Michael Dawe For Red Deer

In preparation for Monday’s special City Council meeting I asked that Alberta Health address the widespread claim about a person, or persons who went to get a COVID test in Red Deer. When they found the line too long, they left without being tested. Later, they were contacted by Alberta Health to say they had tested positive. In some cases, there is a further claim that the person was told that in case of no-shows, they are put down as being positive for COVID. This is the w...ritten answer that I, and the rest of City Council, got from Alberta Health : This is patently untrue. Cases are confirmed through laboratory testing only. In order to conduct a laboratory test, the sample needs to be collected from the patient using a swab. If someone has proof that this statement by Alberta Health is untrue, I would like to see it. Please note. I am only interested in PROOF. I am NOT interested in hearing that someone told someone else. An accusation of deliberate lying by someone in authority is a very serious allegation and needs to have verifiable backup. If someone can provide me with proof, I promise to follow up. See more

Just a reminder that the Michener Hill Community Association annual general meeting will be held on Monday, November 2 at 7 pm in the Michener Recreation Centre gymnasium. All are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.michenerhill.ca

Had a wonderful time last night doing tours of Sylvan Lake and telling ghost stories, tales of murders and unexplained phenomena, relating the history of historic (and somewhat spooky looking) homes and buildings etc. We were sold out - three full bus loads running from 5 pm to 10 pm. Since thanks to everyone who joined in and to Piper and the other town staff who organized the event. Because of the extensive waiting list, we thought of doing another set of tours next Friday ...(October 30) but unfortunately it did not work out. Maybe if the weather improves, I will do a cemetery tour of the Red Deer Cemetery instead. Check this page over the next couple of days for possible announcements. In the meanwhile, sincere thanks to the very pleasant Megan Hanson for joining the first tour and supplying the photo. P.S. I generally wore a mask but once the tour was underway, I removed it so people could hear me better. Full social distancing and sanitization was followed and everyone else remained fully masked throughour the tours. See more

I attended the press conference this afternoon on Health Minister Shandro's announcement on late Friday that the Alberta Government will be proceeding with the consolidation of ambulance dispatch from Red Deer to Calgary. Despite the Minister's assurances that this move will improve efficiency, not affect wait times and cost less money, I will make this point- In May 2008 the Province announced the consolidation of all health care management into one "super board" - Alberta ...Health Services - centred in Edmonton. It was promised to increase efficiencies, improve health care, and cost less money. My question to the citizens of Red Deer and Central Alberta- How did that work out for you ? Do you think health care in our community is greatly improved, since the creation of A.H.S. ?????? See more

Emergency dispatch has changed a lot in Red Deer since the early 1960's as this old photo of Doug May and Earl Ruby at the old Red Deer Fire Hall indicates. What hasn't changed is the local commitment to professionalism, efficiency and most importantly, public safety. Unfortunately, the Provincial Government wants to remove ambulance dispatch from Red Deer and consolidate it in Calgary (or Edmonton). I strongly believe that this is a serious mistake. Consolidation will add ti...me to the handling of calls and will increase the chances of errors. Also, we will lose the integrated dispatch of fire/paramedic and ambulance. In Red Deer, with 40% of all calls, the fire/paramedics arrive first. That means that treatment on the scene starts much faster. I am in no way suggesting that there are problems with the professionalism and dedication of the ambulance personnel. They are great. But think of one fact - when Alberta Health Services took over ambulance service (but not dispatch) in Red Deer, we had 9 ambulances stationed in the City. Now there are 5. Increasingly, ambulances are called in from nearby communities - increasing travel time but also reducing ambulance availability in the communities who had their unit sent in to Red Deer to answer a call. Please, please, contact your local MLA's and let them know what you think of the newest proposed changes. Or send your concerns and questions to City Clerk at City Hall (www.reddeer.ca) and the City will make sure that they are passed on to AHS and the Provincial Government. Thank you very much. Our community's health literally depends on you speaking up. See more

When the lines between political protest and armed insurrection become blurred, you have a democracy in serious trouble. Although true, making such a comment on Facebook will likely bring on all kinds of extremist statements from those more interested in disruption than resolution.