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St. Thomas More teacher nominated for Excellence in Catholic Education award

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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St. Thomas More teacher nominated for Excellence in Catholic Education award

Lori Fox has been named the Holy Family Catholic Regional Division’s nominated for the 2025 Excellence in Education award. According to school officials, Fox, who teaches at St. Thomas More in Fairview, has not only remarkable humility, but has made a lasting impact on both the school and greater community.

“She is a pillar of the positive and thriving school community that we are blessed to be a part of in Fairview,” adds St. Thomas More Principal Thomas Fraser.

Over the years, she has quietly led by example, building strong relationships, supporting Indigenous communities, and consistently advocating for the well-being of all students. The award will be handed out this weekend at an event in central Alberta.

Division Superintendent heaped praise on what she calls Fox’s unwavering faith and leadership. “Lori embodies the spirit of Catholic Education through her selfless service, compassion, and quiet strength. We are honoured to have her represent our division,” she adds.

The award is handed out as part of a four day Catholic Education seminar taking place this weekend in Kananaskis.

Centre for Young Parents Playhouse Raffle, 50/50 draw returns Thursday

My GP Now
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Centre for Young Parents Playhouse Raffle, 50/50 draw returns Thursday

The Centre for Young Parents’ annual Playhouse Raffle is back once again in 2025.

The annual event, which doubles as a major fundraiser for the centre, could see winners walk away with a customized playhouse, a pair of tickets for an Air Canada flight of their choosing, or a 50/50 draw. Revamped in 2024, five local businesses are involved in building playhouses before the raffle in a friendly competition of bragging rights.

Organizers say when it comes time, the first name drawn will choose from four unique playhouses or the pair of Air Canada tickets, the second name drawn will select from the remaining four prizes, and continues on until the prizes have been claimed.

You can find more information on prizes, and grab your tickets on the Centre for Young Parents’ website.

County wide fire restriction in effect starting Thursday

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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County wide fire restriction in effect starting Thursday

The County of Grande Prairie has issued a fire restriction for the entire region including the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith and Wembley.

The restriction, which goes into effect at 7 a.m. Thursday, May 1st, was issued to align with Alberta Wildfire’s move to a fire restriction according to officials.

“The combination of higher winds, rising temperatures and lower relative humidity has created unfavourable conditions that make it much easier for fires to start and spread,” says County Fire Chief Trevor Grant.”

No new fire permits will be issued while the fire restriction is in effect, and only approved fire pits, burn barrels, or industrial bins may be used for burning, and only within proper enclosures.

Those who have currently active permits must follow all guidelines and safe burning practices, including always remaining on site until burning is complete.

The Fire Restriction replaces the former Fire Advisory issued on April 15.

Grande Prairie Public Health Clinic temporarily closed due to air quality issue

My GP Now
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Grande Prairie Public Health Clinic temporarily closed due to air quality issue

The Grande Prairie Health Clinic in the Grande Prairie Provincial Building is temporarily closed due to indoor air quality issues.

Alberta Health Services officials say they recognize the stress that may come from the unexpected closure, but say the building operator is working to complete the repair and reopen the facility as quickly as possible.

Patients with appointments booked up to May 3, 2025 are being re-booked.

Health Link at 811 is available 24/7 for non-emergency, health-related questions. In the event of a medical emergency, please call 911.

AHS will provide an update once the length of the temporary closure is known.

PWPSD nominates Eaglesham teacher for Edwin Parr award

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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PWPSD nominates Eaglesham teacher for Edwin Parr award

Bailey Gardecki has been named the Peace Wapiti Public School Division nominee for the 2025 Edwin Parr Award.

Gardecki, who teaches students in Grades 1 and 2 at Eaglesham School, says she is honoured to be nominated for the award.

“I have been so fortunate this year, to work with such lovely and supportive colleagues and community. It was a year full of review, learning, and then relearning; however, I’m looking forward to going into next fall with a little more confidence and a little less trepidation.” She adds. that

School officials say Gardecki has been a marvelous addition to staff since her arrival in September.

