Changes proposed by the provincial government could change the future of politics on a municipal level.

On Thursday, April 26th Minister of Municipal Affairs Rick McIver announced the United Conservatives are proposing changes to the Local Authorities Election Act through the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act. The changes include the province having the authority to remove a local politician from public office if it's in the "public interest" and allowing cabinet ministers to order changes to municipal bylaws.

In his announcement, McIver says that the changes are part of the provincial government's commitment to strengthen not only the democratic process but the local government.

"The changes we are making increase transparency for Alberta voters and provide surety their votes will be counted accurately. We know how important local democracy is to Albertans, and we will work with local authorities to protect and enhance the integrity of local elections," McIver said in a statement.

The Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act also includes the elimination of electronic tabulators and automated voting machines. This will result in all ballots needing to be counted by hand and reportedly "streamlining processes for scrutineers will provide voters greater assurance in the integrity of the results."

In Calgary and Edmonton, the province will be putting a pilot project in place, where the opportunity will be created for a local candidate to join a political party if they want to, but it will not be required.

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Work crews will be operating on the replacement of the culvert crossing on Lakeland Drive between 95th Street and 123rd Avenue in Grande Prairie on May 1st.

The project, near Crystal Lake Dog Park, would see the replacement of the existing structure with a new concrete design, the installation of new manholes, and surface repairs.

Notification signs will be placed near the area to alert residents and drivers of the upcoming project and the city says construction will affect traffic along Lakeland Drive, temporarily reducing the road to a single lane with alternating flow controlled by traffic lights; however, the bus stop in the area will remain operational to reduce the inconvenience for commuters.

Additionally, pedestrian traffic will be accommodated through appropriately placed detours as needed.

The city maintains that once the project is completed, the upgrades will contribute to the safety and functionality of the neighbourhood surrounding Crystal Lake.

Residents with questions regarding the project are encouraged to reach out to the city through Access GP at 3-1-1.

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A new proposed bill from the Province of Alberta giving itself the right to fire councillors and overturn bylaws at a local level has stirred up controversy among municipal leaders across the province.

Bill 20 has been described as a "huge overstep" by Alberta Municipalities, citing the lack of consultation with community leaders and saying it "appears to fundamentally redraw the blueprint" for local democracy in the province.

The Alberta government says the changes included in Bill 20 serve as a way to protect elections and ensure accountability from local leaders, and will "only be considered at last resort."

Vice President of Cities Under 500,000 for Alberta Municipalities and Grande Prairie City Councillor Dylan Bressey spoke personally on the matter, expressing his disappointment in the continued "lack of acknowledgment" from the province when it comes to local governance.

"I'm incredibly disappointed to see them bringing union and corporate donations into municipal elections, and this party politics I think is about injecting even more money into local races," he says. "This government doesn't appear to see municipal governments as a legitimate, fully-elected, order of government, they're increasingly seeing us as a wing of the provincial government which is not how I think local voters feel."

According to Bressey, the changes included in Bill 20 only serve to hamper the relationship between municipalities and the provincial government, especially with the introduction of political parties being permitted to run in municipal elections.

"Increasingly I'm hearing mayors and councils across the province tell me they get the impression that their relationship with the province is fundamentally broken and I don't think this is going to fix that relationship," he says. "The thing about municipal governments is we're not partisan players who are out to push specific ideologies, we just want what's pragmatically best for our communities."

Additionally, Bressey says that the changes introduced in Bill 20 are simply unwanted by Albertan voters. Bressey cites the numerous public consultations the province conducted with residents saying- "They refused to release the results of that consultation because it didn't go the way they wanted."

In response, ABMunis conducted their own series of public consultations in 2023, and Bressey says the results showed that Albertans are not interested in partisan politics being introduced at a local level.

"They found that Albertans simply don't support this, this is not on board with what municipalities are seeing as needs in their community, it's not on board with what Albertans are saying they want to see in their local councils," he says. "They're trying to make municipal governance hyper-political, which it's not, the vast majority of municipal politicians aren't full-time politicians most of them in Alberta are practically volunteers in small communities, they're not interested in this party stuff, all they want is good water, wastewater, police, fire services, recreation opportunities in their communities."

