RCMP responded to the Collicutt Centre for the third time in less than a week on Monday (Photo: rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Troy Gillard

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A recent string of incidents has residents wondering what is being done to ensure the safety of those working at or enjoying recreation facilities in Red Deer.

On three separate occasions over the past week RCMP responded in large numbers to incidents at the Collicutt Centre.

The first one last Tuesday involved multiple youth attending the Collicutt for a fight, according to Red Deer RCMP Cpl. Karyn Kay, who confirms a weapon was used during the incident. A male youth was injured in the incident while another has been charged with aggravated assault.

The following day police were called back to the Collicutt Centre for a report of a male youth seen carrying weapons. No actual weapons were turned up when police searched the area and Kay says a charge of uttering threats is pending against the youth.

Then yesterday (Monday), City Mounties were called to the Collicutt Centre one more time for a report of a male youth seen carrying a firearm, which Kay says turned out to be a pellet gun. Several firearms offences are pending against the male youth.

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Kay says all three incidents remain under investigation.

“We’re working with (The City of Red Deer) recreation department and both high schools to get to the bottom of these incidents,” she explained.

Following Monday’s incident, The City of Red Deer tweeted that it is looking into how it handles emergency incidents at it’s recreation facilities.

“We are using the recent incidents, but also any kind of occurrence, to take time to look at what the challenges are, what’s working and what’s not,” says Barb McKee, Recreation Superintendent for The City of Red Deer. “We’re taking security and safety of our patrons, and our staff, very seriously.”

The Collicutt Centre was locked down on Monday, but not during either of last week’s incidents.

A debriefing is held following any incident of this type, McKee explains. The Collicutt Centre supervisor also connects with administration from nearby Hunting Hills and Notre Dame high schools to share information.

“We walk through the different staff responses, how effective we were with securing the facility, our relationship with RCMP and their response to the incident, and what we could do differently next time.”

More than one million people visit the Collicutt Centre annually.

McKee says stakeholder meetings are scheduled next week to further look at how facilities are being managed and whether any changes are needed. Those stakeholders include city departments, RCMP, school divisions and those who own businesses located at city recreation facilities.

“We want to look at our regular business and day-to-day management of our recreation spaces, and it’s not limited to the Collicutt. We have concerns when it comes to how we safely manage the operation of whether it’s the Recreation Centre, the G. H. Dawe Centre, every one has unique challenges and opportunities to deal with the public in different ways.”