“Bailey has shown a consistent effort to improve her practice, prioritize inclusion, address Indigenous content, and provide differentiated instruction to each of her students.” says Principal Mark Pelley.

The Edwin Parr Award was established in 1964 and is awarded to first-year teachers who make a difference in students’ lives.

ANAVETS set for grand opening of new location

My GP Now
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ANAVETS set for grand opening of new location

The Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans of Canada will soon hold the official grand opening at their new new location in Grande Prairie, more than two years after starting the process of moving to the area.

On May 9th, the doors will officially swing open with a plethora of plans in place including the presentation of a King Charles III Coronation medal. The day will also include a performance by the Grande Prairie & District Pipes and Drum band, refreshments, door prizes and a cash bar.

During the soft launch of the location in December, officials said the need for a new facility was definitely high, but the process unfortunately left several members without a social club for nearly two years. Adding they’re thoroughly excited to be able to welcome any potential new members to join those who have been enjoying the services since the end of 2024.

“I think everybody was very excited to get open and welcome members back, the veterans back, and really anybody from the public who is looking to join our club.”

The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 9th at 10203 106 Avenue.

Male youth arrested in connection to trio of armed robberies in Grande Prairie

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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Male youth arrested in connection to trio of armed robberies in Grande Prairie

A youth has been arrested following three alleged armed robberies in the city this week. The Grande Prairie RCMP says April 28th and April 29th, they received three separate reports of armed robberies, two at Circle K convenience stores and one at Curry Flames restaurant.

Police say their initial investigation leads them to believe that in each incident the lone male entered the store, brandished a knife, demanded cash and left after receiving it. The name of the accused will not be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Grande Prairie MP-elect suspects Canadians will be back to the polls “within a matter of months”

Ethan Montague
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Grande Prairie MP-elect suspects Canadians will be back to the polls “within a matter of months”

MP-Elect Chris Warkentin says it’s “likely” Canadians will head back to the polls sooner than later, despite the dust from election day barely beginning to settle.

The Mark Carney-led Liberal Party managed to grab a fourth consecutive mandate from Canadian voters; however, this time, without any significant presence from the NDP.

“If this minority government unfolds the way it looks at this moment, I suspect that there is a chance we may be back to the polls within a matter of months,” Warkentin says. “The reality is the NDP has collapsed, the Bloc has been reduced- I do expect based on the reality that we’re seeing right now, it’s unlikely the Liberals will have a committed dance partner like they had with the NDP.”

The “Real” Mark Carney

Warkentin has been steadfast in his criticisms of the Carney-led Liberal Party throughout the campaign season, saying the Prime Minister-elect is trying to please too many Canadians at once, even at the expense of his own voters.

“I think what’s going to happen over the coming weeks and months is Canadians are going to see the real Mark Carney, I think what we have seen over the last number of weeks is Mark Carney pretending to be all things to all people,” he says. “We saw Mark Carney take many of the platform items the Conservatives have been fighting for over the last number of years, and lifted them completely out of our platform, almost verbatim, and then told Canadians he would do that, while simultaneously committing to things that are completely contradictory.”

Another 2025 Election?

With less than ten NDP seats in Ottawa, and a likely minority, Warkentin says the Liberals will be forced to play ball with either the Bloc or the Conservatives.

“He’s going to have to decide who his dance partners are, what deals he’s willing to commit to in order to govern the country,” he says. “I think the real Mark Carney is likely to show his head, and I think at that point Canadians will render a different judgement than what they currently have.”

As a result, Warkentin and some of his colleagues have already begun to speculate on whether they will be on the campaign trail for a second time this year.

