Since this was first published, the population north of the river decreased by 777 residents, Blackfalds increased by over 700 residents.
Is it a North/South issue? Darn right it is.
January 1 1948, the Village of North Red Deer amalgamated with Red Deer and started paying an extra surtax to connect services and the neglect started.
Red Deer could not keep up with servicing their own growth, let alone tie in the north side, and the conviction that North Red Deer was being treated as poorer second class citizens started to take shape.
Beginning in the 1950s the voters began voting in blocks to ensure at least one vote on council. The feeling of being neglected continued to grow through good times and bad. In the late fifties and early sixties, a few schools were built in Normandeau, Fairview and Oriole Park, but St. Joseph’s was closed and the students shipped across the river to St. Thomas Aquinas in 1960.
By the 1970s the lack of facilities in North Red Deer became so apparent that representatives from the school boards, regional planning, and city administration met and started plans what is now commonly called the Dawe Centre with a public school, separate school, library, ice rink and a pool. The pool was added in 1980 and upgrades happened in 2008.
The last school built in North Red Deer was the Glendale School in 1985, I believe, which makes it 30 years. 35 years for the Dawe Ctr., 50 years for Oriole Park, Fairview and Aspen Heights.
The population has gone as low as 25% but it has gone as high as 40% and I calculate that it averages out to 33.3%. Does North Red Deer receive 33.3% attention? I believe history shows it does not.
I believe that the last school destined to be built in the north was actually built in the south in an area that had so many schools that they had to change boundaries of 5 schools. The third high school on 30 ave is under construction with 2 more on the drawing boards. No high school is planned for North Red Deer in the next 20 years even with the population north of the river, hitting 50,000 by then.
North Red Deer has not seen a new build in schools, ice rink or swimming pools in 30 years. 3 schools are k-8 which I do not believe exists south of the river. I believe there is one elected official out of 9, at city hall who lives north of the river, I think Councillor Wong does.
There was an ad-hoc committee to look at the need for a 50m pool, and the conclusion was yes, then after all the wait ,nothing happened. A study will be conducted on the need for a new ice rink, and we are being told to wait, then like the ad-hoc committee, nothing. We have the stats.
There are 4 aquatic centres on Red Deer, 3 south of the river, 1 north. There are 6 indoor ice rinks, 5 south of the river, and 1 north. They have the data to determine 60% use the Collicutt Centre, so why the wait.
We are often times told that our elected officials represent the whole community but history and facts prove that is not happening. We can spend 10s of millions on visual aspects of downtown structures like the Sorenson Station without blinking an eye, 10s of millions to beautify the Riverlands or 3.7 million painting a bridge but a 1 million dollar annual mortgage payment on a new ice rink in Red Deer North, you would have us believe it would destroy our economy.
Even the head of the Red Deer Taxpayers’ Association thinks we should build the 50m pool. Blackfalds, Penhold, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, are investing in their community facilities to encourage growth but not Red Deer. I was told that in one recent report that more new houses are being built in Blackfalds than in all of Red Deer. Perhaps it might have been the new recreational complex built in Blackfalds away from downtown.
We have an opportunity staring at us, but our elected officials need to have vision, to see it. 3,000 acres north of Hwy 11A is coming up for development, offering us land to develop recreational facilities and for new high schools. Perhaps like in 1971 representatives from school boards, regions, city administration can get together and come up with a plan. Invite Blackfalds and county students to attend the high schools. Make the Aquatic Centre a regional centre with capacity to host provincial and federal events.
Hazlett Lake is up for development. It will be the largest lake in Red Deer, and it could be incorporated into the Aquatic Centre, or a standalone destination. It could be handed over to the privileged few in a gated community but I hope it does what Lethbridge did and make it a popular destination for everyone.
Is this a North vs. South issue? Yes it is but it does not have to be. I ask that the elected officials look through each issue separately but also through a north/south matrix given the historical neglect of North Red Deer.
Look at the facts. Follow the money, now and in past capital budgets. Referring to past capital plans as only placeholders negates the value of current and future capital plans so why bother even having them. A capital plan 5 years old has no value will any capital plan have value after the next election. Capital plans have simply become an avenue or a façade for lack of action.
Perhaps the north should follow in their ancestor’s footsteps and do block voting, and strategically vote for north side representation. Perhaps organize and petition for a ward system for city hall and the school boards?
I would say that we should call it what it is, and not hide behind platitudes and delusions. Be honest with ourselves and most importantly be honest with the residents of North Red Deer. A NORTH/SOUTH issue is what it is. Would you not agree?