Biggest Christmas Tree Festival
Friday, November 2nd 2007

Experience a Downtown Christmas Tradition

Red Deer's annual Biggest Christmas Tree Festival takes place in City Hall Park beginning at 6pm on Wednesday, November 21st.  The annual downtown event marks the beginning of the Christmas season with the traditional lighting of City Hall Park and Red Deer's biggest Christmas Tree.

The free, family-friendly festival features childrens' activities at the Red Deer Public Library, hot chocolate and popcorn in City Hall as well as roving and staged entertainment.  The countdown to the lighting of the Biggest Christmas, located in front of the Old Court House, begins at 7:30pm.

Afterwards, many downtown businesses, the Towne Centre Mall merchants, the Art Galleries and the Scott Block all have special events planned.

Downtown Business Association Annual Meeting
Monday, October 1st 2007

All members of the Downtown Business Association are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held at the Stanford Inn on Tuesday, October 30th beginning at 7pm.

Special Presentation: "Downtown Red Deer: Options & Opportunities" by Craig Curtis, City Manager, The City of Red Deer.

Downtown Businesses to host Earthdance
Wednesday, September 5th 2007

Red Deer's third annual Earthdance will be held on Saturday, September 15.

The annual celebration coincides with events world-wide that raise awareness of global issues such as peace, diversity and the environment. This year's theme is "water'.

At twenty downtown locations, Earthdance happenings range from demos, displays and merchandise specials to interactive art making, film and open-mike music events.

At 4:15pm, a Community Peace Drum Circle will be held at Heritage Square.  Following, at 5pm sharp, Red Deer will join 250 communities around the world in a non-denominational prayer for peace.  Heritage Square is located on 47a Avenue just south of the Recreation Centre and the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery.   In case of rain, these events will be held at Gaetz United Church on Ross Street.

A pre-event fundraiser will be held this Friday evening at The Vat featuring Cort, Oldbury and Unison. Proceeds will go to the Kerry Wood Nature Centre.  For more information about this event, contact Cathee at 314.2334.

Earth Dance details at www.downtownreddeer.com, www.rdpl.org/earthdance and www.earthdance.org.

Anti-graffiti Poster Contest Winners
Thursday, August 23rd 2007

The Downtown Business Association and the Graffiti Program Coordinator, Natalie Turner along with the Red Deer Public Library is pleased to announce the winners of the anti-graffiti poster competition.  Announcements will take place Thursday August 23, 2007 at St. Patrick's Community School at 2:45pm in front of the library entrance.

To increase awareness about graffiti crime, Graffiti Program Coordinator, Natalie Turner and Jenn Waters Teen Services Coordinator for the Red Deer Public Library put their heads together and created an anti-graffiti poster contest for kids ages 12-17.

Coincidentally, all three winners are students from the St. Patrick's Community School in grades six and seven.  Teacher Jan Sopracolle and Vice Principal Denis Cote are very pleased and proud of the students.  Contest submissions had clear messages and were very creative, making it difficult to choose winners.

Winners are: First - Tahani Peters, Second - Peyton Welch and Third - Mark Elopre

"As St. Patrick's school is often victimized by graffiti and other forms of vandalism it is great to see the children's imaginative and innovative messages in their anti-graffiti posters that express their concern for graffiti," says Natalie.

"My City" Mural
Thursday, August 16th 2007 (Red Deer, Alberta) - The Downtown Business Association, CiRS (Community Information and Referral Services) and the Downtown Business Association's Graffiti Control Program have partnered with local artist Justina Smith to create the "My City" mural located on the North end of the CiRS building at 4730 Ross Street.

The Graffiti Control Program coordinator, Natalie Turner and Dawna Barnes, Executive Director of CiRS, discussed available options to reduce the occurrence of graffiti vandalism on the CiRS building. Amongst other crime prevention designs, murals have been very successful in Red Deer and other communities in reducing graffiti vandalism proactively and simultaneously beautifying the community.

Through donations supplied by General Paint, Justina Smith has created a community inspired installation called "My City". With many favorite Red Deer landmarks placed amid vibrant colors and luscious surroundings it is a pleasure to look at and a fresh new addition to the CiRS building.

During the 2006 summer the Graffiti Control Program painted another mural, "the Game of Life" with the aim of deterring graffiti vandalism from a hard hit property, located in the same alley as CiRS. Since its inception the mural has remained graffiti free proving to be very successful for the property owner and tenants of the Ross Street Centre.

On Friday August 17, 2007 at 2pm the Graffiti Control Program and CiRS will be unveiling the "My City" mural located in the alley at the North end of 4730 Ross Street.

Scenes on a Box Pilot Project
Wednesday, June 27th 2007

The Downtown Business Association, Main Street Program and The City of Red Deer have partnered in a new initiative that will see utility boxes in the downtown "transformed" into works of art.

