City of Red Deer
What do you do if you find this?

A Red Deer Resident was shocked and saddened to find a mess of needle debris on a popular walking trail Thursday afternoon. Laura Anderson came upon this scene on the path system in her Bower neighbourhood about 2:30 Thursday. She took a couple of photos so she could show her son what to look for and educate him on how dangerous needles are. Laura says her 8 year old son uses this path virtually everyday.
If you find needles, there is a correct protocol to follow. You can find this information posted on the City of Red Deer website….
Found Needles

Read the Needle Disposal Guide here (pdf)
City crews regularly clean up needles to keep public places safe, and a process has been developed to help members of the public know what to do if they find a needle or other drug paraphernalia.
I found a needle. What do I do?
Always treat each needle as contaminated. You have a couple of options if you find one:
- I’m too nervous to pick it up or I am unequipped to pick it up.
- Cover or mark the needle with an object.
- Call 403-342-8238 for disposal.
- I’m willing and equipped to pick it up.
- I have gloves, tongs or pliers, and a hard sharps container (or plastic bottle with lid).
- Needle pickup kits are available at your nearest fire hall.
- Put on latex, rubber or leather gloves. Use tongs or pliers to carefully pick up needle with tip pointed away from you.
- Put sharps container on stable surface (do not hold it while putting needle inside). Put needle point down into the container and close lid.
- Do NOT place container in garbage. Dispose of at nearest needle disposal location:
- Fire stations 1 (4941 46 Street), 2 (5839 67 Street) & Headquarters (4340 32 Street) have 24-hour drop boxes
- Many pharmacies accept needles
- Turning Point (4611 50 Avenue)
- Brown needle drop boxes located through parks and trails
- I have gloves, tongs or pliers, and a hard sharps container (or plastic bottle with lid).
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- Wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer once you’re done
If you get pricked by a needle:
- Flush the area with flowing water.
- Wash the wound well with soap and warm water.
- Seek medical attention for an assessment of the risk of infection and appropriate treatment.
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.
City of Red Deer
Red Deer will choose a new Mayor as Ken Johnston decides to step away

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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