Grande Prairie residents around the city are preparing for the coldest weekend of the winter so far and the Alberta Motor Association has released a few tips for homeowners to avoid any damage caused by the extreme temperatures.

Graham Carstairs, a Claims Manager for the AMA says taking a few simple measures can save residents thousands of dollars in water damages. He says calls regarding burst pipes and water damage spike during the thaw, but simply staying mindful of any potential issues can make a significant difference.

“One of the steps we strongly recommend homeowners take is to drain the hose spit, the sprinklers outside of your home, turn off your water and then bleed out that water,” he says.

Carstairs adds that people tend to go away for the cold season, so any snowbirds planning to migrate during the cold are reminded to take extra precautions before leaving. According to Carstairs, 70 per cent of AMA members report they do not turn off their water when they leave their homes, so having a trusted family member or friend check on your home while away is a critical step in avoiding any hassle.

“One of the things we recommend is that you have people checking in on your home every day, or that you install a device to monitor the pressure of your plumbing.”

Additionally, Carstairs says many homeowners will not even notice any damage until the thaw, and by the time it is noticed, it is usually too late.

“Ironically, what happens a lot of times is when its really cold that’s not when the water claims happen,” he says. “What happens is this blockage of ice in the plumbing system goes unnoticed until that ice melts and the problem with frozen water is that it can occur in multiple areas, so sometimes it can be hard to locate if there’s one or multiple areas of frozen water.”

Renters should also remain cautious of frozen pipes, Carstairs says if you live in an apartment with radiant heating, it is important to maintain a baseline temperature to avoid any spikes or drastic changes to your heating system.

“It’s really important to remember that if you live in an apartment and you have radiant heating, even if you get hot in your unit, not to open a window, because that cold air sinks and that can cause a lot of damage,” he says. “I would not turn the heat down within reason, you want to retain a minimum heat in your unit.”

Carstairs says even though you might end up a bit uncomfortable, the cold snap is temporary, and being cautious is a worthwhile endeavour to save thousands of dollars in damages.

The County of Grande Prairie and its communities have announced a new partnership with online directory- “Yolo Nomads” to attract remote workers to the county.

County of Grande Prairie Reeve Bob Marshall says the announcement reflects the county’s commitment to growing the community in innovative ways. He says the county offers a mix of modern work life and rural charm for remote workers.

“Partnering with Yolo Nomads opens a new chapter for the County of Grande Prairie, showcasing our beautiful rural living as an ideal setting for remote workers,” he says.

The service features an online hub on Yolo Nomad’s website, complete with a list and guide of the county’s communities and opportunities to aid any potential job seekers in their journey to working in the Peace Country.

The number of people unemployed in the economic region, including Grande Prairie, ticked downwards from November to December. According to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate for the Athabasca – Grande Prairie – Peace River region was 4.3 per cent in December, down from the 4.4 per cent reported the previous month.

The number of people unemployed across the region also saw a year-over-year decline compared to the 5.1 per cent reported in December 2022.

Across Alberta, the unemployment rate for the 12th month of 2023 was 6.3 per cent, a slight uptick from the 5.9 per cent reported in November and 5.6 per cent reported in the same month the previous year. The Red Deer region recorded the highest unemployment rate in December and the Camrose-Drumheller region reported the lowest.

The Alberta Electric System Operator has ended the grid alert issued over the weekend after returning to normal market conditions.

AESO says grid alerts are only issued when the power system is under stress and the service is preparing to use emergency reserves to meet the high demand as a way to mitigate the possibility of more drastic emergency measures to balance the system.

AESO adds that temporary rotating power outages could be implemented during grid alerts to ensure the system’s reliability; however, outages are only used as a “last option.”

Extreme cold temperatures forecasted for Monday morning has resulted in a few bus cancellations.

All Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation buses, Valhalla Community School, and First student buses have been canceled for Monday, January 15th. However, according to Peace Wapiti School Division administration schools in the division will be open.

I got word from the Grande Prairie Public School Division and they are canceling only a few school buses for MORNING only:
Buses for this morning only:
C51
C19
C17
C22
C45
C49
C52

The Alberta Emergency Management Agency has issued an emergency alert across Alberta due to concerns surrounding “high power demand” on the provincial grid.

