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By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

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Council preview: City proposing annual Red Deer farmers’ market relocate

Feb 19, 2023 | 9:00 AM

Where The Market at Red Deer — more affectionately known as the Red Deer Farmers’ Market — will end up, nobody seems to know for sure.

But that subject will be up for discussion at this Monday’s Red Deer city council meeting.

In a release, The City of Red Deer stated that the one-season license agreement market organizers had to operate in the Servus Arena parking lot is not recommended for renewal. What is recommended is for admin to negotiate a new agreement and encourage the owner to relocate to an alternate downtown site.

Prior to the most recent one-year agreement, the market operated outside Servus (and the old Red Deer Arena) on a multi-year agreement, save for the few Servus Arena was under construction and the market was housed outside the Memorial Centre.

The market runs from May through October, every Saturday, early morning until noon.

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The City says the market is a “beloved amenity” and an “asset to downtown,” however, “its impact on adjacent purpose-built facilities and uses continue to cause challenges at the site.”

The main challenge, according to The City, is the inability for The City and Red Deer Curling Club to fully capitalize on revenue generating opportunities through event hosting and facility rentals.

This is because there is no access to the parking areas during market hours.

City staff are said to have worked extensively to support collaborative use of the site, but the organizations have not reached a mutual agreement.

“Markets are known for being positive economic and social contributors to communities for many reasons – they activate public spaces, support food security, promote healthy lifestyles, and bring people together,” said Sarah Tittemore, General Manager, Community Services.

“The City continues to support a regular downtown market in a location that is better suited, supports unrestricted access to City facilities year-round, and aligns with the new Major Event Strategy, which aims to position Red Deer as a premier tourism and event destination in Canada.”

The City says multiple potential locations have been identified, and they’ve been working with the market owners — the Moffatt family — on a change of location since Jan. 2021.

The Moffatt family declined comment until after next week’s meeting.

The City further clarifies that it supported the operation of a public market in its current location in the 2010 Rotary Recreation Area Park and South Study Site, but much has changed through subsequent council decisions which have fundamentally transformed the vision for the area.

Servus Arena, it’s noted, was built as a premier multi-season facility with capacity to provide dry space uses for a variety of events and is connected to the redeveloped Pidherney Centre, purpose-built to support non-curling, year-round activities.

“There are new spaces in Red Deer designed for outdoor community gatherings that did not previously exist, including Gary W. Harris Celebration Plaza and Canada 150 Square in Capstone,” The City suggests.

To assist in their decision, council has been provided with recent input from community stakeholders and site neighbours, including Red Deer Curling Club, Red Deer Minor Hockey Commission, Red Deer Tennis Club, Parkvale Community Association, Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery, Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre, Red Deer Children’s Festival, Norwegian Laft Hus, Baymont Inn & Suites, and Red Deer Chamber of Commerce.

Tuesday’s council meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. A link to the agenda and to view the meeting online can be accessed at https://meeting.reddeer.ca/onbaseagendaonline/.

An FAQ is available here.

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