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NWP part of “historic” five post-secondary institution MoU signing to make northern education more accessible

Five post-secondary institutions are now “more connected than ever” after inking a historic Memorandum of Understanding in Fort McMurray on March 14th.

Keyano College, Lakeland College, Northern Lakes College, Northwestern Polytechnic, and Portage College signed the MoU with the desire to broaden educational pathways for students in Northern Alberta.

The agreement aims to foster collaboration between the institutions to enhance access for students and improve learner outcomes.

This also marks the first official post-secondary partnership of its kind in Alberta’s north, spanning 700 kilometres east to west from Lloydminster to Grande Prairie, and 560 kilometres north to south from Fort McMurray to Vermillion.

In Grande Prairie, NWP President and CEO Vanessa Sheane says her school is “immensely proud” to be part of the initiative.

“NWP is immensely proud to be part of a collaborative, and learner-centered approach that will proactively address student and community needs in the North,” she says. “Strengthening the ties between our institutions is a natural solution that will boost regional competitiveness and help mitigate current and future workforce challenges.”

Officials call the MoU the “first step” in formalizing transfer agreements and credential recognition between the institutions, which collectively have 34 campuses across the region. Additionally, the hope is that through the new initiative, students will have the chance to stay in the North throughout their educational journey and support retention for in-demand careers.

County recognizes nearly 60 Fire Service and Enforcement members

The County of Grande Prairie recognized the achievements of the Regional Fire Service and Enforcement members during the 2024 graduation and service award ceremony.

A total of 59 award recipients were honoured during the ceremony for their years of service, outstanding contributions to the community, career milestones, and three Fire Services graduates celebrated the completion of their training.

County Fire Chief Trevor Grant says the event recognizes the contributions so many fire service personnel make throughout the year, in and out of the fire season.

We are grateful to have so many skilled and devoted people protecting our communities,” he says. “The courage they display in their service to others is commendable and inspiring.” 

Families, community members, councillors, and county staff joined the graduates in support while they took their official oath, marking the beginning of their careers in the Regional Fire Service. Additionally, senior members were acknowledged with special awards for peer recognition and exceptional service.

Our emergency services professionals demonstrate outstanding commitment and deserve our deepest gratitude,” County Reeve Bob Marshall says. “We are proud to support them in their ongoing dedication to keeping our families, friends, and communities safe.”

A full list of award recipients is available on the county’s website.

City of GP serves Easter fun sunny side up during annual Eggstravaganza event

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The City of GP is hopping into the spring with some Easter fun on April 19th at the Grande Prairie Museum’s Heritage Village.

This year, the city’s annual Easter Eggstravaganza event includes a children’s egg hunt, a toddler-focused egg hunt, a colouring contest, cookie decorating, Easter crafts, a scavenger hunt, and an Easter Bunny photo booth.

Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says the city is “thrilled” to bring the well-loved event back for another year.

“This year’s event includes a special egg hunt just for toddlers and inclusive time slots to ensure everyone in our community has the chance to join in the fun,” she says. “We’re thrilled to welcome families back to this year’s much-loved Easter Eggstravaganza.”

Inclusive time slots are available for participants who benefit from a calmer and quieter environment; however, they are only available by contacting AccessGP by calling 3-1-1.

Tickets will be available online on March 19th for $8 per child, and free for adults who accompany them during their half-hour time slot. Officials add that it is likely the event will sell out, so tickets must be pre-booked.

Residential snow clearing cycle initiated, parking bans implemented in several neighbourhoods

The City of Grande Prairie has initiated a two-week rotation of residential snow-clearing following the recent snowfall accumulation.

Residential snow clearing began in Week A neighbourhoods on March 14th, with Arbour Hills, Gateway, Northridge, Royal Oaks, and Westgate being the first to receive treatment. On Monday, crews will continue into the areas of Hillside, Mountview, and VLA/Montrose.

No-parking signs will be posted in areas scheduled for clearing, and residents are asked to remove their vehicles from the street before clearing begins. Officials say vehicles left on the street could be ticketed and towed.

While residential clearing is not ongoing throughout the winter, the city maintains that crews actively work on snow clearing and ice control all season long. On March 14th, crews conducted blading on Priority Two roads, while sanding and plowing continued on all Priority roads where needed.

City of GP will apply for Phase Two FRIAA grant to support wildfire mitigation

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Grande Prairie City Council has approved applying for Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta Grants for the 2025 wildfire season.

Last February, the city was awarded a $200K FRIAA grant to reduce wildfire risk for the city, specifically in the South Bear Creek corridor, while supporting the city’s Vegetation Management Project.

