Year one of The Everything Red Deer Podcast has come with so many opportunities to speak with incredible people, including politicians, musicians, youth, Indigenous Elders, veterans, executive directors, and the list goes on. This is the second of two 'Best Of' episodes, and if you missed the Sports Edition on Nov. 28, do check it out. In addition to our regular Friday segment, ICYMI, here's who you'll hear condensed interviews with on this episode:

9:27 - Meagan Ophus, Rethink Red Deer Common Ground Garden Project, speaking on Earth Day. (Episode 18)

17:42 - Former Mayor Ken Johnston on the debate around Alberta separation; 24:17 - Former Mayor Ken Johnston on advice for the next city council and mayor; 27:39 - New Red Deer Mayor Cindy Jefferies reflects on her election win. (Episodes 22/42/47)

33:15 - Bonnie Critchley, candidate in the federal by-election for Battle River-Crowfoot, which was eventually won by CPC leader Pierre Poilievre, and which was taken over by the Longest Ballot Committee. (Episode 30)

38:40 - Bill Henderson, lead singer of the band Chilliwack, who performed in Rimbey at Rock the Track this past summer. (Episode 34)

45:35 - Teaser from Francis the Pig mini-documentary style episode. (Episode 39)

49:56 - Aaron Howse with the Red Deer Indigenous Dance Troupe speaks about World Rivers Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Episode 43)

Over the coming weeks, watch for more of The Everything Red Deer Podcast, including a birthday special, Dec. 12, and two rdnewsNOW.com Year In Review specials Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

It's been a fantastically fun first year of The Everything Red Deer Podcast with many amazing guests. This is the first of two 'Best Of' episodes -- this week sports and next week news. Today on the podcast, you can hear a new edition of our weekly segment ICYMI, plus the best of the show's sports interviews from year one with:

7:11 - Stettler hockey player and motivational speaker Jesse Jack

15:45 - Olympic champion, mental health advocate, and 2025 Alberta Sports Hall of Famer Clara Hughes

24:27 - Stanley Cup champion and 2025 Alberta Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Nieuwendyk

30:51 - New author, 2x Paralympian, and Red Deer's own Tammy Cunnington

Over the coming weeks, watch for more of The Everything Red Deer Podcast, including a birthday special, Dec. 12, and two rdnewsNOW.com Year In Review specials Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

Red Deer has renamed its downtown recreation centre, the Don Moore Recreation Centre. On this week's episode, host Josh Hall catches up with some of the people who knew him and knew of his great contributions to the community of Red Deer. Hear from his son Glenn Moore, City general manager of operations Sarah Tittemore, old colleague Jim Fry, and a performance, by Don's son Rick, of the song "A Man Who Got Things Done," which was originally written as a poem about Don by old colleague Neil Garvin. And of course, we have IN CASE YOU MISSED IT and the top 5 local stories of the week at rdnewsNOW.com.

Welcome to this bonus and milestone 50th episode of The Everything Red Deer Podcast, which is dedicated entirely to Remembrance Day. Here's what you'll hear on this episode:

• Opening remarks from host Josh Hall (0:00)
• In Flanders Fields (8:22)
• Community friends share what remembrance means to them (9:07)
• Interview with Al Cameron, founder Veterans Voices of Canada (17:46)
• Interview with Ray Stuart, second vice president, Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 35 (Red Deer) (26:50)
• Closing remarks and thank yous (40:57)
• Flowers of the Forest (audio courtesy Canadian Department of Defence) (43:11)

Thank you to all who contributed: Ashley Lavallee-Koenig, Ian Gustafson, Sheldon Spackman, Jordan Rein, Joyce Ross, Colleen Dufresne, Nicole Spooner, Al Cameron, Ray Stuart, Jamie Worthington, Moises Ruiz, Nora Penner and Cadet Nevin from Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School, Cadet Landon Siemens plus Vrinda Chalyguina and Cindy Tong from Hunting Hills High School, as well as the Royal Canadian Legion's (Red Deer) acting president Kay Born, and Mayors Cindy Jefferies and Brent Ramsay. Thanks to Universal Production Music for various audio.

Indigenous veterans stories

Red Deer War Memorials Tour

This week, get to know a little about Brent Ramsay, who was recently elected the new mayor for Red Deer County. That interview took place this week at Red Deer County council's swearing-in ceremony, and was conducted by rdnewsNOW's Ian Gustafson. We also have In Case You Missed It, with the top stories of the week at rdnewsNOW.com. Don't miss our very special 50th episode, dedicated to Remembrance Day, this TUESDAY, Nov. 11.

Krissy Fiddler, show manager for the 41st annual Agri-Trade, is this week's feature guest on the show (8:48). Agri-Trade might sound like it's only for one group of people, but we're here to squash that theory, because Agri-Trade is definitely for everyone! We also have some PSAs from the Red Deer Rebels and Red Deer Christmas Bureau, and of course, In Case You Missed It (4:26), going through the top five local stories of the week at rdnewsnow.com.

Mayor-elect for the city of Red Deer, Cindy Jefferies, joins rdnewsNOW's Josh Hall in studio at BIG105 to discuss, one-on-one, winning the Oct. 20 municipal election, and a wide variety of topics, including the busy campaign, her mayoral bid loss in 2013, priorities for council as the term begins Nov. 3, property taxes, dynamic staffing at Red Deer Emergency Services, homelessness, housing, Downtown desirability, crime and the RCMP, the delay in getting election results, the plan to widen the QEII through a precious piece of wetlands, the CPR Bridge project, and working with the Government of Alberta. More election results and reaction from around central Alberta are here and here.

The Alberta teachers' strike is coming to a head, and the energy among teachers was evident Friday in Red Deer where a rally was held at City Hall Park. Host Josh Hall was there to catch up with ATA local presidents Evelyn Chan and Sara Lambert (7:31), as well as Meagan Parisian with the Alberta School Councils' Association (14:06). Finally, we have audio from a press conference held Friday featuring Premier Danielle Smith and Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides (18:37), talking about the strike. Of course, In Case You Missed It (4:25) runs down the top five local stories of the week at rdnewsNOW.com.