According to AEMA, extreme cold has led to high demand on the province’s power grid this evening. As a result, residents are being asked to limit their electricity use immediately to essential needs only. Unnecessary lights, electrical appliances, space heaters, and major power appliances such as laundry machines and dryers should not be used during this time.

Additionally, residents are asked to delay charging electrical vehicles, plugging in block heaters, and cook with microwaves or other small appliances instead of the stove.

Lethbridge MLA Nathan Neudorf says in addition to our own power generation, the province’s grid receives electricity from neighbouring provinces, and extreme weather in British Columbia and Saskatchewan has impacted electricity sharing.

“Albertans have a history of pulling together in times of emergency,” he says. “If we all make small changes like those listed above, we can keep each other safe through another extremely cold evening.”

Additionally, residents are asked to unplug all electric appliances when not in use as they continue to drain energy even when they are turned off.

UPDATE: Alberta Health Services says the temporary closure of the Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department will end 12 hours early, having found physician coverage. The department will re-open and be available to area residents as of 7 p.m. Friday, January 12th. On Wednesday, January 10th the provincial health authority announced the temporary service disruption, with the original scheduled closure being from 7 a.m. Thursday, January 11th to 7 a.m. Saturday, January 13th.

The Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department will be without an on-site physician from Thursday to Saturday, causing a temporary department closure.

According to Alberta Health Services, the disruption will start at 7 a.m. on Thursday, January 11th and is expected to end at 7 a.m. Saturday, January 13th.

However, the provincial health authority says the disruption will be cancelled if sufficient coverage is found.

Nursing staff will remain on-site to provide triage and assessments. EMS calls will be rerouted to surrounding facilities, including the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.

The city of Grande Prairie is in the midst of a seemingly sudden cold snap; however, Environment and Climate Change Canada officials say the immediate risk is not in the swiftness of the change, but the long-term effects of the cold on the community.

Residents might remember an unseasonably warm New Year’s Eve at the end of 2023 and ECC Preparedness Meteorologist Natalie Hasell says temperatures were in the positives nearly until the new year.

“If we look at the data there was actually positive temperatures on December 31st,” she says. “We went from a high of minus two on the first to yesterday [January 7th] a high of minus eighteen so that is a relatively quick transition although there are times we see a frontal passage which could mean a very abrupt change.”

The frontal passage Hasell cites refers to a weather phenomenon that occurs when cold, dry air moves into a warm area causing inclement weather like wind gusts and cold temperatures.

Hasell adds that the concern is really the long-term effects of extreme cold temperatures. She says frozen soil could become a serious issue for residents in the spring depending on how the rest of the winter goes.

“It’s not necessarily the fact that it’s a swift change but it’s that we are getting to very very cold temperatures,” she says. “Because we’re reaching these cold temperatures and we might be reaching them for an extended period of time, the soil might become frozen quite away down, and that takes a very long time to thaw.”

Hasell says should the ground freeze enough over the winter, concerns such as pipe bursts and agricultural problems could become a significant issue for the city when it warms up.

The Grande Prairie RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing 40-year-old man.

Dallas Tanner Gomolchuk was last seen in Grande Prairie on December 23rd. According to police, it is believed he may have travelled to Edmonton.

Gomolchuk is described as a six-foot-one man weighing 205 pounds with a fair complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Gomolchuk is asked to contact the Grande Prairie RCMP at (780)-830-5701.

Grande Prairie is finally frozen over, and after a long delay, temperatures are now the coldest they’ve been all winter.

Despite concerns surrounding the extreme temperatures, Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says the winter conditions could be looked at in a more positive light for the city’s winter industries.

“It’s nice for many reasons, the industry sectors that require the ground to be frozen during winter are happy,” she says. “I’m seeing people out in the community skating, seeing the ski hill being able to make more snow right now and actually getting some natural snow is great to see.”

The Nitehawk Year-Round Adventure Park recently announced they will be closed through the weekend due to the extreme temperatures; however, officials say the facility’s snow-making crews are producing at a high rate thanks to the temperatures.

