Curbisde recycling in Clairmont is moving ahead as planned for all residents, despite some voices of disapproval. County CAO Bill Rogan says when they surveyed the community on their interest in the program, there were a few opposed parties, but they were in the minority.

“I think a couple of those people were still saying they really don’t want the service, and is there some way to not have it. Unfortunately once the community makes that decision we’re not able to selectively delete people from the list, rather everybody gets the service.”

The recycling service, which rolled out in Clairmont yesterday, means an extra $3 added to monthly utility bills.

Calgary-Hays MLA Ric McIver has announced this morning that he will be running for the leadership of the Alberta PC party. McIver resigned as Minister of Infrastructure yesterday. He says the party is losing the confidence of Albertans, and he wants to work to regain that support by practicing common sense thinking. Former Minister of Municipal Affairs Ken Hughes announced his intention to run for the premiership in April. The nomination period officially opens on May 15, with the elections set for September this year.

A half ton pick up truck did a number on a home in Royal Oaks last night. Around 9:45 pm emergency crews were called to the home where the found the truck had driven into the side of the attached garage, and broken through the other side before coming to a stop. According to the Grande Prairie Fire Department, the truck also collided with a small car before driving into the house. The driver of the car had only minor injuries, while the driver of the pick up truck fled the scene. The damage done to the garage was extensive, and an investigation is under way.

Members of the Golden Age Centre have approached the city to get their blessings to start work on fundraising for a new facility. The current Golden Age Centre, which is owned by the city, is over 40 years old and has Handicap Accessibility and parking issues. GAC Past President Jim Smith says they also need more space in order to incorporate programs that would attract the younger generation of seniors.

“The programming that they have, like Zumba, and Pickle Ball, and floor shuffleboard, we do not have a facility that is big enough to accommodate those programs like that.”

Smith expects it would take around 4-5 years to fund raise and build a new facility. The city’s Community Living Committee asked administration to work with the GAC board on what all is needed in a new building.

On the heels of events like the 1995 Canada Winter Games and the 2010 Arctic Winter Games, could another multi sport event be on the horizon for the region. The city and the county are being asked to co-submit a letter of interest in hosting the 2017 Alberta 55+ Winter Games. Grande Prairie Sports Council Executive Director Karna Germsheid says hammering out bid details like host facilities would only be done after a letter of interest is submitted.

“We are only at the point of where we just need to say if we are going to go forward with this or not.  And then we are certainly going to talk to some of the sports organizations.  We do have some relationships with groups like the Wapiti Nordic ski trails.  They are great.  They want to host as much as they can.”

City council will hold a special meeting within the next week to determine it’s support, while Germsheid is slated to visit County council on Monday. The deadline to submit letters of interest in the games in May 15th.

Irish boxer Danny Quinn, who has called Grande Prairie home for the last three years, laid claim to the Alberta Golden Gloves boxing tournament over the weekend. Quinn is technically considered a rookie, because his Irish citizenship doesn’t let him compete in most sanctioned competitions. He has plenty of experience though, with roughly 90 fights under his belt. Quinn says since leaving Ireland he hasn’t had a chance to compete, so it felt great to get back in the ring and put his training to work.

“So going into the fight I know how hard I train, when you’re living that lifestyle, you’re kind of confident, you believe in yourself, you’re making all the right choices, and to be honest, I knew going that if I fight to the best of my ability, then I’m going to be a hard man to beat. ”

In his first bout of the tournament Quinn beat reigning provincial champ Tanner Wilson, and took the tournament title after beating Calgary’s Jordan McNaughton the next day.

Quinn says while he is hoping hoping to enter more tournaments once he has his permanent residency, he doesn’t expect to ever reach the national level. However, Quinn says he has high hopes for another Grande Prairie boxer, Thomas Tordoff.

“He only has like six or seven fights, and I’ve noticed him get better and better. And he won the Golden Gloves novice, he won that the first day, and obviously this year that motivates me. I was so happy to see him do well.”

Quinn’s coach Raphael Bergman says the Golden Gloves title coming back to Grande Prairie is especially significant, as it was 100 years ago in 1914 that the first boxing match was held in the city.

Photo courtesy Champion Gym

The Bezanson Ag Society is looking for a $2.8 million injection of funds from the County of Grande Prairie to get the ball rolling on a new community centre facility upgrade.

The proposed Community Cultural Centre, which includes walking trails, a new building, and a campground, has been laid out in three phases. Audrey Hewings with the Ag Society says the Bezanson Memorial Hall will be the centre piece of the project.

“That’s where our people come together, that’s where our families come together to gather whether in fun or whether to grieve . We have a fairly large property that we feel that we can develop and work with to meet more of the needs of the people in the community.”

Phase one includes the design and development of a new regional Community Cultural Centre building, the construction of multi use community center, a walking trail connecting the hall and the school, and the first 10 sites of a campground on the property.

Hewings says the would like to get started with phase one in August. The county has indicated their support for the project, but no funding has been committed. So far the Ag society has raised $255,000 of the $3.4 million price tag.

Fox Creek RCMP are investigating the theft of an ATM in that community.Police say around 4 am this morning they responded to a call of a break in at Ernie-O’s restaurant. One or more suspects had forced their way into the building and stolen the ATM. If you have any information about the theft, you’re asked to get in touch with the Fox Creek RCMP Detachment or crime stoppers.

Fire crews are still battling a blaze on the city’s south end, though it is now under control. Platoon Chief Tony Lutzmann says fire fighters were called to Canadian Storage on 84 Ave and 111A Street around 5:20 this morning. At the time the building was fully ablaze. Crews will spend the next few hours putting out hot spots and mopping up. Lutzmann says the damage to the building is likely extensive.