RED DEER, ALBERTA

'Red Deer' is a city in central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor, and is Alberta's third most populous city - after Calgary and Edmonton. Red Deer is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills focused on oil, grain, and cattle production. The city is a centre for oil and agriculture distribution, and the surrounding region is a major centre for petrochemical production.
Red Deer County surrounds the city.
The city takes its name from Red Deer River, a translation of was-ka-soo which means "elk river" in the Cree aboriginal language. Waskasoo is also a neighborhood overlooking the Red Deer River.
Red Deer is the hometown of two famous people, former NHLer Ron Anderson and current NHLer Glen Wesley.

Contents

History

Education

Demographics

Media

Sports

References

External links

History

★ Prior to European settlement, the area was inhabited by aboriginal tribes (Blackfoot, Plains Cree, and Stoney) and later by Métis and fur traders.

★ The city was named for the Red Deer River, which runs through it.

★ The first major road from Fort Calgary to Fort Edmonton was called the ''Calgary and Edmonton Trail''^[2] (abbreviated to C&E Trail) and it crossed the Red Deer River near the present city at Red Deer Crossing.

★ In 1882, a trading post was established at Red Deer Crossing.

★ During the Riel Rebellion of 1885, the Canadian militia constructed Fort Normandeau at the Crossing, which was later taken over by the North West Mounted Police, who used it until 1893.

★ By 1891, the Calgary and Edmonton Railway laid track east of the Crossing at the present site of the city.

★ In 1901, Red Deer was incorporated as a town with a population of 343.

★ In 1907, it became a major divisional point for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

★ In 1911, the Alberta Central Railway and the Canadian Northern Railway entered the town.

★ On March 25, 1913, Red Deer was incorporated as a city with a population of nearly 2800.

★ In 1922, the province established an institution in Red Deer for the care of the mentally handicapped, currently called the Michener Centre.

★ In the late 1950s, Red Deer claimed to be the fastest-growing city in Canada.

Education

;Post-secondary
Red Deer College was founded in 1964 as 'Red Deer Junior College.' Today, it offers adult upgrading, certificate programs, diploma programs, university transfer courses, applied degree programs, and apprenticeship and trades training.
;K-12 Schools
As of 2005, public school students in Red Deer are served by the ''Red Deer Public School District''.^[3] The RDPSD includes 13 elementary schools (K-5), four middle schools (6-8), one Christian school (K-9), several alternative school programs, and two high schools, Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School (1900 students in grades 9-12) and Hunting Hills High School (1400 students in grades 9-12). The city is also home to various Christian, especially Roman Catholic, schools such as Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Thomas, and École secondaire Notre Dame High School. The Catholic schools fall under the administration of the Red Deer Catholic Regional Division.^[4]

Demographics

In 2006, Red Deer had a population of 82,772 living in 33,894 dwellings, a 22.0% increase from 2001. The city has a land area of and a population density of .

Media

;Newspapers

★ ''Red Deer Advocate''

★ ''Red Deer Express''
;Radio

★ FM 89.9: CKTC

★ FM 93.1: CHIM-FM-5 (Contemporary Christian music)

★ FM 95.5: CKGY "KG Country" (country)

★ FM 98.9: CIZZ "Zed 99" (active rock)

★ FM 99.9: CBR-FM-1 (CBC Radio Two)

★ FM 101.3: CKUA-FM-6 (moved to FM 107.7)

★ FM 102.5: CBRD (CBC Radio One)

★ FM 103.5: CHFA-FM-2 (La Première Chaîne)

★ FM 105.5: CHUB "Big 105" (hot adult contemporary)

★ FM 106.7: CFDV "The Drive" (classic rock)

★ FM 107.7: CKUA-FM-6 (public radio) (new)
;Television

★ Channel 6: CHCA (CH)

★ Shaw Television

Sports

★ Red Deer Rebels

★ Red Deer Magpies

★ Red Deer Riggers

★ Red Deer Stags

★ Red Deer Generals

★ Red Deer Buccaneers

References

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External links

★ City of Red Deer

★ Red Deer Chamber of Commerce

★ Red Deer Royals Marching Band