"Scenes on a Box is a new program that showcases Red Deer's history and enhances downtown," says Ray Congdon, Main Street Program Coordinator.

Under the pilot project, utility boxes in four downtown locations - Taylor Drive north of 45 Street, Ross at 47 Avenue, 49 Avenue north of 51 Street and 51 Avenue near the old Railway Station - will be wrapped in photographs depicting Red Deer's past.

"The City of Red Deer was pleased to participate in this partnership by providing utility boxes for the photo wraps," stated Ed Morris, Greater Downtown Coordinator, City of Red Deer.

The historical mini-murals that were installed this week are a first for Red Deer.  Project partners may look at expanding the number of locations in future.

"Main Street has initiated many revitalization projects.  Scenes on a Box is yet another new cooperative venture that benefits downtown and beautifies our community through public art," says Laura Turner, Downtown Business Association Executive Director.

Sidewalk Patios to Open Soon
Friday, June 8th 2007

Sidewalk patios will open at three different downtown locations thanks to a partnership between the Downtown Business Association (DBA) and The City of Red Deer.

While downtown restaurateurs have long taken their wares outside, this pilot project involves extending the sidewalks through the use of temporary wooden platforms, allowing businesses to expand their outdoor restaurant area.

"The Greater Downtown Action Plan encourages the creative use of sidewalks and pedestrian areas in order to add to the vibrancy of our downtown." said Laura Turner, DBA Executive Director.  "Other downtowns have had similar sidewalk patios for many years, it was natural that Red Deer would introduce such a program.  We're pleased that downtown businesses were eager to be involved," she added.

The City will allow temporary sidewalk patios to open from June to September and although a pilot program, there are hopes that downtown restaurants will take part on a permanent basis.

City of Red Deer Inspections & Licensing Parking Liaison, Fred Dieno indicated, "our department originally saw this concept very successfully implemented in Halifax.  We approached the DBA in hope that there would be interest in trying a similar project in Red Deer.  If this is successful we will look at making this a yearly opportunity for businesses."

Main Street: What's Done!? What's To Do?!
Tuesday, June 5th 2007

The Red Deer Main Street Project will be holding a community meeting/workshop to review the accomplishments of the Main Street Project over the past six years.  The meeting will also assist in identifing future directions and responsibility for conservation and preservation of our downtown.

Details are as follows:
Date: Wednesday June 13, 2007
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Location Scott Block
4816 - 50 Avenue

For more information contact Ray Congdon, Main Street Coordinator. Telephone 340 8696

Downtown Business Association Tackling Graffiti
Friday, May 11th 2007

The Downtown Business Association is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Natalie Turner as the Graffiti Program Coordinator.  Having been the Coordinator for the summer of 2006, Natalie is familiar with the program and she brings with her years of experience working with the public and youth throughout Central Alberta.

Natalie is presently a University of Calgary student working towards her degree in Sociology and has earned an Associate’s Diploma in Communication Studies.  In addition to her education and field experience, Natalie has developed an excellent philosophy on the importance of communication within the social institution.   “I am very excited to be returning to the Downtown Business Association, to be immersed in the growth of the program and to apply my knowledge and experience in a hands-on way,” say Ms. Turner.

In its fifth year, the Graffiti Program stresses the necessity for education and community engagement in eradicating graffiti in our community.  The program is made possible with the support of the Downtown Business Association, The City of Red Deer, the RCMP, the community and volunteers.  A key component of the program is being a resource to the community by gaining a better understanding of the long term effects of graffiti activity and exploring innovative approaches to prevention and removal.

“With an increase in our city’s population, there is a subsequent increase in graffiti.  It is important to treat all crime as a community issue, including graffiti crime,” says Laura Turner, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Association.  Though plans are to update the information throughout the summer, graffiti resources are available online at www.downtownreddeer.com.
 

Downtown Business Association Introduces Adopt-a-Planter Program
Thursday, April 26th 2007

Working in cooperation with The City of Red Deer, the Downtown Business Association is launching an Adopt-a-Planter program for downtown businesses.

This pilot project is aimed at beautifying the downtown and improving the streetscape by installing planters along sidewalk areas in the downtown core.

Businesses who sign up for the Adopt-a-Planter program will be provided with a new, permanently fixed planter filled with soil mix and flowers ready for planting.  Under the program, businesses are required to make a three-year commitment to maintain and water the flowers and to pay a one-time fee of $120.

“We’re excited about this project. Improving the image of downtown and making it more pedestrian-friendly helps in creating a healthy and vibrant downtown,” says Laura Turner, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Association.

Along with the planters, The City of Red Deer will begin the upgrading of downtown’s street furniture and fixtures as recommended in the City of Red Deer Downtown (C1) Public Realm Upgrades Report.

There are a limited number of planters available.  Interested businesses should contact the Downtown Business Association at 340-8696.   Details are online at www.downtownreddeer.com.