“We’ve been successful in the past with this grant, and we’re confident that it’ll get us to the next layers of vegetation mitigation,” Deputy Mayor Wade Pilat says.

As the Deputy Mayor suggests, it is likely that if the city receives a “Phase Two” FRIAA grant, the funding will be used for vegetation management; however, this time, further into the Bear Creek Corridor.

“The area that’s been identified is the water treatment plant, but there are other areas that have been identified and our fire department continually works on that with us to try to identify areas that they think we would need future breaks,” Pilat says.

Pilat adds that City Administration, along with the Parks Department, and the Fire Department will continue to monitor any problem areas throughout the wildfire season.

UPDATE: Minor injuries reported after collision between pickup truck, school bus on Highway 43 near Mayerthorpe

Minor injuries have been reported after a pick up truck collided with a school bus on Highway 43 near Mayerthorpe on Thursday afternoon.

The incident, which closed down northbound Highway 43 for several hours, took place after police say the bus was in the center median area of the highway, attempting to cross the highway with approximately eight children on board.  Authorities say an investigation tells them while the bus progressed from the median, a pickup truck emerged from blowing snow, striking the rear of the bus and causing it to partially spin

Police are urging all drivers to slow down and drive to winter conditions.

City opens up applications for 2026 Community Group Funding

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The City has opened up applications for the next Community Group Funding cycle, which begins in 2026.

Community Group Funding is available for programs and services run by groups that benefit the community and residents.

The funding pool has been updated for the next cycle, particularly when it comes to changes like increased parameters for capital requests, and the introduction of three funding streams.

Under the updated system, “small grants” are available for local programs that enhance the quality of life in the city for up to $10K per year, while “medium grants” are available for organizations that address unmet or emerging community needs for up to $25K per year for a maximum of two years, and “large grants” are available for council approved community partners who operate city-owned facilities or provide services on behalf of the community for up to $25K per year.

Additionally, capital grant funding is available up to a maximum of 50 per cent of a total project’s costs.

The city maintains that funding allocation recommendations are made based on community needs and a group’s ability to respond to those needs. Interested organizations can apply for Community Group Funding online until April 30th of this year.

Speakers, panelists announced for upcoming State of the City event

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The City of Grande Prairie has announced the speakers and panelists for its upcoming State of the City event.

The event will be moderated by Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton, who calls the State of the City an “exciting opportunity” to bring community leaders, industry experts, and residents together for meaningful conversations about the future of the swan city.

This year’s lineup is truly exceptional, featuring experts who will share valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping our city and region,” she says. “We look forward to thought-provoking conversations that inspire collaboration and drive progress.” 

Two panels will feature six guest speakers, who are described as leaders in their industry or community, to discuss a variety of topics, including ongoing developments, progress updates, and goals for the future.

Inclusive and Caring Community Panel

The Inclusive and Caring Community Panel will bring together professionals from essential services to discuss community well-being, collaboration, advocacy priorities, and opportunities for growth.

Panelists include- Mustard Seed Community Development Specialist Kendra Sledding, GPRH Senior Operating Officer Candice Edy, and NWP President Dr. Vanessa Sheane.

Following the panel, officials say a progress update on the Maskwa Medical Centre will be provided by Board Chair Ken Drysdale.

Innovative Efficiencies and Economic Readiness Panel

Officials say this panel aims to explore economic trends, supporting local industries, and the future of Northwestern Alberta’s key sectors.

Panelists include- Alberta Forest Products Association Senior VP Brock Mulligan, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Senior Advisor Claire Hafner, and Alberta Grains Region Five Delegate Jesse Meyer. 

After the panel, Greenview Industrial Gateway Executive Director Kayle Reiling will provide an update on the GIG and its upcoming projects.

Details

The event is scheduled for March 25th from 11:00 to 1:30 at the Teresa Sargent Hall in the Montrose Cultural Centre.

Tickets are available online for $40 until March 17th.

New Wembley Elementary School Principal excited to return to where teaching career began

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Wembley Elementary School is welcoming Theresa Simmonds as temporary principal for the 2025-26 school year.

Simmonds began her career as a Peace Country teacher at Wembley Elementary before moving to Bonanza School in 2009, eventually becoming principal- a position she has held for the past eight years.

She says her time at Bonanza School has been “very fulfilling,” and that she will miss the students, staff, and community; however, she maintains that she is quite excited about her new adventure in Wembley, especially with her ties to the school, established early in her career.

“I am looking forward to building relationships with new staff, students, parents, and community members,” she says. ” I was raised on a farm outside the town of Wembley, and began my education career at Wembley Elementary School, so I am happy to be back in a different capacity.”

