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Flame thrower among items seized from Grande Prairie traffic stop

My GP Now
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Flame thrower among items seized from Grande Prairie traffic stop

Police got their hands on some hot property after a flame thrower was among items seized during a traffic stop in rural area outside Grande Prairie.

Authorities say they received a call about a man slumped over the wheel in a vehicle in the middle of the road around 7:40 a.m. on August 9th, when they arrived, cops saw the male driver, and lone person in the vehicle, heavily asleep in the vehicle, with drug paraphernalia allegedly in plain view.

The vehicle was searched and police reportedly seized a flame thrower, a loaded crossbow, 19 grams of fentanyl, 99 grams of meth, a prohibited knife, and just over $2,000 in cash.

As a result, a 40-year-old man from Dawson Creek is facing a slew of charges including possession for the purposes of trafficking, unauthorized possession of a weapon, and possession of property obtained by crime.

Free, extended transit options available during the Bear Creek Folk Festival

Kass Patterson
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Free, extended transit options available during the Bear Creek Folk Festival

During the Bear Creek Folk Festival, the city is making transit access more accessible with free transit periods and extended hours. 

After 6 p.m., transit will be free to riders going to and returning from the main event stage. According to officials, this will make it easier for attendees to get to Muskoseepi Park for the event and home afterwards, without needing to drive their vehicle. 

According to a release from the City of Grande Prairie, “Following the final performance each night, transit will be available direct to fixed-route neighbourhoods using existing bus stops. Each bus will have signs indicating which areas it will be serving.”

Transit buses will be available at the east park entrance near the amphitheatre on 102nd Street starting at midnight Friday and Saturday, and 11 p.m. on Sunday. The last buses will leave no later than 30 minutes after their arrival time. 

As well, transit will be operating on extended hours. There have been added departure times for certain routes from the stop at the park’s east entrance on 102nd Street, between 101st and 102nd Avenue. On Friday and Saturday, the additional departure times are 9:41 p.m. and 11:01 p.m., while on Sunday, the added times are 7:01 p.m., 8:21 p.m. and 9:41 p.m.

More information about transit during the folk festival can be found online.

Grande Prairie RCMP seize imitation weapon, 20-year-old charged

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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Grande Prairie RCMP seize imitation weapon, 20-year-old charged

A 20-year-old man is facing charges after police in the city received reports of a man claiming to have a firearm on him while walking through a neighbourhood.

Grande Prairie RCMP says it happened around 8 p.m. Monday when they responded to the call in the 104 Avenue and 110 Street area. They say with the help of the RCMP Dog Services unit, police were able to locate and arrest the suspect.

A search of the man revealed an imitation firearm. The 20-year-old is now facing charges of possession of an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose. He will be back in court on September 3rd.

AHS warns of possible measles exposure locations in Grande Prairie, Fairview

My GP Now
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AHS warns of possible measles exposure locations in Grande Prairie, Fairview

A confirmed measles case has prompted exposure warnings in Grande Prairie and Fairview.

Alberta Health Services says if you were at the following locations during the times reported, you may have been exposed:

Primacy GP Medical Clinic at the Real Canadian Superstore – July 28th, 2025: 9:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department – August 8th, 2025: 11:15 a.m. – 5:35 p.m.

Anyone who was at these locations at those times, who was born in or after 1970 and has less than two documented doses of the measles vaccine may be at risk of developing the illness. Symptoms include a fever, a cough, a runny nose and/or red eyes and a rash that shows up three to seven days after the fever starts. The rash usually starts behind the ears and on the face, then spreads down to the body and to the arms and legs.

Aquatics area at Eastlink Centre set for five week maintenance closure

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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Aquatics area at Eastlink Centre set for five week maintenance closure

The aquatics area at Eastlink Centre will be closed from September 1st to October 5th for annual maintenance.

According to the city, the shutdown helps the facility’s longevity as preventative work, repairs, deep cleaning, and upgrades will take place during the closure.

