Quarterly Report from the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce

In this Quarterly Report you’ll read some news updates on things happening in our community and some of the key efforts your Chamber of Commerce has been focusing on.

Membership/Community

In the last three months the Chamber welcomed 25 new members!

We also said good-bye to our Membership Manager, Chris Windrim, who is now the Executive Director for BILD Central Alberta and welcomed our new Membership & Partner Services Manager, Chase Thudium.

We continue to provide value-added offers to our members. In partnership with Pattison Media members can now receive 40% off radio advertising. Learn more on this member only offer here! Stay tuned for other new value added services coming soon!

We attended many community business celebrations, from grand openings, anniversary events and ground breakings. Want us to help share and attend your business celebration? Simply fill our this form and we will be in contact.

Red Deer Dream Centre

Anytime Fitness

Red Deer Resort & Casino

Our CEO, Scott Robinson, participated in the Outreach Centre’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes:

Last month the Chamber team took a downtown historic walk provided by Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery to learn more about budlings and ghost statues in our downtown:

Learn more about their tours and talks here.

Policy

Along with our policy committees, Finance & Taxation, Natural Resource & Environment, we have been actively reviewing policy resolutions that are being presented at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce this week in Calgary. We are in the initial stages of establishing two more policy committees, Transport & Infrastructure and Social Responsibility, which we plan to have fully operational in the next few months.

In May 2024 we are excited to share that we will be hosting the 2024 Alberta Chambers of Commerce AGM & Policy Conference! As well, later this month we will have Lindsay Norrie joining the Chamber team as the new Policy Manager.

Events

Last month we announced our 2023 Business of the Year finalists:

Small Business of the Year
Juiced Audio, Shift OHS, Solorzano Spa

Business of the Year
PASS Electric, Premier Academy, Royal LePage Network Realty Corp.

New Business of the Year
Circle Square Childcare Inc., Johnson Spring & Trailer, Vasectomy Central

Emerging Business of the Year
R/T Heating & Air Conditioning, Tail Blazers, Three Broke Sisters

Non-Profit
Dress for Success Central Alberta, Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre, Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery

Business Leader of the Year
Patricia Arango, Central Alberta Sexual Assault Centre, Rieley Kay, Cilantro & Chive, Shazma Charania, ZS Holdings

At the end of August we finally had our Annual Chamber Golf Tournament and Mother Nature cooperated!

We had a busy September, with our annual Chamber Chase and Women Leading Change events – both with record attendance!

Chamber Chase highlights with Oh Deer!

Coming Up

Continue to watch our social media and Weekly Digest for other events and Chamber news!

Lunch N’ Learn
Strategy and How Jo(e) Can Help Your Business
October 12th 11:45am – 1:15pm

2023 Business of the Year Awards
October 18th 6:00 – 11:00pm
Red Deer Polytechnic Arts Centre

Lunch N’ Learn
Managing a Team Online and Leading People
October 12th 11:45am – 1:15pm

Agri-Trade
November 8-10th
Westerner Park

For more information or to register for any of our Chamber evets please visit our Events Calendar.

Todayville

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Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team

Alleged Human Traffickers arrested in Red Deer, Montreal, and Edmonton

Published on February 14, 2025

Todayville

Human trafficking suspect arrested in Red Deer, July 2024

From Alert, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team

Three human traffickers arrested in Project Endgame

Three men have been arrested and stand accused of running a human trafficking operation that stretched across Canada; operating throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Quebec.

Project Endgame was a year-long investigation led by ALERT’s Human Trafficking unit, and also relied on the assistance of the Edmonton Police Service, RCMP, and the Quebec joint forces Anti-Pimping team known as EILP.

Arrests and search warrants had taken place in Edmonton, Montreal, and Red Deer. A total of 23 charges related to human trafficking offences have been laid against Clyde Elien-Abbot, 31, Kevin Dorcelus-Cetoute, 31, and Jean Rodnil Dubois, 31. Elien-Abbot was arrested on January 31, 2025 in Edmonton, while the other two accused were arrested on July 23, 2024.

