Lacombe

It’s not every day that college students are encouraged to destroy a car, but Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) offered students a chance to do just that to release some stress.

The car smash event took place in front of the campus library from April 8 to 10. In the days leading up to the actual smash on the 10th, students were invited to write their stressors on the vehicle.

There were typical end-of-term complaints about finals, exams and practicums, along with more emotional stressors like cancer, cheaters and self-doubt.

The Sendero Centre, a Red Deer non-profit that provides free support to survivors of sexual trauma, abuse and violence, is issuing an urgent call for community support as it faces a significant funding shortfall.

In 2024, the centre served 26,204 individuals through its various programs, including child and adult counselling, police and court support, and education initiatives delivered in schools and communities. All services are offered at no cost to clients.

Lacombe County residents and business owners can expect some stability in their municipal taxes this year, as the County has announced it will maintain the municipal tax rates for residential, farmland and non-residential properties at 2024 levels.

The decision comes as part of the County’s ongoing commitment to responsible fiscal management, aiming to provide both stability and affordability for the community.

Students got imaginative last week… dreaming about what might be possible in future school buildings.

At the Students Matter committee meeting, students gave their ideas and discussed how facilities could best support their success.

The main themes included ensuring there are flexible spaces, as well as dedicated spaces for specialty subjects like art, music, drama and career and technology studies (CTS). Students also encouraged future planners to consider the flow through the building and ensure lockers are not in congested areas.

Red Deer remains one of the most affordable cities to rent in Canada, according to the latest National Rent Report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation.

In March, the average rent for a one-bedroom unit in Red Deer rose to $1,314, marking a 2.9% increase from February and an 11.8% rise compared to the same time last year. Two-bedroom units in Red Deer saw a 5.2% increase from February, with an average rent of $1,558, up 4.2% year over year.

The Encore Art Sale begins Friday (April 11), and will feature a diverse collection of pieces from talented Central Alberta-based artists in support of the Lacombe Arts Endowment Fund.  

The event features a range of art, such as fibre, stained glass, wood, metals, paintings, ceramics, music, and photography from 34 artists at the Lacombe Memorial Centre (LMC).  

Update:

The Stettler Board of Trade and Settler Library has cancelled the Stettler All-Candidates Forum, due to candidates unable to confirm attendance. 

The candidates for the Battle River - Crowfoot riding, as of April 14, are:

Longtime City of Red Deer employee Annette Scheper has been named the 2025 recipient of the Bob Stollings Memorial Award, one of the highest honours given to City staff.

Scheper, a Community & Program Facilitator with the Safe & Healthy Communities Department, has dedicated 22 years to enhancing the city’s cultural and special events landscape. Her leadership and innovation have helped bring thousands of successful events to life, fostering a strong sense of community and creating lasting traditions for Red Deerians to enjoy.

Grant Abraham is the United Party of Canada’s Member of Parliament (MP) candidate for the Ponoka-Didsbury constituency.   

Abraham was inspired to get involved in politics after becoming frustrated with the federal government’s response to key issues.   

He is a lawyer, author, humanitarian, and small-holding organic farmer, and had a career in International Development.   

Abraham was asked a series of questions, which have been presented to all candidates.

The Red Deer Public Schools (RDPS) board of trustees met on April 9.  

Here are the highlights from the meeting: 

• Success for every student 
• Budget Review 

Three Year Education Plan