Concerned Swanavon residents have pushed the discussion about the construction of a new recreation building in the area to 2025.

In 2023, Grande Prairie city council approved $500,000 in funding for the construction of a multi-use and multi-season covered outdoor structure. However, after concerns from residents of the neighbourhood, and discontent with the original design among councillors, administration was tasked with coming up with alternative options.

Councillor Chris Thiessen says he is pleased with the additional options but says higher price tags have given some members some pause.

“I think originally we were blown away by the first cost of the [first design] and these other covered outdoor structures are a bit more glamourous; they definitely come with a bit more of a multi-million dollar touch,” he says.

Four additional options have been presented on top of the original design, with costs ranging between $2.7 million and $5.9 million, compared to the original cost estimate of $1.1 million.

Additionally, Thiessen expressed concerns about the potential location of the structure, saying putting the facility in a residential area like Swanavon would only bury it and discourage residents from around the city from using the amenity.

“As much as I like building up the neighbourhoods, we also have a neighbourhood rink program that currently is undersubscribed. I want to make it accessible to as many people as possible, and not make it a neighbourhood amenity, but a community amenity.”

According to Thiessen, council is actively searching for sponsorship opportunities to help mitigate the cost of the more expensive options, but no paperwork has been signed as of yet.

“I think council always envisioned some type of sponsorship arrangement and I know that administration has worked very hard to lock down some of those. There are some potential sponsors out there, but we haven’t signed anybody on yet so it would be too premature for me to disclose any of those discussions.”

Council is scheduled to discuss the matter further in its November 14th meeting.

Crews have started pruning trees across Grande Prairie. The city says the plan is to address tree maintenance needs in the area.

College Park, Copperwood, Countryside South, Mission Heights, Royal Oaks, Westgate, Centre West Business Park, and Vision West communities should be covered over five months.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says the work is meant to keep the aesthetic of urban greenery while helping protect tree health as crews can catch issues or diseases that are popping up.

“By maintaining our urban forest, the City of Grande Prairie ensures that trees remain in good health, reducing the likelihood of pests and disease while enhancing the natural beauty of our surroundings.”

Tree pruning will begin in November of this year and is scheduled to wrap up next April.

The City of Grande Prairie could see ATCO Electric’s franchise agreement extended to be the municipality’s exclusive electricity provider for the next decade. At the end of October, the city put out a general notice saying the Alberta Utilities Commission was expecting a renewal application from the company for its agreement with the city.

If the application is approved, the franchise rates are not expected to change much, with the average residential customer anticipated to pay $13.11. That amount is based on the calculation of the average household using 7,200-kilowatt hours per year.

Anyone wanting to support or oppose the application has until November 15th to send a letter to either the City or ATCO.

The last time the city and ATCO looked at extending their agreement was in 2015 when the two groups changed the master agreement covering streetlights and coverage areas.

More information about the application can be found on the city’s website.

Crescent Point Energy is set to become the largest landowner in the Montney play after a multi-billion dollar acquisition. The Calgary-based oil and gas company will acquire roughly 800 drilling locations across northwestern Alberta after the signing of a $2.55 billion deal to acquire Hammerhead Energy Incorporated.

That will make it the seventh-largest oil and gas exploration and production company in Canada by volume. It’s already the largest landowner in the Kaybob Duvernay play. 

Production from the company is expected to total more than 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day upon closure of the deal.

As the RCMP prepares for the transition to a municipal police service in Grande Prairie, the RCMP says it is committed to providing quality policing in the interim.

Superintendent Lee Brachmann says the upcoming change has not shifted any of their goals and future planning is still being done.

“While we are in the position of being the police service jurisdiction, we’re going to continue to solicit feedback on priority setting moving forward, as well as working with our partners in the Grande Prairie Police Service to ensure a seamless transition between RCMP service and the Grande Prairie Police Service.”

Brachmann adds that the common goal for both parties is to ensure the safety of the community and advance shared initiatives such as partnerships with street-engaged individuals and at-risk youth during the transition.

