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Truck route overhaul needed in Grande Prairie

Erica Fisher
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A local trucking company has approached the City about issues with current routes throught Grande Prairie.

Bill Turner of Wapiti Gravel says problems have been developing quicker than expected with the growth of the city.

“Frankly, there’s an urgent need to consider a complete bypass of the city as all of the major centres in Alberta are addressing with the ring roads in Edmonton and Calgary and even little places.”

As a short-term solution, he’s hoping the City will allow trucks to drive on 100 Street between 97 Avenue and 101 Avenue to avoid zig-zagging through the downtown core.

Turner argues travel time downtown would be cut by two-thirds.

Another suggestion from the Community Safety Committee was to look at extending Resources Road to 108 Avenue.

Premier Alison Redford resigns

Erica Fisher
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Premier Alison Redford has announced her resignation effective this Sunday evening.

Her expenses and leadership style have come into question over the past while, and in the past two weeks an associate minister and a member of her government have both quit.

Redford was elected in the 2012 provincial election, after taking over leadership of the Conservative party in 2011.

She is also the second premier from her party to step down after holding the position for less than five years.

An interim replacement will be decided on.

Municipal census delayed until at least 2015

Jenny Oatway
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A lack of interest in coordinating the city’s 2014 municipal census means the process will be delayed until at least next year.

Legislative Services Manager Audrey Cerny says she is disappointed with the delay, but there just wasn’t quite enough time to line up the technical services needed.

“If I was to speculate I would suggest that perhaps a significant number of other companies who may have been interested are already undertaking census planning with other communities in the province.”

Council will instead consider starting an annual or biannual census as early as next year, which Cerny says does have it’s benefits.

“Some of the significant grants that the city receives are based on population. A couple of the grants are in the neighborhood of $50 and $60 per person. Even if it’s an increase of 1000 people a year, that still is a significant increase.”

The province requires that any census carried out by a municipality must be conducted between April 1 and June 30 of any given year, with the results submitted by September 1.

Rallies planned to protest pension cut proposals

Jeff Henson
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Grande Prairie will play host to a pair of rallies on Thursday concerning proposed cuts to pensions in Alberta.

Representatives from the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, United Nurses of Alberta, Health Sceinces Association of Alberta and Canadian Union of Public Employees will stage rallies outside of the Provincial Building and the QE2 Hospital.

CUPE Alberta president Marle Roberts says they have a number of concerns regarding proposals being considered by the Redford government.

“The biggest concern is the cap on pension contributions, which will starve the pension plan in the long run, and make it less sustainable than it is now.”

Cost of living allowance adjustments, and a lack of meaningful consultations by the government about the changes are other concerns that the unions have.

Finance Minister bringing Alberta budget to Grande Prairie

Jeff Henson
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The provincial government is looking for feedback from Albertans on the recently released budget.

Finance Minister Doug Horner will be in Grande Prairie next Thursday as part of his post-budgetary discussion tour.

He will also talk about the next steps in the Building Alberta plan, which will see the province invest $19 billion over the next three years in areas like roads, schools, health facilities, and other capital projects.

The Grande Prairie gathering will take place at Centre 2000 on March 27th from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Province buying more flu vaccines

Jenny Oatway
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After high demand and vaccine shortage during the most recent flu season, the province is hoping to see even more Albertans getting vaccinated in the coming year.

As of March 1st, 27 per cent of all Albertans received their flu shot, but Chief Medical Officer of Health James Talbot says by next year, he would like to see that number increase to 45 per cent.

The 2014 budget has set aside $12.5 million to purchase more than two million doses of flu vaccine.

The hope is with that many vaccinations available, flu-related doctor’s visits will be reduced by 90 per cent.

Alliance Pipeline helps fund dinosaur museum education centre

Jeff Henson
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Another sizable donation has come in for the Philip J. Currie dinosaur museum.

Alliance Pipeline has donated $250,000 to help fund the museum’s Education Centre.

It will include a pair of fully equipped Smart technology classrooms, with a full slate of curriculum-based programs already being developed for both school-aged kids and the general public.

