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City of Red Deer

City Council chooses CAO from Peterborough, Ontario as new City Manager for Red Deer

Published

6 years ago

6 minute read

From the City of Red Deer

New City Manager appointed

Red Deer Mayor and City Council are pleased to announce the appointment of a new City Manager, Allan Seabrooke, starting May 13.   Seabrooke most recently held roles as the Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner of Community Services with the City of Peterborough.

“I am honoured and excited to be selected as the new City Manager and to be part of the Red Deer team,” said Seabrooke. “My wife Teresa and I look forward to making Red Deer our home and working with Council, City staff and the community.”

Seabrooke has 30 plus years of experience in both the private and public sectors with education in parks and recreation administration, urban planning, government administration, and horticulture and parks management.

“Allan comes to us with an extensive private and public sector background with specific experience in the municipal sector,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “He has proven to be a strong leader who builds solid relationships with staff and the community. His immediate priorities will be to familiarize himself with the organization and community, and to meet with the corporate leadership team to implement Council’s strategic direction.”

The appointment of Seabrooke is the result of an extensive nation-wide search. The final selection of the City Manager was made unanimously by City Council.

“We received strong interest and numerous applications in our search for a leader who meets our corporate values of respect, integrity, service and excellence,” said Mayor Veer. “Council welcomes Allan to Red Deer as our next City Manager.”

Tara Lodewyk, Director of Planning Services will serve as interim City Manager until May 13 when Seabrooke becomes City Manager.

 

Backgrounder on Allan Seabrooke

1. What is Allan Seabrooke’s background?

Experience:

  •   2015-Present, City of Peterborough

     Commissioner, Community Services Chief Administrative Officer

  •   2013-2015, City of Waterloo
     Commissioner, Community Services
  •   2010-2013, Ontonabee Region Conservation Authority Chief Administrative Officer
  •   2006-2008, City of Markham

o Interim Commissioner, Community and Fire Services and Director,

Strategic Services
 1994-2006, Private Family Enterprise, Peterborough

o Partner and Chief Operating Officer

 1982-1994, Town of Aurora, Mississauga

o Senior Municipal Positions

Credentials:

  •   M.Sc. (Administration – Parks and Recreation), Trent University
  •   B.Sc. (Urban Planning), Trent University
  •   Diploma in Municipal Government Administration, St. Lawrence College
  •   Diploma of Horticulture and Parks Management, University of Guelph

 

2. What are Allan Seabrooke’s responsibilities in Peterborough?

As the Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioner, Community Services, Allan Seabrooke held responsibility for overall corporate management, strategic leadership and coordination of three major departments of infrastructure and planning services, corporate and legislative services, and community services. This includes responsibility for a diverse workforce, financial management, major restructuring of the organization and Strategic Plan development.

Following three years as Chief Administrative Officer, Seabrooke has been in the role of Commissioner, Community Services for the past year. Seabrooke made the decision to move from the CAO to the Commissioner role as a result of a restructuring he was implementing amid several immediate retirements from Peterborough’s Corporate Management Team, including in community services. Seabrooke recommended a colleague to become CAO while he moved to the community services portfolio, which enabled him to manage several high profile major projects.

 

3. What was the search and selection process for the City Manager?

Following the retirement announcement by former City Manager Craig Curtis last spring, Council undertook a competitive process to hire a consultant to work with them to manage the process of hiring a new City Manager.

Once the consultant was hired, the search for a new City Manager for The City of Red Deer started in September of 2018. This included a thorough consultation process that involved internal and external stakeholders providing their perspectives on what The City of Red Deer needs in their next City Manager.

The City Manager role was viewed as an attractive opportunity given Red Deer’s growing profile that has attracted events such as the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Convention, the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the 2019 Canada Winter Games to the community.

Over 270 people across Canada were contacted for this search and there was strong interest in the role. The search committee comprised of Mayor Tara Veer and three members of Council reviewed an initial longlist of candidates and then interviewed candidates from that long list. Second interviews and a meeting with City Council was then completed with a short list of candidates.

