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City surveying residents on transportation habits

Erica Fisher
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How do you get around Grande Prairie?

That’s what the City is looking to find out over the next few weeks through a community survey.

Environmental Stewardship Manager Michelle Gairdner says they’re interested in finding out what would encourage residents to walk, bike or use public transit more.

“How do we get people out of their cars? Not all the time, but how do we get people to walk more or ride their bikes more? We have an internal team that’s been working on this project, and we decided that one of the things we needed to do was to understand why people aren’t doing it.”

The survey is available online at www.cityofgp.com/mobility and can be taken before the end of the month.

Each survey taker will be entered into a draw for an iPad mini.

Residents can also have their say at a community mobility engagement session on March 20th at Teresa Sargent Hall at 7 p.m.

Fundraise by cleaning up County roadways

Jeff Henson
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The County’s annual roadside clean-up takes place from May 3-19 this year, but local non-profit groups interested in taking part have only until March 21st to sign up.

The program sees selected groups earn $150 for every kilometre of County roadway that they pickup garbage from.

The County assigns areas to the groups, as well as safety vests, gloves, trash bags, and safety signs.

The groups are then responsible for making sure they have enough volunteers, as well as other items like transportation and insurance.

Last year, 19 groups shared $16,000 by cleaning up around 160 kilometres of roadsides and ditches.

A total of eight tonnes of garbage was collected through the program last year.

Application forms are at the County Public works office in Clairmont, or on their website.

New land uses allowed in Clairmont Heights

Jeff Henson
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The County has approved a pair of amendments to their Land Use Bylaw.

One of them allows for the inclusion of medium density residential districts in new urban developments.

Planning Manager Nick Lapp says this will allow for more flexibility in the design and development of new neighbourhoods.

“Really provide for a variety of house choice, and residential type of building in a medium density area with different types of semi-detached row housing, duplex types of development.”

The other amendment saw the inclusion of a new village centre mixed use district.

Lapp says both changes were made to help with the development of the Clairmont Heights, after the structure plan for that area was approved last year.

County pleased with provincial budget

Jeff Henson
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The provincial budget is getting a favourable reaction from the County of Grande Prairie.

Reeve Leanne Beaupre says the budget recognized the needs of Northern Albertans.

“The infrastructure investments in schools and hospitals, that type of thing, as well as a slight adjustment to the Municipal Sustainability Initiative, which is really important to a lot of municpalities.”

Beaupre was also happy to see money in the transportation portion of the budget for two local projects: the installations of traffic lights at the intersection of Highway 2 and township road 724 in Clairmont, and a complete overlay of Highway 43 west of Bezanson to remove heaves that have turned that portion of road into a very bumpy ride for motorists.

Kindergarten registration begins this week

Jenny Oatway
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Kindergarten registration for the Peace Wapiti School Division begins today.

Assistant Superintendent Heather Putio says even though September is still several months away, it’s important for parents to register their children early.

“It gives us an idea of numbers, and that way we can be best prepared for the fall. We open up registration early, but it is going on right through to the fall.”

Only children turning 5 years old by December 2014 are eligable to register for fall classes.

Parents look to register early must supply a birth certificate for their child, and rural families will also need to provide their legal land description for bussing.

Kindergarten registration for the GP Public and Catholic divisions begins on Wednesday.

City greenlights library renovation

Jenny Oatway
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The city has chosen a contractor to begin work on renovations to the Montrose Cultural Centre to the tune of $544,000.

When the building was originally built, a space on the second floor was set aside for expansion to the Grande Prairie Public Library at a later date.

Montrose Cultural Centre Manager Rhonda Matheson says that space is now sorely needed.

“It’s going to enable expanded programming for the library, because we’re in very cramped quarters right now. It provides opportunity to free up meeting space that is now currently being used for programming, and also freeing up that meeting space so it’s available more often to community groups.”

According to Matheson, work will get started as soon as possible.

“We hope to begin prior to the end of March. It is a project that will be finalized quite quickly, and we’re hoping for about three months to the completion date so that would take us toward the end of June.”

Council also voted to increase their funding by $108,000 to maintain their commitment of covering 44% of the total cost.

They had initially promised $200,000 in December 2012.

Alberta ESRD has issued a nearly province-wide advisory for heavy spring run off

Jenny Oatway
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Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development has issued a spring run-off advisory for a significant portion of the province.

Unseasonably warm temperatures forecasted for the coming week could cause overland flooding and stream levels to rise.

All areas of the province south of Peace River and Fort McMurray are under the advisory because of the large amounts of snow they saw during the winter.