The Education Centre will also include the 64-seat Aykroyd Theatre, which will be used in several ways such as educational films, conferences, and presentations.

The museum is slated to open this December.

Landowners seek injunction against Baytex operations near Peace River

Erica Fisher
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Families who have left their homes in the Peace River area due to health concerns from oil sands emissions hope to find out this week if the company involved will be ordered to shut its wells down until it installs pollution control equipment.

Affected landowner Brian Labrecque says they’ll be asking a judge to grant an eight month injunction against Baytex Energy’s operations in the area.

“We are hoping that will allow them a sufficient amount of time to implement the infrastructure and the strategies needed to fix the problem and eliminate the odours and emissions that have been harming the residents and landowners.”

A preliminary inquiry into emission problems and regulation gaps was held by the Alberta Energy Regulator in January, although a report and recommendations have not yet been released.

Labrecque adds it could take up to a year for any new regulations to be be implemented, adding to the need for the injunction.

He maintains they aren’t against the oil sands industry, but want to find a way to co-exist healthily.

Man arrested for driving drunk near elementary school

Erica Fisher
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A 21 year old male is facing charges of impaired and dangerous driving after he was pulled over early Monday.

The man was spotted by a police officer driving erratically near an elementary school in the area of 78 Avenue.

He was also seen periodically driving on the sidewalk with two flat tires.

He was arrested after a minor collision between his vehicle and the officer’s, which did not result in any injuries.

He has since been released and will appear in court at a later date.

Five gold medals for Grande Prairie athletes at Arctic Winter Games so far

Erica Fisher
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Team Alberta North has eight medals so far at the 2014 Arctic Winter Games in Alaska.

Five Grande Prairie athletes are among the medal winners, including all four gold medals.

Taking home gold three slalom snowboarders – Regan Berg, Karli Gordon, Haydn Johnson, and Mirelle Martens – and cross-country snowshoer Mirelle Martens.

Also from Grande Prairie is silver medallist Teneea Schoorlemmer in short-track speed skating.

In total, 103 people from the Swan City are competing with the 241 athletes, coaches and cultural participants for Alberta North.

Preliminary hearing scheduled for Sexsmith murder case

Erica Fisher
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A preliminary hearing has been set for a man charged with second degree murder in the death of a Sexsmith woman in December 2013.

His name is not being released due to a publication ban to protect the identity of children who may have witnessed the incident.

A plea for the 33 year old has not yet been entered.

Friends of Medicare is hoping to see less front line cuts from new AHS CEO

Jenny Oatway
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Friends of Medicare is weighing in on the province’s selection for the new CEO of Alberta Health Services.

Friends of Medicare Executive Director Sandra Azocar says Vicki Kaminski, who previously held a similar position in Newfoundland and Labrador, was actually able to restore some of the public’s faith in the province’s health care system.

“She’s actually been able to do quite a few things in terms of ensuring that people believe in the quality of public health care and we’re hoping that that translates certainly into the work that she’s going to be doing within our health care system, which is so much larger than what she’s used to.”

Azocar says Friends of Medicare has not yet had a chance to sit down with Kaminski, but are hoping they will sometime in the near future.

Public forum highlights non profits conference

Jeff Henson
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A two day conference for non profit organizations is being planned for the end of April by the Grande Prairie Volunteer Services Bureau.

One portion of the conference is a forum that will address the issue of how non profit groups need to change in order to survive.

Executive Director Carol Anne Pasemko says they are bringing in a special guest to moderate that discussion.

“What we wanted to have at that forum was a moderator who could get the discussion going, keep it going, get the audience involved, and participate in everything.  So we tossed around a lot of names, and we came up with Bob Layton.”

The public will also be able to attend that forum, which is set for April 25th.

Registration info for the forum, or the entire conference, is available online at www.gpvsb.com.

Local kids qualify for Global Destination Imagination event

Jeff Henson
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Three teams from school divisions in the Peace region have qualified for the Global Destination Imagination competition this May in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The teams, one each from the Grande Prairie Public and Catholic districts, as well as one from Peace River school division, qualified through the provincial event held this past weekend at St. Joe’s high school.

Susan Picard is with the public school district and the affiliate director of D-I in Alberta.