Bressey adds that while ABMunis sees the proposed changes as another strain on the relationship between the province and its cities and towns, the door is far from closed to open up further engagement and consultation with municipal leaders to ensure any changes that affect local governance are properly discussed with the people most affected.

"We're happy to collaborate with them if they want to collaborate with us, sadly with this bill coming out with so many changes that received absolutely no consultation, it doesn't seem that they want to work with their dually elected local governments," he says. "There are actually some good changes in this bill, but they're not going to have the full, positive impact they could because there's no consultation with the actual municipal employees and councillors who know what's actually needed to make these really land positively in the community."

In the coming days, ABMunis says they will be working to voice their disappointment with the proposed changes and sit down with the province to collaborate; however, Bressey and his organization maintain that the ball is in the province's court.

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The City of Grande Prairie is seeking input from residents on the city's lawn bowling facility.

The current facility is described as "underutilized" by the city and is due for upgrades to better serve the community.

According to the city, the facility, located in Muskoseepi Park, has secured funds through council's 2024 capital budget to make "necessary" upgrades that will see the existing outdoor turf replaced and updates to various amenities.

To combat the facility's underuse, the city has announced they will be exploring different activities and entertainment options in addition to lawn bowling in the facility and Mayor Jackie Clayton says the facility has the potential to serve as a major recreational hub.

"The Lawn Bowling Facility is currently an underutilized community space," she says. "I encourage residents to share their input and ideas on what you would like to see to help turn the facility into a space that can be enjoyed by all community members."

Interested residents can share their thoughts by participating in the online survey until May 9th.

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The City of Grande Prairie is reminding residents to stay aware of the risks associated with leaving belongings unsecured in public areas.

Residents are encouraged to take proactive steps to secure their belongings when using city facilities such as bringing a lock to areas that have provided lockers, avoiding bringing valuables into the facility altogether when possible, staying aware of their surroundings, reporting any suspicious activity, and avoid leaving personal items unattended.

Community Knowledge Campus Director Angela Redding says it is a "top priority" for the city to ensure facilities remain a safe and secure environment, and taking the necessary steps to keep personal belongings safe is a key part of keeping city facilities safe.

"Taking precautions to secure your belongings by following these tips allows each of us to contribute towards keeping City facilities welcoming and enjoyable for everyone," she says.

Lockers are available for public use at numerous city facilities like Eastlink Centre, Design Works Centre, Activity & Reception Centre, and the Aquatera Outdoor Pool; however, Eastlink Centre is the only facility with locks available for purchase.

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The Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department will be temporarily without on-site physician coverage numerous times between April 26th and May 7th.

The closure marks the third temporary disruption announcement from AHS in April alone.

This time, the ED will be without physician coverage from 7:00 a.m. April 26th to 7:00 a.m. April 27th, and again from 7:00 a.m. April 29th to 7:00 a.m. May 7th.

Nursing staff will remain to provide triage, assessments, and referrals for patients to alternate emergency departments as needed.

Residents are asked to call 9-1-1 in case of emergency and AHS says EMS will remain available to residents during this time.

Healthlink 8-1-1 will also be available for residents 24/7 for non-emergency health-related questions. Residents with specific needs are also reminded to search for services available through local pharmacies.

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Sean Sargent and his A-Team celebrated their 13th smile cookie delivery campaign to spread joy across Grande Prairie at local schools.

Tim Hortons smile cookies have been a long-standing Canadian tradition and Sargent and his team say the event marks one of the most important times of the year. The local Toyota dealer says the event kicks off the feeling of charity among students and school faculty while supporting the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital foundation.