Simmonds will begin her new role as Principal of Wembley Elementary School in the fall.

Increase in people moving away from major metropolitans a factor in the increase of residential rental prices

The increase in residential rental prices last month has highlighted Grande Prairie in the top five secondary markets for annual rental growth.

According to the latest Rent Report from rentals.ca and Urbanation, the cost of a one-bedroom unit on average cost $1,238 in February, up 13.9 per cent from the same month the previous year. A two-bedroom unit on average cost $1,439, which is a 8.7 per cent bump from February 2024.

Secondary market growth

Associate Director of Communications at Rentals.ca Giacomo Ladas said Grande Prairie has recorded record annual rent growth of 10.3 percent. He said the reason for this increase is the same for not just Grande Prairie but secondary markets across the country, where asking rents in major cities have become so unaffordable that people are having to leave these major cities.

“There’s a huge deprioritization of living in downtown metro cores right now and they’re moving to these other areas. So an area like Grand Prairie [there is a] 10 percent increase, we’re seeing Quebec City with a 12 percent increase. A lot of people are moving out of Montreal and going to Quebec City.”

In Alberta, other secondary markets that are seeing an increase in annual rental rate growth include Lethbridge with an increase of 9 per cent and Medicine Hat with an increase of 8.9 per cent. He says with the increase of people coming to the city the supply isn’t able to keep up, resulting in the price increase currently being seen.

Across Canada

He says across the country there is a multi-decade high being seen in general for apartments coming onto the market increasing the current supply, plus a slowdown in population growth on the national level and “the softening labour market and weakening economy” creating a formula for the rental prices to decrease nationally.

“Nationally rents have gone down in a lot of our major cities rents have gone down so when those three things happen that’s really how we get to where we are now where rental prices are at their lowest level since July of 2023.”

He said with the current trade war between Canada and the U.S. there could be several outcomes that could impact rental prices. This includes the possibility of Canada’s unemployment levels rising, which could lead to an increase in turnover and people moving out of their apartments, creating a higher rental vacancy rate.

“This could potentially have the effect of bringing rental rates down but at the same time, there could be an effect on housing development which could again have the impact of less supply coming to the market which could pull prices up. This is an unprecedented time where it could bring rental prices down because people can’t afford to live in apartments anymore and everyone’s moving out but it could also see rental prices really increase, as housing development crawls to a halt.”

Looking to the future

He says looking toward the future there are a lot of unknowns and uncertainty at this point. However, he says Wednesday’s announcement from the Bank of Canada on decreasing the interest rate could be a positive for development.

“What this does if interest rates get cut is it’s cheaper for developers to build and that is a huge reason why costs have gone up. Developer prices have skyrocketed just for everything, labour, lumber, all the red tape fees,” Ladas said. “So the big thing is to get those prices down, and if those prices don’t come down, obviously it’ll get offset to the consumer.”

He adds if interest rates continue to decrease it will be a good thing for the industry as a whole.

County of GP encourages residents to prepare emergency kits for 2025 wildfire season

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The County of Grande Prairie is once again encouraging residents to prepare emergency kits now that fire season is officially underway.

Right now, Alberta Wildfire has listed the Grande Prairie Forest Area as being “Low” when it comes to wildfire danger, and no fires are actively burning in the area as of March 10th.

Still, the county says even in winter, wildfires remain a concern, so preparing now could prove to be helpful by the time wildfire risks become more serious.

Preparing an emergency kit

According to the county, kits should include a 72-hour supply of water and electrolytes, a good supply of foods like canned or dried goods, medical supplies, important documents like birth certificates and passports, a first aid kit, and sanitation supplies like hand sanitizer. The province adds that updating supplies and including seasonal items can be helpful as well.

Officials suggest using the change in seasons as a reminder to check your supplies and kits to ensure food and medications aren’t expired, personal documents are up to date, and batteries are charged.

Additionally, the province says you should also consider seasonal conditions when updating kits, like including items such as bug spray and sunscreen in the spring, and warm clothing and extra blankets in the fall.

Animals and livestock

The province offers checklists for preparing emergency kits for both pets and farm animals; however, in the case of an evacuation, officials maintain that having a plan is the best way to ensure an easy trip.

RCMP locate stolen vehicles, drugs during search warrant in Woking

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Members of the Spirit River RCMP found stolen vehicles, firearms, and drugs during a successful search warrant, and are now looking to the public for assistance in finding a suspect.

According to police, on February 27th, members of the Spirit River RCMP initiated an investigation into a property in the area of 45th Avenue in Woking, where police believed stolen property was being stored.