Hillside Community School Grade 5 teacher named Edwin Parr Award nominee

My GP Now
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Hillside Community School Grade 5 teacher named Edwin Parr Award nominee

A Grade 5 teacher from Hillside Community School in Grande Prairie is the Grande Prairie Public School Divisions’ zone 1 nominee for the Edwin Parr Award.

Ailee Estrada, who school board officials say teaches in a classroom where every student feels seen, supported, and inspired, is a graduate of the University of Alberta, and brings what colleagues say is thoughtful planning, engaging lessons, and a commitment to meeting the needs of all learners.

“She already shines as a teacher, leader, colleague, and friend. She helps in every way possible, and students and staff benefit from her involvement with our school,” says Hillside Community School Principal Mike Humbke.

Board Chair Joan Nellis says they are grateful to have teachers like Estrada leading young minds.

“Her dedication to her students and her thoughtful approach to teaching make a real difference in our school community,” Nellis adds.

The Edwin Parr Teacher Award was created in 1964 to celebrate the efforts of first-year teachers.

GP911 investigating service disruptions to ensure “transparency” and “accountability”

Ethan Montague
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GP911 investigating service disruptions to ensure “transparency” and “accountability”

9-1-1 services for Northern Alberta have returned- now fully and independently operational.

On April 28th, residents received word that 9-1-1 service was completely unavailable for most of Alberta’s northern communities as GP911 was experiencing outages. As a result, residents were required to report emergencies in-person or through non-emergency lines.

Officials maintain that GP911 is designed with backup systems to ensure services are maintained without interruption, even if one part of the system fails.

GP911 has requested a review of the service disruption to ensure “transparency and accountability” for the incident, but can confirm the outage was “beyond their control.”

City extends Barrier-Free Grant applications until end of 2025

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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City extends Barrier-Free Grant applications until end of 2025

Businesses interested in taking part in the city’s Barrier-Free Grant now have until the end of the year to apply.

The initiative offers a matching grant covering 50 per cent of project costs, up to a maximum of $20,000, for eligible accessibility enhancements. Accessibility improvement projects focus on making both physical spaces and communication more inclusive for people with disabilities

Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says extending the Barrier-Free Grant deadline underscores the city’s commitment to building an inclusive and caring community.

“By supporting accessibility improvements, we enhance the quality of life for all residents and strengthen engaging relationships across sectors to create a more connected and resilient city.””

Projects may include the installation of ramps, accessible washrooms, elevators, or improvements to digital platforms to ensure compatibility with assistive technologies. You can find more information, and links to apply, at the City of Grande Prairie website.

Police search for witnesses, surveillance footage in connection with multiple mail thefts

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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Police search for witnesses, surveillance footage in connection with multiple mail thefts

Grande Prairie RCMP is hoping the public can help them with tips, or surveillance footage from nearby neighbours after multiple reports of thefts from community Canada Post mailboxes in several areas across the city,.

Police say between April 11th and April 23rd, multiple reports of unknown suspects allegedly breaking into, and stealing the mail from the large community boxes, with the reports coming in from several neighborhoods during this time period.

Mounties say if you live in any of the impacted areas, or know someone who has, they are looking for any witnesses that may have surveillance footage of the thefts that occurred during this time frame. If you have any surveillance footage, please contact the Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5701.

Grande Prairie Mounties seize drugs, cash and weapons seized from homes in Pinnacle, Lakeland

My Grande Prairie Now Staff
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Grande Prairie Mounties seize drugs, cash and weapons seized from homes in Pinnacle, Lakeland

An investigation continues after police in the city seized hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, drugs and at least three prohibited firearms from homes in the Pinnacle and Lakeland neighbourhoods in Grande Prairie.

Authorities say following several search warrants being executed on numerous locations across the two communities, seized 2,849 grams of cocaine, 94 grams of methamphetamine, more than $60,000 in cash, as well as three prohibited firearms, including a handgun.

One person was arrested during the execution of the search warrant, but was subsequently released pending further investigation.

The investigation remains on going and an update is anticipated.