[caption id="attachment_119694" align="alignleft" width="300"] Cookies up for delivery in this year's campaign (Ethan Montague, mygpnow.com)[/caption]

"[We] started just buying cookies for the schools that my wife and I used to go to in Grande Prairie, Swanavon, Hillside, the comp, and after doing that for two or three years, we decided let's buy cookies for all the schools," he says. "Back then I think it was only 18,000 cookies we bought, now there's a lot more schools so we're buying 22,000 cookies and we're delivering them to all the schools over the next couple of days and that's kinda the kick-off for the campaign."

With 100 per cent of the proceeds going toward the GPRHF, Sargent says despite all the hard work, he can't help but smile when he sees the look on everyone's faces when they receive their cookie.

"You feel good buying the cookie, you feel good eating the cookie, you feel good giving it away," he says. "All the kids and administration and staff at schools, they love getting them so it makes us feel great to deliver them too."

After 13 years, and nearly a quarter million dollars raised, the question of why a local car dealer turned philanthropist keeps going is a fair one; however, Sargent maintains that the tradition is a staple for both him and the students who receive a smile cookie every year.

[caption id="attachment_119695" align="alignleft" width="300"] The fully loaded A-Team van (Ethan Montague, mygpnow.com staff)[/caption]

"As soon as we go to the first school and you see the kids' eyes light up, and I've been doing this for so long now, I mean there's kids that have been getting these cookies for literally their entire life in school so they really appreciate it and that really warms my heart to see them appreciate it."

Sargent says he hopes that his continuation of the annual campaign will inspire Grande Prairie youth to recognize the importance of giving back to their community when they grow up.

"Hopefully they will learn when the teacher explains to them about philanthropy and donating and giving back to your community, we'll get some youngsters growing up to be philanthropists in the future."

Smile cookies will be up for sale from April 29th to May 5th across Canada in support of local charities.

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The Town of Peace River has issued a fire ban, replacing a fire advisory, thanks in large part to dry conditions and continued fire danger in the region.

Municipal officials say all outdoor wood fires are now prohibited, including campfires on public and private lands, campgrounds, and backyard firepits. Also prohibited are charcoal briquette BBQs, open flame oil devices, or the use fireworks, flame powered floating lanterns or exploding targets.

Residents are still however permitted to use things like propane, natural gas, or electric powered cooking, heating, and lighting appliances, as well as indoor wood fires contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor.

The municipality also says the use of Off-Highway Vehicles is not permitted on public lands and roadways within the Town of Peace River limits. If you’re using an OHV on private lands, please ensure that debris, such as dried grasses and leaves aren’t collecting near the hot parts of your OHV such as the muffler, exhaust, under your seat, in the wheel wells, engine, and manifold.

The ban will remain in place until further notice.

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Alberta Health Services is set to open Spirit River's first Type B Continuing Care Home spaces to help residents receive a "higher level" of care closer to home.

The Province and the Federal Government have committed $24 million in funding to replace the current Pleasant View Lodge, and according to AHS, the new facility will see 52 supportive living spaces that were previously unavailable in Spirit River.

According to AHS, Type B care facilities provide a "home-like" environment for residents that provides round-the-clock on-site care services by licensed nurses and healthcare professionals. Additionally, officials say of the 52 Type B spaces, half will be dedicated to residents with dementia.

The Grande Spirit Foundation will manage accommodation services to current Pleasant View Lodge residents, and AHS will manage the care needs of CCH residents.

The spaces are on track to be available in "early summer" and interested residents who wish to contact an AHS home care case manager at 1-(855)-371-4122, to discuss options.

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Grande Prairie City Council has approved a new policy regarding the regulations business owners will face if they wish to open up an outdoor patio during the warm season.

The new policy features four different options for business owners to consider when opening up an outdoor patio.

The first option would see tables and chairs placed on the sidewalk while keeping a clear path for pedestrians, the second would allow businesses to open a patio on the street within the curb lane by taking up a parking space, the third would allow businesses to create a sidewalk patio while pedestrians are re-routed through the curb lane, and the fourth allows businesses to open a patio on the sidewalk within a fenced off area while keeping most of the sidewalk open for pedestrians.

