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City of Red Deer

Pay your city-issued parking tickets with toy donations all November long

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Toys for Tickets returns to support Red Deer Christmas Bureau

Toys for Tickets returns to help support the Red Deer Christmas Bureau’s goal of ensuring all children in our community receive a gift this Christmas.

Throughout November, Red Deerians can pay City-issued parking tickets with toy donations that are equal to or higher in value than the early ticket payment amount.

All gifts donated to the program must be new and unwrapped in original packaging. A receipt must be presented at the time of payment and if the toy is valued lower than the price of the ticket, the difference must be paid. In December, all gifts obtained through the program are delivered to the Red Deer Christmas Bureau and distributed to local families in need. Each year, the Christmas Bureau provides a list of desirable items, including those that are most needed and for groups that are underrepresented. The current list available at reddeer.ca/toysfortickets indicates toys for girls aged 10-17 years are in highest demand.

“Toys for Tickets has been a special part of the holiday season in Red Deer since 2010 and we’re so pleased to continue it this year, once parking enforcement resumes,” said Amy Fengstad, Parking and Licensing Supervisor. “By choosing the perfect gift at a local business, participants can help local families while supporting Red Deer businesses.”

Parking enforcement, which is temporarily paused for the launch of the HotSpot parking system, will resume Monday, November 6.

More information on the Toys for Tickets program is available on The City’s website, reddeer.ca/toysfortickets. Learn more about how the Red Deer Christmas Bureau supports families in our community at https://reddeerchristmasbureau.com.

All gifts collected through this program are donated to the Red Deer Christmas Bureau to help ensure no child in Red Deer wakes up without a toy on Christmas morning.

How it works

Anyone who receives a City-issued parking ticket in November can pay it by donating a toy. Toys can be dropped off at City Hall until November 30 and must be of equal or greater value than the amount owing on the ticket. Toys must be new and in original packaging, and ticket holders must provide an original receipt showing the value of the toy.

In early December, The City rounds up all donated toys and delivers them to the Red Deer Christmas Bureau so they can be distributed to families in need in our community.

Please note that tickets related to residential snow plowing do not qualify for this program, but anyone can donate directly to the Christmas Bureau.

Making a list, checking it twice

Each year, the Christmas Bureau provides a list of popular items on kids’ Christmas lists. In 2023, toys for girls aged 10-17 are in highest demand.

For a list of popular items for each age group, check the Red Deer Christmas Bureau’s Toy List. When shopping, consider supporting one of our many amazing local Red Deer businesses!

For families in need

If you or someone you know is concerned about finances and could use a little help this holiday season, the Red Deer Christmas Bureau may be able to help. Visit their website to see program requirements and to apply for assistance.

More information

For more information on this program, please contact Parking Administration at 403-342-8185 or [email protected].

 

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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City of Red Deer

Council ends reduced fine option for early ticket payment, school and playground zones start at 7 AM

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City Council approves first reading of updated Traffic Bylaw and General Penalty Bylaw

Red Deer City Council completed first reading of updated Traffic Bylaw (3707/2025) and General Penalties Bylaw (3036/A-2025) that will provide clarity and consistency in application of the bylaws as well as eliminate challenges in enforcement.

Key updates to the bylaws include:

  1. Ticket Pre-Payment:
    • Removing the option to pay a parking ticket early to receive a reduced fee from the General Penalty Bylaw and adding it to the Traffic Bylaw.
  1. School and Playground Zone Start Times:
    • Through investigating requests from schools to have school and playground zones start at 7 a.m., rather than 8 a.m., Administration determined that almost all school and playground zones in the city have students on the street prior to 7:30 a.m. To be consistent across the city, the start time is being moved to 7 a.m. providing an added measure of safety for all students.
  1. Salt on Sidewalks:
    • Removing the provision prohibiting the use of salt on sidewalks as this provision was rarely reported and it is difficult and costly to enforce.
  1. Permits:
    • More structure was added to the bylaw to clearly articulate conditions and requirements of Use of Streets Permits, as well as Excavation Permits and Alignment Permits.
    • Lastly, fees for closures impacting on-street and off-street stalls have been adjusted to reflect the actual revenue in each parking zone rather than the flat fee.
  1. Penalties:
    • Penalties have been reviewed and updated.
    • During the last bylaw adoption, the penalty associated with vehicles being towed due to snow or street sweeping operations was inadvertently missed. This penalty has been added back in at a slightly higher amount due to an increase in the cost to tow a vehicle through The City’s contractor. This prevents the costs associated with towing vehicles during these operations from being subsidized by the tax base.

“These updates streamline the bylaws to create clarity for residents and administration,” said Erin Stuart, Inspections and Licensing Manager with The City. “They also help to eliminate regulations that are challenging to enforce and bring penalties in line with other City Bylaws.”

Second reading of both bylaws is anticipated for January 27, 2025.

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