“We are committed absolutely to ensuring quality police service in the City of Grande Prairie and advancing initiatives related to community safety with our partners in the Grande Prairie Police Service.”

The RCMP has confirmed it is in the early stages of working on a detachment building for the County of Grande Prairie. According to Brachmann, the building is very likely to be established in the Clairmont area.

There will be a few moustaches out again this November as the County of Grande Prairie Firefighters Charitable Foundation raises funds for the Grande Prairie Palliative Care Society. Firefighter Mike Mcleod explains funds raised throughout the month and at the Stache Bash event on November 30th will go towards helping develop the #mengrievetoo program, focuses on helping men go through and experience the emotions that come with grief and loss.

“Everyone has lost someone and, unfortunately, has gone through that loss, so what we want to do is bring awareness to this and help support such an amazing society within the local community that we have. We want that support to be there so you can have that support system for you when you are dealing with the worst times of your life.”

Mcleod says, over the years, men growing out of their moustaches has become a way to raise awareness for men’s health and to work to end the stigma around having difficult conversations. Last year was the first year the foundation ran this campaign, and it was one everyone jumped on board for and had some fun with.

“I know my family back home has already messaged me asking how much money it is going to take for me to shave mine off. So they are having some fun with it, and they know they have 28 days to go before I get rid of mine.”

Mcleod says the November 30th event at the Elks Hall will include dinner, a silent auction, and several other activities. He adds that last year it came down to the last day to decide the best moustache.

“It can be voted on, but you’ve got to come there and take a look at us up close on November 30th. You can get your tickets and come look at us and see who has the best or worst mustache, depending on the category you want to put it in.”

More information can be found on the County of Grande Prairie Firefighters Charitable Foundation website.

On Wednesday, November 8th, a service will be held at the Veterans Memorial Gardens and Interpretive Centre to mark Indigenous Veterans Day. This year, Randi Gage, one of the people behind getting Indigenous Veterans Day off the ground, will be attending the ceremony in Grande Prairie.

Executive Director of the Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association Renee Charbonneau says the gathering will start at 9:30 a.m. and the ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. Charbonneau says the ceremony will be approximately 45 minutes long and will remember and honour both the fallen and veterans who are still with us.

“The Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony that we host is truly a hybrid between what would be considered a military ceremony and an Indigenous ceremony. For example, instead of hearing the bugle break the sound at the moment of silence, you will hear an Indigenous drum.”

This year’s event will also include the unveiling of two new art pieces that have been added to the area. One is called Infinity, which is a Métis war memorial and the other is called Invisible, which is an Indigenous War Memorial.

“Infinity is the infinity symbol, made out of aircraft aluminum and riveted in World War II fashion, and highlighted with solar LED blue lights,” explains Charbonneau. “Invisible is made out of tempered glass, and it features a chief holding his staff and his medicine pouch. He is wearing his full war bonnet, and he is surrounded by a bear, a wolf, an eagle, and a wapiti. He also bears a beautiful copper heart for the woman warrior, and Infinity has copper coloured rivets to honour the female soldier.”

Charbonneau adds both pieces were made by Grant Berg of the Grant Berg Gallery. Aluminum was chosen for Infinity because it is a representative of two medals coming together to create something stronger, and it’s reported Berg used this as a representation of the Métis people.

Those unable to attend this year’s ceremony in person can watch the livestream that will be put up on the Veterans Memorial Gardens and Interpretive Centre Facebook page.

Two lives were lost to accidental fatal drug poisonings in Grande Prairie in August.

According to the Alberta Substance Use Surveillance System, both incidents were connected to non-pharmaceutical opioids.

From January to August of this year, there have been 24 accidental drug poisoning fatalities reported in Grande Prairie. Across the province, there were 147 fatal drug poisoning incidents reported in August.

