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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

expectations of contract

City tries clearing up some details around Heritage Ranch situation

May 30, 2025 | 5:44 PM

The City of Red Deer is offering some clarity on the situation surrounding Heritage Ranch.

Earlier this week, the city shared it was severing ties with the current operator of Heritage Ranch, Joel Martens, who’s held things together there since 2010.

That meant all bookings after May 26, including weddings, would be cancelled. It also means the closure of WestLake Grill.

The city says all trails and city-run washrooms remain open in the area, but it also means they have to seek a new operator, and they stated that won’t be in place for at least three months.

Martens, meantime, told rdnewsNOW when the news broke that he was shocked at the city’s decision, adding he thought he was in good standing. Martens also said he’d be challenging the decision, legally speaking.

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All this because, as the city simply said, Martens has not been meeting the obligations of the contract; however, they didn’t get into specifics.

Friday, the city acknowledged there had been many questions from the public surrounding the circumstances and in the wake of Martens’ comments to media.

While they still couldn’t share specifics of what Martens has allegedly held up on his end, due to legalities, they clarified that what they’re doing is due to “both a financial and ethical obligation to ensure taxpayer-supported amenities are managed with transparency, integrity, and in the best interest of the community.”

The city notes the operator is a private, for-profit business operating under a city contract, with stipulations which include the following:

• The City provides public funding to support operations – we pay the operator to run the site. This is called a fee-for-service arrangement.
• The operator does not pay rent to use the public land and buildings.
• The operator is responsible for expenses specified in the contract and any payments that must be made under federal, provincial and municipal legislation.
• The contract allows for the operator to keep profits generated from the provision of services. The City does not receive a portion of the profits.
• The operator can subcontract aspects of service delivery such as food and equestrian programs.
• The contract includes clear expectations around financial reporting and operational planning.
• The City retains the right to terminate the contract if there is a failure to perform contractual obligations and if the failure is not corrected within a specific period.

“We know Heritage Ranch is a place many people care about. This wasn’t an easy decision. The site will temporarily close on or before June 9, while the city works to find a new operator who can deliver great service and meet all contract expectations,” the city says.

“In the meantime, we are exploring all possible options to support those with existing bookings, whether through potential operational adjustments or alternative sites and options for events scheduled between now and Sept. 1.”

The city also confirmed Friday it has not yet been formally notified by the operator of legal action.

For more on this story, read our original publication here.