Green Deer 2011 will be running from April 18 to June 19.  Green Deer is a city wide clean up program that encourages Red Deerians to pick up litter in our parks and neighbourhoods.  This is a great opportunity to get outside and be active with the whole family.  Interested individuals can register in person at the Recreation Centre, Collicutt Centre or G.H. Dawe Centre, or the Green Deer Kick Off Barbecue on Monday April 18, from 5:00 - 6:30 pm at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, or by calling 403-309-8411.

Citizens of Red Deer can now download eBooks and eAudiobooks to our digital devices through the Red Deer Public Library.  The RDPL has subscribed to Overdrive, a software program that will allow people with a RDPL card to download.  The library has brought in over 800 titles to choose from, from their most popular genres and collections.  For more information on how to use the Red Deer Public Library Digital Library, check out the RDPL Digital Library Website.

Every community has a main street. Downtowns, no matter the size, have many things in common. Speakers and sessions at the upcoming Alberta Downtowns Placemaking and Promotion will be relevant to all communities and districts. The conference will touch on branding, tourism, downtown development and marketing, and more, and is designed to speak to everyone charged with marketing a destination, city and county administrators and elected officials, tourism and economic development practitioners, local businesses and retail and lodging associations and anyone with a vested interest in the downtowns. Sessions include topics such as destination development, destination marketing, recruiting investment, social media and marketing and more!

Do you know any remarkable women who have made a unique and exemplary contribution to the Central Alberta community?  If you do, then nominate them for a 2011 Women of Excellence Award.  Deadline for nomination packages is Thursday March 31 at 4 pm, and the awards will be given out at the 4th Annual Women of Excellence Awards Gala on Monday, June 13 at the Capri Hotel. 

We would like to welcome Andrea Wiseman Photography to the downtown! Located at 4926 Ross Street, above La Petite Jaune Fleur. Andrea is a lifestyle photographer, specializing in people in love, such as weddings.

The City of Red Deer encourages Red Deer businesses to join in a shared display of commitment to the environment by participating in Earth Hour 2011.

This year Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The main goals of Earth Hour are to raise awareness about climate change and energy efficiency as well as to demonstrate that individuals can make a difference. The Earth Hour theme for 2011 is ‘Beyond the Hour’ which encourages individuals and organizations to think about what they can do throughout the year to show their support.

The Red Deer Heritage Recognition Awards are intended to recognize outstanding efforts in heritage preservation within the city of Red Deer and Red Deer County.

The Red Deer Heritage Recognition Awards were established in 2002 by the Heritage Preservation Committee. The Heritage Preservation Committee is an Advisory Committee to Council; its mandate is the preservation and maintenance of human and natural heritage features in Red Deer and the surrounding area for the perpetual enjoyment and education of the public. As part of this mandate, the Committee is charged with developing public awareness of heritage resources.
 

To learn more about the Red Deer Heritage Recognition Awards, or to find a nomination package, click here.

Friday March 18 marks the night of CentreFest’s “Roman Danylo Live” Fundraiser, a cabaret style comedy night featuring local comedians Neil Grahn and Against the Wall Theatre. The evening will feature a silent auction, with items such as Red Deer Rebels autographed memorabilia, tickets to local entertainment shows, and more! The committee is searching for Silent Auction items for the evening, as an additional form of fundraising. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.

Tickets for the show are $30 each and are available at Sunworks, The Black Knight Inn Ticket Centre and ...comforts the sole. Pick them up now before they are all gone!

Anyone interested in donating an item for the silent auction can call 403-340-8696.
 

A new store will be opening in the downtown on Tuesday March 15.  The new womens  fashion shop muse will feature Canadian-designed labels.  Names you will not find in department or chain stores.   The store will be carrying brands such as Nixxi, Echo Verde, Pure Blankz, Allison Wonderland, and Birds of North America, as well as some locally produced handbags and shoes.  The shop will carry trendy fashions, from work wear to evening wear.

Only natural materials and eco-friendly dyes will be found in the lines carried at muse.  The shop will focus on upscale, environmentally friendly clothing, and will include plus size and regular sized pieces.  Owners, Danica Madsen and Michelle Bell, want to create a store that will mimic the shopping experience in bigger centers.   If originality is important to you, you will want to check out muse. The boutique will carry limited size runs of items, often with only one piece in each size.  The odds of seeing the same outfit in Red Deer will be minimal.

The store will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, at 4909D 48th St.  For more information on muse, visit bethemuse.ca.

The downtown will soon be welcoming a new medical clinic.  Horizon Family Medicine will be opening in early April.  The centre will be located in the Southeast corner of Real Canadian Superstore, which is currently undergoing renovations to accept the six doctor practice.  The clinic will serve walk in patients as well as appointments, and will be a full spectrum of family medicine.  The new clinic will be open from 8 am to 8 pm Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 4 pm on Fridays, and 9 am to 3 pm on Saturdays.