executive Director Jeff Park will be speaking about school boards, curriculum, parental authority, and why the City of Red Deer is holding a by-election to make sure its taxpayers are fully represented, while Red Deer Catholic (which has had a vacancy for longer) is not. The event is free, but registration is required due to limited seating. You can RSVP online here.

Last Week In Red Deer:

• The Province announced 74 projects across Alberta that are receiving a combined $7.3 million through the Northern and Regional Economic Development program, and there are several Red Deer area recipients. The Samson Cree Nation will use $119,500 in funding for a feasibility study and strategic tourism plan, focusing on a Cree Cultural Powwow Centre. Westerner Park is receiving $200,000 to implement a wayfinding signage strategy aimed at boosting tourism and retail activity. Additionally, the City of Red Deer has secured $100,000 in funding for a feasibility study related to joint economic development and regional transportation with Red Deer County.
  
  
• The Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG) announced that it is seeking community input to shape its future plans, including programming and outreach, for 2025-2030 and beyond. With support from various organizations, including the City of Red Deer and the Canada Council for the Arts, the MAG is conducting a comprehensive community consultation process. This involves a community survey on its website and a series of focus groups and creative workshops throughout May. The goal is to ensure that the MAG remains relevant and responsive to the needs and interests of the community it serves. The survey can be taken online.
  
  
• Red Deer recently conducted a three-day emergency management exercise involving 45 participants from various municipalities and private industries. The exercise focused on responding to wildfires, floods, storms, and hazardous material spills. The City said it collaborates with neighbouring partners regularly to ensure regional readiness for emergencies, as demonstrated during last summer's wildfire assistance. The Alberta Emergency Management Agency provided scenarios for the exercise, such as a flood situation, to enhance coordination and response strategies. These exercises aim to strengthen the incident command system, improve skills, and promote public awareness through events like Emergency Preparedness Week.

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