She says the resiliency of the competitors is what impresses her the most.

“There are days where things are going really well, and then their solution just does not work and it all falls apart, and they have to pick up the pieces and start all over.  Or suddenly their team has some kind of big falling out, and they have to find a way to come back together.  And so it is kind of an amazing journey to watch.”

Destination Imagination is a creative, problem solving program where children work in teams over the course of several months to solve challenges in areas like engineering, science, fine arts, structural, and community service.

The teams that qualified will now fine tune their presentation over the next few months, as well as fundraise for their trip to Tennessee.

Tickets still available for the GP Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation dinner

Jeff Henson
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Grande Prairie Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation is putting the final touches on their biggest fundraiser of the year.

Their fifth annual sponsor appreciation night goes this Saturday night at Five Mile Hall.

Foundation president Justin Tidd says money raised will go towards prize money for the final day of Chuckwagon races at Stompede.

“Obviously the ones that bring the good competition, you want to make sure that they’re getting the money to be able to run down the road and carry on the tradition of chuck wagon racing and western heritage for sure.”

The evening includes dinner, dancing, and a chance to bid on a number of silent and live auction items.

Tickets are still available by calling 780-814-1475.

There will be no tickets sold the night of the event.

You can now enter to win the city's annual yard make over

Erica Fisher
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Grande Prairie residents looking to give their yards a makeover have the chance to win a major landscaping package from the City.

The annual contest kicked off this weekend at the Home and Garden Show, which Evironmental Stewardship Education Coordinator Shelly Pruden says is all about green yards.

“That includes landscape, design, materials, and labour. The goal of this program, it’s a green yard make over, is to increase awareness and implementation of alternate ways of landscaping to build more sustainable yards in the city.”

Home owners within the city limits can also enter online and at City Hall and Dunvegan Gardens, with the draw to take place on Earth Day.

Bank of Montreal is offering a financial relief program for Canadian farmers

Erica Fisher
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The Bank of Montreal has loosened its loan terms for farmers dealing with the current grain backlog.

Regional Vice-President Mike Darling says the company wants to make sure farmers in the prairies and western Canada have enough cash flow to make it through.

“You know, farming is tough business on a good day, we have a lot of farmers in western Canada and we like to see them succeed , and just want to be there to help.”

Customers can defer loan payments or temporarily increase their operating line by contacting their local branch.

Mayor Given holds coffee shop meet up with residents

Jeff Henson
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Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given has held the first of what he hopes will become regular “coffee-shop style” gatherings with city residents.

The informal chat took place a day after his yearly State of the City address, which served as a starting point for conversation.

“I was also able to pass on a little bit about council’s strategic planning; there was a lot of talk about downtown, a lot of discussion about mixed use development, where you see commercial and residential in the same building, and from the group that was here it seemed to be a lot of desire to move in that direction.”

The importance of transit in our city was also discussed during the meeting.

Given used a similar type of event to connect with voters during his re-election campaign last fall.

Guilty pleas in fatal hit and run of 16 year old

Erica Fisher
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Tyrell Cody Sallis will learn his fate on June 10th, after he plead guilty to charges related to a fatal pedestrian hit and run last fall.

The 22 year old Wanham resident’s truck was found abandoned after the November 16, 2013 incident, and he was later arrested.

16 year Cassidy Dietrich died in hospital after she was struck at the intersection of 99th Avenue and Resources Road.

Sallis will be sentenced for dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and failing to stop at the scene in June, and will enter his plea on another charge of criminal negligence causing death.

County councillors at spring convention of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties

Jenny Oatway
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County of Grande Prairie councillors and Reeve Leanne Beaupre are off to the spring convention of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties for the first half of the week.

Beaupre says councillors always find useful information to bring back to the council table.

“Anything that’s new and innovative that’s coming down the line, we certainly get the opportunity. Our association that puts on our conference is very engaged and energetic association, and they’re committed to bringing us updated information and upcoming items.”

Beaupre says council will also be sitting down with Municipal Affairs Minister Ken Hughes to discuss the Municipal Government Act review, and the newly renamed Alberta Community Partnerships grant.

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