Students vote for a Conservative minority in mock election

Kass Patterson
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Students vote for a Conservative minority in mock election

If students across the country were to vote in the federal election the Conservative Party of Canada would have a minority government with the Liberal Party being the official opposition.

Across the country, students in more than 5,900 schools participated in the initiative operated by CIVIX Canada, with there were 870,340 votes cast.

Students elected a Conservative Party minority government, with the Liberal Party forming the official opposition. The Conservatives won 165 seats from the student vote with 36.4 per cent of the popular vote and party leader Pierre Poilievre won his riding of Carleton, Ontario, which in this student vote would make him the new Prime Minister of Canada. The Liberals won 145 seats with 31.7 per cent of the popular vote, with Mark Carney winning his riding of Nepean Ontario, making him the leader of the official opposition. The Bloc Québecois won 18 seats with 2.1 per cent of the popular vote and Yves-François Blanchet elected his riding. The NDP were elected in 13 ridings with 14.5 per cent of the vote and students did not re-elect party leader Jagmeet Singh to his seat in Burnaby South, British Columbia. The Green Party won two seats, making up 7.5 per cent of the popular vote. Jonathan Pedneault was not elected by the students in the riding of Outremont, Quebec, while Elizabeth May was elected in Saanich—Gulf Islands.

Students in Grande Prairie

In the Grande Prairie riding students re-elected Conservative Candidate Chris Warkentin. The incumbent received 59 per cent of the vote from the students. Liberal Party Candidate Maureen Mcleod received 11.59 per cent of the vote and NDP Candidate Jennifer Villebrun received 11.14 per cent. Candidates running for the People’s Party of Canada, Parti Rhinocéros Party and Independent each received less than 10 per cent of the vote.

In the Peace River – Westlock riding Conservative Party candidate Arnold Viersen won the student vote with 52.83 per cent of the vote from students in the region. Liberal Party candidate Luke Markowski received 20.49 per cent, NDP candidate Landen Tischer got 14.36 per cent and Independent candidate Darrell Teske got 12.32 per cent.

Across Alberta

Students across Alberta voted Conservative Party of Canada candidates into 32 out of the 37 seats across the province, with the Conservatives getting 47.09 per cent of the vote. The Liberals won four seats, with two in the Edmonton area and two in the Calgary area, and received 24.15 per cent of the vote. The New Democratic Party came out with one seat in one seat, winning Edmonton Griesbach with 14.33 per cent of the vote.

Liberals earn fourth-consecutive mandate

John White
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Liberals earn fourth-consecutive mandate

We are heading back to a Liberal government this morning with Prime Minister Mark Carney holding on to the title that fell to him following Justin Trudeau’s resignation.

“Who’s ready to stand up for Canada with me?” Carney asked rhetorically, kicking off his victory speech at approximately 1:25 a.m. Eastern time. Recognizing the closeness of the popular vote, Carney reached out to those who voted Progressive Conservative: “I will always do my best to represent everyone who calls Canada home.”

It is still too close to call a majority or minority, even with 73,771 of 75,482 of polls reporting, or 97.73 per cent, though we are tilting closer to a minority at this stage.

The Prime Minister elect is among 167 Liberal MPs leading their races at this hour, but the party was unable to break the 172 threshold to capture a majority.

The Conservative Party of Canada is sitting as the official opposition leading in 145 ridings, with the New Democrats a distant fourth behind the Bloq, leading in only eight ridings, four away from maintaining official party status.

Progressive Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was trailing the Liberal candidate in his riding by roughly 1,200 votes with 251 of 266 polls reporting, but said he would stay on as party leader.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was well back in third in his riding, and he announced he will step down as leader once a replacement is named. Singh had to pause often to compose himself during his emotional speech.

“Change takes time,” was Poilievre’s go-to three-word catch-phrase in his concession speech.

Fourth-consecutive mandate

This marks a fourth-consecutive mandate for the Liberal party.