Allan Seabrooke was determined to be the best candidate for the role of  The City of Red Deer’s City Manager as his leadership and experience aligned with The City’s corporate values of respect, integrity, service and excellence.

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After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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City of Red Deer

Over 25 Canadian cities support initiative designating December as Christian Heritage Month

Published on November 5, 2024

By

From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Major cities that have signed on include Ajax, Durham, Sudbury, Mississauga, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls in Ontario, Alberta municipalities Red Deer and Okotoks, and Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan. In British Columbia, Whistler and Prince George have also signed the petition.

More than 25 Canadian municipalities signed onto a proclamation declaring December as “Christian Heritage Month.”

The proclamation also asks provinces to take the initiative to declare the last month of the year in recognition of Christianity as an important part of Canadian heritage given the fact other faiths have special months of their own.

Major cities that have signed on include Ajax, Durham, Sudbury, Mississauga, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls in Ontario, Alberta municipalities Red Deer and Okotoks, and Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan. In British Columbia, Whistler and Prince George have also signed the petition.

All of the cities have pledged to bring forth legislation that enshrines December as Christian Heritage Month into local law. Many have already done so.

The move by Canadian cities comes after the federal government and provincial governments have yet to proclaim December as Chrisitan Heritage Month.

According to the Christian Heritage Month Initiative, its mission is to have December “declared as Christian Heritage Month, recognizing the values of love, service, and compassion that define the Christian community.”

“The Christian Heritage Month Initiative is a dynamic, multi-denominational movement dedicated to celebrating the vibrant cultural, social, and artistic contributions of Canada’s Christian community,” the initiative says.

The initiative is under the leadership of Jay and Molly Banerjei, who are behind the Christian Music Festival. The organization says that the initiative “unites diverse voices and fosters a sense of belonging, enriching our nation’s identity and promoting inclusivity for all.”

Looking at Mississauga’s recent council motion that designates December as Christian Heritage Month, councillors have said its province under Premier Doug Ford should do the same.

It reads that Christianity is among the “diverse faiths followed by Mississauga residents and one of the most followed religions in Canada and Mississauga. Christians have made valuable contributions to the cultural, social, religious, and humanitarian fabric of our city and have played an important role in shaping our diverse community.”

The Mississauga motion also makes a point that December is “marked by significant events and celebrations in the Christian calendar, commencing with the observance of Advent and culminating in the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which is also known as Christmas.”

“Christian organizations and places of worship in Mississauga offer religious services, unique events, and initiatives that highlight a strong Christian heritage during the month of December,” and it’s “also widely associated with the tradition of gift giving and the gathering of family, friends, and people of all faiths, during the Christmas season,” its councillors wrote.

“Recognizing the month of December, which is a significant month in the Christian calendar, as Christian Heritage Month provides an opportunity for all residents to celebrate the history, traditions, and teachings of the Christian faith, promoting understanding and appreciation of the diverse religious and cultural heritage of our city.”

Canada is historically a nation founded on Christian ideals and principles. European settlers who came to Canada from France and then later from what is the modern-day United Kingdom were Christian and included missionaries who tried to spread the faith to the local Indigenous populations.

Canada has observed Christmas since 1641, well before its official founding, according to some historical records.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) MPs have urged all Canadians to support a petition that calls on the federal government to proclaim December as “Christian Heritage Month.”

Last year, CPC MP Marilyn Gladu introduced a Private Member’s Bill C-369 that would designate December as “Christian Heritage Month,” saying this is only the “fair and right” thing to do.

The bill reads that “In the negotiations that brought about Confederation, Canada was originally named ‘Dominion of Canada,’ a name reportedly inspired by the passage in the Bible (King James Version) at Psalm 72:8, which says, ‘He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.’”

The bill states that December in Canada marks “significant events and celebrations in the Christian calendar, from the beginning of Advent to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ; And whereas, according to Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census of Population, Christianity is the largest religion in Canada, with over half of Canadians identifying as Christian.”

