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Council’s role in Advocacy

Published

7 years ago

4 minute read

Municipal governments are indeed the government closest to the people and that connection means that we ought to be the strongest voice for our citizens regardless of what jurisdiction certain issues lie in. Despite healthcare being in the provincial jurisdiction it is an obligatory role of Council’s to stand up to the province, and make it clear that what is going on and inequity in funding is unacceptable. The Red Deer City Council has done a fine job in advocating the need to deal with the issues that the Red Deer Regional Hospital has been and is facing.

However, Council’s efforts can’t stop there. We must continue to champion the ways in which Red Deer citizen’s quality of life can be improved. The carbon tax is hurting all of us and the vast majority of our people oppose it. The additional costs on our natural gas bills and fuel alone have impacted everyone. Even those at the low income level are having difficulty despite receiving rebates. Our city was built by, and is made up of, industrious forward thinking people willing to work hard, but we have been negatively impacted by various economic challenges over the last 2 and a half years. Our Council must stand up to the province on this front as well and be advocates for our people.

We must also stand up for the Red Deer College. At this time we are unfortunately losing very talented students to Calgary and Edmonton. The need for a polytechnic university is clear. We have Community demand and we are the largest centre in Western Canada without a degree-granting institution. Let us again be strong advocates for our students and our people.

Additionally, the massive small business changes that the Federal government is issuing will cripple our local small business men and women drastically. The entrepreneurial spirit over the last two and half years has been diminishing greatly. We, as Council, need to strongly oppose these changes and defend the small business owners of our community, who have sacrificed everything to get their businesses up and running. We, once again need to stand up and be an advocate for our people regardless of the jurisdiction legislation originates in.

Lastly, we need to address seniors housing and long term care. We need to be strong advocates to the provincial government to provide local solutions for the lack of capacity. As a future member of council I will be a strong advocate for any senior who wants to stay in their home, believing they should have the opportunity to do so. I will be a strong advocate for couples who should never be separated and I will serve the seniors of our community with the honour, respect, and dignity they deserve.

As a future council member, I will exhaust all avenues to promote what Red Deer citizens are needing and I will challenge every level of government to listen to the people and to act for the people. I will push to advance the initiatives that will ensure a healthy, prosperous, and supportive city that all of us deserve. I will be your voice and your advocate for all of the positive changes and endless opportunities that are possible for the City of Red Deer.

On October 16th please vote for Calvin Goulet-Jones

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Community

New Documentary “Cooking with Hot Stones” Explores History of Fort Assiniboine, Alberta

Published on February 14, 2025

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February 14, 2025 – Alberta, Canada – A compelling new documentary, Cooking with Hot Stones: 200th Anniversary of Fort Assiniboine, is set to air on Wild TV, RFD TV Canada, Cowboy Channel Canada, and you can click here to stream for FREE on Wild TV’s streaming service, Wild TV+. This engaging one-hour feature will take viewers on a journey through time, exploring Fort Assiniboine’s rich history from 1823 to 2023.

Fort Assiniboine is a significant landmark in Alberta, playing a crucial role in Indigenous history, the fur trade, and the western expansion of Canada. This documentary captures the spirit of the region, illustrating how it has evolved over two centuries and how it continues to shape the cultural fabric of the province today.

Wild TV will make the documentary free to stream on Wild TV+ on February 14th so that it can be easily accessed in classrooms and other educational settings throughout the region, ensuring the historical significance of Fort Assiniboine reaches a wider audience.

Produced by Western Directives Inc., Cooking with Hot Stones: 200th Anniversary of Fort Assiniboine brings historical moments to life with vivid storytelling, expert interviews, and breathtaking cinematography.

“We are very excited to partner with Wild TV as part of our one hour documentary production. Based in Alberta, we respect the hard work and quality programming that Wild TV brings to a national audience. With the broadcast opportunity, Wild TV gives our production the ability to entertain and educate Canadians across the country on multiple platforms,” said Tim McKort, Producer at Western Directives.

