This Month with Mayor Ken Johnston: March 2022

Thank you for this question. This winter was an odd one. Fluctuating temperatures throughout the winter caused much of the snowfall we did receive to melt quickly negating the need for a full residential plowing program. To plow all residential areas takes approximately three weeks and Public Works always keeps an eye on weather forecasts and temperatures when planning for residential plowing. This past winter we experienced periods of extreme cold, which makes plowing difficult because the snow pack comes up in big chunks leaving large windrows for residents to deal with. After these periods of extreme cold temperatures, we experienced above normal temperatures which caused snow melt. Plowing in these above zero temperatures would create slushy roads and windrows which would make mobility difficult for drivers and pedestrians, so the decision was made to provide spot clearing for any areas in need instead of a full residential plowing program.

This approach to snow and ice control over the winter has indeed provided some cost savings in the budget; however, the Public Works budget covers many services such as snow and ice control, road maintenance, road repairs, the paving program, etc. The freeze/thaw cycle is also very hard on our roadway infrastructure as the pavement shifted with the ground temperatures. Any surplus will be reviewed as a part of the budget process or used for other services, like pot hole repair this spring.

2. We’ve seen and heard all about the opposition to where a new permanent shelter should be situated, and we know about the divisiveness around the location of the overdose prevention site… If you could speak directly to the users — who are also citizens — of said shelter and OPS, what would you tell them, after all the decisions the City and council have had to make about where the services they need can and cannot be?

As a council, and as a community, we need to come together to make decisions that are best for everyone. Each and every one of our residents are a factor in the decision-making process. I care so much about this community, it is why I threw my hat into the Mayoral ring, and when I say I care about the community, I really mean every single person.

There are so many layers to supporting our most vulnerable Red Deerians, and I want them to know we do care about them, their future and ensuring they have the support they need in our city, always. No matter the location of the services, we will ensure support is there when they need it.

Over the past two years, we have been working with the province to get an integrated permanent shelter operational in our community. Our priority is to find an appropriate location for the permanent shelter and finalize a service model recommendation that will work for our community. We put forward a recommendation to the province for a service model that focuses on outcome-based, low-barrier, integrated service delivery using a housing focused model that strives to end chronic homelessness. The Government of Alberta confirmed its support for this model and will use it moving forward when developing the service delivery. As for location, administration and Council have been working hard behind the scenes to narrow down site options. We are looking at what we have now, what other communities have and what is needed in our community for the permanent shelter to be successful for the whole community. To ensure success, we will be considering additional public participation options in the coming month that will not only engage Red Deerians through conversation, but also share background and service delivery information to encourage a better understanding of the needs of our vulnerable population.

The province’s Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) has been weaved into the temporary and permanent shelter conversations as well. While we recognize the proximity and potential crossover in those using its services, it is a separate entity that council is also focused on. The City will continue to advocate to the province for a more permanent solution to help with the ongoing opioid crisis. We don’t believe that its current service delivery model or infrastructure is sufficient to provide the level of service required for those with addictions.

While it may seem that much of our focus has been on the permanent shelter, it is just one piece of what we are doing to support our vulnerable population. On January 10 at a Special Council meeting, council unanimously approved a six-month transitional housing pilot project. The project, which is expected to start very soon, has the goal of diverting at least 35 people away from local shelters into transitional homes, and then into permanent housing.

Transitional housing is designed to shift people who are experiencing homelessness into a supportive environment. It is designed to reduce shelter populations or prevent people from having to access shelters in the first place. I am optimistic, and excited for this transformative housing pilot project to take hold in our city, and influence change.

What this means for the community is that each time we support a piece of our social infrastructure, we enable progress towards the long-term result, which in this case is having sufficient resources to be able to provide our most vulnerable people the supports they need most. It’s going to take all of us coming to the table to be able to do that, so we ask for your patience and support to be able to bring a sustainable solution to the problems we all want solved for the benefit of the downtown and the community.

3. With so much to worry about these days, such as the rising cost of living, rising overdose rates, the war in Ukraine, and other concerns, is the City of Red Deer planning anything extraordinary this year in terms of helping Red Deerians with their mental health?

I know that our community is tired and many of us are feeling burned out. We are all feeling overwhelmed and concerned about the changes our world and our community is facing. I am too. I hope that with the slow return to what I hope is a post-pandemic phase, we also see and feel hope for our future.

The best part about Red Deer is the people who live here, and with everything happening in the world around us, the best thing we can do is come together. I remain positive that we will all come together when it counts. I know Red Deerians are kind, supportive, caring and that we will support each other now, and always.

Another amazing thing about Red Deer are the community organizations and groups we have ready to help. Whether it be through 211, the Crisis Centre, youth supports, senior supports, Canadian Mental Health or Alberta Health Services, I encourage anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or unwell to reach out to a friend, a neighbour or one of these incredible organizations for help.

I know it is heavy right now, and for me, I am trying to focus on what I can do, what I can control and look forward to. One of those things, as restrictions slowly start to lift, includes coming together as a community again. I am looking forward to events like the Mayor’s Garden Party, Meet the Streets festival adding more incredible murals to our downtown, and the return to summer festivals and events. It is also the Year of the Garden. Gardens and gardening have helped Red Deerians navigate the challenges of the last two years, so 2022 is the perfect opportunity to further explore initiatives in and around Red Deer.

We are also looking forward to bringing events right to your doorsteps again this year, like pop-up spray parks that were a huge hit as well as an initiative called Meet Me at the Park where we bring neighbourhoods together by offering free, informal, recreational opportunities that support physical activity, creativity as well as social connection to local community gathering areas.

The City is also offering a new grant opportunity for community groups that serve the arts, culture, heritage, sport, and recreation communities in Red Deer that have experienced and continue to face operational challenges due to the pandemic.

Red Deer firefighters donate 53 sets of gear to Ukraine

Wait or war: First hand accounts from Alberta to Ukraine

Government announces improvements to mental health care access

4. With March being Women’s History Month in Canada and International Women’s Day recently taking place on March 8, is there anything you as mayor and council or even society can do to further empower women of all ages to become more involved in politics, sports, or other areas where their representation is traditionally low?

Red Deer is fortunate to have so many incredible role-models for young people to look up to, including the many remarkable women holding seats on our city council, our school boards and within our organization. Looking to our community, you need not look far to find strong women within our not-for-profit community, our local RCMP detachment, local athletes who represented us at the Olympics, and every facet of industry in Red Deer, and central Alberta. Going back as far as the pioneers, women such as Hazel Braithwaite, who fought her way through a crowd in order to cast her ballot, paved the way.

It’s because of this commitment from women like Hazel, and others like Ethel Taylor, Mayor Gail Surkan and Mayor Tara Veer, that women have held such strong roles in our political history and setting an example for other young women.

The City of Red Deer and our council is committed to working with our partner and community agencies to promote diversity and inclusivity for all, including gender equality. I know that the strong, intelligent and community-minded women that you elected to serve as your city council are role models and work to remove any perceived barriers to the many young people in our community.

As the level of government closest to our citizens, members of city council and representatives on our school boards can play a vital role in addressing gender inequality and in building the capacities of women by involving them in local decision making, planning and management. I encourage all parents, teachers, and leaders in our community to focus on leadership development for women and on empowering women to seek leadership roles in all facets of our community life. Diversity, in every form, only makes our community stronger.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The views expressed above are those of the Mayor and do not necessarily represent those of rdnewsNOW or Pattison Media. Column suggestions and letters to the editor can be sent to news@rdnewsNOW.com.

by Ken Johnston, Mayor of Red Deer

This Month with Mayor Ken Johnston: March 2022

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