During the shutdown, crews will be among other things, refurbishing the splash pad, repairing the pool basin, tile repairs in family and adult hot tubs, refurbishing the sauna, and overall repair and maintenance on changing rooms.

Community Knowledge Campus Director Angela Redding says taking time each year to complete essential work means they can continue offering the experience users of the Eastlink Centre expect.

“With over 140,000 visitors annually, yearly maintenance and cleaning in the aquatics area is necessary for this facility to continue providing benefits to our community for many more years,” she adds.

The Aquatera Outdoor Pool will remain open to members during the closure until September 21st, and the city has also partnered with the Beaverlodge Swimming Pool so Eastlink Members and GAP holders can access the facility during public swim.

Government programs in place to support Ag producers during tough growing season

Kass Patterson
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Government programs in place to support Ag producers during tough growing season

The AG Ministers office says they are monitoring the current situation that has resulted in several municipalities declaring an agricultural disaster or state of emergency. 

In a statement to Vista Radio from the Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation’s office, in some regions across the province, the 2025 crop year has been challenging, and there are several programs available to producers to help address these issues and risks. 

The statement reads, “Agriculture Financial Services Corporation offers AgriInsurance for protection against severe and uncontrollable natural hazards; AgriStability for protection against income declines; and AgriInvest, a producer-federal government savings account, for managing small income declines. These programs help producers stay prepared and resilient in the face of uncertainty.”

It adds that there is a program under the perennial crop insurance that responds to dry conditions and has become an important risk management program for pasture insurance called Moisture Deficiency Insurance. 

“AFSC has confirmed that MDI producers in the County of Grande Prairie who enrolled in the 2025 program have received payments. In addition,” the statement reads. “AFSC offers the Moisture Deficiency Endorsement (hay) program, which can be purchased along with dryland Hay Insurance.”

As well, on Friday, the Minister’s office announced the low yield allowance was adjusted for the 2025 crop season. 

“This is good news for farmers, as they can salvage crops for livestock feed, reducing feed costs and increasing access to livestock feed in dry regions where it is scarce. Producers must contact AFSC to find out how best to proceed and get the necessary inspections completed before starting any harvesting.”

According to the statement, other changes made to support producers during this time include the AgriStability compensation rate being increased from 80 per cent to 90 per cent, and the benefit cap was increased from $3 million to $6 million for 2025.

In Ottawa, changes made to support producers includes raising the interest-free limit of the Advanced Payment Program to $250,000, and the Livestock Tax Deferral was implemented. The deferral provision is said to focus on helping producers reduce their tax obligations and alleviating some of the financial pressures. 

“Alberta has been advocating to have the preliminary list of areas where producers can qualify for the deferral to be released as soon as possible so that producers can plan,” the statement adds. 

The County of Grande Prairie declared an agriculture disaster in June, and a month and a half later, Reeve Bob Marshall explained that the whole point of making the declaration was to elevate the severity of the situation to the provincial and federal government. 

Too fast, mildly felonious: Fairview man clocked doing 200+ km/h on Highway 2

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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Too fast, mildly felonious: Fairview man clocked doing 200+ km/h on Highway 2

A Fairview man will be looking to get the lead removed from his shoes after he was clocked doing speeds above 200 km/h on Highway 2 east of High Prairie over the weekend.

The RCMP says they were on Highway 2 conducting enforcement on August 9th when they flagged a driver doing 207 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. Police say the radar catch came with a pair of court summons for driving carelessly and speeding for the 23-year-old.

Cst. Stephen Zuk of the High Prairie RCMP Detachment says situations like this are a reminder for all drivers that safety and proper speeds go hand in hand, and hope not to see anything to this degree for a long time.

“Reaction times are lowered and other drivers, not anticipating such speeds, can thus miscalculate their manoeuvres and be put in danger. We will keep up with our ongoing traffic enforcement efforts in order to maintain safe roadways for all.

