Outreach Centre plans move to downtown Red Deer
The Outreach Centre will relocate its offices to downtown Red Deer this fall, moving into Youth HQ’s Centre for Social Impact at 4808 50 St. during the week of Sept. 14, the organization announced in a media release on Thursday.
Executive director Laura Cowell said the relocation represents a continuity of services rather than a change in mission. The move is intended to create opportunities for collaboration with other downtown agencies and to lower operational costs so a greater share of resources can be directed to frontline programming.
“The work we do is about people. While our location is changing, our mission is not,”
The agency warned the office will be temporarily closed during the physical move. Aside from a planned transfer of one program, The Outreach Centre said all other programs and services will continue without interruption.
Tools for School program shifts back to United Way
As part of the transition, the Tools for School program will return to United Way Central Alberta. United Way CEO Chelsea O’Donoghue said the program’s return will allow the organization to marshal schools, social service agencies, donors, volunteers and corporate partners to continue supplying essential school materials to local students.
“This transition creates an opportunity to strengthen and expand the community partnerships that make Tools for School possible,”
The Outreach Centre previously delivered Tools for School in partnership with United Way. The transfer of that program was the only service singled out in the release; The Outreach Centre’s board president, Gillian Goheen-Smith, said the board is focused on sustaining the organisation for the long term.
- New address: Centre for Social Impact, 4808 50 St., Red Deer
- Planned move week: Week of Sept. 14
- Program transfer: Tools for School returns to United Way Central Alberta
Local implications and context
Relocating to a downtown hub can centralize services for clients who rely on transit connections or who already access supports concentrated in the city core. The Outreach Centre framed the move as a cost-saving measure that will preserve funding for direct service delivery. For partner agencies, a shared space under Youth HQ’s Centre for Social Impact could deepen day-to-day coordination, but it will also require operational adjustments during the transition.
United Way’s assumption of Tools for School returns a well-known fall initiative to an organisation that originally established it in the community. United Way says it will continue coordinating donors, volunteers and corporate partners to ensure families receive necessary school supplies.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Relocation site | Centre for Social Impact, Youth HQ — 4808 50 St. |
| Scheduled move | Week of Sept. 14 |
| Program change | Tools for School moves to United Way Central Alberta |
Residents who rely on The Outreach Centre’s services are advised to watch for further details about any temporary office closures and to contact partner agencies if they need immediate assistance during the move week. The organisation emphasised that core services will continue and framed the changes as steps to ensure stability and sustainability.
