Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.
Photo 47305056 © Itardiusz | Dreamstime.com
North Red Deer

New Red Deer training facility planned for Blackfalds Bulldogs

Mar 15, 2022 | 11:25 AM

The Blackfalds Bulldogs may be getting a new training facility in Red Deer.

After a public hearing at Monday’s council meeting, second and third reading were given for a Land Use Bylaw Amendment request to rezone 6798 52 Avenue from a Business Service district (I1 Industrial) into a Mixed Industrial/Commercial district (IC).

The north end property is owned by Doug Quinn, owner of the Blackfalds Bulldogs Alberta Junior Hockey League team. While the building is currently used for his oilfield equipment manufacturing company, Quinn Production Services, he also operates and manages the team from the site with his wife Jodie.

The rezoning would allow Quinn to build an indoor recreation and gym facility. He intends to use 3,000 sq. ft. to serve as the training site for the team and staff on the northern side of the property, facing 68 Street.

The remaining part of the building will be used for a mix of future commercial and current industrial purposes.

According to City officials, the area has been slowly transitioning from an industrial to a commercial spot, one property at a time, since the early 2000s. Almost half of the properties on the south block of 52 Avenue have rezoned to a Commercial District (C4).

Given first reading on Feb. 14, landowners within 100m of the site were notified of the public hearing. Only Troy Spelt, partner of Camdon Construction, attended the hearing, speaking on behalf of Quinn in favor of the amendment.

Red Deerians Doug and wife Jodie Quinn purchased the financially struggling Calgary Mustangs from the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in 2019. Relocating it to Blackfalds, Quinn renamed the team in April 2020, which played its first season in the AJHL in 2021-2022.