This Month with Mayor Ken Johnston: June 2022

1. There have been many changes to Red Deer’s landscape and skyline recently: the Black Knight Inn and Michener North water tower being taken down, Jackpot Casino’s move, the downtown federal building being sold, Capstone building out, the Justice Centre going (way) up, just to name a few. How would you describe the City’s vision for what Red Deer will physically look like in 10, 20, or 30 years from now? What direction does the City want to take in this facet of planning?

City Council is currently in the process of creating our four-year Strategic Plan to guide decision making on City priorities for our Council term. At the same time, administration has also started work on two other City-shaping planning initiatives: Vision 2040 and the Official City Plan (OCP).

While the Strategic Plan will be approved by Council in fall 2022, Vision 2040 and the OCP will come forward in mid-late 2023. Short and long-term planning and visioning will set everyone in the city, from Council to administration to the public, on the same path to achieving what is most important in a coordinated, proactive and intentional way.

All this said, I see great things for the future of our city. As mentioned, some exciting things like the new Justice Centre literally changing the skyline of our downtown, expansion of the Red Deer Regional Hospital and the development of Capstone. Commercial and residential land in Capstone has significantly increased the commercial land supply for our community and will continue long into the future. Changes in immigration dynamics could create demands for higher-density housing in central locations as well as anticipating a spike in future growth due to our location and exciting future opportunities, like high-speed rail.

Red Deer has incredible potential, and we plan to utilize every opportunity presented to us to encourage growth, sustainability, and innovation to reach the strategic goals we will soon share with residents as a part of our Strategic Plan.

2. The Gutsy Walk, in support of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, happened earlier this month, and with the issue of homelessness perpetually on the forefront, I’d like to ask if and how the City is taking seriously the need for greater public washroom access. Is the City considering going beyond the installation of one seasonal two-toilet trailer in the downtown? Why does a huge park, such as Dawson Park in east Red Deer, which is used by numerous families at a time for soccer throughout the week, for example, have just a single porta-potty? People with IBD, and other gut-related issues, could have much greater quality of life and less anxiety with more public washrooms. We read complaints about the sidewalks being used as a washroom by people experiencing homelessness, yet adequate public washroom access isn’t invested in, so why is there an expectation that anything else would be the outcome?

First off, congratulations to rdnewsNOW’s own Josh Hall, honorary chair of the 2022 Gutsy Walk for all your success with this event and raising awareness. Providing facilities for residents in a safe manner has been a challenge. Municipalities recognize that while providing washroom facilities for residents, visitors and people experiencing homelessness is vital, we need to ensure they are safe spaces for everyone.

The temporary downtown washroom project was approved by Council in March 2021 as a pilot to be offered seasonally in both 2021 and 2022 to support special events in the downtown and provide washroom facilities for all residents visiting our downtown core. Research is currently being collected through an on-site attendant, and we will engage with the surrounding business and social agency stakeholders to determine the best future downtown washroom development.

The intention of this temporary washroom pilot was to provide accessible public washrooms near the downtown that would not only be safe but also clean, closely monitored, and available for everyone. These trailer-style washrooms have been strategically located during spring, summer and fall to understand if a permanent location makes sense, and if so, where it should be located. We want the facilities to feel safe and meet the needs of a variety of users, including those experiencing homelessness.

Recreation facilities for washroom access are also available across the community without admission required. This includes the Collicutt Centre, GH Dawe Community Centre, Michener Aquatic Centre, Recreation Centre, Servus Arena, Kinsmen Community Arenas, Kinex Arena, Great Chief Park, Setters Place, Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Museum and Art Gallery, Red Deer Public Libraries and Blue Grass Sod Farms Central Spray & Play (when seasonally operational) as well as amenities operated by third party contractors like Bower Ponds Pavilion, River Bend Golf & Recreation Area, Heritage Ranch and Lions Campground.

We also have eight washroom facilities throughout our parks and trails systems, on trails and in parks, like McKenzie Trails, Three Mile Bend, Heritage Ranch and Kin Kanyon.

