Red Deer South boasts the city’s largest recreational centre, some of the richest neighbourhoods and the most popular box stores.
And for the last 26 years, voters in this provincial riding have always given Progressive Conservative candidates a vast majority. This time around, there appears to be a number of undecided voters less than three weeks to election day on April 23.
In the spacious hallway of the Collicutt Centre, mother-of-three Julie Hansen said she’s really watching to see what candidates are saying about healthcare and education.
In particular, she’d like to see more dollars put into education for special needs students.
So far, she remains undecided as to how she’ll cast her ballot. “I think there’s a lot of strong candidates right now,” said Hansen.
She knows Serge Gingras, an instructor from Red Deer College, who is running for the Alberta Party — a party she’d like to investigate more.
Hansen has also liked the Liberal platform in the past. Having Alison Redford as the new Progressive Conservative leader also gives a new perspective, said Hansen.
Jessica Rice, 24, a receptionist within the Exelta Gymnastics Club, also remains undecided.
“Schooling is important — if your stand is education, you need to be able to back that up instead of cutting money,” said Rice, an aspiring teacher.
“It needs to be funded and I think that’s the most important part. You are paying for your future.”
Gymnastics coach Katrina Laszuk, 20, said she will “possibly” vote on April 23. Although she’s uncertain on how she could vote, she will definitely not vote Conservative. She wants to see change.
“I’m going to be a teacher in two years, so I guess it’s important that I vote and that I have someone who will support me as a teacher,” said Laszuk.
Not far from the Collicutt Centre is Anders on the Lake, where some of Red Deer’s swankiest homes are located. And just to the northwest of that is Sunnybrook, an older neighbourhood that includes Sunnybrook United Church. Dan Leaver, youth minister with the Red Deer Presbytery, is found in one of the offices.
He’s dressed with a Detroit Red Wings T-shirt — the team he’s liked since his childhood back in Ontario. Liberal red was big in his old neighbourhood. He’s leaning towards voting orange, or NDP.
“What are we doing for those who are sick, for those who are in prison, for those who are on the street and for those who are truly in need?” said Leaver.
Over at Red Deer College, students are busy preparing for final exams. Bachelor of science student Cherise Verbonac, 22, said she’s an undecided voter right now.
“Everyone says they’re going to help health care, but I don’t like the idea of privatizing,” said Verbonac.
Myles Hansen, 20 and Kelly Roberts, 18, both kinesiology students, say they’re undecided as well. Hansen said he’s leaning towards voting Progressive Conservative based on how his family is voting back home in Edson.
Roberts, who hails from Camrose, is excited she gets to vote for the first time.
“I finally get some freedom to have a say,” she said.
Within a strip mall along Gaetz Avenue located close to Chapters book store, Van Trieu is busy at work. The manager at Splen’dor Nails said she has no idea how she’ll vote on April 23.
Trieu, who grew up in Vietnam, said she hasn’t yet paid attention to the election issues.
“Usually, I’ll get information from my customers,” she said.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com