[caption id="attachment_119661" align="alignleft" width="300"] Option 1 concept (Supplied, City of GP)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_119662" align="alignleft" width="300"] Option 2 concept (Supplied, City of GP)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_119665" align="alignleft" width="300"] Option 3 concept (Supplied, City of GP)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_119664" align="alignleft" width="300"] Option 4 concept (Supplied, City of GP)[/caption]

All four options carry the same $100 fee for businesses, and Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton maintains that the fee is "not a cost recovery," but a way for the city to keep track of patios that are opening up in the city.

"It's really just to have a process to reduce any liability, have a proper process so that we're aware of any patios that are out there, so people that want to have a patio know the expectations and the standards, the $100 is a fee, it's a small fee that's applied against the processing of the permit but it's not cost recovery," she says.

Discussions surrounding parking in the downtown core came up among council as a result of the policy, especially among options two and three which would see parking spaces utilized for patios; however, Mayor Clayton says an evaluation conducted by the Downtown Association revealed that parking should not become an issue downtown.

"Council always looks at what makes our downtown stronger; however, there is a significant amount of parking, maybe not always right in front of the store that you choose to shop at, but there are other public parking spots available," she says. "The one or two spots that are sometimes taken with an outdoor patio is minimal in regards to the total number of parking spots overall."

Interested business owners can apply through the City of Grande Prairie after filling out an application form with photos of the building's frontage, site plans, and proof of liability.

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Members of the Peace Regional RCMP assisted in the evacuation of 174 inmates from the Peace Regional Correctional Centre, and dozens of residents during a wildfire near Shaftsbury Trail and Bricks Hill on April 23rd.

According to police, officers immediately deployed and attended all homes directly affected by evacuation efforts.

Additionally, the RCMP requested assistance from the Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence Response Program, which saw Alberta Sheriffs and Fish and Wildlife officers deployed to assist police during the evacuation. Assistance was also provided by Alberta Forestry, Correctional Officers, and local fire departments.

Water bombers and helicopters were also deployed and helped with scene containment, evacuation efforts, fire suppression, and more.

As the blaze crept closer to the Peace Regional Correctional Centre, the local RCMP contacted the Peace River School Division, asking for buses to preemptively transport 174 inmates in the facility away from the fire danger.

The RCMP escorted transportation buses to RCMP detachments in Valleyview, High Prairie, Slave Lake, Lakeshore, and Spirit River where inmates were temporarily held until transfer could be made to other facilities in the province.

Residents are asked to avoid the affected areas as wildfire danger remains high in the region, and to protect their own safety and the safety of first responders.

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Northwestern Polytechnic has announced the launch of another program in the school's continued efforts to localize post-secondary education and retain job seekers in Grande Prairie.

The latest offering is an Agriculture Operations diploma which NWP President Dr. Vannessa Sheane says will build on the school's strong presence in local rural communities like Fairview.

"We are looking forward to equipping graduates with skills for modern agriculture and farm operations, and to helping address the workforce challenges being felt across our signature industries," she says.

The two-year program has an anticipated start date of 2024, was developed through consultation with industry partners, and will see two "extensive" work terms where students will have the opportunity to develop practical skills while working alongside experienced industry professionals that will translate to their future jobs.

Additionally, NWP says the program will provide a "solid foundation" for students in equipment operation and maintenance, hauling livestock and grains, and strategies to be successful in industry.

Applications for the diploma will open sometime this year and interested students are encouraged to visit NWP's website to register their interest in the program.

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Fire crews are responding to an out-of-control wildfire in the Peace River region between the town of Peace River and Grimshaw.

According to Alberta Wildfire, the blaze is located approximately 20 kilometres southwest of the Town of Peace River and around seven kilometres southeast of Grimshaw heading towards the river.

Officials have confirmed the blaze was out of control as of 8:00 p.m. on April 23rd and was last estimated to be around 400 hectares in size.

Ground crews, aircraft, and heavy equipment have been deployed and worked to control the flames through the night.

