Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says looking ahead to 2022 has her filled with a sense of optimism, despite some setbacks felt by those across the region over the last 12 months.
Clayton says having worked with COVID-19 for almost two years, and with the government continuing to track and adjust to the current situation, she believes the city is in a better position than just a year ago. However, she says the changes made, temporary as they may be, have been tough on residents and business owners across the region.
“It’s still concerning to many people and businesses any time there are closures, or businesses forced to make changes… it’s tough for them to adapt,” she says.
“That is something, going through the holiday season, dampens people’s emotions [and] optimism, however, everyone is optimistic about 2022, economically and socially… if we can come out of the holiday season and be optimistic I think we will be in a much better place than 12 months ago,”
Clayton says on the back of what the city is boasting as it’s largest capital spending year on the books, she believes future growth and opportunities remain plentiful in the region.
“We hear from economists and industry itself that 2022 is really going to be a strong year for this region, and I’m looking forward to getting our hands dirty,” she says.
“Getting through the holiday season and looking forward to 2022 just to see what will come, because the discussions we are having now really make 2022 look like an excellent year.”