Red Deer

Welcome

Mayors' Message

This is a remarkable time for The City of Red Deer with strong growth continuing and exciting opportunities ahead. I am pleased to lead this vibrant and progressive community as together we move forward. On behalf of our citizens, welcome to our city. We invite you to enjoy the area's natural beauty, take part in our recreational opportunities and benefit from the many services and advantages that continue to draw people to our region.

Located midway between Alberta's two largest cities (Calgary and Edmonton), the Red Deer area continues to be one of the fastest growing markets in Canada. Low operating costs, advanced infrastructure, a young and educated workforce, as well as access to national and international transportation systems and a trade area of more than 200,000 people are just some of the factors that have fuelled Red Deer's strong and diversified economy. Key sectors include oil and gas, petrochemicals, agriculture, tourism and a number of broad-based services. (See The Red Deer Corridor… Canada's Economic Capital for more details.)

Close to 76,000 citizens make Red Deer their home and enjoy the city's many amenities. These include extensive health services and advanced emergency and protective services. Our first-rate education system offers both public and private schooling opportunities, and Red Deer's acclaimed community college continues to provide numerous post-secondary options.

Along with metropolitan comforts, Red Deer offers a strong sense of community. In 2003, Red Deer was named a "Cultural Capital of Canada," a tribute to the community's support for local art, theatre, dance and symphony. Recreation and sports also characterize our community as citizens enjoy nearby lakes, Red Deer's parks and trails and more than 50 outdoor community skating rinks in the winter to name just a few. Special events, which range from the city's annual street festival to home games for Red Deer's Western Hockey League team, continue to bring our community together. (See Red Deer's Community Events Calendar for information on upcoming events.)

It is our people who have made this community great and it is our people who make me proud to serve as Mayor of The City of Red Deer. I invite you to further explore The City of Red Deer's Web site to discover all that we have to offer. The future is looking bright and we have only just begun!

Thank you for visiting.

Sincerely yours,

Mayor Morris Flewwelling

Area Overview

Located midway between, and within 150 kilometres of both Calgary and Edmonton, Red Deer is Central Alberta's trading and distribution centre. Oil, natural gas, sulphur, coal, sand and gravel, timber and agricultural products are some of the raw resources found in the Red Deer vicinity. The proximity of Alberta's major cities create a potential market of over 2 million people within a 160 kilometre radius. Red Deer is the only city within the prairie provinces which can claim such a distinction.

The rolling topography and rich farmland of the Red Deer area is bisected by the picturesque Red Deer River valley. The Rocky Mountains can be viewed on the south-west horizon. The continental climate of Central Alberta is typified by wide fluctuations in temperatures and precipitation. Red Deer experiences cold winters, modified by the occasional warm chinook wind and warm, although short summers. Precipitation falls year round and is considered adequate for all needs. Prevailing winds blow from the west, warmer winds from the south-west and cooler winds from the Arctic air mass in the north-west.

The Financial Post - Canadian Markets, showed Red Deer had a population growth rate of 2.42% during the period 1996 - 2001. The Financial Post also estimated personal income for Red Deer was $28,800 per capita and retail sales of $22,900 per capita for 2005. According to the Financial Post, the Average Household Income is $73,100 while the estimated Average Househould Expenditures is $68,687.

Red Deer's 2006 population was 82,971 and the cumulative growth over the next two years is expected to be at approximately 4.3%. Red Deer's trade area now exceeds 200,000. Red Deer's population is distributed fairly evenly by age and sex. The largest sectors are between the ages of 20 to 24 and 40 to 49. The average age is 42 years for females and 41 for males.

Climate

Red Deer enjoys a moderate climate with warm summers and blue-sky winters.

Warmest month:July July has an average high of 23°C and an average low of 9°C

Coldest month: January

January has an average high of -8°C and an average low of -19°C

Average annual rainfall: 359 mm

Average annual snowfall: 125 cm

Average wind-speed: 15 km/hour

Average number of frost-free days: 106

Annual hours of sunshine: 2133

Check out the local weather!

Community Services

Municipal

Red Deer City Hall
4914 - 48 Avenue
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 3T4
Telephone: 403-342-8111
Fax: 403-346-6195

Red Deer Public Library

Provincial

The Provincial Building houses representatives of most Government of Alberta Departments. Provincial Court House

Federal

Canada Post Corporation Royal anadian Mounted Police

Community Lifestyle

Recreation

Red Deer's recreational infrastructure is highlighted by the Multi-purpose Centrium, with a seating capacity of 6,000 people. The City's other arenas include: Red Deer Arena [seating capacity - 2,300], Kinex Arena [seating capacity - 300], G.H. Dawe Community Centre [seating capacity - 300], and the Kin City Ice Centre [2 arenas] [seating capacity -300 each].