Some residents near the blaze were evacuated as a result and the MyGrandePrairieNow.com newsroom has reached out to both the Town of Peace River and Alberta Wildfire for comment, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

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The Canadian Olympic Committee's talent search organization- RBC Training Ground will be returning to Grande Prairie for the first time since 2017.

Numerous scouts from 11 different Olympic sports will be at the Eastlink Centre to find new talent for Team Canada. The training ground is free and open for any athlete between the ages of 14-25, regardless of their sport background.

During the event, athletes will have their measurements taken and will have the chance to show off their speed, power, strength, and endurance to talent scouts from Bobsleigh, canoe/kayak, climbing, cycling, freestyle swimming, luge, rowing, rugby, speed skating, volleyball, and wrestling.

According to the RBC Training Ground, numerous athletes have already secured their spots on Team Canada ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, marking a significant milestone for the organization after five training ground graduates represented Team Canada at the Beijing Games in 2022.

Interested athletes can register online on the RBC Training Ground's website.

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City of Grande Prairie assessors will begin canvassing neighbourhoods the week of May 13th to update tax assessment records and perform exterior property inspections to ensure "accurate data."

Grande Prairie Assessment and Taxation Director, Scott Smith says the neighbourhood canvassing is an "essential part" of maintaining the accuracy of city property records.

"It allows us to ensure that all property assessments reflect the current market conditions, which in turn guarantees fairness and transparency for all residents in their property taxes," he says.

Photos and inspections are completed every five years and establish a record of any changes to properties for tax time.

Neighbourhoods being canvassed this year include Country Club Estates, Country Club West, Crystal Lake Estates, Lakeland, and Mission.

All city assessors will be in clearly marked vehicles with a City of Grande Prairie badge and will have ID badges on hand to confirm their role in the project. The city says the project will be ongoing throughout the summer and should be finished in late August.

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Valleyview RCMP responded to reports of a two-vehicle collision involving a school bus on Highway 43, before 9:00 a.m. on April 22nd.

According to police, EMS treated several victims upon arrival at the scene near Williamson Park Road. Two adults and five children were taken to the hospital with "various" injuries, and have all been released and treated since then.

Investigators say that the bus appeared to proceed across Highway 43 after stopping on Williamson Park Road and was struck by a truck moving eastbound.

The driver of the bus was issued one violation ticket for "failing to proceed when safe" after stopping and a second violation under the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation.

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Taxes in Grande Prairie are up by nearly 0.7 per cent, to a 3.97 overall municipal mill rate increase following city council's decision to not move forward with a separate Stormwater Utility billing system.

During council's 2024 budget deliberations, a proposal would have seen residents and businesses paying a separate utility charge for stormwater drainage, as opposed to the current model which includes stormwater utilities in property taxes. Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says the decision comes after a series of public engagement sessions that ultimately led to the proposal being shot down.

"Council's discussion tonight considered the fact that in consultation with the community, the community would rather see that revenue recouped for stormwater through taxes rather than a separate stormwater utility bill," she says.

As a result, the municipal government was forced to find money from other avenues to fill the gap that was originally included in the 2024 budget. Council identified four items to reduce the tax increase including the $1 Million originally allocated for firebreaks that have since been completed utilizing solely provincial funding, a $600K surplus from the year-end of 2023, "some amount" from council's Strategic Priorities funding pool, and approximately $400K from the proposed covered dome structure, which Mayor Clayton says will have no impact on the project this year.

"The dome amount doesn't impact the future of the dome, this was because the dome will not be operationalized in 2024," she says.

Despite the increase, city council maintains that the 3.97 per cent rate still puts Grande Prairie at the lowest increase of property taxes compared to Edmonton, Calgary, and other mid-sized cities.

"It also puts us at the lowest tax increase on a 10-year average across Alberta," Clayton says.

The topic of council's continued efforts to mitigate tax increases in the city came up as well with some councillors expressing concern that pulling funding from reserves to artificially lower taxes in Grande Prairie might not be sustainable; however, Mayor Clayton says that with the city's revenue streams being so "limited" it is important for council to keep taxes low no matter the cost.

