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City of Red Deer

Ed Howell Emergency Services Training Centre officially opens

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Red Deer Emergency Services (RDES) official opened the new Ed Howell Emergency Services Training Tower today through a ceremony and community event.

“It was my great honor to officially open the new Ed Howell Emergency Services Training Tower this morning,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “This facility will be a wonderful asset for our first responder community for many years to come.”

The complete training centre will provide a wide range of training opportunities to both Red Deer Emergency Services and the wider first-responder community in Alberta. The centre can be rented by community fire departments, oil and gas businesses, police forces, and many other organizations that require emergency response training.

The over 9,000 square foot training tower offers comprehensive training scenarios for crews, including house, basement suite, garage and commercial building fire scenarios, hazardous material emergency response, collapsed structure response, elevator rescue and much more.

The training centre is named after beloved, long-serving RDES employee Ed Howell who championed training amongst his colleagues throughout his career spanning nearly thirty years from 1965 to 1994.

“As first-responders, it is critical that we are prepared to respond to any scenario with skill, knowledge and expertise. Our ability to do so can mean the difference between life and death,” said Ken McMullen, Acting General Manager for Development & Protective Services, and Chief of Red Deer Emergency Services. “Ed was a true leader who spearheaded training programs for Red Deer Emergency Services. His legacy of service excellence and safety for first responders will continue to thrive in this new facility.”

Construction of the $4.32 million fire training tower was completed in April of 2022, and was made possible through the Government of Canada’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

City of Red Deer

City of Red Deer Employee Honoured with Bob Stollings Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions

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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.

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City of Red Deer

Red Deer will choose a new Mayor as Ken Johnston decides to step away

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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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