Red Deer councillor withdraws motion on equity, diversity committee
Tristin Brisbois pulled the notice of motion after council members objected to her last-minute rename of the proposed body to the Community Perspectives Advisory Committee.
Why it matters
The decision affects how Red Deer's council plans to address community concerns raised after racist demonstrations in the city last year.
Red Deer city councillor Tristin Brisbois has withdrawn a notice of motion that would have directed city administration to study creating an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. She withdrew it Tuesday after fellow councillors raised concerns about her decision to rename the proposed group the Community Perspectives Advisory Committee shortly before the meeting.
Brisbois said she changed the name because she felt it better reflected the motion's intent, and acknowledged the switch was partly a response to community backlash over the terms diversity, equity and inclusion. She said the goal was to give council access to different lived experiences and subject-matter expertise, not to impose policy quotas.
Councillors Chad Krahn and Kraymer Barnstable argued existing community groups already do this work and that forming a new committee suggests council has answers it doesn't. Councillor Jaelene Tweedle said the renaming disconnected the motion from an anti-racism proposal the Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership brought to council in July, following racist demonstrations outside local immigrant-support offices in March 2025.
Councillor Dianne Wyntjes said the conversation should continue, with councillors gathering input from community groups before deciding next steps. Dieulita Datus-Hall of the Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership said she hopes council will continue a deeper conversation on anti-racism.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.