Going Forward

Jonathan Wieler

Published

7 years ago

4 minute read

Hey everyone,

Although I didn’t win my bid for Red Deer city council, this time around, I did gain a lot of support and good will in the community and that is an achievement of which I am immensely proud of and grateful for. Exactly 4,709 people looked for my name on a ballot and then filled in the bubble beside it, that’s up from 2,747 from 2013 when I first ran. Thank you!

I learned a lot over the last four years. I made a concerted effort to stay involved in the community and to be a force for good through my work. My blog and my social media videos proved to fulfill a need in the community for meaningful engagement and leadership. I realize that people want their voices to be heard and their concerns validated. Over the years, I reached out to many citizens, heard their concerns and then made videos and wrote blogs about them. I put myself out there as someone who is relatable and approachable because that’s what I want from a city councillor.

During the weeks leading up to the election I literally sat down with 6-10 people a day, often in coffee shops or at their homes. The notion of “Coffee With Wieler” became my de facto election slogan. I didn’t sit down with people just to rattle off why my platform rather I sincerely sought to learn and understand the many viewpoints in my community because diversity is strength. I set out to listen and learn so that if elected I could then act in a way that truly represented my community. I will continue this work. I will continue to serve my city in my best capacity.

Going forward I will continue to stay involved and to work for the good my community however I do need to slow down and devote a lot more time to my family and some more time towards growing Food For Friends and my first aid/safety training business. I will continue to make videos about important issues in our city. Also, I have been toying with the idea of starting a podcast. Maybe it will be called Coffee With Wieler. I have met so many interesting people and had so many enriching conversations over the last while; I think it would be a good amplify their voices.

I want to thank everyone who supported my campaign during this election. I am truly grateful! I started out hoping to be a reasonable voice for environmental and social sustainability and quickly realized that this is about so much more than just me. I am in awe of how many people added their voices to my own and how that grew into what it is today. I also know that this work must continue to grow. There are a lot of very important things that need to happen in Red Deer and we can’t afford to stay in neutral. I strongly encourage you to reach out to our new council, engage with them, make your voice heard. I hope our new council listens to the community and overlooks paralyzing rigid ideology that so often prevents progress.

I am optimistic for our future because there are so many great people in Red Deer who are doing amazing work. We have a lot going for us but our people are our most valuable asset. Red Deerians have a proven history of being innovative and resilient. That is why our city is a place where people love to live and want to stay. Our future is bright.

Cheers,

Jonathan Wieler

www.wieler4rd.ca

I have lived in Red Deer since I was a child. This is the community that I choose to raise my family in and where I choose to operate my business. I am grateful for all of the opportunities I have had in this city and I will give back to the community through service, passion and conversation. I am curious. I am personal. I am BOLD.

Follow Author

Going Forward

Community / 7 years ago

Red Deer Council Candidate Jonathan Wieler – A Safe & Healthy Community

Community / 8 years ago

Who is Jon Wieler?

Community

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

Published on February 14, 2025

Todayville Edmonton

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.

Community

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

Published on November 27, 2024

Todayville

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.