The Everything Red Deer Podcast -- powered by rdnewsNOW

A jam-packed bonus episode for you on this Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, featuring EIGHT interviews, all in reaction to the 2026 Alberta referendum, which took place on Oct. 19. Not all the folks we strove to get reaction from were readily available for this episode, so stay tuned for possibly more reaction to the referendum, both here on the podcast and at rdnewsnow.com.

Here's the rundown:

(3:30) - Thomas Lukaszuk, founder of Forever Canadian

(16:10) - Monte Solberg, founder of Vote to Stay

(21:53) - Ursella Khan, former Red Deer student

(26:17) - Frank Creasey, CEO of Red Deer District Chamber of Commerce (interview by rdnewsNOW's Ian Gustafson)

(30:55) - Dieulita Datus, executive director of Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta

(38:48) - Cindy Jefferies, mayor of the city of Red Deer (interview by rdnewsNOW's Ian Gustafson)

(43:45) - Jesse Smith, CEO of Tourism Red Deer

(49:22) - Burton Bailey, Member of Parliament for Red Deer

In town to promote national unity ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum in Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with podcast host and rdnewsNOW journalist Josh Hall. This episode is also watchable on YouTube.

Also on this episode, senior Alberta NDP MLA Sarah Hoffman who spoke outside the event on Friday at Red Hart Brewing. 

Red Deer Rebels PXP voice Troy Gillard (and former rdnewsNOW boss) joins the program to talk about the Rebels' great start to the season, what's to come, the excitement and buzz around the Centrium, and how they can get ahead as they play seven of their next eight games on home ice. Also joining the conversation is rdnewsNOW's in-house Rebels expert Ian Gustafson. We also talk about the World Juniors and memories of the Saddledome.

Catch In Case You Missed It, the weekly segment where we run down the week's top stories from rdnewsNOW.com, at the (20:37) mark.

Ep. 87 is graciously sponsored by our friends at Punksgiving III Music Festival. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

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Back to our regularly scheduled Friday programming...

Today, we feature conversations from an event held Friday, Oct. 2 at Westerner Park, hosted by the Red Deer Homeless Foundation (RDHF), Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC), and Dress for Success Central Alberta (D4SCA).

Hear from:

(9:32) Joe Roberts, the 'Skid Row CEO,' author of 'The Push for Change,' and motivational speaker

(18:51) Erin Forbes, executive director, D4SCA

(21:03) Mark Jones, CEO, CACAC

(27:49) Darcy Mykytyshyn, CEO, RDHF

Ep. 86 is graciously sponsored by our friends at Punksgiving III Music Festival. Find out on this episode how you can win one last pair of tickets ahead of the show. Tickets are available at Eventbrite. And who is our first winner? 

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On this bonus episode of the show, host Josh Hall first speaks with special guest Meagan Ophus. In our second segment today, Meagan shares her emotional story, and we listen.

Interspersed in this episode are some elements from the 2026 edition of 'A Day to Listen,' courtesy of our friends at the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund. More information is at www.adaytolisten.ca. Listen to more of 'A Day to Listen' on September 30, on 106.7 REWIND Radio and BIG 105 FM in Red Deer.

The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour crisis support to former Indian Residential School students and their families toll-free at 1-866-925-4419.

The Minister for Tourism and Sport, Andrew Boitchenko, joins our Sept. 25, 2026 show to talk about a significant funding announcement made on Thursday. For even more details on that, click here. Some community news and notes as well, plus In Case You Missed It.

The minister and host Josh Hall discuss said announcement, plus the World Cup of Hockey, the World Juniors, the Calgary Flames new arena, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, and what the Oct. 19 referendum means for upcoming events, including the World Juniors.

Ep. 84 is sponsored by our friends at Punksgiving Music Festival III. Find out on this episode (and Ep. 83) how you can win a pair of tickets to the show, from us. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

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This week's episode is sponsored by Punksgiving III, which goes Oct. 11 in Red Deer. Get your tickets here, and you can win your way in by listening to this week's episode. Two pairs are up for grabs.

(0:00) Interview with Josh Hauta of Punksgiving

(34:44) In Case You Missed It and this week's top 5 stories at rdnewsnow.com

(40:05) Recovery Day interview with Last Door's Giuseppe Ganci -- that event goes Sept. 26 with Trooper!

(48:39) See ya later!

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Twenty-five years on from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, The Everything Red Deer Podcast chats with Curtis Schaefer, acting chief of Red Deer Emergency Services. From where we were to the lessons learned, and from cancer coverage to the Firefighters National Memorial this Sunday, host Josh Hall and fellow rdnewsNOW reporter Ian Gustafson discuss with Schaefer the ever-rippling ramifications of that fateful day.

Curtis Schaefer (8:39)

Plus -- In Case You Missed It and the top stories of the week at rdnewsNOW.com (4:19)

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Yeah, I'm thinking we're back.

After an August off, the show returns with host Josh Hall positing on all that went on over the summer, plus an interview ahead of Labour Day with Siobhán Vipond, executive vice president with the Canadian Labour Congress. Vipond is visiting Red Deer on Sept. 7 and will be at the free community BBQ hosted by the Red Deer and District Labour Council. That runs from 11-2 at Canada 150 Square in Capstone.

Interview with EVP Vipond begins at (13:45)

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Did you miss Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Red Deer on Wednesday and the news that followed? It's believed to be the first visit of a sitting prime minister since Jean Chrétien following the Pine Lake tornado in 2000.

Have no fear, for listening to Episode 80 of the podcast will catch you up on the essentials of what was announced; plus a revelation that led to a separate story coming out of Carney's visit.

(0:00) First, host Josh Hall briefly discusses the tragic conclusion to the search for Calgary's Parker Wells.

(7:38) In Case You Missed It, and the top five local stories of the week at rdnewsnow.com.

(11:31) Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith, from the podium this past Wednesday in Capstone.

(22:51) Red Deer Mayor Cindy Jefferies.

(30:33) Talk next week!

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