Visit the Recreation, Parks & Culture department for information on programs and facilities.

The Collicutt Centre is Red Deer's newest state-of-the-art leisure and wellness centre. The Collicutt Centre offers many facilities including a water park with a wave pool, water slide, lazy river and interactive water playground and tots pool; a hot tub and steam room; a 290 meter four lane track; a fitness and wellness studio featuring state-of the art fitness equipment and free weights; drop in fitness classes such as power pacing and cardio combo; drop in activities in the Field House including tennis, basketball, volleyball and wall climbing; complimentary sport equipment; and drop in skating all year round.

Red Deer's swimming pools are also very impressive: Recreation Centre [25 metre indoor, 50 metre outdoor], G.H. Dawe Centre [25 metre outdoor], and the Michener Centre Pool [25 metre indoor].

In addition, Red Deer has a host of other first class recreational attributes. The Red Deer Curling Club services curlers with 8 sheets of ice and Canyon Ski Area with its 150 metre vertical drop provides skiers and snowboarders alike with fun in the winter sun.

Red Deer is also the host of several golf courses including a semi-private course at Red Deer Golf and Country Club, as well as some public courses at River Bend Golf Course and Recreation Area, Balmoral Golf Club, Alberta Springs Golf Course and Spirit Creek Golf Course.

Adjacent to River Bend Golf and Recreation Area is the Discovery Canyon outdoor water park. Other outdoor fun can be found at Bower Ponds, which is used for canoeing and paddle boats in the summer and skating in the winter.

Red Deer also has some of Alberta's finest summer resort areas within a 100 kilometre radius including Sylvan Lake [20 minutes west], Gull Lake [30 minutes north-west], Pine Lake [30 minutes south-east], Buffalo Lake [60 minutes east] and Waskasoo Park [within the City].

Community Organizations

A city the size of Red Deer has countless organizations, associations and groups . The broad spectrum of public demand can generally be satisfied in Red Deer, in this regard.

Religious Services

The City of Red Deer has more than 50 churches.

Special Events/Attractions

Events:
Westerner Days
Red Deer International Airshow held bi-annually

See the Red Deer Community Events Calendar for current events in Red Deer.

Attractions in Red Deer include the Red Deer College Arts Centre, the Centrium/Westerner Altaplex, Festival Hall, and the Red Deer and District Museum and Archives.

Hospitality

Tourism Red Deer provides information on all of the City's varied hospitality facilities. Telephone: 403-346-0180 or toll free at 1-800-215-8946

Accommodation

Red Deer boasts 20 facilities with over 1,500 rooms; as well as the capability to handle major conventions of up to 2,400 people.

Restaurants

Red Deer has more than 120 restaurants and eating facilities, catering to every taste.

Red Deer's status as a regional service centre is reinforced by its Shopping Centres, including Bower Place Shopping Centre [99 stores], Parkland Mall [135 stores], and the Village Shopping Centre [24 stores].

Economic Base

Reports from the Experts

• TD Economics, in a report released April 2003, found Red Deer at the centre of one of the hottest economic regions in the world.
• KPMG’s 2001 Competitive Alternatives Report ranks the Red Deer Region’s business operating costs among the most competitive in the world.
• BMO Financial Group rates Red Deer as a hotbed of growth for businesses employing fewer than 50 people.

The Economy

• Above average levels of private sector investment and new business starts since 2000 have fuelled a growing and diversified economy.
• Building permits in the area have reached record levels.
• Alberta will continue to lead the Canadian economy in GDP growth in 2004.

The Market

• Red Deer is the only region on the Canadian prairies with access to more than two million people within a 90-minute drive.
• The immediate trade area is home to 200,000 people and climbing.

The Workforce

• The Region’s active workforce is young, educated and productive.

Infrastructure

• The Region has modern and ever-expanding infrastructure. A formidable fibre optics network, good quality roads, modern rail lines, two international airports and one regional airport, support Red Deer’s reputation as Central Alberta’s distribution and service centre.

Natural Resources

• Central Alberta has abundant natural resources with rich fertile soil and a generous supply of minerals and forests.
• Natural resources and raw materials include agriculture [canola, barley, oats, beef, pork, dairy products, beer, packing house and meat processing], petroleum [oil, natural gas, petrochemical products], coal [coal products], and sand & gravel [concrete, concrete products].