Scott Stirling, Vice President of Wild TV, also expressed enthusiasm for the project: “At Wild TV, we are passionate about telling Canadian stories that resonate with our audiences. This documentary not only highlights a crucial piece of our nation’s history but also celebrates the resilience and contributions of Indigenous peoples, traders, and settlers who shaped the land we call home today. We are proud to bring Cooking with Hot Stones: 200th Anniversary of Fort Assiniboine to our viewers across Canada.”

Airtimes for Wild TV can be found here.

For airtimes on RFD TV Canada, click here.

For airtimes on Cowboy Channel Canada, visit CCC’s schedule.

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Community

100+ Women Who Care Red Deer celebrates 10th season in 2025 with new leadership

Published on November 27, 2024

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L to R: Cindy Jefferies, Susan Knopp, Lane Tomalty, Bre Fitzpatrick
Photo credit: The SnapHappy Photographer

After a decade of leadership under Cindy Jefferies and Susan Knopp, 100+ Women Who Care Red Deer (100+ WWCRD) is proud to celebrate 10 years of supporting local charities and the announcement of Bre Fitzpatrick and Lane Tomalty as its new co-leaders. This marks an exciting new chapter for the group, which has made a significant impact on not-for-profit organizations in Central Alberta.

Cindy and Susan have led 100+ WWCRD with vision, dedication, and a commitment to empowering women to lead and inspire change. Under their stewardship, the organization has raised over $630,000 for local charities by hosting 4 annual 1-hour meetings. Since 2015, more than 36 local charities have received funding through the group.

Reflecting on their tenure, Cindy and Susan stated:

“Leading 100 Women has been an honour and a privilege. When we began this journey, we didn’t know where it would go – we simply loved the simple, elegant, and fun ‘100 Who Care’ concept and thought it was a great fit for our community. We are grateful to the many women who have stood with us. They are the magic of the organization! We are confident Bre and Lane will steward this leadership role well and we look forward to supporting it – just not from behind the microphone!”

Bre and Lane bring a dynamic energy and fresh perspective to the organization. Both have been involved with the group and have been mentored by Susan and Cindy over the past year. They are eager to continue the collaboration, connection, and local support this team of women have established in Red Deer.

In their joint statement, Bre and Lane shared:

“We are humbled to step into this role and build on the incredible foundation Cindy and Susan have laid. Many needs are at the doorstep of our community and in the hearts and minds of our members. We know a powerful, caring, and united group of individuals can play a huge role in driving change and breaking barriers.

To celebrate this milestone and leadership transition, the 100+ WWCRD hosted the final meeting of 2024 on November 25th at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club. The evening featured reflections from Cindy and Susan, the selection of the Salvation Army as the charity of choice, an opportunity for members to connect with Bre and Lane as they outline their vision for the organization’s next chapter, and a toast to 10 years.

For more information, please visit www.100womenreddeer.ca

About 100+ Women Who Care Red Deer

100+ Women Who Care Red Deer is a network of compassionate, empowered, and dedicated women who make a direct, immediate, and positive impact in Red Deer and area. We support local non-profit and charitable organizations that work every day to make our community a better place to live. 100% of funds donated go to the selected charities – there are no
administration fees, and all costs are covered by the generosity of sponsors. Collectively, we make a difference.

The group meets 4 times annually for 1 hour. Non-profit and charitable organizations are nominated by members. After hearing 3 randomly drawn pitches, the members vote to select their top choice. The group with the highest number of votes receives the members’ donations. Each member or team commits to donating $100 at each meeting. Since 2015, the average raised has been more than $15,000 per meeting.

Membership is open to all women In Red Deer and area. We invite you to join us! The first meeting of 2025 will be on Monday, February 3, 2025.

Founded in February 2015, the organization currently has about 150 members. We are committed to uniting this powerful group of 100+ women who care and lifting the amazing non-profits and charitable groups they support.

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