Red Deer city council receives update on Indigenous Cultures Centre

“It is reclaiming space that has a history there, not just for Indigenous people, but for the people of Red Deer that hasn’t always been positive and being able to look at that and create a vision,” she told rdnewsNOW. “Walking on the land, there was just a connection that wasn’t there at any of the other sites.”

The city indicated that they are still in discussion with the Ministry of Infrastructure to purchase the land from the provincial government. In a previous story posted by rdnewsNOW last month, the Ministry said the sale is expected to be finalized in 2026.

Rogers explained there is no backup plan if, for some reason, they can’t build the Centre on that site. She said they are moving forward with the process in hopes that everyone involved is on the same page moving forward.

“There’s just a sense of hope that hasn’t been there before that we can see the vision and see the path towards the vision,” Rogers added. “It’s just exciting to know we’re making a really big difference.”

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. It would be a place where generations come together to share wisdom and reconciliation moves from words to action.

On Tuesday, city council was not asked to make any decisions since the city does not own the Michener North lands site yet.

For background, administration presented the idea of supporting an Indigenous Cultures Centre to council during the 2023 budget debate.

Council provided $250,000 that year for community consultation and concept development but work did not get started with the community until November 2024, with the funds returned to the CPR fund, largely unspent.

A Working Collaborative Group was formed in January 2025, and just a few months later, in April, it met with the mayor and council.

As a result, council directed administration to allocate $50,000 in the 2025 capital budget and $250,000 in the capital plan for 2026 and $4 million in the capital plan for 2027 towards an Indigenous Culture Centre.

Rogers explained that a meeting with the Working Collaborative Group is set to be held on June 1 at the Mosaic room at 5 p.m. to discuss what the next steps are and to create working groups for the different components that will need to happen as they move forward with the design. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

She said it’s important to bring the community in to have those discussions about what the facility could look like.

“There’s still lots of work to do,” Rogers added. “I think it’s all really exciting. It’s an opportunity to bring the community together in a really good way. We are looking forward to being able to do that.”

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

Bobby-Jo Stannard, director of community wellbeing for the City of Red Deer, said the aquatics facility is not on the capital plan at this point; however, the site for the ICC is not designated in the same spot, meaning both facilities could be on the land if both were to be built.

Conversations for an Indigenous Cultures Centre, she said, have been around for a very long time. The latest process began in 2023 when the capital budget request was approved.

“I would just ask that the community stay tuned because we would love to hear feedback once we have a design in the proposed stage. We will offer as many opportunities as we can for engagement so the whole community feels a part of the process,” Stannard added.

by Ian Gustafson

Red Deer city council receives update on Indigenous Cultures Centre

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