City completes buy of Michener North Lands, future use to be determined

“We are excited to hear from the community on what that looks like, so we just ask the public to pay attention to our social media for their opportunity to have their say,” she said.

The sale of the land has been years in the making.

In 2020, the city and the province signed a Memorandum of Understanding, and the province decided to proceed with the demolition of the remaining Michener North buildings later that year. This came after reviewing options and extensive studies on the land.

All of the buildings, including 28 major structures, were demolished by October 2022, and hazardous materials were also removed.

Remediation was deemed complete in January 2024, and the final step was for the city to purchase the land.

However, in February 2025, as rdnewsNOW reported, the purchase was delayed due to environmental testing.

In August 2024, the office of the infrastructure minister said the two parties were finalizing the purchase and sale agreement, with the sale expected by the end of the year, but the city requested further testing.

The testing was ultimately completed in 2025, and that brings us to today.

In May 2026, the Mâmawatoskêwak Advisory Circle gave a presentation to Red Deer city council, suggesting the lands have the potential to be the site of a future Indigenous Cultures Centre.

The site was preferred for several reasons, including its proximity to the Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary, which would allow stewardship of the land that might not be available elsewhere.

The proposed centre would be approximately 10,000 square feet and be a place, according to a presentation to council, where stories, traditions, and teachings come alive. Presenters also said it could be a place where generations come together to share wisdom, and where reconciliation moves from words to action.

Stannard said the next step is the city taking possession, then putting out a request for proposals for an area structure plan.

“An area structure plan for that area is needed to be able to give recommendations for the best use of the site and what possible zoning may be required for those uses,” Stannard explained. “One of the pieces of conversation for that site in particular is the Indigenous Cultures Centre. That will definitely be part of the conversation.”

The city says they’re expected to determine a consultant for the area structure plan in fall 2026, with a plan ready for adoption by council in early 2028.

The Michener North Lands site was previously designated by the council as the site of a potential Aquatic Centre.

Stannard said the aquatics facility is not in the capital plan at this point; however, the specific spot proposed for the cultures centre is not where the aquatic centre would go, meaning both facilities could one day both exist there.

Thus far, these are the only two projects that have been put in front of council as proposals for the site, but Stannard added there will be future opportunities for public engagement as part of the area structure plan process.

“The public will be able to come with their own ideas as well as provide feedback to the consultants that will come in front of council,” she said, adding that the ecological sensitivity around the site will also be taken into consideration. “I’m sure the community has lots of ideas of what it should be used for, and they will be able to provide that feedback as well.”

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by Ian Gustafson

City completes buy of Michener North Lands, future use to be determined

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