Mayor Clayton continues, saying the city is encouraging its residents to embrace the winter when temperatures go back to normal.

“Winter is something that we encourage people to embrace; however, when temperatures get to a certain level, they simply are just not safe for people,” she says. “Make sure you’re dressed appropriately, but also once the weather gets to a comfortable winter temperature, we encourage people to get outside and embrace what the opportunities are in a winter city such as ours.”

A series of winter-related events are scheduled in the city for the rest of the season, including the highly anticipated Alberta Winter Games in February.

Several people have been left without a home following a blaze in the Mountview neighbourhood on Wednesday afternoon.

The Grande Prairie Fire Department says they arrived on scene shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday, and encountered smoke and flames coming from the attached garage of the home. Officials say they were able to effectively suppress the fire and stop it from spreading to nearby properties despite the blisteringly cold and windy conditions.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire. An investigation into the cause of the blaze remains ongoing.

Grande Prairie is set to freeze this weekend, with average daily highs of -40°C, and as a result, the city has taken a few precautions to ensure the safety of Grande Prairie’s unhoused population.

According to Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton, the city has maintained contact with numerous individuals experiencing homelessness through the GPPD’s mobile outreach team and enforcement services.

“We are aware of individuals who potentially are living in the streets,” she says. “They [enforcement services] have regular communication with them to make sure they are in a safe place, that is extremely important to monitor the situation to keep people out of the risk of harm when the weather gets that severe.”

The mayor adds that warming centres such as the Wapiti Shelter will be available for those who need them, and plans are in place to provide transportation to facilities during the snap.

“We do have the street outreach centre which is, in essence, the city’s warming centre.”

The mayor adds that the current Fletcher House facility has moved in a number of individuals; however, the city says it will not function as a warming centre during the winter.

Additionally, Wapiti House was recently awarded funding from the Provincial Outreach Support Services Initiative for an additional 10 spaces, and 13 spaces at St. Lawrence Centre.

The City of Grande Prairie has announced parking bans on permanent snow routes beginning on January 10th.

The bans restrict parking on permanent snow routes from Monday to Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

The city says the bans are necessary to ensure safe access to roadways for snow removal vehicles and crews during operations.

“By enacting parking bans on designated snow routes, we aim to streamline snow clearing efforts and ensure safe passage on roads for every driver,” the city says.

Residents parking on Priority 1 and 2 roads are asked to relocate their vehicles in two scenarios- if there is a windrow (snow at the bottom of a driveway) down the center or a parking ban has been declared (Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)

Crews have already begun plowing and sanding the priority road network due to snowfall on January 9th.

The City adds that a notice will be issued on the city’s website and social media to inform residents once the parking ban is lifted.

As Grande Prairie prepares for its biggest cold snap of the season, Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a few safety tips for residents getting ready to brave the cold.

According to ECC, extreme cold warnings are issued when temperatures drop to 40 below or colder with wind and Preparedness Meteorologist Natalie Hasell says that temperature is considered “very high risk” for frostbite.

“Any amount of wind will lead to really significant windchill and a very high risk of frostbite and hypothermia,” she says.

According to Hasell, exposed skin can freeze in as little as 10 minutes. She adds that exposed extremities in particular like the tip of the nose, fingers, and toes are at a higher risk than other skin if they are exposed.

Hasell says a good rule of thumb is if your skin begins to turn red or feel painful, that can be an early warning sign for “frostnip,” the beginning of frostbite.

“Pay attention for signs of frostbite,” she says. “If it goes from pain to numbness or tingling, that means the tissues under the skin including the nerves are starting to freeze, that is frostbite, and as you can imagine if it were to continue long enough this could lead to a very serious medical situation which could involve amputation.”

Additionally, Hasell says to pay attention to those around you who might be experiencing the early signs of freezing. She says getting people indoors as quickly as possible and allowing them to warm up slowly could make the difference between feeling chilly, and potentially facing a serious medical problem.

“If people are complaining that their skin hurts, there’s a good chance things are freezing, get people indoors as soon as possible, and allow them to warm up slowly.”

