Minister's Award recognizes an innovative City Bylaw

October 3, 2008

(Red Deer, Alberta) – The City received a 2008 Minister’s Award for Municipal Excellence recognizing Red Deer’s Drinking Establishment Licensing Bylaw at a ceremony this afternoon.

The bylaw, established in 2004, was recognized in the category of Safe Communities for demonstrating excellence and benefiting the overall practice of local government in Alberta.

“It is an honour to have been selected to receive this award. We are proud of the security this bylaw has brought to Red Deer citizens and business owners and we hope that it can become a best practice for other Alberta municipalities,” said Mayor Morris Flewwelling.

A panel of elected officials and municipal administrators reviewed nominations that were submitted via the Municipal Excellence Network, a partnership between Alberta’s municipalities, municipal associations and Municipal Affairs and Housing. For this new category, they reviewed submissions made from 2002 to the present.

“The intent of this bylaw was to minimize some of the negative effects drinking establishments can have on the community in order to protect public safety,” said Joyce Boon, Development and Licensing Supervisor. “Red Deer business owners have been very cooperative and receptive to the changes over the past few years and we feel the bylaw has been quite successful.”

Since 2002, this annual award program has recognized outstanding accomplishments in the provision of municipal services in Alberta. The awards are presented at the annual fall conventions of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties and at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association.

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For more information, contact:

Morris Flewwelling                                         Joyce Boon
Mayor, City of Red Deer                                 Development and Licensing Supervisor
403-342-8154                                                The City of Red Deer
                                                                    403-342-8192