First, the 2019 Canada Winter Games, then the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships…
Who can say what future high-profile national or international events will be held in Red Deer, since a permanent bid committee is being formed to consider major hosting opportunities for the city.
Red Deer city manager Craig Curtis said what was formerly an ad-hoc committee will now start actively seeking ongoing opportunities to bring large-scale events to central Alberta. And not only sporting events — Curtis sees a range of possibilities, from large conferences, to tournaments and cultural festivals.
“I can also see us being a centre for eco-tourism,” said Curtis, who noted Red Deer’s Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary started out as one of the province’s first bird sanctuaries.
Although the committee’s membership has not been determined, Curtis sees it as being made up of representative stakeholders from the city, Red Deer College and Westerner Park, as well as tourist, sports and cultural groups.
At a cost of $250,000, city council approved the formal bid committee as part of its tourism and economic development vision during 2019 operating budget deliberations.
Council also supported a “strengthened role for the municipality in regional and local tourism and economic development.”
This includes solidifying its membership with Tourism Red Deer and the Central Alberta Economic Partnership in an effort to boost regional tourism and economic development.
These initiatives will cost $274,500 in 2020, and a further $32,000 in 2021. The funds will provide the support needed for opening a visitor information centre, and the addition of a tourism economic development officer. This would increase tourism-focused staff in the city from a half-time position to 1.5 full-time equivalent.
The economic partnership will cost the city $91,500 in 2019 and $49,200 in 2020. The money will go toward developing a business visitation program and support downtown business retention and expansion, including positioning the downtown as a destination for professional offices, attracting corporate head offices and increasing the growth of the transportation and logistics industries.
Curtis said a year or so ago, city council questioned the value of the Central Alberta Economic Partnership, but has since come to understand that what’s good for the region is also good for the city.
“Council resolved to remain in CAEP and become a more active member… We feel it’s not local or regional that matters, but both local and regional.”
Coun. Ken Johnston said the regional approach was the best way to achieve a “transformative effect… I believe this will have an extraordinary effect on Red Deer.”
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter