Website encourages new labour force for the Region

Labour a significant issue for Red Deer area businesses due to changing demographics.

December 4, 2008

Attracting labour is a significant issue for local businesses in the Red Deer Region, but the new Moving to Red Deer Website hopes to change that by marketing the area to encourage newcomers and immigrants to choose Red Deer rather than a larger metropolis like Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal.

Red Deer Regional Economic Development (RDRED) launched Moving to Red Deer this month. “Many immigrants to Canada look at centers like Toronto or Vancouver when they come here – we want them to think Red Deer, and this website will be a key to the attraction and retention of a new labour force for this area,” says Michelle Zeggil, RDRED spokesperson. “This new website will act as an information portal, marketing the area in meaningful ways to newcomers.”

Moving to Red Deer contains all the information an individual or family needs to move to the Red Deer region. “Our goal is to provide detailed information to newcomers to spark their interest, tell them about the many successes in the area and help them through their move to Red Deer,” added Zeggil.

A user-friendly tool on the website will also help businesses in the area search for new staff and encourage them to come to Red Deer. “We encourage businesses to add a link to Moving to Red Deer on their own websites. This will help with the flow of information to anyone who is looking online and considering a move to the Red Deer area,” said Zeggil.

In line with another regional labour initiative, the Moving to Red Deer site will complement Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP)’s recent launch of a toolbox introducing best practices to support local communities in the attraction, retention and integration of new citizens to the Central Alberta Region. “CAEP shares our vision, to create a strong, community-focused approach to attracting and welcoming new citizens to Alberta to benefit our labour force,” said Zeggil.

For more information, please visit www.MovingtoRedDeer.ca.

RDRED is a strategic alliance between The City of Red Deer, Red Deer County, Red Deer College and the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce. The group’s annual meeting will be held February 4, 2009 at the Chamber of Commerce Ambassador luncheon.

- 30 -

For more information see the Moving to Red Deer fact sheet.

For more information:

Michelle Zeggil
RDRED Spokesperson
403.356.8892