The election was deemed by many pundits to be a choice of which party and leader would have the best chance to defend Canada’s interests in the ongoing trade tariff war with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Other major issues included housing affordability, general economic stability and climate policy and carbon taxes.

Turnout was a major story line, with advance polling numbers topping 7 million in four days of voting.

When Parliament dissolved in March, the Liberals held a 153 seats, with the CPC filling 120 seats, Bloc MPs taking up 33 seats and the NDP having 24 Members of Parliament.

Swearing-in ceremonies will be confirmed for new MPs in the days ahead.

Lucky number seven: Warkentin projected winner in Grande Prairie

Ethan Montague
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Lucky number seven: Warkentin projected winner in Grande Prairie

Incumbent Conservative MP for Grande Prairie Chris Warkentin is projected to win back his seat for the seventh consecutive time.

As of 6 a.m. on April 29th, Warkentin had received 47,472 votes, an overwhelming 81.2 per cent of the vote, with 227 of 228 polling stations reporting. 

Warkentin has held the Peace Country seat in its several forms for nearly two decades after first assuming office in 2006, and says he is grateful to represent Grande Prairie in Ottawa for another term. 

“My continued commitment will be making sure that people in the Peace Country have economic opportunities- ones that have been challenging over the last number of years with a Liberal government that has been intent on shutting down the industries that are so important to folks in the Peace Country,” he says. “I’m looking forward to going back to Ottawa and fighting for Peace Country residents.” 

Several outlets are calling a minority Liberal government- which Warkentin says will lead to increased disconnection between Ottawa and Alberta, especially in the Northwest. 

“Unless we continue to fight for the values of hard work, of freedom, of opportunity and prosperity that are embodied in the Peace Country- I believe that this current government, the Liberal government, will destroy those values permanently,” he says.

Following his projected victory, Warkentin took a moment to thank all of his supporters, and promised to fight for Peace Country residents, Conservative or otherwise.

As of 6:00 a.m. on April 29th, the votes are as follows: 

Conservative- Chris Warkentin: 47,472 votes- 81.2 per cent

Liberal- Maureen McLeod: 6,974 votes- 11.3 per cent

New Democratic Party- Jennifer Villebrun: 2,545 votes- 4.4 per cent

Peoples Party- Shawn McLean: 828 votes- 1.4 per cent

Rhino- Donovan Eckstrom: 311 votes- 0.5 per cent

Independent- Elliot McDavid: 236 votes- 0.4 per cent

2025 Federal Election, Grande Prairie: Incumbent Conservative MP Chris Warkentin maintains first place spot

Ethan Montague
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2025 Federal Election, Grande Prairie: Incumbent Conservative MP Chris Warkentin maintains first place spot

The latest in Grande Prairie’s vote count has been released by Elections Canada- with Incumbent MP Chris Warkentin taking an early lead. 

As of 9:58 p.m. on April 28th, Warkentin holds 83.4 per cent of the vote, with 111 of 228 polling stations reporting. 

Alberta’s polls officially closed up at 7:30 p.m. 

As of 9:58 p.m. the votes are as follows: 

Conservative- Chris Warkentin: 17,497 votes- 83.4 per cent

Liberal- Maureen McLeod: 2,118 votes- 10.1 per cent

New Democratic Party- Jennifer Villebrun: 846 votes- 4.0 per cent

Peoples Party- Shawn McLean: 353 votes- 1.7 per cent

Rhino- Donovan Eckstrom: 105 votes- 0.5 per cent

Independent- Elliot McDavid: 73 votes- 0.3 per cent

Arnold Viersen heading back to Ottawa after Peace River-Westlock victory

Ethan Montague
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Arnold Viersen heading back to Ottawa after Peace River-Westlock victory

Arnsold Viersen will be heading back to Ottawa to represent those in the Peace River-Westlock riding after taking more than 75 per cent of the vote on election day Monday.