Beavlodge Municipal Hospital ED without onsite physician Monday night

My GP Now
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Beavlodge Municipal Hospital ED without onsite physician Monday night

The Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital Emergency Department will be without an onsite physician overnight Monday. AHS says due to a continued shortage of personnel and no temporary coverage available, the ED will be without an onsite doctor from 9 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

During this time, nursing staff will remain on-site in the emergency department providing triage, assessments, and referrals for patients to alternate emergency departments in neighbouring communities, as needed.

Virtual Emergency Physician coverage may be available for all or part of this service advisory. The Virtual Emergency Physician program uses an experienced ED physician to remotely support facilities temporarily without available on-site ED physician support. Site clinical staff can connect with an AHS physician by telephone or videoconference for ED patients with non-life-threatening issues. This off-site virtual physician can collaborate with local staff, speak with patients, order tests and medications, and transfer or discharge patients.

110 Street to be closed closed for utility work near Ken Sargent House site

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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110 Street to be closed closed for utility work near Ken Sargent House site

Starting Monday, 110 Street will be closed from just north of the Great Northern Casino entrance to 109 Avenue as utility work for the soon to be built Ken Sargent House can be complete.

The city says work is taking place directly adjacent to the site, and closing this section of road is necessary to complete underground connections. The closed portion of 110 Street also serves as a secondary access point to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital and Parkade, however, access from 109 Avenue remains open throughout the closure.

The sidewalk along the east side of 110 Street will remain open as long as it is safe for public use. Weather permitting, the work should wrap up by August 24th.

Peace River RCMP lay charges for alleged armed robbery

Kass Patterson
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Peace River RCMP lay charges for alleged armed robbery

Police have laid charges in connection with an alleged armed robbery at a home in Peace River on July 15th.

According to RCMP officials, officers immediately responded to the complaint, but the suspect is reported to have fled the scene. During their investigation, police believe the incident was a targeted one and identified a suspect who was arrested on August 7th. 

A 37-year-old from the Hamlet of St. Isidore is facing a handful of firearm and theft-related charges. The suspect has since been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in a Peace River courtroom on Monday. 

County of Grande Prairie spending highest per capita among Alberta municipalities

Kass Patterson
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County of Grande Prairie spending highest per capita among Alberta municipalities

According to a new report from the Fraser Institute the County of Grande Prairie spent the most per person in 2023.

The report from the institute looks at how much the municipality spends on infrastructure and other services the community relies on daily. This spending includes maintaining local roads and water systems, fire safety resources and recreational spaces. According to the report, to keep these services, the municipality will draw from resource taxes, user fees, and intergovernmental transfers to pay for maintaining these services and improving them. It can impact the local cost of living, local tax competitiveness, and the broader economic landscape. 

The Fraser Institute report looks at 26 Albertan municipalities with populations over 17,000 people in 2023. 

The County of Grande Prairie spent $5,413 per person in 2023, the highest per person spending of the year per person out of the 26 municipalities looked at. The City of Lethbridge finished 3rd on the list, spending $4,423 per person. Red Deer was 6th with $3,788 per person, Cold Lake was 7th with $3,646 per person, and the City of Grande Prairie finished 10th, spending $3,342 per person in 2023. 

Other municipalities that were in the top 10 in 2023 for per person spending include Red Deer County, Canmore, Strathcona County, Leduc, and Rockyview County. 

The province’s largest cities, Edmonton and Calgary, were 12th and 13th on the list. Edmonton spent $3,241 per person and Calgary $3,144 per person. 

Measles exposure warning issued in Fairview

My GP Now
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Measles exposure warning issued in Fairview

Residents in Fairview are being advised of potential exposure to measles.

Alberta Health Services says you may have been exposed to the the virus if you were at the Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department from 11 p.m. on August 5th to 12:30 p.m. August 6th, you may have been exposed to the virus.

AHS says anyone who was at those locations at those times, who was born in or after 1970 and has less than two documented doses of the measles vaccine, is at risk of developing the illness. Officials advise monitoring for symptoms and staying home if any develop.

