More than 2,000 residents shared their views on life in Red Deer through The City’s Living in Red Deer Survey, offering a comprehensive look at how citizens feel about their community, services and local priorities.
Conducted from September 2 - 29, 2025, the survey invited all residents to provide feedback on topics such as quality of life, cultural life, parks and spaces, the environment, downtown, engagement with The City, perceptions of City Council and Administration, and priorities for the next four years.
“This gives us an opportunity to hear directly about experiences and aspirations for our community, from the 2,000 residents who responded to the survey,” said Tara Lodewyk, City Manager. “This snapshot complements our annual Citizen Satisfaction Survey by capturing the voice of the engaged community. Both perspectives help us understand not just how satisfied people are, but why they feel the way they do.”
While the Living in Red Deer Survey is an open, online, opt-in survey, where any resident can participate, the Citizen Satisfaction Survey is a statistically valid, third-party telephone survey designed to capture a representative sample of Red Deer’s population.
Key themes and priorities
The 2025 Living in Red Deer survey identified the following priorities residents believe City Council should focus on over the next four years:
- Homelessness & Housing
- Property Taxes & Budget
- Crime & Public Safety
- Drugs & Addiction
- Downtown Revitalization
- City Spending & Wasteful Projects
- Emergency Services Staffing
- Infrastructure and Maintenance
- Housing Development & Density
- Healthcare Access
The results of the Living in Red Deer Survey have been shared with City Council and Administration to help inform strategic and operational planning, including the development of future priorities and actions. The feedback provides valuable insight into the perspectives and experiences of engaged residents and helps highlight areas of interest, concern and opportunity across the community. At the same time, it is important to note that this survey is one of many tools used in decision-making, alongside the Citizen Satisfaction Survey, existing plans, research, professional expertise, operational data, and emerging trends.
“Listening to residents helps us focus our energy and resources,” said Lodewyk. “This feedback informs our work, from strategic planning to service delivery.”
The Living in Red Deer Survey will be conducted every two years, alternating with the annual Citizen Satisfaction Survey, creating a continuous feedback cycle that strengthens decision-making and transparency.
The full Living in Red Deer Survey Summary is available at engage.reddeer.ca/LiRD.