Alberta West News: Dream Centre in Red Deer background info

I now have comprehensive information about the Red Deer Dream Centre. Let me compile this into a thorough background report.

Red Deer Dream Centre: Background Information

The Red Deer Dream Centre (RDDC) is a faith-based residential addiction recovery facility serving men aged 18 and older in Central Alberta. Located in downtown Red Deer at 4614-50 Avenue, the 40-bed center operates from a building with a distinctive history—the former Lotus nightclub and strip club—transformed into a beacon of hope for those struggling with substance addiction.rddc+2

Origins and Founding

The vision for the Red Deer Dream Centre emerged in 2018 when a coalition of Christian business owners and professionals in Red Deer recognized the urgent need for residential addiction treatment in their community. Wes Giesbrecht, a local commercial real estate agent, spearheaded the initiative on behalf of this group, which chose to remain largely anonymous during the early planning stages. The organizers were inspired by the Calgary Dream Centre and, ultimately, by the original Los Angeles Dream Centre founded by Matthew Barnett in 1994.cbc+4youtube

In April 2018, the group secured a 25-year lease with an option to purchase the former Lotus nightclub building in Red Deer's downtown core. What followed was a multi-year journey involving community consultation, regulatory approvals, and extensive fundraising.rddc+1

Development Timeline

2018: Vision initiated; 25-year lease secured for the former Lotus nightclub buildingrddc

2019: Development permit application submitted to the City of Red Deer. After extensive debate and community engagement, the application received approval on December 10, 2019cbc+1

2020: The organization achieved registered charity status (charity number 868153867RR0001) on February 25, 2020canadahelps+1

2021: Interior construction and renovations commenced in May 2021. Federal funding of approximately $500,000 was secured through the Reaching Home program to support capital renovations, which ultimately exceeded $1 million. Dr. Vincenzo Aliberti was appointed as the first Executive Director in September 2021rdnewsnow+3

2022: Renovations completed and fully paid for. The Red Deer Dream Centre officially opened its doors to clients in October 2022, welcoming its first residentsrdnewsnow+1

2023: The facility celebrated its official grand opening on June 9, 2023, after approximately seven months of operationsreddeeradvocate+2

Building and Capacity

The Red Deer Dream Centre building originally operated as the Lotus nightclub, a downtown entertainment venue. Through extensive renovations costing over $2 million, the space was transformed into a recovery facility featuring:rddc+2

Main floor: Public gathering space, exercise area, commercial kitchen, offices, and meeting rooms
Upper floors: Residential accommodations with 40 beds for male clients
Common areas: Group therapy spaces and areas for educational programming

As of late 2025, the center expanded its capacity by adding five private beds, bringing operational capacity to approximately 45 beds, with 30 beds typically filled. The facility can accommodate clients for stays ranging from the core 4-month program up to 12 months based on individual needs.rddc+4

Treatment Philosophy and Programs

The Red Deer Dream Centre employs The Genesis Process, a comprehensive relapse prevention program developed by Michael Dye that has been utilized for over 20 years. This evidence-informed approach uniquely integrates:genesisprocess+2

Biblical teachings and Christian spiritual principles
Contemporary neuroscience research on addiction and trauma
Cognitive therapy techniques
Proven relapse prevention strategies

While the center operates as a faith-based organization with programming informed by Christian spirituality, clients are not required to share Christian beliefs to be admitted—they must simply be willing to remain open to teaching that incorporates these perspectives.rdnewsnow+1

The program addresses addiction holistically through multiple dimensions:

Physical Support: Medical supervision post-detox, nutritious meals, safe housing, and exercise facilities

Mental Health Services: Individual counseling, group therapy, psychoeducation, and case management

Emotional Recovery: Trauma-informed care, processing underlying wounds driving addictive behaviors, and challenging faulty belief systems

Relational Restoration: Family reconnection support, peer community building, and social skill development

Vocational Training: Education upgrading, job skill training, and employment preparationcanadahelps+2

Clients work with dedicated case managers throughout their stay to develop personalized recovery plans and connect with community resources for housing, education, employment, and ongoing support after graduation.rddc+1

