Construction of the new Red Deer Justice Centre is nearing completion.(Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW staff

More Modern Facilities

Alberta’s government investing in courthouse infrastructure

Oct 4, 2023 | 4:57 PM

Officials with the Alberta government say upgrading and building new courthouses improves Albertans’ access to the justice system by adding courtrooms and making buildings easier for everyone to navigate.

Red Deer is getting a new building with additional courtrooms while Brooks, Hinton and Peace River will see renovations to the existing courthouses to make them more user-friendly and to provide updated security, privacy and accessibility features.

Red Deer Justice Centre

With an investment of more than $200 million, construction of the new Red Deer Justice Centre is nearing completion. Once finished, it will have 12 courtrooms ready for use, an increase from eight at the current facility. Government officials say this will allow more cases to be heard at one time so matters can proceed in a timely manner. A $200,000 investment in Budget 2023 is expected to support a planning study to build out four additional courtrooms, which, when complete, will bring the total number of courtrooms to 16.

The justice centre will also have spaces for people taking alternative approaches to the traditional courtroom trial process, with three new suites for judicial dispute resolution services, a new Indigenous courtroom with dedicated venting for smudging purposes, and a dedicated suite for alternative dispute resolution services such as family mediation and civil mediation.

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The government says Albertans continue to access court services at the existing Red Deer courthouse while the new centre is being built.

“Upgrading our province’s courthouses gives Albertans a more secure and comfortable experience when they need to visit court. By building a new justice centre in Red Deer, we are taking steps to increase capacity in the justice system to keep up with demand,” says Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

Brooks courthouse

The government says the upgraded Brooks courthouse is fully operational, as renovations were completed in August. A $4.6-million investment by Alberta’s government enabled many improvements to the courthouse, including a new public waiting area, vulnerable witness room, holding cells, prisoner dock and other updates. Alberta’s government says it is also investing in upgrades to courtroom audiovisual equipment at the Brooks courthouse.

“Access to justice services within communities across Alberta is critically important. Not only will these projects help increase access to the judicial system, boost the local economy and create jobs, they will also ensure effective and accessible delivery of services Albertans rely on,” adds Pete Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure.

Hinton courthouse

Alberta’s government has invested $2.7 million for accessibility improvements to the Hinton courthouse. Improvements include wider entrances and more accessible handicap buttons at the main entrance and public washrooms, and more space at security screening areas. Renovations began in July and are expected to be complete by the end of the year. In the meantime, Albertans are accessing court services at the nearby Pembina Place building.

“The Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch has long been calling for upgrades to Alberta’s court infrastructure through our Agenda for Justice, including improving courtroom technology to make virtual appearances more widely available, improving physical accessibility to ensure that all Albertans can safely access court facilities, and improving capacity to address our province’s growing population. We are pleased to see these improvements underway, and look forward to continued investments in Alberta’s court infrastructure and modernization,” shared Kyle Kawanamim, president, Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch.

Peace River courthouse

To increase accessibility, Alberta’s government is providing $250,000 for a barrier-free access project at the courthouse in Peace River. Operations are expected to continue without disruption during renovations, which will begin next month.