Public washroom pilot project open in downtown Red Deer

3. June is National Indigenous History Month, and of course on June 21, it is National Indigenous Peoples Day. What is the City and council doing to uphold and go beyond the protocol agreement signed five years ago with the Urban Aboriginal Voices Society?

Every June, Canadians celebrate National Indigenous History Month, which is an opportunity to honour the heritage, contributions, and cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Canada. And on June 21, we pay special attention to celebrating the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples for National Indigenous Peoples Day. Truth and Reconciliation includes learning about the unwavering resiliency and strength of Indigenous Peoples who have persevered through adversity to preserve the language, customs, celebrations, traditions, and stories of their cultures.

Through my work on City Council and as Mayor, I have had the great privilege to listen and learn with our local elders and the Urban Aboriginal Voices Society to understand the important relationship indigenous peoples have to the lands we are on today – the lands we now call Red Deer. It is on these traditional territories that we work together to build a welcoming and inclusive community.

Council and I recognize, with humility, that the process of Truth and Reconciliation is one that takes time. We pledge to learn from our mistakes and pursue a mutually respectful relationship. Acknowledging the land on which we live and the truth about our history is an important beginning to this relationship.

On June 21, 2017, City Council and Red Deer Urban Aboriginal Voices Society signed a Protocol Agreement. We are dedicated to continuing our work with UAVS to define and implement the protocol so that we understand how to work together and do so successfully. We will do this by understanding each other’s priorities; working with an agreed-upon vision and goals, purpose, and actions; having established ways of working effectively and collaboratively together; and creating and implementing mechanisms to address the needs of indigenous peoples.

I would like to personally thank our Indigenous Community for their patience and perseverance in this process of learning how to recognize the past and move forward in a good way. And your patience and trust in me, as you bring me along and continue my journey of growth. I look forward to continuing our good work, and further developing the protocol agreement, and sharing with our residents.

National Indigenous Peoples Day and annual pow wow mark important week for Red Deerians and local Indigenous community

4. You recently attended a theatre production about Coco Chanel; how important is that Red Deer remembers it is more than a city of sports, and one that can embrace all forms of entertainment, especially given how many amazing artists we know are in and come from Red Deer?

Yes, Carolyn and I were lucky enough to be able to attend the premiere of “It’s Coco” at the Scott Block Theatre earlier this month. It was a brilliant show, congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this show to Red Deer! Arts, culture, and live events are the key to revitalizing our downtown and are key to community sustainability and quality of life.

When we went out to the public in the development of Council’s Strategic Plan, and Vision 2040, we asked what residents loved the most about Red Deer. One of the top three loves was Red Deer’s cultural and entertainment community. People mentioned our community events, the dedication of our arts community and the activities that are inclusive of all that contribute our great sense of community.

While we may be known for bringing sports events to our community, arts and culture are a key component of who we are, and where we want to be. Just last year we launched Meet the Street. Meet the Street is an inclusive arts and culture experience that celebrates visual and performance art, music, and meaningful community partnerships in Red Deer’s downtown core.

Meet the Street 2.0 includes several new murals in underutilized spaces in historic downtown. The spaces selected for murals will have place-making methodology applied to assist in transforming these areas into welcoming community spaces.

It is events like this, and others including Ross Street Patio entertainment, supporting community groups, businesses and individuals that contribute to our unique and creative community. The City further supports arts and culture through grants, providing public art opportunities (we have over 100 public art works in display around Red Deer), facilities that offer rich experiences related to arts and culture, and offering an array of visional and performing arts camps and classes.

Council also makes strategic decisions on using funds from The City’s Event Hosting and Outgoing Event Sponsorship Fund to bring diverse events to our community, like the Red Deer International Pow Wow, returning this year and the Canadian International Air Race Championship. Events like these serve to develop a strong local connection to events, illustrate what Red Deer can offer, support the recovery of hard-hit industries, and showcase the strong volunteer leadership local citizens offer to events.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The views expressed above are those of the Mayor and do not necessarily represent those of rdnewsNOW or Pattison Media. Column suggestions and letters to the editor can be sent to news@rdnewsNOW.com.

by Ken Johnston, Mayor of Red Deer

This Month with Mayor Ken Johnston: June 2022

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