The Community Compass is a roadmap of the community’s shared values and guiding principles that will shape how the City plans and delivers community services from 2025 to 2037. It’s about aligning services with community priorities, improving efficiency, and planning smarter for the future.
Red Deer’s Community Compass
The City of Red Deer is developing Red Deer's Community Compass: Our Master Plan for Service Delivery - a long-term plan that will guide how The City plans, delivers, and invests in public-facing services over the next 12 years.
Services such as recreation, parks, transit, arts and culture, planning, social supports, emergency response, and more will be included. The plan will help us deliver these services more consistently, transparently, and in alignment with what matters most to our community.
This work was first recommended in the 2021 Value for Money Audit and builds on the City's commitment to continuous improvement. It supports Red Deer's Vision for 2050 and will help ensure all services remain responsive, coordinated, and future-ready.
The Community Compass will:
- Define guiding principles for community services
- Set clear priorities to guide investment and planning
- Support smarter, evidence-based decision-making
- Reflect community feedback, values, and needs
When to expect the plan
With the research phase complete, the final plan is now being developed. The final draft plan will go to Council in April 2026 to seek their support.
Once the plan is supported, it will be published on The City’s website, along with the research reports (What We Learned, What We Heard and Mapping report).
The plan will be implemented by aligning existing plans as well as future plans and projects using the guiding principles and values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this plan being developed?
The need for a coordinated plan was first identified in the 2021 Value for Money Audit. As our city grows and changes, so must our approach to delivering services. The Community Compass builds on Red Deer’s Vision for 2050 and provides an opportunity to connect the work of different areas under the City’s overall strategic goals.
What kinds of services will be included?
The plan will look at all public-facing services, including recreation, transportation, permits and licensing, public safety, parks, growth, planning and more. If you use the service as a resident, it is part of the plan.
How will this benefit the community?
By defining clear priorities and principles, the plan will help The City deliver services more consistently, efficiently, and equitably - now and into the future.
How can I participate?
Throughout the planning process, residents were invited to share their input on current services and help shape future priorities. Through the engagement process, there were a total of 1,170 touchpoints, including:
- 575 respondents to the online and paper surveys
- 299 respondents to the City of Red Deer employee survey
- 85 responses through the community organization online survey
- 20 participants in the public open house
- 10 participants in the targeted interviews
- 30 participants in the community organization focus groups
- 150 participants in the community pop-ups
Every comment, idea, and concern we received is being reviewed and analyzed to identify common themes, priorities, and opportunities for improvement. While not every suggestion can be implemented, all input will help shape the overall direction of the plan.
In February and March 2026, The City will be reaching out to individuals who participated in the engagement process to validate that their voices are reflected in the research used to develop the plan.
Will I be able to see a summary of what the community said?
Yes, a What We Heard report will be completed summarizing all engagement tactics and will be posted on engage.reddeer.ca, as well as within the final Community Compass report.
Will this plan change or eliminate any services?
No decisions have been made yet. The Compass is about listening to community needs, confirming shared values, and helping guide how services evolve over time so they remain relevant and sustainable.
How is this connected to Red Deer’s Vision for 2050?
The Community Compass supports Red Deer’s Vision for 2050 by ensuring our services grow alongside our community. It reflects our commitment to being vibrant, connected, and ready for the future.