She adds that your best bet to avoid injury during extreme cold temperatures is not going outside at all; however, if you have to go outside, it’s best practice to cover as much of your skin as possible.

“Ideally if you do have to go outside at all you plan your time so that you don’t have to be outside for an extended period of time.”

“Dress warmly, preferably in layers, look for material that gives you good insulating properties, your outer layer should also be wind resistant, footwear should be insulated at waterproof.”

Hasell adds that if it is too cold for you, it is too cold for your pets, so it’s best to delay any walks for your furry friends until the temperatures warm up.

Cool Aid Society officials say the decision to close the “Red Barn” location in Grande Prairie was a hard one to make but ultimately was a necessary one.

Executive and Financial Director AmandaBeret Gerber says like many organizations the Cool Aid Society has been facing financial challenges since the pandemic along with rising costs. However, she says one of the biggest issues that the organization is facing at this time is the decline in community support and engagement.

“Despite trying to maximize everything that we could we had to come to the difficult decision in December to close that facility and put our main focus on one facility.”

Gerber says the organization has also seen a decline in youth engagement, which she says could be attributed to potential misunderstandings of the organization, along with the programming and resources they offer.

“We offer diverse inclusive programs, from educational initiatives and awareness campaigns on critical issues such as mental health, body positivity, bullying to recreational activities, and skill-building workshops. We started to create a more well-rounded space for all youth.”

“So regardless of background or socioeconomic status, our doors are open to every individual who is looking to learn, grow and develop. In the past we have potentially had a stigma that we are only for low-income families, or that we are only offering a certain program, and I think that might be some of that misconception that has arisen in the past.”

The programs are focused on working with those ages five to 17, and Gerber says though having to make the announcement about closing the organization’s north location was hard, they are looking forward to the upcoming launch of a pair of programs. On February, 1st the Cool Aid Society in partnership with the Grande Prairie Centre for Suicide Prevention will host an 18-week program youth mental health program tailored to three different age groups.

“We are going to be doing interactive, activity-based programs, where we are going to be building positive connections, fostering healthy conversations, developing self-awareness,” “We are going to be covering issues all within there that include health, stress management, wellness, body positivity and more.”

Along with the mental health program, the organization is also launching what Gerber says is a “unique career-driven program” that collaborates with professionals in the Grande Prairie community. The program will focus on the concepts of career exploration, emotional well-being, and financial literacy. The “Business Plan for our Tweens and Teens” program allows the young participants to learn about different careers in the Grande Prairie community, chance to master interview tactics, financial literacy education, an understanding of tax planning, along with the ability for the youth to take advantage of different volunteer opportunities.

Gerber says as exciting as the announcement of the pair of upcoming programs is, she understands the closing of the “Red Barn” location is a disappointment to those who accessed the facility. However, Gerber says the organization is actively looking at ways the families can access the south location.

Grande Prairie’s upcoming Grande North Winter Festival has been shrouded by the looming freezing conditions forecasted for the same weekend; however, Grande Prairie City Council says plans to update the public are in place should any changes take place.

The event features a number of outdoor winter-related activities for attendees to enjoy and Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says the event was created for residents to embrace the winter instead of shying away from the cold.

“It’s interesting, initially this event was brought forward because we wanted our community to experience winter and to show what it’s like to embrace winter,” she says.

The mayor adds the days of the event were planned out due to “abnormally” warm temperatures in past years but with temperatures set to drop as low as -40°C, conditions could be too dangerous for residents to be outside.

“We’ve been very fortunate the last couple of years that it’s been abnormally warm and this first year it looks like it will be traditional January weather.”

Council says they are now planning to update residents on a “day-by-day” basis and plans to bring some of the events indoors are in place.

“There could potentially be some changes to the programming, some of it can move indoors, some of it can’t obviously,” she says. “There may potentially be some activities that are cancelled but at this point, we are looking forward to entertaining people in our community and residents and visitors that may be in the community, while encouraging people to embrace winter.”

Residents are encouraged to follow the city’s social media for updates should any changes be made.