City of Red Deer
Buildings to be demolished. City will take over Michener Centre North lands

From The City of Red Deer
City and Province work together to determine the future of Michener Lands
The City of Red Deer has been working closely with the Provincial Government regarding the future of the Michener north lands. In August, The City entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Alberta to provide for shared planning and consultation on the future land uses, including existing buildings and infrastructure on the Michener North lands.
After reviewing options and extensive studies on the land, the profound history of the area, the current state of the buildings on site, and the sensitive ecology of the escarpment and wetlands, the Government of Alberta will proceed with the demolition of the remaining Michener North buildings later this year and finalizing The Cityās purchase to protect these public lands as a community asset.
āAlbertaās Government is committed to managing the Provinceās buildings and facilities in a cost-effective way that best serves Albertans. The demolition of the buildings and reclamation of this provincial surplus site will put The City of Red Deer in the best position to make use of the area,ā said Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda. āAlberta Infrastructure and The City of Red Deer have proven that we can find a solution to benefit all Albertans by working together towards a sale agreement of the Michener North lands.ā
The City intends to move forward with the acquisition of the Michener North lands, following demolition and reclamation by the Province, to ensure that these public lands remain public. There is 132.2 acres of land in the area, which would serve as a future Red Deer destination legacy.
āAs the Province decides on the future of the existing buildings and site, opportunity exists for The City to mark a significant piece of Red Deerās history and protect these impeccable public lands for Red Deerians for generations to come,ā said Mayor Tara Veer. āThe land provides opportunity to commemorate the past, while providing for future public use opportunities our citizens. The Michener lands are public, and should remain a public asset.ā
The Michener North lands have deep roots in Red Deerās history, economy, park space, and natural areas. The centralized location provides a place to reflect history, access the Waskasoo trail system, experience wildlife and enjoy open outdoor space year round.
āAfter significant heritage assessment and thorough cost analysis, it is evident that it is cost prohibitive to preserve or repurpose any of the buildings. We will, however, find ways to ensure meaningful site commemoration to honour the history of the people who lived there,ā said Mayor Tara Veer.
The City also recently purchased the J.J. Gaetz House and the escarpment. Originally a private residence, the house became part of the Michener Centre in 1939 and was renovated for Michener Centre use. The J.J. Gaetz House is currently a Municipal Designated Heritage Site under the Historic Resources Act. This site could potentially offer a future home for an interpretive visual history of the lands.
Vision for downtown Capstone neighbourhood beginning to come together.
City of Red Deer
City of Red Deer Employee Honoured with Bob Stollings Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions

Annette Scheper, Community & Program Facilitator in the Safe & Healthy Communities Department is The Cityās 2025 recipient of the Bob Stollings Memorial Award.
The Bob Stollings Memorial Award is given out each year to a City employee who displays outstanding performance in alignment with The Cityās RISE cornerstone values ā respect, integrity, service and excellence. Nominations for the award are submitted by fellow coworkers detailing the employeeās achievements professionally and interpersonally, along with letters of support. The award is considered a great honour among City staff.
With an impressive 22-year career, Annette has played a pivotal role in shaping Red Deerās cultural and special events landscape. Her leadership and innovation have brought thousands of successful events to life, creating lasting traditions that enrich the lives of residents. Her commitment to excellence and resourcefulness has ensured that community initiatives are inclusive, accessible, and impactful.
One of Annetteās most notable achievements is the development of the Community Loan Program, which provides essential resources for local groups, contributing an annual value of $86,778.95 back into the community. In addition, she has successfully led and executed a variety of large-scale events, demonstrating remarkable problem-solving skills and a dedication to sustainability. From creating elaborate event designs with repurposed materials to managing complex logistics, she continuously sets the standard for excellence.
āAnnette exemplifies the best of our organization,ā said City Manager, Tara Lodewyk. āHer unwavering dedication, innovative thinking, and ability to bring people together has made a profound impact on our city. This award is a testament to her hard work and passion for creating meaningful experiences for our community.ā
The Bob Stollings Memorial Award was first established in 1985 and is presented every year to honour Robert (Bob) E. Stollings, a loyal and dedicated City employee from 1960-1984.
City of Red Deer
Red Deer will choose a new Mayor as Ken Johnston decides to step away

It’s a telling detail about the person who leads Red Deer City Council.Ā Always putting the city’s needs ahead of his own, Mayor Ken Johnston has announced his intentions within days of the opening ofĀ Nominations for October’s municipal elections,
After 12 years on council, Mayor Ken Johnston has decided against running for a second term as Mayor this fall.Ā Johnson shared his decision in front of colleagues and supporters in a touching announcement on Wednesday.
At 71 years old, Johnston remains vibrant, passionate and healthy. He says that’s exactly why he and his wife Carolyn have decided now is the right time to start their next stage of life together.
Mayor Johnston listed a number of highlights and achievements he can look back on, including his help advocating for the redevelopment of Red Deer Regional Hospital, the growth of Red Deer Polytechnic, and positive moves in Economic Development.
All these lead of a feeling of ease about the decision to step away, though affordable housing and a permanent shelter for the homeless remain pressing concerns.
With about 8 months remaining in his term, Mayor Johnston is planning to push hard to move the needle on these housing issues.
“We’re looking forward to some more work and we’ll be going to the community shortly about it. So I still have optimism that maybe before the term is out we can have an announcement.”
This is the second major political announcement in Central Alberta in the last number of days.Ā Earlier this week Red Deer Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen announced he won’t be running in the next federal election.
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