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Red Deer

Former Council Candidate urges leaders to get creative with prime downtown property

Published

2 years ago

4 minute read

Submitted by Chad Krahn, a former candidate for Red Deer City Council

Buying Potential

As long as I’ve lived in Red Deer, the Buffalo Hotel has represented potential, or more accurately, lost potential.

The grand entrance to downtown Red Deer showcases a beat-up old hotel with a sign for a coffee shop. But there is no coffee shop and no one has booked a hotel room in decades. There are long-term rumours that the inside has been completely trashed, which wouldn’t be surprising given that the hardest to house folks were given rooms there for over a decade. This was essentially confirmed by the mayor’s comments about needing personal protective equipment just to go inside the building and the fact that no developer has taken a chance on it since Canadian Mental Health moved out three years ago.

So council bought it so they could tear it down and some day flip it. Financial details haven’t been released so we will have to reserve judgement on that aspect. By this summer the Buffalo Hotel and the Club Café will be just a vacant lot. Addition by subtraction. There is talk of combining the lot with the parking lot directly south making it a sizeable piece of prime redevelopment land. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a shortage between downtown and Capstone. But ultimately this will be a step in the right direction. No one has been willing to invest the capital needed to bring the Buffalo Hotel up to where it needs to be, and a clean slate gives us the chance to reimagine what could be done with that property. This is the gateway to downtown after all!

But there is something that council will need to address in the meantime. While a beat-up old hotel isn’t a great look, a vacant half-gravel, half-asphalt lot doesn’t inspire confidence or fit the vibrant vibe downtown is supposed to have.

Rather than simply wait five or ten years for a developer to be interested in the property, we need to look at some creative temporary land uses. We don’t need another vacant lot that people drive by or more parking downtown. With a little bit of vision, this could be a productive place.

What if that lot could be a pocket park, a place to showcase sculptures or a permanent parking place for a food truck? Imagine a few extra picnic tables, some mulch to cover the gravel, a few potted trees, some paving stones for kids to play hopscotch. There is pavement that would make a great parking spot for a coffee bus or an ice cream truck. Suddenly we can have an inviting place at the gateway to downtown! All we’d need is a sculpture of a big red deer and this place would be well on its way to be the most iconic place in the whole city!

Tearing down Buffalo Hotel is a big step, its buying potential but hopefully that potential isn’t wasted as we wait and pay for it all in opportunity cost.

 

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2019 Canada Winter Games

Red Deer’s Lyn Radford joins new Chair Catriona Le May Doan on Canada Games Council

Published on December 5, 2024

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News release from the Canada Games Council

Hall of Fame Athlete Elected Chair of Canada Games Council Board of Directors

The Canada Games Council (CGC) is thrilled to announce the election of Canadian sport legend Catriona Le May Doan as Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. Joining Le May Doan in officer positions are Vice-Chair Sean O’Donnell, Treasurer Sheri Somerville and Secretary Lyn Radford.

“I am very excited and honoured to be taking on the role of Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Le May Doan. “I have been a part of the Canada Games Movement for almost 42 years. The Canada Games were my first multi-sport Games and had a huge impact on my career and I continue to believe in and witness the power of the Canada Games in building sport in our country, but also strengthening our communities.”

A three-time Olympic medallist and icon in Canadian speed skating, Le May Doan is a true champion on and off the field of play. She is a tireless ambassador for the transformational power of sport and a distinguished member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canada Games Hall of Honour.

A Canada Games alum in both speed skating and athletics for Team Saskatchewan, Le May Doan is currently the President and CEO of Sport Calgary. She recently served as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission at the Olympic Winter Games in 2022.

A longtime CGC board member, Le May Doan takes over the reins from outgoing Chair Evan Johnston, who is stepping down after 10 years on the board as he takes on the new role as President and CEO of The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company in January.

“On behalf of the entire Canada Games family, I’d like to thank Evan for his decade of volunteer service to the Canada Games Movement and his invaluable guidance and mentorship to our CGC Board and staff as Chair of the Canada Games Council,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, CGC President and CEO. “We are thrilled to welcome Catriona at the helm and know her strategic leadership will continue to solidify the foundation of our organization so that the Canada Games strengthen the fabric of our nation from coast to coast to coast.”

“I hope to continue the great work that Evan has done and I thank him for his leadership,” said Le May Doan. “I am looking forward to working with the incredible CGC team and our network of partners for the upcoming Games in St. John’s next summer, and then in Quebec City in 2027, where we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Games.  Together, we will continue to spark greatness in Canadians through the Canada Games.”

Those filling the remaining officer positions have all been on the CGC Board since 2022.

O’Donnell brings extensive executive experience in the federal public service and the Canadian sport system to the Vice-Chair role. Somerville is a business executive, entrepreneur, and award-winning PR consultant, all of which will serve her well as Treasurer. Radford brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in revenue generation for non-profit and sport organizations, as well as a Host Society leadership lens, to the role of Secretary.

The next Canada Summer Games take place from August 8-25, 2025 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, while the next Canada Winter Games will unfold in Quebec City from February 27 to March 14, 2027.

About the Canada Games Council

The Canada Games Council, a private, non-profit organization, is the governing body for the Canada Games. Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up and coming Canadian athletes. The Games have been hosted in every province at least twice since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system, in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity. The organization of the Canada Games is made possible through the tireless dedication of local Host Societies and the contribution and support of the federal, provincial/territorial and host municipal governments.

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Alberta

Hells Angels member arrested with handgun in Red Deer

Published on November 27, 2024

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 A member of the Hells Angels Alberta Nomads chapter is facing charges after being found in possession of a handgun.

Owen Czech was arrested by ALERT’s Integrated Gang Enforcement Team on November 13, 2024 in Red Deer. The 55-year-old outlaw biker was found in possession of a Glock handgun, along with multiple magazines.

“Despite their best efforts to portray themselves as nothing more than motorcycle enthusiasts, the Hells Angels routinely find themselves involved in criminal activity and are a threatening presence in our communities,” said Insp. Angela Kemp, ALERT.

ALERT interrupted Czech and two other members of the Syndicate Motorcycle Club, a support club to the Hells Angels, as they were allegedly committing an assault. Czech allegedly attempted to conceal the firearm in a vehicle when stopped by police.

Czech is a self-identified member of the Hells Angels and was bound by conditions not to possess firearms.

Czech has been charged with:

  • Assault;
  • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
  • Unauthorized possession of a firearm;
  • Careless use of a firearm;
  • Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle;
  • Possession of a prohibited firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized;
  • Carrying a concealed weapon; and
  • Failing to comply with a release order.
Czech remains in custody and is scheduled to speak to bail on November 27, 2024.

ALERT’s Integrated Gang Enforcement Team is a uniform team focused on violence suppression and combatting gang activity throughout the province.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.
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