Small creeks and streams are expected to see a significant rise in water levels, though major rivers in the province should be relatively unchanged.

Home grown curler wins Brier gold and playoff MVP title

Jenny Oatway
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Alberta’s Kevin Koe earned his second championship title at the Tim Horton’s Brier in Kamloops Sunday evening after a 10-5 win over BC’s John Morris.

Grande Prairie native Carter Rycroft, who throws second stones for Koe, earned some individual recognition as well, being named playoff MVP.

Rycroft says the title came as a bit of a surprise to him.

“It was just kind of icing on the cake as far as it goes for me, this quite possibly could be my last Brier, so it was kind of one of those things. I just didn’t expect it, but when they announced it, and I got that, it was kind of like ‘wow, that was kind of cool!’.

Rycroft also shot 96 percent in the final, which the team went into having lost four match-ups in a row to the Morris rink.

“The 1 vs 2 game, the round robin game we lost, and the Olympic trials we also lost to them, so our record against them going into the game wasn’t great, but we still felt good as far as our game went.”

Rycroft says he can’t say for certain that he is retiring from curling for good after this season, but he does plan on taking at least a year or so to concentrate on his young family and career.

Harry Balfour School learns "meaning of home"

Erica Fisher
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Students at Harry Balfour School will be receiving a special award tomorrow to recognize them for their participation in a national writing contest.

The school submitted more than 50 stories and poems on what home means the them to the contest, earning them a Spirit Award.

Principal Wendy Crispin explains the participation was really student-driven.

“Our grade fives and sixes found out about the contest “The Meaning of Home” and they found out that for every essay they contributed, five dollars was given to a homeless society, so they really felt that in writing the essays they were making a postive difference.”

The contest was a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and Genworth Canada, a mortgage insurer that helps first time home owners.

The aim is both raise awareness of homelessness and make home ownership affordable in Canada.

Grande Prairie building numbers trail behind last year's

Erica Fisher
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The value of construction in Grande Prairie continues to trail last year’s by nearly 20 per cent.

67 building permits were approved in February, for a total of nearly $7 million.

Included was approval for 22 single homes and one duplex.

In 2013, those numbers were up to $11.4 million for 71.

Year-to-date totals are also behind by nearly $6.7 million dollars.

Safeway campaign to help raise money for special olympics athletes

Jenny Oatway
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Grande Prairie Safeway is launching their annual campaign in support of Special Olympics Canada this week.

Until March 21, Safeway customers will be able to donate $2 to the campaign in exchange for 5 AirMiles Reward Miles.

Cristy Ellen is the organizing chair for the 2015 Alberta Special Olympic Winter Games, which are being held in Grande Prairie.

She says Safeway sponsors Special Olympics all across the country.

“It is fantastic that they decid that they want to support our local athletes with the games coming up, and it’s just a great way to get out in the community and show the local athletes that we have, and gain support that we really need.”

Ellen says last year’s campaign raised $5280 in support of local athletes.

“Hopefully we can match that, and better it as well. Hopefully the patrons of Grande Prairie Safeways will be able to bump it up this year.”

Safeway raised $419,000 for Special Olympics across western Canada last year.

Burn permits now required in County of Grande Prairie

Erica Fisher
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We’re more than a week into fire season in Alberta, which means permits are now needed for burning.

Fire Marshal Ken Atamanchuk explains that the County of Grande Prairie is split up into four areas with different requirements for burn barrels, fire pits, and incinerators.

Most of the County is classified as White.

“If you’re in that area,” explains Atamanchuk, “what you will need is a verbal notification, which means you will call the County office, and you’ll let the receptionist know exactly your land location and what you want to burn; she’ll give you some guidelines and that’ll be entered into our database.”

The Yellow area requires an inspection during fire season, Red needs a permit year-round, and Green is under Alberta forestry jurisdiction.

To find out what area you’re in, visit the County’s website.

Burning permits are free and valid for a ten day period.

Big Brothers Big Sisters gearing up for Bowl for Kids Sake

Jeff Henson
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The annual Bowl For Kids Sake fundraiser for Big Brother Big Sisters is rapidly approaching.

It’s set for Sunday, April 13th at Bowling Stones Ten Pin Entertainment Centre.

Teams of 4-6 people are encouraged to sign up, raise a minimum of $250 in pledges, and then bowl for an hour on that day.

Grande Prairie chapter Executive Director Amy Mohr says all money raised stays in the region to support their many mentoring programs.

“Our traditional big brother little brother, big sister little sister program. We have our in school mentoring program that happens at elementary schools around the city. We have Go Girls! and Game On! which are group programs, and then we have our mature mentoring program.”

