Red Deer Firefighters Forum Thank You!

​Last night I had the honour of participating in the Red Deer Firefighters’ all-candidates forum, focused on safe staffing levels in our city. I was one of 21 candidates, and the room was filled with approximately 350–400 people (by my count, each row in front of me had about 10 people, so there were at least 200–250 in the main room alone).

The conversation was passionate and, at times, intense — especially around fire services and the City’s approach to staffing and core services. There were moments where it could have become tense, but overall it stayed mostly respectful. We shared a couple laughs, and along with the audience, I think we’re all still looking for that train — though we were reminded by current councillors that the process is complicated, and unless you’re on council, it’s probably too complex to fully understand where your tax dollars are being spent. Transparency, accountability, and clear communication should be priorities, but they don’t always reach the public.

Being part of the forum reinforced how important it is for residents to stay informed and engaged in decisions that affect our community’s safety. I’m grateful to everyone who attended and took the time to participate, and a special thanks to Brad Readman and the Red Deer Firefighters for organizing such an important event.

Photo credit: Red Deer Firefighters, Willson Tech from video https://www.youtube.com/live/NR1aRNqs8Mo?si=D3qo_IFJXj1usGlA
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