A search warrant was later approved, and on March 1st, the Spirit River RCMP, supported by the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System from the Grande Prairie Crime Reduction Unit, and members from the Containment Unit located a laundry list of stolen items within the property.

Police say they found six stolen vehicles, another three with tampered VINs that are still under investigation, a lawn mower, multiple trailers, skidoos, license plates, gas cards, tools, “several” firearms, ammunition, suspected cocaine, methamphetamine, and around four pounds of cannabis.

Now, the RCMP is looking to the public for help in finding one suspect allegedly related to the incident.

41-year-old Woking resident Kyle Dale Hudson is wanted for 15 offenses related to this case, including alleged possession of property obtained by crime, altering a VIN, and firearms offenses. Hudson also has three warrants out of Grande Prairie for alleged driving offenses and failing to appear in court.

He is described as a middle-aged man, standing five feet, eight inches tall, weighing approximately 240 pounds, with short brown hair, brown eyes, a fair to medium skin tone, and a tattoo on his left hand that reads- “Kyle.”

Any sightings of Hudson should be reported to police immediately. The RCMP says if you see Hudson, you should not approach, and instead call 9-1-1.

City identifies five “Aging Well Together” priorities for residents over 55

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The City of Grande Prairie has approved its “Aging Well Together” priorities in an effort to enhance GP’s age-friendliness in 2025.

Officials describe the initiative as seeking to address the specific needs of the nearly 20 per cent of the population who is 55 and older.

Five key priorities were highlighted by the city- accessibility/mobility, communication and technology, affordable living, social participation, and community support/health services.

The city says each priority highlights three to four goals for council to implement this year, with many of the priority areas building on the work already being done by the city and community leaders.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says the priorities will serve as an “important guide” in council’s efforts to build an age-friendly community.

“We’re optimistic that by actioning the items outlined in the priorities, we will directly contribute to a better quality of life for older adults in Grande Prairie,” she says.

Some of the goals outlined include hosting workshops, partnering with community organizations, increasing awareness about communication platforms, and developing more outdoor walking groups for residents 55 and older.

Another brick in the wall: Goaltender nets Storms’ second straight AJHL Defensive Player of the Week award

Grande Prairie’s defense continued to shine over the past week, with veteran netminder Nicholas Jones winning the Storm’s second AJHL Defensive Player of the Week in a row.

Last week, Storm rookie Cade Kozak got the nod from the league, and this week, thanks in large part to his 2-0 record, Jones received the award.

Teammates credit Jones with extending the Storm’s winning streak to three after dominating between the pipes during a doubleheader against Fort McMurray.

Jones made 23 saves and allowed a lone goal in a huge 5-1 win over the Oil Barons, earning himself the Player of the Game award on March 7th. During their next tilt, Jones made 27 saves during a 6-2 final for the Storm.

This is Jones’ second time being recognized as Defensive Player of the Week this season, and the fifth time for the team. This season is also Jones’ last with the Storm. He is currently fifth among AJHL goalies, with a 2.39 Goals Against Average, and sixth overall across the league with his .916 save percentage.

The Storm have already clinched a spot in the postseason.

City council repeals changes to snow-clearing trigger point after “pushback” from residents

Grande Prairie City Council has made the decision to reduce the residential snow-clearing threshold from 13 centimetres of accumulation back to 10 centimetres after significant “pushback” from residents. 

The decision to increase the trigger point for residential clearing came during council’s 2025 budget deliberations in November when it was identified the extra three centimetres could save the city $250K annually while reducing the property tax hike.

Despite their intentions, the winter proved challenging for residents, snow crews, and even members of the city council. Deputy Mayor Wade Pilat gave credit to the community, who remained quite outspoken throughout the winter, expressing their dissatisfaction with service levels in their neighbourhoods.

“We tried to change the trigger to 13 centimetres as a budget implication, we’ve had some pushback and there have been some areas of town that just haven’t seen the service level that I think council was hoping for,” he says. “I think our community does a good job of letting us know when they don’t think the goalposts are where they should be, and so I think council and administration have heard a lot of feedback, with this trigger, that it’s had some unintended consequences.” 

“It’s nice to try new things, we’ve seen enough pushback that I think council would like to say- hey let’s go back to our original trigger.” 

The “mid-winter/early spring surprise melt,” as described by councillors, also posed a set of unique challenges, prompting the city to implement a city-wide clearing to address flooding, and icing in anticipation of colder weather.

“We have had issues with icing, some roads have been more significantly impacted than others, we’ve had graders run down some roads where they’re just bouncing along the ice, so now we’re sending out other equipment to do some areas of town,” Pilat says.