Leadership and Governance

The Red Deer Dream Centre operates under the governance of a volunteer board of directors. Key leadership figures include:rddc+1

Wes Giesbrecht: Board President and co-founder, a local real estate professional who has championed the project since its inceptionrdnewsnow+2

Darryl Wilkie: Appointed Executive Director effective January 4, 2026, transitioning from his previous role as Director of Client Care and Programmingfacebook+3

Bobbi Kroeger: Director of Operations, who has been with the organization for over three yearsyoutuberddc+2

Previous leadership includes Dr. Vincenzo Aliberti, Ph.D., who served as the founding Executive Director from September 2021 through November 2022.linkedin+2

Outcomes and Impact

Since opening in October 2022, the Red Deer Dream Centre has demonstrated meaningful recovery outcomes:

Success rate: Over 70% of clients who complete the program maintain sobrietyinstagram+3
Graduates: As of October 2025, 52 clients had graduated from the programreddeeradvocate+1
Alumni engagement: Many graduates remain connected to the center, with some joining the staff, volunteering, or participating in donor eventsinstagram+2

The center serves clients coming directly from detox facilities and provides a continuum of care that extends well beyond residential treatment through alumni support and community connections.canadahelps+2

Funding Model

The Red Deer Dream Centre operates through a mixed funding model combining public and private support:

Government Funding: As of July 2024, the center receives partial funding through a grant from Alberta Mental Health, administered by Alberta Health Services (AHS). This provincial support covers 50% of costs for 20 recovery beds. In September 2024, the province announced an additional $1.2 million over two years, bringing total government support to approximately $600,000 annually.rdnewsnow+3

Private Fundraising: The center's 2024 annual operating budget is $1.4 million, requiring approximately $700,000 to be raised annually through private sources:rddc

Freedom Funders: Monthly donor program
Cash donations: One-time and major gifts
Road to Recovery Walk: Annual fundraising walk held each September/October. The 2025 event (third annual) raised over $160,000, surpassing its $125,000 goalrdnewsnow+3

Client Fees: Treatment is offered on a sliding scale based on clients' income and financial circumstances, with fees determined during intakerddc+1

Cost Structure: The daily cost per treatment bed is $160, meaning each client requires approximately $4,800 per month for care.rddc

Community Integration and Partnerships

The Red Deer Dream Centre functions as part of Central Alberta's broader addiction and mental health ecosystem, collaborating with:

Safe Harbour Society (for medically supported detox services)youtubesafeharboursociety
Central Alberta Addictions Consortiumyoutube
Red Deer Systems Navigatorsyoutube
Alberta Health Services (AHS)rddc
Local churches, businesses, and community organizationsrdnewsnow+1
Recovery Alberta (the provincial mental health and addiction service delivery organization)rdnewsnow+1

The center also maintains connections with the Calgary Dream Centre, which served as a model for the Red Deer facility.calgarydreamcentre+2

Current Status and Future Directions

As of January 2026, the Red Deer Dream Centre continues to operate at capacity with strong community support. Recent developments include:

Leadership Transition: Darryl Wilkie assumed the role of Executive Director on January 4, 2026, bringing extensive experience from his previous position overseeing client care and programminginstagram+2

Capacity Expansion: The center added five private beds approximately two months prior to January 2026, which have remained consistently filledmuckrack

Future Goals: The organization has expressed hope to eventually add a recovery program for women, though this remains a long-term aspirationrdnewsnow+1

Provincial Context: The Red Deer Dream Centre operates alongside other addiction treatment facilities in the city, including the government-funded EHN Red Deer Recovery Community (75 beds, opened 2024), creating a more comprehensive treatment capacity for Central Alberta residents.edgewoodhealthnetwork+2

The Red Deer Dream Centre represents a grassroots community response to Central Alberta's addiction crisis, combining faith-based principles with evidence-informed treatment practices to provide hope and healing for men seeking freedom from substance dependence. With demonstrated success rates exceeding 70% and growing community support, the center has established itself as a vital component of Red Deer's addiction treatment infrastructure.facebook+5

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Dream Centre in Red Deer background info