Symptoms of measles include a fever, cough, runny nose and/or red eyes, as well as a rash that shows up three to seven days after the fever starts. The rash will usually start behind the ears and on the face, then spread down to the body and to the arms and legs. The rash appears red and blotchy on lighter skin tones and on darker skin tones, can appear purple or darker than the skin around it, and may be difficult to see.

Reeve Bob Marshall hoping for provincial government support for producers

Kass Patterson
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Reeve Bob Marshall hoping for provincial government support for producers

Nearly a month and a half after declaring an agricultural disaster in the County of Grande Prairie, the situation has not improved. 

County of Grande Prairie Reeve Bob Marshall says the situation the region is facing is dire. He explains a letter was sent off to Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson, but he has not spoken to the minister directly since. 

“The whole point of this is to elevate the severity of this to the provincial government and also to our, hopefully, they will elevate it to the federal counterparts as well, because they’re the ones that will have any disaster relief programs,” Marshall says. “Since [we declared] Saddle Hills has declared an agricultural disaster, and I’ve talked to a few other of our neighbouring municipalities in the north part of the Peace, and they’re considering and getting close to declaring as well.”

He adds that the more municipalities declare a disaster, the more severe the situation. He hopes that with the current drought conditions, the higher levels of government will put something in place that could help mitigate what the producers are seeing. Marshall says the producers who are seeing the biggest impact are those with livestock. 

“They’ve been through three to four years here where it’s been pretty dry, and the hay crops have been getting worse and worse every year. So, forage feed for our livestock is not in a good situation right now, especially in the northwest part of Alberta.”

Marshall explains the Kiskatinaw River wildfire added to the issue, as it impacted a lot of grazing leases for local livestock producers, and those impacted were trying to find a field elsewhere to lease to move their livestock to for feed. He hopes that with the amount of moisture southern Alberta is seeing, more forage becomes available down there. 

“But, that just increases their costs and impacts their viability on being profitable and getting through.”

“I mean, one or two years is one thing, but when you have multiple years in a row, it starts to impact, and it opens the question of the viability of staying, or what do you do with your livestock? Do you sell it off? Do you sell off your herds? Those are a lot of the questions that some producers are looking at, and some are in a little better situation. They’re able to muster through, but again, they need some help, whatever that may be.”

While the region has seen some moisture in the past month, Marshall explains it is too late for most crops as they have been in the ground since May. He hopes that the governments will be able to implement some sort of program like they have in the past, whether it be crop insurance or something else. 

Municipal election voter registration deadline a week away

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Municipal election voter registration deadline a week away

Those looking to cast their ballot can do so more quickly and efficiently can do their part by registering before the deadline on August 15th.

The city says registering ahead of time helps ensure a faster, smoother voting experience on election day, reducing wait times, paperwork, and congestion at polling stations.

VoterLink allows residents to easily confirm whether they are already registered, or allow them to register in less than five minutes.

If you don’t register ahead of time, you can still vote in the election., but could face delays due to longer lines and additional paperwork needs.

In 2024, the Province’s Local Authorities Election Act began requiring all municipalities to create and maintain a Permanent Electors Register. This register, used in conjunction with valid identification, allows election officials to efficiently verify voter eligibility for the General Election on October 20th.

More than 250 tickets handed out to motorists over the long weekend

Kass Patterson
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More than 250 tickets handed out to motorists over the long weekend

Over the Heritage Day long weekend, Grande Prairie Enforcement Services handed out over 250 tickets to drivers. 

According to Grande Prairie Enforcement Services officials, the unit enhanced traffic enforcement across the city to improve safety, and over the three days, 274 violation tickets were handed out, along with two 24-hour driving suspensions and five mandatory court appearances. Officials say there were also two drivers charged for going 50 kilometres an hour over the posted speed limit, two drivers charged for driving without insurance, and a driver was charged for being behind the wheel while suspended. 

Peace Officer Sergeant Ryan Hoffman says this sort of dangerous driver behaviour can have significant consequences.