As of 6:00 a.m. on April 29th, with 245 of 273 polling stations reporting Viersen holds 76.4 per cent of the vote with 32,964 votes. 

Liberal candidate Luke Markowski sits second with 13,361 votes, Independent candidate Darrrll Teske is third with 2,862 votes, and NDP candidate Landen Tischer rounding out the results with 1,081 votes.

Polls are now closed across Canada and the counting begins

John White
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Polls are now closed across Canada and the counting begins

It is now 7 p.m. PDT and polls have officially closed across the country in the 2025 federal election.

The counting has been well underway in the rest of Canada east of the Pacific time zone.

The main parties – the Conservative Party of Canada led by Pierre Poilievre, the Liberals led by Mark Carney, and the New Democratic Party, led by Jagmeet Singh – are looking to capture at least 172 seats in the House of Commons to form a majority government. This is based on the new total of 343 seats, reflecting the recent electoral redistribution that added five seats to the previous 338-seat configuration.

Canada employs a first-past-the-post electoral system, where each of the 343 ridings elects one Member of Parliament. The candidate with the most votes in each riding wins the seat, regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority. This system allows a party to form a majority government without necessarily winning the majority of the national popular vote.

If no party achieves the 172-seat threshold, the result is a minority government. The governing party must then seek support from other parties to pass legislation and maintain confidence in the House of Commons.

The Elections Canada website offers this breakdown of the counting process:

Counting votes

  • Trained and paid election workers count the ballots.
  • The ballot-counting procedures for federal elections are set out in the Canada Elections Act,
    the law that governs federal elections.
  • Candidates, candidates’ representatives or other designated observers are allowed to watch
    the counting of the votes.
  • Before the count, election workers close the doors of the voting place. No one is allowed to
    enter or leave.
  • The election officer who counts the votes then:
    • Counts the number of electors who voted.
    • Counts the spoiled ballots, places them in an envelope supplied for this purpose and seals
      it. A spoiled ballot is one that became unusable—for example, because it was accidentally
      torn by the elector (who was then given a replacement ballot). Spoiled ballots are never
      deposited into the ballot box.
    • Counts the unused ballots that are not detached from the booklets of ballots, places them
      in the envelope supplied for this purpose and seals it.
    • Totals the number of electors who voted, the number of spoiled ballots and the number of
      unused ballots to ensure that all ballots provided by the returning officer (i.e. the official who
      manages the election in the riding) are accounted for.
  • With many people watching, the election officer unfolds each ballot and says aloud the names
    marked on each ballot taken out of the ballot box.
  • Staff tally up the votes, record the tallies on paper and report the totals to the returning officer.
  • The returning officer records the vote counts in a computerized results aggregation and
    reporting system that securely sends the information to Elections Canada’s main office.

In the last general election on Sept. 20, 2021, there were 17,209,811 votes cast for a turnout of 62.6 per cent.

PRSD closes Dixonville School citing “sustainability” and “declining enrollment”

Ethan Montague
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PRSD closes Dixonville School citing “sustainability” and “declining enrollment”

The Peace River School Division Board of Trustees has made the decision to close Dixonville School, effective June 30th, 2025.

The decision was made following a 5-1 vote, with Trustee Marie Dyck holding the lone vote in opposition. As a result, Dixonville students will be transported to Grimshaw Public School.

Officials suggest the decision was not made lightly, and only came about after the careful consideration of various outside factors, including declining enrollment and “long-term sustainability.”

PRSD Board Chair Crystal Owens says the choice was “extremely challenging” for the Board; however, the decision is in the “best interests” of students in the division.

“In situations like this one, these decisions are never clearly right, or clearly wrong, and often feel like a lose-lose situation,” she says. “Ultimately, we had to make a decision that we believe is in the best long-term interests of all students within the Peace River School Division.”

The PRSD says they will remain committed to supporting the students and families affected by the closure and will be focused on a smooth transition during the 2025-26 school year.

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