(rdnewsNOW/Ian Gustafson)

By Ian Gustafson

Election forum

Red Deer election candidates speak on reconciliation at Indigenous Voices Forum

Oct 15, 2025 | 10:20 AM

Approximately 90 Red Deerians attended the Indigenous Voices Forum Tuesday night at Festival Hall to hear from municipal candidates ahead of the election next week.

Hosted by the Urban Indigenous Voices Society, three mayoral candidates and 11 city council candidates were questioned on topics related to the Indigenous community.

The final question of the night perhaps wrapped up the night perfectly.

Can you share what reconciliation means to you personally, and have you, as a leader, planned to walk alongside Indigenous people, not as leaders above us but beside us?

Mayoral candidate Cindy Jefferies said healing happens within ourselves and amongst our friends, family, and those who share their culture with us. It also happens when people are able to share their stories and help others understand what they’ve experienced.

Colleges and polytechnics

RDP and Olds College ranked among top 50 research institutions in Canada

6h ago

Christmas Tradition

CPKC Holiday train to arrive in central Alberta on Dec. 8

8h ago

Near Millet

Wetaskiwin RCMP respond to fatal collision on Highway 814

8h ago

“I want to be a community where we can share in those stories and where we can feel the experience in one another. I want Indigenous people in our community to be proud of their culture, of who they are, and to take pride in raising it up,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to hide who you are or your culture; we should be able to celebrate it as individuals and share it within this community. Our community wins when diversity is strong.”

Meantime, mayoral candidate Lawrence Lee said intergenerational trauma is not easily resolved and that healing takes time. He explained he’s inspired by the powerful stories told by Indigenous people and that he wants to learn from their stories.

“The city will then take tangible steps to recognize that not just through words but through action. I’m talking about meaningful action to take those words to heart,” he said.

Mayoral candidate Victor Doerksen said the topic has nothing to do with elections.

“This has to do with how we treat people, how we become friends, and how we grow to understand each other,” he said.

Fellow mayoral candidates John Gallagher and Gareth Scott were not in attendance. Furthermore, only 11 of the 24 city council candidates were at the forum.

Candidates were also questioned on whether building an Indigenous Culture Centre in Red Deer was a priority for them and how they think it aligns with Truth and Reconciliation. All 14 candidates were in agreement that the centre was long overdue.

Event organizer Delores Coghill of the Urban Indigenous Voices Society said she thought the event went well.

“We had some great questions for the candidates outside of the original questions. I was disappointed some of them couldn’t make it, but some of them were very last-minute,” she said.

The forum was all about asking the candidates how they’d represent the Indigenous community and how they’d address their concerns. For the candidates who came to the forum, Coghill believes that goal was achieved.

“I felt positivity from all of the candidates. When I first thought about this forum a few months ago I was talking with Mayor Ken Johnston, and he said we should do it because everyone should know how the candidates feel on certain issues.”