Bowl For Kids Sake is one of three major fundraisers that the Grande Prairie chapter holds on a yearly basis.

Call 780-532-0620 to register a team.

New 48 hour film competition for Peace region

Jeff Henson
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An exciting new wrinkle to this year’s Reel Shorts Film Festival is the Frantic 48 hour Film Challenge.

Taking place the weekend prior to the festival, entrants will be given a line of dialogue and a genre, and then have 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a short film.

Festival director Terry Scerbak expects to see some very creative final products.

“It’s impossible for all to be polished. You’re writing frantically, and it totally does open up everyone’s creativity and everyone’s collaborating, and the huge win is just purely getting it done.”

The final products will be shown on May 10th during this year’s film festival, with prizes being awarded for best film and audience choice.

Teams can register by going to www.primaa.org.

UPDATE: Possible security threat at Grande Prairie Greyhound depot

Erica Fisher
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UPDATE: The search of the Greyhound depot in Grande Prairie and passengers didn’t turn up anything suspicious, after an anonymous tip about a passenger possibly boarding a bus with explosives. The bus has been allowed to leave the station and the surrounding roads reopened. Police say they will be looking into the origin of the call, but note that explosives could refer to anything from a bomb to firecrackers.

Grande Prairie RCMP is investigating a possible security threat at the Greyhound bus depot.

Police say they received an anonymous tip around 6:45 this morning that there may be a passenger with explosives.

The surrounding area has been blocked off, but at this point no evidence has been found to back the call up.

We will update when we learn more.

AAA Storm headed to second round of playoffs, AA Storm out

Jeff Henson
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The Peace Country female bantam AAA Storm are off to the second round of their league playoffs.

Over the weekend they swept Spruce Grove in two straight in their opening round series, winning 3-0 Friday and 4-1 Saturday.

They will visit Sherwood Park in a north division semi final this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Sherpa Safety midget AA Storm saw their season come to an end over the weekend, as they fell two straight to Peace River in their NAMHL division final series.

After a 6-2 win at home on Friday, Peace River beat the Storm in Grande Prairie 6-3 on Saturday.

GPRC Wolves take silver at women's volleyball nationals

Erica Fisher
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The GPRC Wolves won a silver medal at the women’s volleyball nationals in Toronto over the weekend.

The final game was a rematch of the ACAC conference championship against rivals Red Deer College, with the Queens again coming out on top.

Red Deer won three straight sets to win the gold medal, despite extremely hard work from Grande Prairie.

Catholic priest charged with sexual assault of minor in Manning

Erica Fisher
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A Catholic priest from Manning has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference involving a minor.

59 year old Abraham Azhakathu was arrested on March 8th, and has been released under strict conditions that he not be alone with anyone under the age of 16 years old and live in Alberta but not in Manning.

The victim alleges that the assaults occurred during 2013 when the accused was practicing in Manning.

No further details, including the minor’s age or sex or the nature of the incidents is being released by RCMP.

At this point it in unknown if there are any other victims.

The police investigation is ongoing, and Azhakathu will first appear in court on Monday, March 17th.

Monthly historical displays at City Hall for 100th Anniversary

Jeff Henson
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South Peace Regional Archives is celebrating Grande Prairie’s 100th anniversary through a series of historical displays at City Hall.

Executive Director Mary Nutting says this month’s exhibit will focus on the Argonaut company, which was responsible for establishing the Grande Prairie townsite.

She says other exhibits will focus on the growth of our community.

“Like the Town of Grande Prairie, the correspondance that shows the issues that they dealt with, and fun things like the Grande Prairie Electric Company, how electrical power first came to Grande Prairie, and the Chamber of Commerce collection.”

Nutting thinks residents will enjoy seeing some of the original documents and paper artifacts and photographs that showcase Grande Prairie’s rich history.

Two-thirds of Canadian parents worried children won't fulfill hopes

Jeff Henson
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A recent parental hopes survey conducted for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada shows two-thirds of parents are uncertain that their kids will fulfill the hopes they have for them.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos Canada, also showed negative behaviours and emotional states, difficulty in school, and stress at home as some of the barriers preventing those hopes from being reached.

Grande Prairie Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Amy Mohr says that is where they step in.

“The power of mentoring basically is where we come in, and the advice and guidance of an adult mentor is crucial and definitely important in a child’s well-being and their lives as they grow up.”

Mohr says children that are matched with mentors have a greater chance of fulfilling their parents’ hopes and not being stopped by the barriers identified in the survey.

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