Gail Surkan - 2025 Honourary Degree Recipient

Gail Surkan, who grew up on a farm outside Regina, has dedicated her life to community building, education and public service, leaving a lasting impact on Red Deer Polytechnic, the City of Red Deer and Alberta. Her career has been defined by collaboration, strengthening institutions and advancing opportunities for education and economic growth.

As Red Deer’s first female Mayor, serving from 1992 to 2004, Gail led the city through a transformative era. Her leadership in regional partnerships and strategic planning also helped shape her advocacy for Red Deer Polytechnic.

Early in her career, Gail served on the 1989 RDP Foundation Board of Directors, where she began the critical role of strengthening ties between the Polytechnic and community. Ten years later in 1999, she was instrumental as Mayor in securing a $1 million partnership between the Polytechnic and the City, leading to the development of a new on-campus library accessible to both students and residents. This initiative spurred additional fundraising efforts, ultimately raising more than $7 million to enhance educational resources and opportunities. Her ability to bridge municipal leadership with higher education underscored her commitment to fostering academic prosperity.

Gail’s contributions to Red Deer Polytechnic extend beyond financial advocacy. In 2019, she played a key role on the Canada Winter Games Board, helping develop the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre - an innovative facility supporting academics, athletics and wellbeing. In 1998, she led the development of the Central Alberta Economic Partnership, an initiative which included the leadership of RDP and was the first of several economic partnership models developed across Alberta.

Beyond RDP, Gail held prestigious board positions across the province, including Ensign Energy Services, Agricultural Financial Services Corporation, ATB Financial and the University of Alberta. She has also played a leading role in health care, serving as Chair of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.

Her service has earned widespread recognition, including the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship, Alberta Centennial Medal, Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal and RDP’s G.H. Dawe Memorial Award for Excellence. Twice named one of Alberta’s 50 most influential people by Venture Magazine, Gail’s leadership has shaped RDP, Red Deer and Alberta as a whole. Her legacy is one of advocacy, mentorship and visionary leadership.