When it comes to the question of the city’s snow removal protocol going forward, Pilat, along with the rest of the city council, say they are waiting for an end-of-season report from city administration; however, Pilat says no matter what the budget looks like- snow removal is “the right thing to do.”

“We budget for snow removal every year, some years we have a surplus, some years we’re in the hole on it, I’m not sure where we’re at this year yet, administration is bringing a full report at the end of the season to give us that update, so if it’s a red number, it’s the right thing to do, we have to do snow removal to get the city’s safety looked after.” 

The most recent residential snow-clearing rotation was completed on March 10th, and the city says residential streets will no longer be cleared until another two-week rotation is initiated.

City of GP hosting virtual session for contactors to learn about clean energy financing

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The City of Grande Prairie will host a virtual information session for contractors to learn about clean energy financing on March 28th.

The session will be presented by ABMunis and the City, focusing on how ABMunis’ Clean Energy Improvement Program can help clients finance energy-efficient upgrades on their property.

Officials say the program provides property-tied financing, which allows owners to repay costs through their property taxes. Additionally, the financing stays with the property upon its sale, which organizers suggest enables deeper retrofitting, and opens up the possibility of bundling multiple upgrades at once.

CEIP offers property owners an accessible way to invest in energy-efficient upgrades while enhancing property value and reducing energy costs,” event organizer Kierstyn Otterman says. 

The session is scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the 28th, and the city says participants will learn how the program works, its benefits, and the application process.

Interested individuals can register online on the city’s website. The meeting link will be sent to registered participants at 9:00 a.m. on the morning of the event.

Snowfall warning issued for Grande Prairie

Yet another winter storm is heading for Grande Prairie, with heavy snow expected throughout the day Wednesday.

Environment Canada says a long period of snowfall with total amounts of 15 to 25 centimetres expected to hit the ground before tapering off Thursday.

Visibility and driving conditions could change very quickly, and anyone who is forced to travel today is reminded to take the upmost caution. Temperatures during the following the storm are expected to hover around -10 degrees Celcius.

RCMP request public assistance in locating owners of “large sum of cash” found at Value Village

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The Grande Prairie RCMP is seeking help from the public in reuniting a “large sum” of cash that has been in police possession since September.

According to the RCMP, on September 25th, 2024, police received a report that a large sum of cash was located in a clothing donation at Value Village, within an envelope located inside the donated article of clothing. The cash was turned over to law enforcement.

Now, the Grande Prairie RCMP is looking to the public for assistance in returning the money to its owner. Police say if you or someone you know misplaced a sizeable amount of cash sometime around the 25th of September last year should contact the RCMP at (780)-830-5701.

But what should you do if you find cash? Corporal Patrick McPhee with the Grande Prairie RCMP explains that while there is no legal limit to the amount of found cash you can keep, morals and ethics should be considered, similar to if you found someone else’s property.

“If you find cash that is not yours, it belongs to someone,” he says. “There’s no number, but I look at it like this- especially with cash, it means something to someone, and different amounts carry different weights to different people, so regardless of whatever amount it is, it could mean something to someone.”

McPhee says there are a number of ways to go about returning found cash; however, he maintains that the best practice would be turning it in directly to the RCMP, where they can generate a file, and attempt to track down its owner.

Grande Prairie RCMP detachment front counter hours to reduce March 17th

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The Grande Prairie RCMP’s front counter hours will soon change, reducing the hours by around 30 minutes.

Presently, the detachment, which hosts the RCMP and Grande Prairie Enforcement Services, is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays; however, as of March 17th, the front counter will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Grande Prairie Enforcement Services moved into the RCMP detachment last September and offers a variety of in-person services including vehicle-for-hire and animal licensing.

RCMP services available at the detachment include criminal record and vulnerable sector checks, general information, non-emergency complaints, crime reporting, and police certificates.

City of GP expands DIG Program to open up funding for developers and businesses

Grande Prairie City Council has approved several updates to the Development Incentives and Grants Program, hoping businesses and developers will have even more opportunities to invest in the city.

Among the updates, the budget for the Expanded Municipal Fee Rebate increased to accommodate “high demand,” which the city says will ensure more multi-family housing projects and support housing affordability.

A new incentive under the Fibre Optics Fee Rebate was also introduced and now offers up to a 100 per cent rebate on municipal fees for fibre alignment projects between July 1st of last year, and December 31st of this year.

Additionally, the eligibility threshold for the Business Development Grant has been lowered from $25 million to $18 million, which the city says will make the funding more accessible to a wider range of businesses.

The DIG Program is currently accepting applications for all incentives and grants.