“Project Endgame exhausted all resources and avenues to bring charges against the suspects and end this cycle of sexualized violence and degradation,” said Staff Sergeant Chris Hayes, ALERT.

A number of human trafficking victims were located and provided resources and assistance through ALERT’s Safety Network Coordinators. ALERT believes there are additional victims and encouraging them to contact police.

Project Endgame revealed a cross-Canada network of sex trafficking that has been in operation for over a decade by the accused and possibly others. ALERT’s investigation saw the perpetrators work in the communities of Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Lloydminster, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Cold Lake, and Estevan, Sask.

The perpetrators allegedly controlled the victims through coercion by forcing them to perform multiple sex acts on multiple clients every day. If the victims question the traffickers or dispute the situation, they were often violently assaulted, degraded, and/or threatened of further loss, violence, and isolation.

Project Endgame began in May 2023 following a 911 call placed to police detailing a sex worker being violently assaulted. The investigation has connections to a 2021 ALERT human trafficking investigation in which Dorcelus-Cetoute was charged.

Clyde Elien-Abbot, 31-year-old from Montreal, is charged with:

Trafficking in persons;
Procuring;
Material benefit from sexual services;
Advertising sexual services;
Money laundering; and
Animal cruelty.

Kevin Dorcelus-Cetoute, 31-year-old from Montreal, is charged with:

Sexual assault;
Assault;
Trafficking in persons;
Procuring;
Material benefit from sexual services; and
Uttering threats.

Jean Rodnil Dubois, 31-year-old from Montreal, is charged with:

Sexual assault;
Assault;
Trafficking in persons;
Procuring;
Material benefit from sexual services; and
Uttering threats.

Elien-Abbot remains in custody and has a bail hearing scheduled for February 19, 2025. Dorcelus-Cetoute and Dubois were both released from custody and are scheduled to appear in court on March 7, 2025.

Project Endgame involved the assistance of a number of agencies from across the country, including: Edmonton Police Service, City of Edmonton Animal Bylaw, Service de Police de a Ville de Montreal (SPVM), RCMP ‘C’ Division, RCMP ‘K’ Division, and RCMP ‘D’ Division.

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.

Peavey Mart Centrium

Westerner Park Reflects on the Impact of Peavey Mart’s Closure

Published on February 5, 2025

Westerner Park

WP - HorizontalLogoColour - CMYK.png

Westerner Park acknowledges the recent announcement of Peavey Mart closing all its locations across Canada, and the significant impact this will have on our community.

Peavey Mart has been the naming sponsor of the Centrium since 2021, a partnership that has helped create lasting memories for thousands of Central Albertans. Their support extended beyond their name on the building—Peavey Mart embraced our community by participating in activities during Westerner Days and supplying essential items that brought these events to life.

“Our partnership with Peavey Mart exemplifies the kind of meaningful relationships that can have a lasting impact,” said Shelly Flint, CEO of Westerner Park. “While their closure is undoubtedly a loss for the community, we are grateful for the support they’ve provided over the years and remain committed to finding the right partnerships to continue serving Central Alberta.”

As Westerner Park navigates this transition, the organization remains as a hub of Central Alberta. This includes not only hosting more events and attractions on the park but also finding new ways to connect with the community. “Whether it’s collaborating on events outside of our grounds or encouraging our team to participate in local initiatives as volunteers, our focus remains on strengthening our ties with the people and organizations that make this region so vibrant,” Flint added.

Westerner Park is actively seeking businesses and organizations that share a vision of fostering growth and connection within the community. Any parties interested in exploring partnership opportunities are encouraged to reach out.

ABOUT WESTERNER PARK

Westerner Park is Central Alberta’s largest tradeshow, agricultural, sports, entertainment, and convention facility. A not-for-profit organization and agricultural society, Westerner Park typically generates $150 million annually in economic activity, hosting over 1,000 events and 1.5 million visitors each year.