Organizers of the 2015 Alberta Special Olympics Winter Games have unveiled the logo for the event. Organizing committee chair Cristy Ellen says the logo is a multi-coloured swan, with the colours representing the Northern Lights.

“We had a really hard time coming up with what the logo was, because it is winter, and we wanted to emulate the trees, snow, and what it would be.  But we wanted to keep within what the “Swan City” is.  So the beautiful swan with the winter colors just fit the theme.”

Around 500 athletes and 150 coaches are expected in Grande Prairie for the 2015 games, which go February 20th to 22nd, 2015.

FREE-FM image (L-R) Organizing committee chair Cristy Ellen and committee member Darren Pedersen unveil logo for 2015 Alberta Special Olympics Winter Games.  

Work is expected to begin later this spring on 15 road improvement or paving projects in the County. Public Works superintendent Herb Pfau says they were able to save around half a million dollars from what had been originally budgeted for this work. He attributes that to bundling several projects into two seperate RFP’s.

“When you put them all together, industry takes a little harder look at them.  We put estimates together but to industry, these are real costs when they tender or put their prices down.”

Wapiti Gravel Suppliers were awarded both contracts, at a total cost of over 12.5 million dollars. Pfau says the work is scattered across the entire County.

Less than a month after he resigned as federal finance minister, Jim Flaherty has passed away at the age of 64. Peace River M-P Chris Warkentin says Flaherty was one of the hardest working members of the P-C caucus.

“Jim has dedicated so many years to public service.  He has dedicated more hours over the past several years than Canadians could ever imagine to ensuring that we had a stable economic reality here in Canada.”

Warkentin says Flaherty was recognized internationally for the stability he provided for Canada during some of the most difficult economic times in recent history. He adds Flaherty will also be remembered for his kind, gentle and compassionate nature.

An investigation by the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council has confirmed a local car dealership has been overcharging customers.

According to the CBC, MJW Auto Sales and Leasing has admitting to charging for optional features and saying they were mandatory.

The company runs Western Truck Farm and Grande Prairie Mazda, and says the practice has stopped and salesperson training has been stepped up.

The industry regulator was alerted to the issue a year ago when a customer went to pick up a truck he’d bought and had to pay $1,200 dollars extra.

MJW will have to pay to cover the cost of the Industry Council investigation.

The new Royal Oaks K to 9 school opening in 2016 will have a space to share with the city. The Grande Prairie Catholic School District and the city have found an opportunity for collaboration in a field house that would be used primarily as a community space, but would also allow for extra programming for the school. However, Superintendent Karl Germann says the city’s investment in the project will be deferred for a few years until after construction on the school is complete.

“You build it to a school construction standard it’s a very high quality and you get a lot of concrete in it, and you get a lot of concrete block, but maybe in a field house you don’t need that same kind of quality and so you can build it more like a basic metal building and it would save a lot of money. It would probably come in at less than half the cost.”

Depending on the size of field house, costs for the project will likely start at around a million dollars.

The iconic Trumpeter Swan has began to migrate back to the Grande Prairie region for the summer. And Alberta Parks is preparing to celebrate their return with the 16th annual Swan Festival later this month. Visitor Services Supervisor Chelsey Huber says the weekend kicks off with a wine and cheese social event on April 26th at Centre 2000, followed by a full day of activities at Saskatoon Island Provincial Park on the 27th.

“There is going to be swan viewing guided bus tours that will depart every 30 minutes from 12:30 to 3:30.  There is going to be a variety of family activities, crafts, face painting, a family barbecue.  We are also going to have a big blow up duck and a duck mascot.”

Most of the events on the 27th are free of charge, except for the bus tours, which are 5 dollars per person or 20 dollars a family.  

The city is concerned about the spread of Black Knot Disease amongst cherry and plum trees around the city this spring. The fungus, named for the black swelling it causes on tree branches is known to spread very quickly, and can kill a tree within a few years if it is not caught. City residents are asked to keep an eye on the trees in their yards. Any contaminated branches found should be pruned about 6 inches back from the growth, and burned or taken to the landfill.

Another local school district has named their nominee for the Edwin ParrTeaching Excellence award. Grande Prairie Catholic school division has picked Stephanie Aitken from St Thomas More school in Fairview as their nominee. Aitken is in her first year of teaching, serving as science and foods instructor at the school. She was recognized for her upbeat and enthusiastic attitude, and for how well she interacts with her students. School board officials say Aitken is always encouraging and challenging both herself and her students to always be their best. The Edwin Parr award recognizes outstanding first year teachers in Alberta. The provincial winner will be announced in the fall.

Another member of the County’s senior administration team has announced his retirement. Herb Pfau first joined the public works department back in 1975, eventually working his way to his current title of Superintendent of Public Works. He says the people he met in that time is what he will remember the most.

“Whether it was council, the ratepayers that we serve, the staff has been awesome.  I have met so many incredible people. And then I have also been able to learn so much.”

Pfau’s final day with the County is July 25th, after which he says he is looking forward to some new adventures during his retirement.

The Grande Prairie Catholic School Board is looking for help from city residents to create a plan for their new Royals Oaks K-9 school. The school board has yet to make any decisions around programming and grade configurations, but would like to hear from the community about their needs. The design of the new 700 student school is to be modeled after a two story school in Okotoks. The meetings are tonight at Ecole St. Gerard at 7 pm and again on April 24 at Mother Teresa.