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By rdnewsNOW staff

city council byelection

Candidate profile: Mark Collings

Apr 16, 2024 | 9:46 AM

This is a candidate profile for the April 22, 2024 Red Deer byelection.

All 10 candidates have been asked the same three questions, and were given a 600-word limit.

Responses are unedited for grammar and spelling, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of rdnewsNOW and Pattison Media.

Advance voting days are April 18, 19, and 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Byelection hours on April 22 are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Learn more here.

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1. Why are you the right candidate?

I am a community focused person who desires to see Red Deer progress and flourish as a city. My background includes serving on the board of two community associations, eventually becoming president of both. I know the potential the people in our community have for initiating change and developing our city. Community engagement is the catalyst for change in Red Deer, and I have been involved with this for some time now. For the past ten years, I have been part of city committees focused on downtown renewal, one of which initiate the creation of the Ross Street Patio. Lots of great ideas have come out of these committees. We just need to act upon them.

2. What personal priorities for the remainder of this council term do you want to highlight?

Renewal of the downtown. There is no vision for the downtown. I would like to be part of creating that vision. Our downtown could be key to attracting tourism. I worked in Nelson BC on their downtown back in the 1980’s where they renewed a rundown urban space which now attract 1.2 million visitors a year. We can do the same here. I have been active serving people in the area of addiction. I believe we need to move social services for the homeless and addicted out of downtown, dispersing them outside the downtown, creating smaller residences and managing them more closely. This was done in Ottawa where I volunteered with a group who was a partner in this kind of change. I would also like to see a performing arts center built, one where world-class musical and dramatic performances could be brought in. Red Deer is in a great geographic position to attract large audiences, from central Alberta, Edmonton and Calgary. I believe a major theatrical performance company could be attracted to initiate the construction of this. Performing arts centers built in other cities spawned the addition of retail and residential construction too.

3. To you, what makes Red Deer special?

Red Deer is in the central part of one of the most prosperous areas in the county. Its grow the has largely been a result of this. Red Deer has many assets that create a vibrant community. An amazing park system and wilderness area in the heart of the city. One of the best school systems in the country. Strong local businesses that help grow and maintain our quality of life. Arts and cultural activities that bring people together. City Hall Park, a unique asset that few cities have. We cannot forget we have a fantastic ski resort ten minutes out of town. I am just finishing work on a tv series on Red Deer titled *The Crossing* which explores many of the assets in our city.

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