Red Deer has firmly secured its reputation as Alberta's most active community with a third-straight provincial ParticipACTION win.
Red Deer also proved a top country-wide competitor, but this year Hay River, N.W.T. won the national ParticiPACTION Community Challenge and the $100,000 grand prize to support local physical activity and sport initiatives.
In 2022, Red Deer was the national ParticiPACTION winner, and concurrently the Alberta winner. In 2023, the city hung on to its provincial title.
"I think Red Deer would win this competition any month of the year," said Mayor Ken Johnston about the city's successive provincial victories.
"We've just proven year after year we can compete."
Over 590,000 participants in more than 1,200 communities across Canada took part in the ParticipACTION Community Challenge, resulting in 6,255 Community Challenge-related programs, activities and events throughout June.
Johnston said Red Deerians regularly access leading edge recreation amenities both indoors and outdoors, and an active trail system. Beyond the strictly physical rewards of activity, there's also the mental and social benefits.
"It's just a well-rounded way of enjoying life more."
He said Red Deer and Hay River jostled back and forth between first and second place during the challenge.
"It was a real dog fight between ourselves and Hay River this year," said Johnston, who also has a soft spot for the northern community.
Last summer 1,116 evacuees from Hay River came to Red Deer when their community was threatened by wildfire.
He said if Red Deer had to lose to another community, he was very happy it was Hay River after the upheaval it faced, and maybe they were inspired by the active lifestyles of Red Deerians.
"I think they went back and carried that message home," he proudly joked.
ParticipACTION determined the Most Active Community based on the number of organizations that tracked activities and the number of individuals who took the Get Active Pledge.
Red Deerians collectively participated in 252 activities to secure the provincial title and was awarded $15,000 (prizing supported by the Government of Alberta) which will go towards activity and sports initiatives, programs or equipment.
ParticipACTION also recognized the variety of programs and initiatives initiated in Red Deer for diverse populations and different interests through partnerships with 58 local organizations who mobilized members to get active.
Scotia Bank Red Deer won an organization prize from ParticipACTION.
Red Deer's other efforts included a "30 Ways to Get Active in Red Deer" calendar created by the Move Your Mood program to encourage activity.
To kick off the month-long challenge, Primary Care Network and the Move Your Mood Program, along with the City of Red Deer and the Gary Harris Centre at Red Deer Polytechnic, hosted the Red Deer Community Better June Walk-Run. The event attracted 282 attendees and 17 local organizations showcasing their offerings.