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City of Red Deer

City Council looking for options to reduce hundreds of encampments

Published on September 14, 2024

By

New actions for response to urban encampments being considered by City Council

New actions for The City’s response to urban encampments will be considered by Council on Monday, with a focus on interim and long-term solutions to homelessness. The proposed actions include everything from maintaining a balanced mitigation strategy to exploring interim housing solutions.

The report comes in response to Councillor Lee’s Notice of Motion re: Urban Encampment Responses that Council approved during the 2024 budget debate. The report reviews the past five years of data, analyzes service levels, and evaluates Corporate Administrative Policy 3141C – Urban Encampment Response. The key recommendations in the report focus on providing a balanced approach to mitigating the effects of encampments while working towards long-term solutions for homelessness. These recommendations include:

  • Consistent Mitigation: Maintain The City’s current approach to encampment responses, ensuring the most balanced mitigation strategy available at this time to protect public lands while supporting vulnerable individuals.
  • Advocacy for Shelter Strategy: Council will continue to advocate to the Government of Alberta for a comprehensive shelter strategy, including the development of a low-barrier 24/7 emergency shelter with a Recovery-Oriented System of Care.
  • Review of Transitional Housing: Request that the Housing and Homelessness Integrated Committee (HHIC) review the potential for new transitional housing infrastructure as an interim solution to support individuals transitioning out of homelessness.

“The City’s current policy is still achieving its target of having sites cleaned within 14 days. Despite a substantial increase in encampments, responses have continued to be increasingly efficient, largely due to enhanced relationships and experience levels,” said Jodi Kelloway, Acting Superintendent, Social Wellness and Integration Supports. “In recent months, we have seen a significant rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness, with shelters operating at or near capacity. Many individuals living in encampments have limited or no alternative options available. It is important that we continue to improve our response while building capacity within the housing continuum that considers current realities and the unique needs of community members who are unsheltered. The actions we propose in today’s report are about building and expanding on what we already do.”

Under the current policy, The City has a level of service that urban encampments, debris, and belongings are to be removed within 14 days of an initial report, 90 per cent of the time. While The City’s current response to urban encampments is effective, with 98 per cent of camps being cleaned up within 14 days, the number of encampments continues to rise. In 2023 alone, 881 encampments were dismantled, with a projected overall increase of 75 per cent by the end of 2024.

Costs related to encampment clean-up have reached approximately $2.87 million over the last five years, shared among several City departments, including Parks, Public Works, and Emergency Services. Despite increased efficiency, the growing number of encampments presents ongoing challenges and concerns.

The City’s Encampment Assertive Outreach team continues to engage individuals living in encampments, providing referrals to social and housing services. However, the report notes that many individuals face barriers to accessing shelter due to personal circumstances, such as the need for privacy, the ability to be with their partners, accommodation for pets or possessions, highlighting the ongoing need for tailored solutions.

Councillor Lee’s January 8, 2024, Notice of Motion called for administration to consider the following:

  • Reducing the time to dismantle encampments.
  • Preventing establishment of encampments.
  • Connecting rough sleepers with social supports and understanding overall community shelter capacity.
  • Develop recommendations for individuals setting up or using encampments to encourage them to seek alternative shelter.
  • How much money The City has spent on the cleanup of encampments over the past five years, and how much subsidy, if any, has been provided by other levels of government.
  • Including the continuum of housing that is currently available in Red Deer and what is needed.
  • That Administration report to council on the progress of the review of Corporate Administrative Policy 3141C – Urban Encampment Response”.

“The City of Red Deer is committed to supporting the health and safety of those sleeping rough, citizens who are enjoying parks, trails and public spaces, and staff responding to encampments,” said City Manager Tara Lodewyk. “Unfortunately, urban encampment work is a very short-term solution to a very complex health, housing, and public safety need in our community. The ability to reduce homelessness in Red Deer is significantly impacted by the lack of affordable and supportive housing supply. Until this is resolved, we will continue in this cycle of clean up.”

More detailed information is available in the City Council report located on the Council Meetings and Schedule page.

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