“Our department is committed to keeping our roads and community safe,” Hoffman says. “We conducted two noisy vehicle enforcement operations in the city this weekend, where we were able to address many vehicles with illegal modifications, some of which are directly linked to increased noise.”

He adds that these types of violations not only create a noise problem, but they also can result in safety concerns. 

Other areas addressed during the campaign included seatbelt infractions, distracted driving, and charges were issued for open liquor in the vehicle. 
 
Grande Prairie Enforcement Services officials say moving forward, the focus is on reducing dangerous driving behaviours through education and enforcement initiatives. 

Renaissance Faire set to transport Grande Prairie Public Library

Kass Patterson
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Renaissance Faire set to transport Grande Prairie Public Library

The Grande Prairie Public Library is taking a step back in time to the Renaissance at the end of August. 

The GPPL is set to host the Fables and Faeries Renaissance Faire on August 24th. The all-ages event will highlight a whimsical world inspired by folklore, fantasy, and the Renaissance era, with live sword-fighting demonstrations, hobby horse jousts, and embark on a building-wide Kingdom Quest Scavenger Hunt. There will also be an all-ages costume contest for those who want to dress in medieval or fantasy-inspired outfits. 

There will be a Crafters’ Croft in the Rotary Community Room and story time sessions in the Storytellers’ Shire, located in the Linda Smith Story Room, along with a market in the Teresa Sargent Hall with local vendors. 

The event will see a food truck fare, and Bandaged Paws will be on site hosting a pet adoption event. 

The Fables and Faeries Renaissance Faire will run from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the 24th in and around the Library.

FireSmart vegetation management begins this week

Kass Patterson
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FireSmart vegetation management begins this week

FireSmart vegetation management work in the city is scheduled to start on Friday thanks to grant funding received last year.

According to City of Grande Prairie officials, the work will be done on city-owned land to reduce the risk of wildfire and improve community resilience. The work is anticipated to take roughly 10 days to complete, weather permitting, and will be done from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

The work includes thinning dense areas, removing dead or hazardous trees, pruning lower branches, clearing underbrush and debris, and chipping cleared material near South Bear Creek ball diamonds, Country Club West and Wedgewood, with trail impacts expected between the east ball diamonds and Country Club West.
 
Mayor Jackie Clayton says this work is an important investment in the community’s safety. 

“By taking proactive steps to reduce wildfire risks near our neighbourhoods, we’re protecting homes, natural spaces and vital community infrastructure for generations to come. We are grateful to FRIAA for their support in helping us advance this important work,” Clayton says. 

In February of 2024, the City of Grande Prairie received a grant from the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta for $101,205 for a Vegetation Management Program, which needed to be put in place by December of this year. 

Demand for residential rentals possible positive for future development

Kass Patterson
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Demand for residential rentals possible positive for future development

According to one Grande Prairie City Councillor, the municipality is working on putting incentives in place to encourage the creation of residential properties in the city’s downtown core. 

Councillor Wade Pilat explains that the downtown core is seeing a strong mix of tenant businesses and owner businesses that are engaged in the community. However, while there is a strong business community, the downtown area is the least populated per density area in the city when it comes to residential living. He says there are options for smaller-scale apartment buildings in the area that could have between 30 to 100 apartment units. 

However, he says, putting on his industry hat, the hurdle with these sorts of projects is that most builders want a “traditional product.”

“When you’re looking at downtown builds, you’re really custom designing for a specific lot, right? So you’re trying to make the best density and the best use of that lot,” Pilat states. “So you’re not able to take your blueprint from [a previous] project over to downtown and make it work all the time.”

He adds that to build downtown, it takes a bit of creativity. 

Pilat says if you look at most urban downtown centres, there is a good residential component to them, which Grande Prairie just does not have at this point. However, the buildings that do have apartments above them, he believes, are full. 

