Every Albertan living with addiction deserves the opportunity to pursue recovery. With construction of the new Red Deer Recovery Community nearly complete, more Albertans will soon get the help they need in this long term therapeutic recovery community– the first of its kind in the province.

“Alberta’s government is making sure that every Albertan has the opportunity to pursue recovery from the devastating and destructive illness of addiction. The Red Deer Recovery Community symbolizes just how far we have come in three short years toward building a system of care that is comprehensive, coordinated and effective – with recovery as the ultimate goal. This project, and new ones like it to be built in Edmonton and Calgary, will give more people a fighting chance to recover from addiction and build a new life.”

Jason Kenney, Premier

“Addiction and mental health challenges have taken a significant toll on central Alberta over the past decade. Increasing treatment capacity in Red Deer is long overdue, and we are proud to make this investment in the community. With more recovery communities being built across the province, Red Deer will be a shining example of what can be accomplished when we focus our efforts on helping people recover.”

Mike Ellis, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

“This is more than a building – it’s a beacon of hope for people seeking help for addiction. We’re proud to have led the construction of a project that will have a profound impact on the people of Red Deer and on the lives of so many Albertans in their pursuit of recovery.”

Nicholas Milliken, Minister of Infrastructure

“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.”

Adrianna LaGrange, Minister of Education and MLA for Red Deer-North

“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.”

Ken Johnston, mayor, City of Red Deer

Construction on the Red Deer Recovery Community is nearly complete. Following the completion of construction in October 2022, the building will undergo a commissioning before entering service. Once that process is complete, clinical operations at the recovery community will start ramping up.

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.

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.

Alberta spends more than $1 billion annually on addiction and mental health care and supports, including prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery. This includes adding more than 8,000 new publicly funded treatment spaceseliminating daily user fees for residential addiction treatment; launching the Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) app; expanding opioid agonist treatment; and fully covering the cost of the injectable opioid treatment drug Sublocade.

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.