Red Deer
The Red Deer Polytechnic Alumni Association is inviting you to Palate: A Taste of Local

Palate: A Taste of Local is an elegant tasting experience, featuring 35 food and beverage vendors from across central Alberta. This award-winning event will take place on October 19. Do you have your tickets yet? Your ticket includes everything you need for a full tasting experience, with no hidden costs. Consider treating your team, your clients, or your friends and family to a night out while supporting our local business community, RDP Alumni Relations and RDP students at this year’s kick-off to Homecoming – Palate: A Taste of Local!
Get your tickets now! Please note, this event is 18+.
This signature event, presented by the Red Deer Polytechnic Alumni Association (RDPAA), provides an elevated tasting experience, with a focus on local food producers, craft breweries and distilleries and restaurateurs. At Palate, we celebrate the amazing vendors and alumni businesses that call Central Alberta home. If you’re interested in seeing your name on this event, sponsorship opportunities are still available, with more information here.
Check out everything happening Homecoming Weekend at RDP
Palate: A Taste of Local
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Cenovus Energy Learning Common | Red Deer Polytechnic
Palate: A Taste of Local is an elegant tasting event that builds on the well-established reputation of the Fine Wine and Food Tasting Festival. We’ve combined the elegant experience you have enjoyed in the past with new elements we know you are going to love. This redesigned special event recently received national recognition, earning a silver medal in the annual Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education Prix d’Excellence!
Your ticket is all-inclusive, providing access to all of the items available from every vendor attending the Palate. There are no extra costs – the only thing you have to worry about, is how you will be able to sample everything.
Begin your evening with a champagne toast as you enter the event space. Palate vendors will offer a variety of food items, including sweet, savoury and international dishes, as well as small batch spirits, craft beer and soda, hand-crafted cocktails and mocktails, and other beverages.
Guests will immerse themselves in central Alberta’s local food and beverage culture, meeting the makers, owners and mixologists that bring these flavours to life while networking with other alumni and guests.
2023 Vendors
Blindman Brewing
Bo’s Bar & Stage Caballo Blanco Café Millennium The Curvy Bottle Cilantro & Chive C Zone Coffee Dark Woods Brewing and Coffee Roasting Delidais Estate Winery (DNA Gardens) Field and Forge Gastro Pub Hash & Forno The Hideout |
Jumble Eats
May Cakes Memphis Blues Barbeque House Moxies Occam’s Razor One Eleven Grill Oodles of Chocolates Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse Pupuseria Cristy Red Deer Resort and Casino Red Deer Polytechnic Cook Apprentice Program |
Red Hart Brewing
Riverbend Golf & Recreation Sawback Brewing Share-a-tea Silver Devil Snake Lake Brewing Solarzano Spa Café & Wine Bar State & Main Sunterra Stems Flowers & Café Troubled Monk Wild Brewing |
Showcasing 30+ central Alberta Vendors
Are you interested in being a part of Palate?
Learn More
Sponsorship Opportunities
Showcase your business with a cash or gift-in-kind sponsorship, beginning at $500.
Learn More
RDP Alumni Association
Our signature fundraising event, Palate, empowers us to make a difference.
Learn More
Looking for Additional Information?
Are you ready? Palate: A Taste of Local is on October 19, 2023. Tickets are on sale now. Your ticket includes a champagne welcome and the opportunity to sample all of the food and beverages offered. Tickets are $75, including taxes and fees. Get yours.
We heard great feedback from guests of Palate last year, and we can’t wait to tell you what’s new for this year! Check out some of our favourite photos from last year’s event to relive the magic!
Palate: A Taste of Local is the signature event that kicks off Homecoming at Red Deer Polytechnic. Homecoming activities include many ways to connect with your alumni community, local leaders, RDP staff and faculty, and current students.
Thank you to our Palate: A Taste of Local 2023 Sponsors
Special Event Rentals |
City of Red Deer
City of Red Deer Employee Honoured with Bob Stollings Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions

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.
Health
Red Deer Hospital Lottery – Previous Supporter Draw Deadline!

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