He explains that seeing more multifamily projects happen in the city is positive, as there is a gap in the rental market right now. According to Pilat, these projects could also help with the need being seen in the city for low-end entry-level housing. However, the region is seeing some good signs when it comes to building. 

“We have seen an uptick in that recently, and I think there are three, potentially four large apartment projects that are going on, which will be the first big apartment build of this scale we’ve seen in almost a decade,” Pilat says. “Another encouraging thing, I think, for our region right now is that our house prices have really moved up a lot in the last 12 to 18 months, and I can see a trend of that continuing to happen in the next 12 or 18 months. I know on the affordability side hurts, but, you know, on the other side of it, what we’re seeing is these rents move to a point where the math is starting to look at making sense to want to build a project in Grand Prairie.”

He says with rental rates going up and vacancies staying low, it’s a lot more appealing for industry to start looking at building again in Grand Prairie.

Grande Prairie possibly positioned to help drive improvements for inter-provincial trade

Kass Patterson
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Grande Prairie possibly positioned to help drive improvements for inter-provincial trade

The Chair of the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce says the most recent tariff increase from the United States creates another opportunity to focus on improving trade in Canada.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday night increasing the tariff on non-CUSMA (Canada-United States-Mexico Free Trade Agreement) compliant goods from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chair, John Anderson, says the situation has created an opportunity for the country to focus on what they can control, adding the possible golden lining to the situation is the heightened focus on improving the ability to do business across the country.

“I think there is plenty of evidence in the news over the last few months that there is lots of opportunity to take concrete steps, get rid of some red tape, get rid of some maybe outdated policy, and open up real valuable opportunities right within Canada,” Anderson says. “The challenge for our business community is you need to invest some time in understanding that landscape, understanding the changes, and kind of at least keeping up or getting ahead.”

Anderson says everyone is learning on the fly and that is why local chambers across the country are encouraging businesses to identify something policy’s or barriers that don’t feel right and bring it forward so so the chamber take it to policymakers and say “hey, this regulation doesn’t make any sense, let’s do something about it.”

Because of Grande Prairie’s geographic location, Anderson believes the community has an opportunity to influence and drive interprovincial trade regulations.

“We have businesses that every day do business on both sides of the Alberta BC border, and I know that our members of Parliament are hungry for specific examples of policy that you’re experiencing that doesn’t seem to make sense.”

When it comes to the announcements coming from the White House that continue to fuel uncertainty, the chamber is empathetic with those who are impacted.

“We’ve been saying all along that, you know, the real burden is the uncertainty that’s being created. So that is unfortunate, and businesses are certainly getting tired of it,” Anderson states. “This is definitely a wake-up call for all of Canada and the businesses within. We need to not just take our trade policy for granted. We need to be diligent in striving for a diverse customer base, and that challenge just never goes away.”

Across Canada, businesses are addressing not only the 35 per cent tariffs, but also tariffs on specific sectors such as automotive and softwood lumber.

City launches “passport” to help newcomers to Grande Prairie

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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City launches “passport” to help newcomers to Grande Prairie

A resource guide to help newcomers to the city find essential services and other information a little easier is now available.

The Passport to Grande Prairie, according to officials, serves as a one-stop, user-friendly guide to help newcomers settle into the community by providing accessible information about local services and resources.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says the Passport to Grande Prairie is a creative and practical tool that helps new residents connect to the services, places and people that help build a connected and welcoming city.

“Supporting this initiative reinforces our commitment to accessibility, inclusion and community pride, demonstrating the values that shape who we are as a city and how we serve our residents.”

The passport, which was created in partnership between the city and Grande Prairie Local Immigration Partnership, also includes an interactive element that encourages newcomers to explore the city by visiting various locations to collect stamps for the chance to complete a short survey and receive a prize.

Grande Prairie Local Immigration Partnership Chair Karna Germsheid says the project showcases the power of collaboration and ensures newcomers have the tools they need to feel confident and supported as they begin their lives in Grande Prairie.

You can learn more about the passport, as well as where to pick up a printed copy here.

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