The Calgary-Red Deer-Edmonton Corridor is recognized around the world as a major economic force. The Corridor produced a per capita GDP second only to Luxembourg. TD Economics estimated the per capita GDP at $40,000 (US)—well ahead of the United States, Norway, Switzerland and Ireland. This is almost $15,000 higher than Canada's national average.

Red Deer's economy has experienced significant diversification during recent years. The community was founded as a centre to service a rich agriculture area, and while mixed farming continues to play an important part in Red Deer's overall economy, many other sectors have developed. Agriculture drives an ever-growing food processing industry that employs almost a quarter of those citizens engaged in manufacturing. The service aspect of the petroleum industry continues to centre its activities in the Red Deer area; petrochemicals were added in the early '70's with the development of ethylene based plants; and the tourist industry, through conventions, trade shows and special events, has emerged as an increasingly important component of the economy.

See our Guide to Doing Business in Red Deer for more information on starting a business in Red Deer.

Economic Facts

The major business sectors in the Red Deer area are: petroleum exploration servicing; retail and service; manufacturing; and, hospitality. The major manufactured goods of the area are: petrochemicals; food and beverages [pork, beef, dairy products, beer]; oilfield equipment; recreation vehicles; and, emergency vehicles.

Major Businesses Products/Services

Nova Chemicals Ltd. ethylene, polyethylene
 Olymel Sec L/P fresh pork
Johns Manville Canada Ltd. fibreglass insulation materials
Travelaire Trailer Ltd. recreational vehicles
DOW Chemicals ethylene glycol
IPSCO steel pipe and hollow structural sections
Quinn's Oilfield Supply oil well subsurface rod pumps
Convergys Corporation inbound call centre
Collicutt Energy Services Gas Compressor Engines

Financial Institutions

Chartered Banks -- 30 branches
Trust Companies -- 4 branches
Investment Dealers -- 5 companies
Other Lending Institutions --10 offices

Education

Red Deer is part of the Red Deer School District #104, headquartered in Red Deer [telephone: 403-342-3710], and the Red Deer Roman Catholic Separate School District #17, headquartered in Red Deer [telephone: 403-343-1055].

Daycare/Nursery

A total of twenty daycare/nurseries operate within the City of Red Deer.

Red Deer Public School District

The Red Deer Public School District has over 450 educators serving close to 10,000 students from kindergarten to grade twelve. It has fourteen elementary schools, five middle schools, two high schools and twelve alternative schools. The Red Deer Public School District offers French Immersion, International Baccalaureate, Special Education and an International Student Program. Technology and computer literacy programs, activities programs, art and music programs, environmental education, worksite experiences, "Gateway" programs for gifted students, extra-curricular activities, and a host of other programs, ensure a complete education for your child.

Alternative Schools

For more information on the wide range of alternative schools in the Red Deer Public District, phone (403)343-1405.

Red Deer Catholic Schools:

Approximately 280 teachers are serving more than 5,000 students in fourteen schools throughout the Red Deer area. French Immersion, year round schooling and "virtual" school are just a few of the many choices that the Red Deer Regional Catholic Board offers. For more information on schools in the Red Deer Catholic Regional Division call (403) 343-1055.

Emergency Services

Fire Protection

Red Deer's fire protection is provided from three fire stations. The City's Insurance Rating is Class 3 for commercial property, and Class 1 for residential property.

Police Services

Red Deer's police protection is provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP]. Red Deer has two police stations. The Red Deer City Detachment has 80 personnel [Enquiries/Information telephone: 403-343-5500, Police Assistance telephone: 403-343-5591], while the Red Deer Rural Detachment has 16 personnel [Enquiries/Information telephone: 403-341-2000, Police Assistance telephone: 403-343-5575]. There are also 3 City By-Law Enforcement Officers.

Ambulance Services

Full ambulance services are available [telephone: 403-347-3373].

Health Care

First Class Health Services

Health services in Red Deer and the surrounding area include a wide range of first class health services. From home care, to emergency care, rehabilitation, health promotion, dental and eye care, and alternative therapies – you'll find it in Red Deer.

Red Deer Regional Hospital

As the referral centre for the David Thompson Health Region, The Red Deer Regional Hospital is the health care hub of Central Alberta. The hospital provides health services designed to meet the health needs of you and your family. Among an array of extensive health services, the hospital houses a Dialysis Clinic, a Cancer Clinic and a pediatric and special care nursery.

Community Health Centre

Red Deer's Community Health Centres offer programs and services that place a high emphasis on wellness, disease and injury prevention, and pediatric rehabilitation and support. Continuing Care placement services provide a single point of entry to more than 300 long-term care beds in Red Deer.

