On Monday Red Deer city council will consider a partnership with the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society and Red Deer Public School District to repurpose Central Elementary School and develop the Canada Games Celebration Plaza.
The historically significant building could become a community legacy and downtown focal point from the 2019 Canada Winter Games.
Red Deer Public School District has offered Central Elementary School to be purchased by the City of Red Deer for one dollar. The school (also known as Gateway Christian School) was constructed in 1939 and is one of Red Deer’s most significant historical sites.
The building was closed as a school in 2013 and currently houses tenants leasing office space. If council approves the partnership to repurpose the building and construct the Canada Games Celebration Plaza, it is intended that the building will be used as the 2019 Canada Winter Games headquarters leading up to and during the Games.
The Canada Games Celebration Plaza (to be located outside the west entrance of the school), is envisioned to be home to festival programming during the 2019 Games.
Following the 2019 Canada Winter Games, it is anticipated that the building will be used for broader community use for lasting community benefit, including relocating Culture Services to the downtown with future operational partners and the plaza would provide a celebration space in the heart of the city.