City hopes Downtown celebration on Aug. 17 will bring everyone together

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A recent report by rdnewsNOW, in which we spoke to the City about the playbook, among other things, indicates planners intend to create more ‘activations’ — or things people can do — in the downtown to attract people and businesses there.

People believing more in downtown, “is a component of it,” says Bobby-Jo Stannard, Social Planning Supervisor, Community Development, City of Red Deer.

“But we know it goes further than just holding events. That’s where we are hoping for recognition of the downtown area through the branding we’ll be announcing, which will help our businesses and citizens who live and work downtown.”

Stannard says if someone hasn’t been downtown in a while, they probably are not aware of what they’re missing.

“Downtown is Red Deer’s best kept secret. There are many new shops that have popped up over the last few years for example,” she says, also mentioning the street murals throughout the area.

A new restaurant, Jumble Eats, also opened up this week at the bottom of the Stantec building, where Hudson’s used to be.

“What we’ve seen in other communities is that it’s important to include everyone in your downtown. Anytime there’s an absence of one demographic, it causes an imbalance in that ecosystem, and during COVID, we found the public was obviously not downtown much. The only people in the area were those who live downtown or street-involved folks,” she says.

“That caused a different perception of the downtown. But now, we want everyone to participate. The more we can get people doing positive activities and treating downtown as a walkable space, the better opportunity there is for everyone to feel safe.”

She emphasizes that The City is not interested in telling any one population they’re not wanted or to be included.

“We’re hoping people come together, no matter what they’re circumstances are, to celebrate downtown and celebrate each other.”

The celebration goes Aug. 17 on Ross Street, between Little Gaetz (Gaetz Avenue) and 51 Avenue. Start time is 4 p.m., with speaking at 5 p.m., and it ends at 7 p.m.