Community Stories

Community Building – In More Ways than One

November 01, 2018

Construction is well underway on the Northside Community Centre, located at 6391 - 76 Street in Red Deer.

Construction is well underway on the Northside Community Centre, located at 6391 - 76 Street in Red Deer. The 22,000 sq. ft. complex will include multipurpose spaces for events, meetings, arts, culture and fitness programming, as well as a teaching kitchen. The facility is a welcomed addition to the surrounding neighbourhoods and the construction is helping the local economy by using many central Alberta contractors.

Construction started in May of this year and is expected to continue into mid-2019 providing approximately 30 people with work that is close-to-home.  Red Deer-based Scott Builders is the general contractor for the project.

“It’s important to us and The City to work with local companies,” said Raymond Rogers, Project Manager for Scott Builders. “Trades workers often travel for work and opportunities that allow them to stay home and spend quality time with family and friends are always a plus.”

The development of the Northside Community Centre has included the involvement of many different community partners – The City sat down with neighbouring residents and surveyed them to explore the possible amenities that would be included in the design; the centre will have a strong connection to the Glendale School of Sciences and Technology and Glendale Skate Park, and have a youth gathering space and interactive play area for children; an added bonus is that construction will improve traffic flow for the neighbourhood of Glendale, with right in/right out access to 77 Street.

The City recently entered into an agreement that will see the YMCA of Northern Alberta operate the facility when it opens in 2019. The YMCA has a long history of community building and dedication to strengthening the foundations of community through their programs and services. The Northside Community Centre will feature flexible and multi-functional spaces and a range of services in arts programming, leisure activities, meeting spaces, learning opportunities and recreation programs that promote lifelong participation and community engagement.