The City of Red Deer is re-imagining what community means to Albertans. New residential developments in Alberta’s third largest city are hoping 
to capitalize on its location and further increase the 
city’s base.

Red Deer is within a two-hour drive from over 80 percent of the province’s population thanks to its location in central Alberta and close proximity to the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Alberta’s main north-south artery that includes a nearly 300-km route between Edmonton and Calgary, and sees more than 16 million trips annually by automobile.)

“It seems cliché, but Red Deer truly is a city with all the conveniences of a larger municipality with the charm of a small town,” says John Sennema, manager 
of land and economic development with the City of 
Red Deer.

One of the most notable developments in Red Deer is Capstone at Riverlands. The major urban development is in the heart of the city, nestled along the banks of the Red Deer River. The riverfront community promises residents much more than a traditional suburban expansion with mixed-use urban spaces cradled by the area’s natural beauty and direct access to Red Deer’s historic downtown core.

The development will feature a mix of medium to high-density housing, such as condos and townhomes; commercial development, including retail centres, offices, dining and a hotel development; and pedestrian-friendly streets acting as social spaces, a public market, and artist studios. All this is designed to not only attract residents to Red Deer but to further diversify the city as an office hub.

“Red Deer is primarily known for its oil and gas 
service economy along with strong ties to manufacturing, agriculture and agri-processing industries,” says Sennema. “Given our very strategic location we are also focused on attracting additional mixed-use opportunities specific to office, professional and retail development in our downtown core. External support from the province granting Red Deer College the opportunity to pursue university status will further support economic diversity. This will ensure an increase in the range of services and amenities available to our local residents, workers, visitors and the greater central Alberta region of over 350,000 people.”