City of Red Deer
City closing playgrounds, introducing safety measures to transit system to prevent spread of COVID-19

From The City of Red Deer
City takes additional measures to protect Red Deerians
As part of the ongoing effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, effective tomorrow, all playground in the city of Red Deer, will be closed.
“This was a difficult decision for us to make, as we know families are at home with children, looking for ways to keep active and enjoy warmer temperatures,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “We must make these hard decisions in order to stop the spread in our community. We know we are doing the right thing.”
Playground closures affect all play structures within Red Deer, including fitness parks. The City has not applied closures to any public trails, open park spaces or pathways at this time.
“We endeavor to keep trails and pathways open and our ability to do that will be directly linked to our citizen’s cohesion and respect to social distancing practices,” said Mayor Tara Veer.
Residents are reminded while out using city pathways and trails, to be sure to keep the recommended two metre distance between people you pass on the trails. Avoid touching handrails, garbage cans or any other object or surface while you are out, and wash your hands when you return home.
Yesterday, adjustments to Transit services were announced, moving from 30 minute service to one hour service, with the first buses departing from Sorenson Station at 7:45 a.m. Today, residents reached out to The City saying this change wasn’t ideal for riders using Transit to get to work in the morning. Starting Wednesday morning, the 6:45 a.m. departure time will resume in order to allow riders access to morning Transit service.
“We heard from residents that the changes implemented today made it difficult to get to work for early morning shifts,” said Karen Mann, Emergency Operations Centre Director. “We thank residents for reaching out to us and providing us with invaluable feedback. We are happy to be able to make this adjustment for the first departure to be at 6:45 a.m. beginning on Wednesday morning, to provide this service to the residents who need it.”
The City of Red Deer continues to explore all options and measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
We encourage all citizens to follow the recommendations of Alberta Health Services. For the latest information on COVID-19 visit alberta.ca/covid19 and the latest on how City services are impacted visit reddeer.ca/covid19. Please call the Call Centre, open 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. with questions at 403-342-8111.
City reduces transit hours and frequency effective tomorrow
As part of the ongoing effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, reduced transit hours and frequency will be implemented on all conventional routes beginning Monday, March 23, 2020.
Red Deer Transit will move to an hourly schedule from a 30 minute schedule. From Monday to Saturday, the first departure from Sorensen Station will leave at 7:45 a.m., and the last departure (from Sorensen Station) at 7:45 p.m. Sundays and holidays will continue to operate on the one hour service, with the first departure from Sorensen Station at 8:45 a.m., and the last departure (from Sorensen Station) at 6:45 p.m.
In addition, new safety measures are in place to encourage social distancing. All passengers are to enter and exit through the rear door, with the exception of wheel chairs and disabled customers. Every other seat will be blocked off to ensure social distancing between passengers.
Action Bus trips for accessible transportation will continue for our registered clients. Effective Monday March 23, 2020, this service will be limited to bookings for essential travel for medical appointment, work and grocery shopping only. A two-passenger maximum limit will be implemented across all Action Bus vehicles as an added measure of protection for the safety of customers and operators.
“The changes to transit beginning tomorrow will ensure we are providing the service many in our community rely upon for getting to work or medical appointments in the safest way possible as we all work to minimize exposure,” said Bart Rowland, Emergency Operations Centre Director.
The City’s decision to reduce transit hours and frequency is being done in an effort to be vigilant in The City’s response and planning related to COVID-19.
The City of Red Deer continues to explore all options and measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
We encourage all citizens to follow the recommendations of Alberta Health Services. For the latest information on COVID-19 visit alberta.ca/covid19 and the latest on how City services are impacted visit reddeer.ca/covid19. Please call the Call Centre, open 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. with questions at 403-342-8111
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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 City’s 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 City’s RISE cornerstone values – respect, integrity, service and excellence. Nominations for the award are submitted by fellow coworkers detailing the employee’s 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 Deer’s 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 Annette’s 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.
“Annette exemplifies the best of our organization,” said City Manager, Tara Lodewyk. “Her 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.”
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. Always putting the city’s needs ahead of his own, Mayor Ken Johnston has announced his intentions within days of the opening of 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. 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. 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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