We are public servants. We are the voice on the other end of the phone when you call about your utility bill or taxes.
We are the people who blade off Red Deer’s outdoor rinks. We work in your recreation centres, in your parks and in your water treatment plants.
We are transit drivers. We are firefighters and paramedics. We work to serve our community, and we just want to let you know, that we really miss you, Red Deer, and we are in this with you.
While most City facilities are closed, we want you to know that we are still here, working to plan for a time when we can, once again, come together as a community – when physical (social) distancing is no longer a concern.
Just like you, we miss our interactions with our many colleagues and the citizens of Red Deer. We miss connecting with you in our arenas and taking you on school tours at our waste management facility.
In the meantime, we are doing our very best to connect with you online through our social media channels and our website. And we know it isn’t good enough, but for now, it’s all we have, and we want to thank you for being patient with us while we navigate this unprecedented time.
In the coming days, weeks and months, we, The City of Red Deer, will continue to serve our City.
We have many staff supporting the critical work of our Emergency Operations Centre in responding to this pandemic.
But that’s not all. We also have a number of employees taking time to focus on things like future planning, budgeting and recovery. And of course, our staff in the field continue to provide services like road repair, power supply management, ongoing maintenance and issues response.
Like you, we too are worried about the uncertainty in front of us right now. We are worried about our jobs, and what the future holds for us, as public servants, serving our community.
But, right now, we want you to know that we are still here. We want you to know that one day, when this global pandemic has passed, and we are able to reopen our doors, we will be ready for you, waiting, and excited to greet you with a warm smile, in person, once again.
In true Red Deer fashion, we know we will come out of this stronger, more efficient, more tech savvy, and more connected than ever before. We are inspired by you, as Red Deerians, who are doing everything you can to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Red Deer, you are making a difference, and we see you. Maybe not in person. But we know you’re there, and we hope you know we’re here too.
Thank you, Red Deer. We miss you.