(Image Credit: rdnewsNOW/Ian Gustafson)

By Ian Gustafson

Community Message

Mayor Jefferies talks progress and hopes for the future at State of the City Address

Mar 9, 2026 | 5:09 PM

Approximately 200 Red Deerians attended Mayor Cindy Jefferies State of the City Address on Monday, an annual overview of where the city is at and where they hope to be.

The speech by Jefferies was held at the Red Deer Resort and Casino, hosted by the Red Deer and District Chamber, and sponsored by BILD Central Alberta and the Red Deer Construction Association.

Jefferies explained that a common thread throughout her presentation was that things are changing.

With 112,500 people living in Red Deer, the Mayor said the community continues to grow, and the median age has increased to 39.4 years old. Jefferies also highlighted that the immigration population is at 17 per cent.

“I welcome diversity to our community, I think it brings vibrancy and culture, and with it great food,” she said. “When I think back to the Red Deer of 1992, I think of Red Deer as being a very white place, and I look at the school classrooms my kids were in, which was also a fairly white place, not that there’s anything wrong with that. But schools have changed, and our community has changed too.”

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She reported that Red Deer has seen a shift in demographics with more young families choosing the community to raise their kids. More seniors have also chosen to stay in Red Deer because of access to care.

However, housing needs are changing, as are the needs of the workforce and expectations of local government.

Budget

Speaking of which, the mayor touched on council’s decision last December to approve the operating $482.6 million operating budget, a tax rate increase of 3.97 per cent.

She said they made the decision to choose stability over reduction as cuts to lower the tax increase would’ve created deficits in other areas and made changes to services. She noted the city’s reserves are also improving but are still below target.

Meantime, the capital budget was approved at $63.9 million as a tax-supported line item. She said the overall spend in capital is $115 million.

“Overall, this is a trend I’m a little bit concerned about,” she added. “I’ve had conversations with people in the community about the importance of the city continuing to invest in infrastructure to keep things rolling. It does concern me that we’re holding tight, and I recognize why we’re doing that. We are trying to build up our capital reserve and also trying to manage within somewhat reduced budgets. It’s important for us to invest because all of that investment creates jobs in our community and allows housing to be built with the infrastructure needs. It’s an important piece.”

She said property taxes are the back bone to how Red Deer funds essential services. With the provincial budget recently being unveiled, she said the education portion of the property taxes taken by the province, she estimates an approximate two per cent increase to the property tax bill. However, it’s still uncertain at this time.

“We’re closely following the effort of Alberta Municipalities calling for reimagining property taxes, making it more fair, transparent, and sustainable for communities like ours,” Jefferies added.

Downtown Red Deer

The Mayor explained that when Costco came to Red Deer in 1996, the community started to see a shift when it came to the impact on the downtown area, as well as when local businesses started to move to other locations throughout the community.

One of the layers that’s impacted downtown businessnes she said, is also the homeless community, and they are working with community partners to change that.

“I’m not trying to make excuses for the downtown, I’m just saying we have to reimagine it. Change is coming… I see lots of opportunities in our downtown, such as arts and culture,” she said, adding there’s also been several new restaurants opening in the area. “It is an area where things could be happening.”

She highlighted the upcoming vote on Saturday, March 14, for the potential disestablishment of the Business Improvement Area and Downtown Business Association.

“I think we are going to see a resurgence of activity bringing more life into the downtown core,” she said, adding there’s also a need for housing downtown.

Homelessness

In the city’s last point in time count, she said the city counted 747 people in 2024.

She explained that in 2016, they had a homeless count of 149 people.

“There’s been a continual growth, not one we’re proud of, but that’s happening as we see nationwide,” she said.

She referenced a presentation she attended earlier in the year on information about homelessness in Red Deer and who the people are.

She said the presenter reported that a homeless person in the community isn’t just people you see in the street; they could be one of your employees. That realization caused the mayor to pause.

“They might be sleeping in their car in order to survive,” she said. “That made me see people in a different way than I did when I think about homeless people without that information.”

From talking with shelter operators we’re seeing more seniors and single parents with kids who need shelter.

Earlier this year, city council approved a development permit for temporary overnight warming space as well as zoning related to Project Nexus.

Housing

Jefferies reported housing stats that indicated an increase in single-detached homes from 2024 to 2025 with 96 to 130. Meanwhile, semi-detached homes remained flat.

Overall, housing starts were up 14 per cent from 354 to 405.

“I think that’s encouraging,” she said.

Jefferies also referenced lots of development going up in Capstone, including a high-rise that recently finished, which has 62 units. Another building that’s expected to have 119 units has also just begun construction.

“Things are happening on the housing front. We do need that transitional and permanent supportive housing piece that I’m hopeful that our friends at the Red Deer Homeless Foundation will come to play,” she said.

She added that they continue to have conversations with the minister after council stood their ground on HAF2 four units as-of-right condition.

In January, council approved a resolution that the city will not return over $3 million in grant funding received from the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund Round 2.

This comes after the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation terminated the contract after they found the city in breach of the terms and conditions of the HAF2 agreement.

Red Deer Regional Hospital redevelopment project

Jefferies said last week, council and others got the opportunity to tour the progress made at the hospital.

She said when touring the spaces, she was impressed and said it’s advancing in a great way.

“Talking with the doctors who toured us through, they’re very excited about the new capacity and the need for new professionals in our community,” she added. “It will really change the face of our community.”

rdnewsNOW reached out to the provincial government for an update on the timeline of the hospital, and said they’ll have more information available by Tuesday.

Closing

Jefferies said it’s an exciting time for Red Deer.

“If there’s one thing I know about Red Deer, it’s when Red Deer decides to get things done, and we work together, we make it happen.”