The first-ever rating for a Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone in Alberta could allow the Grande Prairie region to explore more renewable energy options. The Municipal District of Greenview and the County of Grande Prairie’s BDO Zone has received an ‘A’ rating from the BDO Zone Initiative for the area’s woody biomass.

It’s reported the rating comes from the region’s “robust” forestry and wood industry sector. According to the International Energy Agency, woody biomass provides a renewable energy source, or bioenergy, through the burning of trees, sawmill residue, and forest residue such as branches which contain carbon absorbed through photosynthesis.

The BDO Zone Initiative adds that strong BDO zone ratings allow distressed economies to shift to renewable energy. County of Grande Prairie Reeve Robert Marshall says the rating validates what the municipalities already know and symbolizes the efforts the region has taken to move toward a stronger renewable energy-based economy.

“Our region is an excellent source of woody biomass. We intend to become an essential component of the bioenergy industry that supports our existing industry sectors,” Marshall says, adding that focusing on bioenergy will fulfill emission reduction goals set by the county while adding new jobs and supporting economic growth in the renewables sector.

The 120-kilometre radius of the local BDO Zone includes Grande Prairie, the Greenview Industrial Gateway, and the Hamlet of Grande Cache. The MD describes the zone as a “self-contained industrial system,” which features access to natural gas, water, electricity, transportation networks, and potential for low-carbon project development.

Peace Country talent was highlighted at this year’s World Professional Chuckwagon Association Awards Banquet. Grande Prairie’s Mitch Sutherland received the WPCA Chuckwagon Person of the Year Award, with his son Weston Sutherland being named the Rookie Outrider of the Year.

Manning-based driver Todd McCracken was named Rookie Driver of the Year, while Tuff Dreger received the Herman Flad Most Improved Driver award. Dreger says receiving the award at Saturday’s event was a good feeling, especially with his family, including his grandfather, the “King” Kelly Sutherland, in attendance to celebrate the award.

“Going into the season as a permit driver, I didn’t really think about how high I could finish or how much I really improved. I was just really focused on getting a tour spot.”

He says receiving an award along with others from the area was special, as Grande Prairie and the Peace Country have often been referred to as the “chuckwagon capital”.

“The whole family is from there, and that is what the whole wagon community is, it’s family,” Dreger says. “It was good to see Weston up there; I remember when he didn’t even think about riding a horse, and here he is. He is really getting it, and he looks good on there; he has some real talent.”

Other Peace Country residents who were recognized during the evening included Dale Aebly, who received the Ty Tournier Memorial Award and Chanse Vigen, who is the 2023 WPCA World Champion.

Grande Prairie RCMP looking for a missing 17-year-old. Carter Martin was last seen in the Stone Ridge area of Grande Prairie at 5:15 p.m. on November 3rd and there is concern for his wellbeing.

Carter is described as 6’2″ and 170 pounds with a medium complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing two hoodies, a purple t-shirt, grey cargo pants, red sandals, and a tan tuque.

Anyone with information on the boy’s whereabouts is asked to contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

UPDATE: The fog advisory for Grande Prairie County has ended.

A fog advisory has been issued for the Grande Prairie – Beaverlodge – Valleyview region. As of 3 a.m. Sunday, Environment Canada says patches of dense fog are causing near zero visibility.

“Conditions will improve later this morning.”

Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations.

“If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop.”

Due to a lack of physician coverage, the Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital emergency department will be without physician coverage for large portions of the weekend.

Alberta Health Services says there will be no physician on site from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday, and from 7 p.m. Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday.

AHS says nursing staff will be on-site in the emergency department during the closure, doing urgent triage and assessments and providing referrals to other emergency departments in the region. All EMS calls are being rerouted to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, 42 kilometres away.

The provincial health authority is also reminding residents that some services can be provided by their local pharmacies and to call Health Link at 8-1-1 anytime with all non-emergency medical questions.

After a hot, dry fire season, Alberta Wildfire has shifted its focus to fire prevention and preparedness as wildfire season comes to a close.

