On Saturday, October 1st, Premier Jason Kenney cut the ribbon on the Red Deer Recovery Community. Construction on the site is almost complete.

The new 75-bed facility will provide people with the resources, tools and time to help them recover from addiction. Residents can stay up to a year, accessing services that range from medical detox and opioid agonist medications to programs that help improve other aspects of their lives – from skills development and relationship building to employment, financial and housing supports. As part of our government’s commitment to removing barriers to care, treatment is free for all Albertans.

Also at the ceremony was Ken Johnston the Mayor of The City of Red Deer who said:

"Red Deer is proud to be home to the first recovery community built in Alberta. This project has been a sign of hope for the people of Red Deer at a time when addiction has had such a significant impact on our community. In the coming weeks Red Deer will discuss how we can put even more of a focus on recovery from addiction to build a healthier and safer community.”

The Red Deer Recovery Community is an important step in building Alberta’s recovery-oriented systems of care. Five more recovery communities are in various stages of planning and construction in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Gunn and on the Blood Tribe First Nation.

The operator of the Red Deer Recovery Community is being finalized after a national competitive process took place. The operator will be announced once that process is finalized and when the Red Deer Recovery Community begins welcoming clients in November of this year.

The MLA for Red Deer North, and Minister of Education, Adrianna LaGrange, says she is very proud of the facility.

“The Red Deer Recovery Community will provide life changing support to so many people here in Red Deer. As the local MLA, I could not be more excited that this project is very nearly complete, and I look forward to welcoming clients in the near future.”

Quick facts

  • Recovery communities are a form of holistic, long-term residential addiction treatment operating in more than 65 countries around the world.
  • Construction is near completion, at a cost of approximately $24 million, including the initial $5 million investment made in 2020 through Alberta’s Recovery Plan.
  • Every year, up to 300 Albertans will receive help at the 75-bed treatment facility in Red Deer.
  • Albertans struggling with addiction can contact 211 Alberta for information about addiction treatments and supports available throughout the province.