Health Link Alberta

Health Link Alberta is a toll-free telephone service now providing confidential health advice and service information 24-hours a day, seven days a week to the residents of the David Thompson Health Region. One phone call will connect you with a registered nurse who can answer health questions and provide information about local health services and programs. David Thompson Health Region residents can access Health Link Alberta by calling toll-free: 1-866-408-LINK (5465).

Home Care & Therapy

The region's growing home care program currently serves more than 2000 residents each month. A wide range of therapies including speech therapy, rehabilitation therapy, recreation therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy are also available through the David Thompson Health Region. For more information on health services or health facilities in the David Thompson Health Region, please phone their toll free number at 1-800-752-8957.

Key Contacts for Business Development

Municipal

The City of Red Deer
City Hall
4914 - 48 Avenue
P.O. Box 5008
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 3T4
Tel: 403-342-8106
Fax: 403-342-8200
econdev@city.red-deer.ab.ca

Morris Flewwelling
Mayor

Norbert Van Wyk
City Manager
norbert.vanwyk@reddeer.ca

Howard Thompson
Manager, Land and Economic Development
howard.thompson@reddeer.ca

Manager
Tourism Red Deer
Heritage Ranch Visitor Information Centre
P.O. Box 5008
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 3T4
Tel: 403-346-0180
Toll-free: 1-800-215-8946
Fax: 403-346-5081
www.tourismreddeer.net

Cal Dallas
Executive Director
Red Deer Chamber of Commerce
3017 - 50 Avenue
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 5Y6
Tel: 403-347-4491
Fax: 403-343-6188
cdallas@reddeerchamber.com

Provincial (updated December 2004)

Alberta Economic Development
2rd Floor, Provincial Building
4920 - 51 Street
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6K8
Tel: 403-340-5300
Fax: 403-340-5231
Dawna Allard, Regional Manager
dawna.allard@gov.ab.ca
Lisa Houle, Regional Project Officer
lisa.houle@gov.ab.ca
Linda Jabs

Mary Anne Jablonski
Member Legislative Assembly [MLA]
Red Deer-North Constituency
#131 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton AB T5K 2B6
Tel: 780-422-3882
Fax:780-427-1234

Constituency Office:
#200, 4814 - Ross Street
Red Deer AB T4N 1X4
Tel: 403-342-2263
Fax: 403-340-3185
www.jablonski.ca

Hon. Victor Doerksen
Minister of Innovation and Science
Member Legislative Assembly [MLA]
Red Deer-South Constituency
#402 Legislature Building
10800-97 Avenue
Edmonton AB T5K 2B6
Tel: 780-427-2294
Fax: 780-422-5366

Constituency Office:
#503, 4901 - 48 Street
Red Deer AB T4N 6M4
Tel: 403-340-3565
Fax: 403-346-9260
www.assembly.ab.ca

Federal (updated June 2001)

Bob Mills
Member of Parliament [MP]
Red Deer Constituency
Government of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Tel: 613-995-0590
Fax: 613-995-6831
www.bobmills.com

Constituency Office:
4785 - 49 Street
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 1T6
Tel: 403-347-7426
Fax: 403-347-7423

Location

Red Deer is located in the heart of South Central Alberta, in the County of Red Deer #23. Red Deer's Latitude[52' 16" N] and Longitude [113' 49" W] coordinates place it 470 kilometres north of the Canada-U.S. border. Its elevation is 860 metres [2,820 feet] above sea level; and, the City's area is 62 km2 [23.94 square miles].

The City of Red Deer now proudly offers all Internet users access to Web Map.

Web Map, which was officially launched in 2004, provides residents with the opportunity to view the city from a different perspective. Not just a regular online mapping feature, The City's Web Map provides citizens with valuable visuals and information about Transit routes, garbage pick up and Land Use bylaw zoning and constraints.

With the recent updates to Web Map, anyone with an Internet connection can access the information provided by this innovative application.

Post Secondary Education

Red Deer College offers over 80 programs to suit students' academic and career goals. Whether students want to fast-track their way into the work force with a career certificate or diploma program, apprentice in a skilled trade or earn a university degree, Red Deer College is able to meet their academic needs. Continuing education, academic upgrading and literacy programs are also available. For more information, contact Red Deer College at (403) 342-3300.

The closest universities are The University of Alberta [Edmonton] and The University of Calgary [Calgary].

A number of Technical/Vocational schools are also within easy reach of Red Deer's residents, including Olds College [Olds], Canadian Union College/Parkview Adventist Academy [Lacombe], Northern Alberta Institute of Technology [Edmonton], Grant McKewan College [Edmonton], Southern Alberta Institute of Technology [Calgary], and Mount Royal College [Calgary].