According to Wildfire Area Information Coordinator Kelly Burke, a quick summertime thaw combined with extreme winds is responsible for the unprecedented wildfire season.

“Going into this fire season, the ground moisture was very low, so we went into the season dry, and it continued to be dry throughout the summer,” she says.

Alberta Wildfire says wildfires are a natural part of the environment and will be a year-round feature in the northern Alberta landscape for the foreseeable future. Burke says preparedness and prevention must remain front of mind not just for fire crews, but county and city residents too.

“One of our biggest takeaways is preparedness, we’re always trying to improve our operation here.”

“Prevention is a shared responsibility, so what we experienced this summer, we want to emphasize the importance of a whole society approach for fire prevention and mitigation.”

Additionally, residents who choose to burn in the winter are advised to remain cautious as holdover fires remain a serious threat once the snow melts.

“Going into the winter season, if residents have done burning or if they’re planning to do burning over the winter, we want to look at things like where you’re going to burn, the site that you’re going to burn.”

According to Burke, holdover fires are one of the main drivers of wildfires in the spring, caused by everything from brush pile burning to campfires that are not extinguished properly.

“Once your burn is complete, you should go back and visit it throughout the winter.”

“If it has smoke or heat, it’s still burning.”

While fire danger remains low in the winter, Burke says the risk of forest fires is not the sole concern surrounding wintertime burns.

“Something you want to consider is smoke, smoke this time of year can cause really serious accidents, so you want to monitor the weather conditions.”

According to Burke, ideal burning conditions for the winter include days where the average temperature is about five degrees, and the wind speed is around 5km/hr.

UPDATE: The freezing rain warning has ended.

Freezing rain is expected to develop Saturday morning in the Grande Prairie area. Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning for the Grande Prairie – Beaverlodge – Valleyview region.

It’s expected conditions will improve in the afternoon as temperatures rise above zero degrees Celsius.

“Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions.”

Freezing rain warnings are issued when rain falling in sub-zero temperatures creates ice build-up and icy surfaces.

Blue-green algae advisories are no longer in effect for any bodies of water in the Alberta Health Services North Zone. They were pulled for 28 lakes yesterday due to recent weather cooling them to the point that the cyanobacteria are no longer a health concern.

Those include Moonshine Lake and Sturgeon Lake. Visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water at any time.

Electric golf carts are zooming into two Grande Prairie campgrounds through a $7,000 grant from the Alberta Government to the County.

Hommy and Pipestone Creek Campgrounds have officially replaced two older gasoline-powered carts that reached the end of their life cycle in 2023. According to the County, the full cost of replacing both carts was $37,602.

The change comes as the County continues efforts to contribute to a quieter, healthier environment and County Director of Parks and Recreation Christine Rawlines says the conversation around electric equipment continues to be a top priority for the County.

“Any time we can incorporate new fleet equipment that will also have reduced impact on the environment, especially in our parks and recreation and greenspaces, it provides a win-win for the environment and also for our park operations,” she says.

“Every time we replace fleet equipment like recently the Zamboni at the Crosslink County Sportsplex, we look at the electric option.”

Rawlines adds that the choice to go electric also reduces noise pollution significantly, leading to quieter outdoor spaces and a more enjoyable parks experience for campers.

“Electric golf carts are so much quieter so we want to be respectful of the fact that people are out in the campground seeking downtime and quiet time with their families.”

Additionally, the County says the replacement of two more carts has been approved by council, forecasted to be operational by the 2024 camping season.

Due to a lack of physician coverage, the Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital emergency department will be without physician coverage Friday, November 3rd starting at 8 a.m.

According to Alberta Health Services, nursing staff will be on-site in the emergency department during the closure, doing urgent triage and assessments and providing referrals to other emergency departments in the region. All EMS calls are being rerouted to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, 42 kilometres away.

The provincial health authority is also reminding residents that some services can be provided by their local pharmacies and to call Health Link at 8-1-1 anytime with all non-emergency medical questions.

The emergency department is scheduled to reopen 5 p.m. the same day.