"Revenue streams are very limited, we do not have linear assessment growth, we do not have machine and equipment revenue, we pay a significant amount of money to public safety, and so unlike other municipalities we are limited in our revenue streams," she says. "There is discussion around how often can you put reserves towards keeping the taxes affordable, and end of the day, that is limited by the amount in your reserves."

"We know that people are under stress, we recognize that it costs more for people to simply live every day, rents are going up, utilities are going up, groceries and gas go up, and so council works very hard to keep tax as minimal as possible."

Mayor Clayton adds that her council remains "optimistic" that revenues will increase through taxation, not through additional increases but by growth in the community.

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The Peace River School Division has announced its pick for the 2024 ASBA Edwin Parr Teacher Award.

Grimshaw Public School Grade 3 teacher Ethan Toews was nominated by his principal Jessica Shaw who describes him as a "true asset" to the K-12 school through his teaching style that addresses every one of his 24 students' needs.

"Mr. Toews is dedicated to both his students and to the larger school community," Shaw says. "He models regulation and coaches students through conflicts with consistent care and compassion."

Toews is also described as having a calm, supportive, and approachable demeanor, allowing his students to feel comfortable when asking for help in both their academic and personal struggles.

Toews also works to connect with his students outside of instructional time and can often be seen participating in active supervision while playing alongside his students at recess.

The grade 3 teacher will be celebrated at the school division's upcoming Long Term Service Staff Awards on May 10th and again at the ASBA Zone 1 Annual General Meeting this fall where a Zone 1 winner will be selected.

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Bandaged Paws Animal Rescue is hosting its second annual "Pose for Paws" contest to raise money for the shelter and give Grande Prairie pet owners the chance to feature their furry friends in Bandaged Paws' 2024-25 calendar.

The contest began last year as a way to raise money for Bandaged Paws in a fun and engaging way. Bandaged Paws Executive Director Natasha Arsenault says with the success of last year's campaign, the decision to return for another year was an easy one.

"It's amazing for us, it's a busy time of year for use and we've been running at capacity for a very long time at the moment so it's really great to have this fun option for our supporters," she says. "Last year we raised just over $13,000 so it was quite a surprise because we were thinking- oh maybe $2,000."

Submissions are open for anyone at a $5 donation, and all of the money raised, including calendar purchases, will go directly to the shelter's animals. Pets are selected through a public voting system across two categories- dogs and cats/critters, with the top six in each of the two categories will be featured in the calendar.

"The most important part of getting votes is to share them among your friends and family that love your pet just as much as you do," Arsenault says.

The contest comes to a close on April 25th and the top-voted pet overall will be featured on the calendar's front cover. Interested individuals can submit a photo or vote online through the Bandaged Paws website.

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Earth Day is underway across the world and the Peace Country is no different.

Grande Prairie celebrated Earth Day in a big way with a day of festivities across the city on April 20th, and free public transit to mark the occasion.

The Town of Wembley has been quite vocal on social media, sharing awareness campaigns and tips for residents to observe the occasion and Wembley CAO Noreen Zhang says while their town might be small and resources might be limited, it is still important to engage with the public on some measures they can take to celebrate Earth Day.

"We just want to encourage everyone to be mindful of their environmental footprint and impact to whatever decisions they have to do in their daily activities," she says. "It's about encouragement and information and awareness, the big key thing is awareness because if people don't understand what it is for people just see it as just another thing that's out there."

Zhang adds that it is important for residents to remember that Earth Day should not be a one-time change. She says Earth Day serves as a reminder for the public to stay aware of the environmental impacts in their day-to-day lives.

"What we're trying to do is make sure they are aware that Earth Day is not just a day that people are going through, but it's something that could impact generations to come," she says. "It doesn't have to be just for one day that you actually turn off your lights and that you actually are cautious of the resources that you have, but it's a daily thing, it's a lifestyle change that people can actually adopt."

In Grande Prairie, the city's 2024 City Scrub event is underway until April 30th to encourage residents to do their part in cleaning up the city after the snow melt.

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