Taxation

Transportation

Air Service

Regulary scheduled flights are offered by Regional1 and Peace Air.

The Red Deer Regional Airport offers full services including restaurant, plane servicing, non-directional beacon [NDB], distance measuring equipment [DME], Augas 100LL and jet aviation fuel. The Airport's North-South Runway measures 1,685 metres [5527 feet]; its East-West Runway measures 1,050 metres [3444 feet].

Rail Service

Rail services are provided by both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways, with a full-service, Interswitching agreement in place. Rail service is also provided to three industrial parks.

Highways

Alberta Highway #2
Route - North/South
Type - Paved, four lane, divided
Conditions - Excellent
Speed Limits - 110 km. max.
Weight Limits - 49,900 kg
Connections - Trans Canada highway #1, 150 km south Red Deer
- Yellowhead Highway #16, 150 km north of Red Deer
- United States Highway #89, 470 km south of Red Deer
[Coutts-Sweetgrass, Montana Crossing]

David Thompson Highway #11
Route - East/West
Type - Paved, tow lane,undivided
Conditions - Excellent
Speed Limit - 100 km max.
Weight Limits- 49,900 kg
Connections - Alberta Highway #2 at Red Deer
- Banff/Jasper Highway #93, 255 km west of Red Deer, linking through the Rocky Mountains at Howse Pass to Golden, B.C.
[upon Federal Government completion of portion through Banff National Park].

Highway #12
Route - Eastbound to Saskatchewan; Northbound to Highway #39
Type - Paved, two lane, undivided
Condition - Good
Speed Limit - 100 km. max
Weight Limits - 49,900 kg
Connections - Alberta Highway #2 at Lacombe, 25 km north of Red Deer
- Suitable alternative route to central Saskatchewan, joins Yellowhead Highway #16

Highway #9
Route - Eastbound to Saskatchewan
Type - Paved, two lane, undivided
Condition - Good
Speed Limit - 100 km max.
Weight Limits - 49,900 kg
Connections - TransCanada #1, at Calgary, 150 km south of Red Deer
- Via Highway #27 to Alberta Highway #2 at Olds, 53 km south of Red Deer
- Via Highway #21 to #42 to Alberta Highway #2, at Penhold [Red Deer Industrial Airport], 9 km south of Red Deer
- Suitable alternative route to Saskatchewan

Trucking Firms

More than 60 firms serve Red Deer and the surrounding area. Household moving companies, motor carriers, livestock transport, motor home convoys, oil well servicing units and other trucking services are available in Red Deer.

Bus Services

Greyhound Bus Lines Depot
4303 - 50th Avenue
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 3Z5
Telephone: 403-343-8866

The Red Arrow Express [telephone 403-343-2356] offers daily luxury passenger and freight service between Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and Fort McMurray.

Couriers and Taxis

Service - Passenger, charters, freight and small parcel
Destiny Charters and Tours [telephone: 403-340-4740] Frontier Bus Lines [telephone: 403-347-4990]
Greyhound Courier Express [telephone: 403-343-8866]
Prairie Bus Lines [telephone: 403-342-6390]

Five companies with over 100 cabs provide taxi service in Red Deer:
Associated Cab [346-2222 or 343-3300]
Red Deer City Cab [346-3333 or 346-4444]
Alberta Gold Taxi [341-7777]
Chinook Cabs [341-7300]
Central Cab [341-6699]

Transit

Visit The City of Red Deer Transit department for route schedules.

Utilities

Electrical Power

The City of Red Deer
Red Deer, Alberta
Telephone: 403-342-8203
www.reddeer.ca

Natural Gas

ATCO Gas
Red Deer, Alberta
Telephone: 403-347-8947
www.atcogas.com

Telephone

Telus
Telephone: 403-310-2255 (toll free)
www.telus.com

Water Supply

Red Deer's water supply is obtained from the Red Deer River. One plant, with daily pumping capacity of 75 mega litres per day, supplies the population via a reservoir.

Waste Management

Sewer treatment facilities are operated by The City of Red Deer. The daily capacity for treatment is 12 million gallons. The facilities are supplemented by former treatment facilities and four anaerobic lagoons.

Population

Total Population 1991-2001

Red Deer Population by Age Group (2001)

Education Statistics

Red Deer Highest Level of Schooling 2001

Labour Force

Red Deer Labour Force By Industry - 2001

Income

Family Expenditure

Red Deer Family Expenditures (1996)

Building Permits

Total Housing Starts

Value of Building Permits

Dwellings

Projects

Summary of Projects in Red Deer as of September 2006

Value of Projects by Sector (as of September 2006)

Largest Projects in Red Deer as of September 2006