This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Red Deer, Alberta (Canada)

Last modified: 2018-07-04 by rob raeside
Keywords: alberta | red deer | maple leaf: white |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors


[Red Deer] 1:2 image by Eugene Ipavec
Source: Canadian City Flags, Raven 18

See also:

Red Deer

Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills that is home to oil, grain, and cattle production. It is a centre for oil and agriculture distribution, and the surrounding region is a major centre for petrochemical production.
Source: Wikipedia

Current Flag

Text and image(s) from Canadian City Flags, Raven 18 (2011), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright. Image(s) by permission of Eugene Ipavec.

Design

The flag of the City of Red Deer is divided diagonally into three sections. The central section forms a very wide band running from the base of the flag to its top, in width about 13/16 the height of the flag. On the lower right it intersects the base of the flag about 1/16 of the way from the hoist, on the upper right it intersects the top of the flag about 1/16 of the way from the fly. The resulting right-angled trapezoid on the left is red, with a Canadian maple leaf in white in the upper hoist. The right-angled trapezoid on the right is blue, with a stylized flower in red with five petals outlined in black.

In the centre is a full coat of arms in black and white, half the height of the flag. The shield has a horizontal top with points at the upper corners, straight sides, and a base ending in a small point. It is divided horizontally; the upper panel is slightly taller than the lower panel, which itself is divided vertically. The upper panel shows a scene of low mountains with a setting sun in the background and two dairy cows in the foreground; below its top edge are six milk cans. The lower panels show a plough on the left and an open book on the right. Supporting the shield are a unicorn on the left and a lion on the right (similar to the British arms). Above the shield is the head of a deer with prominent antlers, looking to the right. Behind the deer is a ribbon with CITY OF on the left and RED DEER on the right. Below the ribbon are 1901 on the left and 1913 on the right. Below the shield is a ribbon in three sections, inscribed EDUCATION INDUSTRY PROGRESS in black serif letters, the central word slightly larger.
Alison Wilkes, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Symbolism

The flag might be considered a variant of the Canadian pale design, with the central section a parallelogram rather than a square. As explained by the city, the City of Red Deer Flag is representative of the three levels of government: the maple leaf denotes the Federal level, the rose the Provincial level, and the City of Red Deer Coat of Arms the Municipal level. The wild rose (Rosa acicularis) is the provincial flower of Alberta. The symbolism of the coat of arms is explained by the city as well:
  • The groundwork of mountains showing the setting sun represents sunny Alberta.
  • The dairy cows in the foreground represent dairy farming.
  • Above the cow are six milk cans to denote the shipping of dairy products.
  • A Van Slyke breaking plow on the bottom left of the shield represents three distinct points: farming, a Red Deer invention and a Red Deer manufacturer.
  • An open book on the bottom right of the shield represents education.
  • Supporting the shield on the right and left respectively are the lion and the unicorn to represent loyalty to the Crown.
  • On the shield are the scroll and motto with the words Education, Industry and Progress.
  • Just over the shield the dates 1901 and 1913
    • showing the respective years Red Deer was incorporated, first as a town and then as a city.
  • A deer's head and scroll with City of Red Deer surmount the whole shield.
Alison Wilkes, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Selection

The flag design was approved by resolution of Red Deer’s city council on 6 June 1977, with an official dedication ceremony following on 26 August 1977. The coat of arms was designed as a result of a contest. In 1915, the city awarded $25 to the designer of the best coat of arms to represent Red Deer. According to the city, designs were submitted from all over Canada. Mr. Alex Mitchell, of the firm Mitchell & Jewell in Red Deer, won the contest. However, his design was not adopted as the official coat of arms until many years later.
Alison Wilkes, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Designer

Unknown. The arms were designed by Alex Mitchell.
Alison Wilkes, Canadian City Flags, Raven 18, 2011

Red Deer Centennial Flag

[Red Deer Centennial Flag] image contributed by Darrell Neuman, 1 April 2013

Source: http://www.reddeer2013.ca/assets/store/Flag_4586.jpg

The description of the logo is as follows:
“This logo is in the form of a tree, which represents the overwhelming popularity of the public parks and trails as the primary symbol of quality of life in our city. The tree also represents growth and life in a framework of stability and permanence. The colours in the tree are a celebratory representation of our diversity and the forms represent our life and joy, as well as referencing fireworks as a symbol of the upcoming celebration.”
Source: http://www.reddeer2013.ca/contact/about/
Darrell Neuman, 1 April 2013

Red Deer Regional Airport

[Red Deer] image contributed by Darrell Neuman, 24 April 2006

The colors of red, white and blue on the Red Deer Regional Airport flag reflect the same colors of the City of Red Deer flag.
Darrell Neuman, 24 April 2006

The flag - towards the hoist - a mostly red diamond with the silhouette of a jet in white, the trailing area of the jet in blue.

About the airport:

The Red Deer Regional Airport was built during World War II to train Al

lied forces. The airport was a former Canadian Air Force pilot training base for NATO pilots until 1965. The Military built the training airfield at this site because of the predominantly good flying weather and the un-congested airspace. Both factors are still valid today. The Red Deer area boasts good flying weather over 95% of the year.

The City of Red Deer took over operation of the airport in 1965 and the Province extended the main runway 16/34 to 5528 feet in 1980 bringing it up to "737" standards. The ownership of the airport was taken over on September 1st, 1999 by the Red Deer Regional Airport Authority which includes the City of Red Deer, Red Deer County and the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce as stakeholders.

Source: Airport History webpage

And noted in the news section of the website (probably a temporary article and not available for long term linking):

AIRPORT NEEDS $16M

12/07/05
BY LEA SMALDON AND ERIN FAWCETT
Red Deer Express

Red Deer's airport is at risk of deteriorating to the point of being unrecoverable unless millions are spent to upgrade infrastructure generally described as in poor condition, suggests a new study.

Gibbings Consulting found that the regional airport has basic infrasturucture challenges including fundamentals such as lighting, navigational systems, runway condition and length.

A $15.9 million capital investment will be needed to prevent growth at the airport from being impeded, according to the report which was released yesterday.

"If it's not fixed, much of the present facility will not be recoverable and will have to be completely rebuilt," concluded Merv Phillips, airport business manager.

Source: Airport update page
Phil Nelson, 30 April 2006