When RDC becomes RDU, sports teams will drop Kings and Queens for gender neutral name

From Red Deer College

RDC will engage community in Athletics rebrand

RDC has a proud Athletics legacy and, as it transitions to Red Deer University, the College has decided to take the opportunity to rebrand and rename the Kings and Queens teams.

“As RDC undertakes the exciting process of rebranding to become Red Deer University, we began to look at the names of our Kings and Queens Athletic teams. While these names have served us well, this is the ideal time for us to evolve and adopt names that are not gender based,” says Dr. Peter Nunoda, RDC President. “Red Deer University Athletics needs a new team name that is common for men’s teams, women’s teams and mixed teams. This forward- thinking approach will reflect the values of the institution and RDU Athletics.”

The rebranding and renaming will involve several steps. As with the rebranding process that occurred for RDC’s university transition, there will be an opportunity for community members, along with those from the College, to provide feedback at two focus group sessions that will be held on February 11.

“Community members have always been huge supporters of RDC and RDC Athletics teams,” says Nunoda. “During this time of transformational change within our organization, we are excited to engage with the community and those from across the College to help us bring a refreshed identity for Athletics to life.”

RDU Athletics rebranding focus groups

February 11, 2020 | 11 am to 1 pm OR 5 to 7 pm
Cenovus Energy Learning Common | RDC main campus

Register at rdc.ab.ca/communitysession

Participation is limited, so people who are interested are encouraged to register for a session soon.

Those who are unable to attend one of the sessions will still have the opportunity to provide feedback by completing an online survey, which will be available atrdc.ab.ca/athleticsurvey from January 8 to February 14.

Once all of the feedback has been collected, then work will begin to determine the new brand and name that is a best fit for the future RDU Athletics. A common team name will be used beginning in the 2021/2022 season.

“While we’re looking to the future as RDU Athletics, the history of the RDC Kings and Queens will still be remembered and celebrated,” says Nunoda. “For 56 years our student-athletes, coaches and teams have been successful at all levels of competition, and they’ve also been recognized for their academic excellence, fundraising and volunteering. All of these qualities will carry into the new RDU Athletics brand, which will be an important part of Red Deer University moving forward.”

The History of RDC Athletics: Red Deer College has an impressive athletics tradition, as the Kings and Queens teams were established in 1964 when Red Deer Junior College first opened in its temporary location in Lindsay Thurber Composite High School. Since then, RDC Athletic teams and individual student-athletes have won 25 National Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) titles, 171 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) team and individual titles. Our student-athletes and coaches have received countless individual honours both for academic and sporting achievement. This year, the College has more than 180 student-athletes competing in seven sports on 15 teams.

For more information on RDC Athletics, please visit: rdcathletics.ca | twitter | facebook | instagram

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End of an era for Red Deer Minor baseball Braves

Published on December 6, 2023

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From Red Deer Minor Baseball Board of Directors

Following many discussions within the Red Deer community, the baseball community, our association members, as well as our board of directors we have made the decision to move forward with rebranding our teams, currently known as the Braves. For our association the Braves name symbolized warrior strength, bravery and resilience, all qualities we were proud to align with; and although the initial moniker of our teams was never intended to carry a derogatory or disrespectful connotation, for some, it has. The topic of our rebrand has been polarizing and arguments both for and against have been passionately presented. We have made the decision to move forward in the direction we feel is best for our association.

In alignment with the membership majority vote, the Red Deer Minor Baseball Board of Directors is excited to announce that we will now be known as the Red Deer Rangers.

The Red Deer Rangers will retain our current navy and crimson colors and will not adopt the colors or logo of the MLB, NHL, or any other Rangers franchise. We are looking forward to forging our own identity and embracing our own look.

As you can appreciate this is a complex initiative that will take time. We will remain the Braves for the 2024 season and aim to have our rebrand complete for the 2025 season.

All participants that submitted the Rangers name during our rebranding poll, will be entered into a draw to receive the first Red Deer Rangers jersey.

We hope you will join us in celebrating this positive endeavor as we create a new inclusive legacy for our association that all can be proud of.

RDMBA Board of Directors

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Red Deer Minor Hockey is proud to announce our new General Manager Lane Moore

Published on December 1, 2023

Todayville

From Red Deer Minor Hockey

The Red Deer Minor Hockey Board of Directors is pleased & honored to announce, after an extensive search, that Lane Moore has accepted the position of General Manager of Red Deer Minor Hockey. Lane will start his new role early in the new year & is very excited about leading our organization into the future as we aim to provide a positive learning and maturing experience for all of our young athletes & coaches in a minor hockey setting.

Lane comes into the role of General Manager with an extensive resume, in both hockey and administration. Lane has led the Bentley school as principal for the last 17 years & was an educator prior to that. On the hockey side, Lane’s passion for coaching & engaging with young athletes, dates back to 2002. His most recent involvement as a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey saw Lane lead the U17AAA North Star Chiefs for 2 seasons (21-22, 22-23). Prior to his work with Red Deer Minor Hockey Lane served as President of Rimbey Minor Hockey for several seasons.

One of Lane’s biggest strengths is his ability to create highly effective teams by building a common mission & vision & then executing on those through visionary leadership. These attributes shone through during this General Manager search and we are thrilled for Lane to lead this organization now & into the future as we aim to be one of the premier Minor Hockey Associations in the province.

Lane, his wife Kathleen & their three children Easton, Cooper & Lexi call Red Deer home. His son Cooper is the captain of Red Deer U18AAA Optimist Chiefs & his older son Easton is pursuing his hockey career and post-secondary studies in Massachusetts. Please join us in congratulating Lane Moore as the new General Manager of the Red Deer Minor Hockey Commission, welcome Lane!