It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in the downtown.  The Biggest Christmas Tree Festival & Parade was held last week and now City Hall Park and the big tree are adorned with festive lighting.  The Downtown Business Association has again provided Christmas Ambassadors.  This year we have three carollers sharing their musical cheer, strolling throughout downtown and in and out of shops and businesses.

The Downtown Business Association once again partnered with the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation's Festival of Trees to help raise funds for the creation of a new Colorectal Screening Clinic.  The Festival of Trees provides a number of mini-trees to downtown business who design, adorn and donate the trees for raffle.  The community then has an opportunity to support this great cause and perhaps win a beautiful tree.  Raffle tickets are sold at participating business locations.

We applaud the following businesses who participated:  Bareskin Wellness, Canadian Western Bank, Crop Hair Boutique, Hempire, housewarmings, The Hub, The Prairie Chick, Red Deer Goldsmiths, Rob Rae Clothiers and the Royal Bank of Canada.

Join Santa Claus on November 24, 2009 in downtown Red Deer for the Biggest Tree Festival and Parade. Supported by the theme Christmas Around the World, this year’s parade will feature floats and live entertainment and will help to kick off the 2009 Festival of Trees.

Event details are as follows:

When: November 24, 2009 at 6:15pm
Where: Downtown Red Deer – the parade will run south on 48th Avenue to Ross Street, and then west to 49th Avenue.

The evening will kick off with the lighting of the trees in City Hall Park at 6pm, parade to follow at 6:15pm and end at City Hall Park for the Biggest Christmas Tree Festival and lighting of the biggest Christmas Tree.

For more information contact:

Jennifer Blair
Chairperson, Biggest Tree
403.343.4773

A town hall session to address issues in the downtown core will be held following the Downtown Business Association Annual General Meeting on November 18.  The town hall will be hosted by the S.A.F.E. Downtown Initiative, a new City taskforce established to respond to challenges and work towards a more vibrant and S.A.F.E. (Sustainable • Active • Friendly • Economically-viable) downtown.

Chaired by Mayor Morris Flewwelling, the task force envisions our downtown as a pedestrian-friendly people place, thriving and alive with culture and entertainment, unique shops and eateries.  “We desire a clean, safe, attractive and engaging residential and commercial district that is welcoming and respectful for all,” said Mayor Flewwelling.  “The town hall session is the first step in ensuring our downtown is a source of civic pride and a desired destination for residents and visitors. “

The town hall will be held:

When: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Time: 7 p.m.
Downtown Business Association Annual Meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the same location
Where: Red Deer Lodge (4311 49 Ave), Waskasoo A Ballroom
Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar
RSVP: Janice at 403-340-8696 or info@downtownreddeer.com

“This town hall begins an open dialogue with the community regarding a vision for Red Deer’s downtown,” said Mayor Flewwelling. “It is absolutely critical the taskforce receives public input so they can develop meaningful plans forward.”
 

The Red Deer Downtown Business Association will hold its Annual Meeting on November 18th.  Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) ratepayers and those interested in the downtown are invited to attend.

The meeting will be held in the Waskasoo ‘A’ Ballroom of the Red Deer Lodge on Wednesday, November 18th, beginning at 6:30pm.  Those in attendance will have an opportunity to network and learn about the activities of the association.  “Our Annual Meeting allows the Board to connect with downtown businesses.   We value their input and their great ideas,” says Al Gamble, Downtown Business Association Chair.

The Downtown’s Annual Meeting will be followed by a Town Hall Meeting hosted by the S.A.F.E. Downtown Initiative, a new City taskforce created to respond to safety and security challenges and work towards a more S.A.F.E. (Sustainable • Active • Friendly • Economically-viable) downtown.

Chaired by Mayor Morris Flewwelling, the taskforce seeks input from downtown businesses and the community that will help guide the strategies and desired outcomes of the working group.

The Town Hall Meeting begins at 7pm. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to the Downtown Business Association at 403-340-8696 or info@downtownreddeer.com.