Grande Prairie City Council is considering whether to pursue membership into the Prescription Get Active non-profit program.

Get Active is designed to promote physical activity through doctor “prescriptions” for exercise as a way to improve public health within city-owned facilities such as the Eastlink Centre.

Community Knowledge Campus Director Angela Redding presented in council’s most recent committee meetings, saying the move could be a great service for those who need it in the community.

“The way that the prescriptions would work is they would be prescribed by a health care professional to access the facility to attend any of the programs or services that we currently offer, and so it may include the walking track, or it may include fitness classes,” she says.

The World Health Organization says regular physical activity can provide a significant benefit to physical and mental health, but 80 per cent of young people do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity.

Redding suggests that providing exercise prescriptions can allow residents to get healthy while engaging in physical activities in a social or class setting.

“A lot of the prescribing is around the social benefit of getting back into an active lifestyle,” she says.

Should the city move forward with its potential membership, physicians throughout Grande Prairie will have the option to “prescribe” physical activity for their patients at a number of municipally-owned facilities.

Food insecurity has become a hot topic of discussion among residents, charities, and the city government, and during their transition to a new facility, the GP Northreach Society says food availability is top of mind.

The Helping Hands Society of Grande Prairie has partnered with Northreach to ensure those who are affected by food insecurity have access to necessities such as food and sanitation products.

Notably, in their new facility, Helping Hands and Northreach are providing residents with fresh produce and perishables, which Harm Reduction Team Lead Lindsay Loset says is a feature that just isn’t sustainable for other food security services.

“I think just because fresh food is just what everyone wants to eat if we’re giving a box of mac and cheese but not giving milk or butter to go with it, it’s not very supportive of people’s nutritional needs,” she says. “It is one of the few food security programs in Grande Prairie that offers fresh food, so that’s something we really focus on and want to maintain as a support that we have for our food security program.”

While Northreach continues striving to provide those in their care with valuable food options, Loset says her organization has started to feel the effects of high food prices at the grocery store.

“I think there has been an increase in applicants in the past year, we often operate on a waitlist, I checked yesterday and we currently have 95 applicants on the waitlist which is unfortunate,” she says. “We know and understand that when people are applying, they need food now, and one of the things that we have been trying is doing more food hampers per week.”

As a result, Loset says Northreach is looking to provide additional food hampers and now, given their recent move, capacity has increased from ten hampers per week to 16, as a way to manage the growing waitlist.

Phone restrictions are in place for every grade-schooler in the province following Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides’ Ministerial Order restricting the use of personal devices in the classroom.

The order includes a full ban on tablets, laptops, and smartwatches, and parents are encouraged to ask their children to leave those devices at home.

Locally, the Holy Family Catholic Regional Division has tasked its principals to develop a system to respect the order regarding devices in their schools; however, as of September 4th, the use of cell phones is still allowed in HFCRD schools outside of class time.

The division maintains that using personal electronic devices in the classroom could still be allowed depending on an individual teacher’s decision for “special purposes,” special learning needs, or health and medical reasons.

Additionally, the ban will see “all social media platforms” blocked for students on school wifi from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

During this time, staff are encouraged to “lead by example,” but no rules are currently in place.

Northwestern Polytechnic has expanded its program offerings even further after receiving a Mental Health Professions Enrollment grant from the provincial government.

NWP is one of 12 post-secondary schools that will see the benefits of new provincial funding by enhancing its mental health focus. NWP Provost and Vice-President Academic Terry Kowalchuk calls the announcement “timely” as the school will now begin developing two new degree programs and two new diplomas for students.

“Our goal is to train and retain, recognizing that these professions are central to creating strong, productive, and resilient northern communities,” he says.

During the next three years, NWP will receive nearly $1 million in grant funding to support program development and implementation. New programs include NWP’s Psychiatric Nurse Diploma in 2025, a Social Work Diploma in the same year, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2026, and a Bachelor of Social Work in the same year.

With the new programs entering the development stage, the school maintains that there are still options for learners who are eager to start today which can be viewed on NWP’s website.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating after a crash at the Peace River Airport on Tuesday claimed the lives of two people.

The Fairview and Grimshaw RCMP, who initially responded to the incident shortly before 5 p.m. on September 3rd, say while the cause of the crash will be investigated by the TSB, they can confirn a 30-year-old man from Manning and a 27-year-old man, who is a resident of Australia, were declared deceased at the scene.

A High Prairie woman says she stopped dead in her tracks after realizing she was about to become $600,000 richer after hitting the jackpot on Lightning Lotto.

Rose Belyan says she had been playing the game since it launched this spring, and after picking up a ticket on her way to work August 8th, she suddenly found herself staring at a jackpot win a little over $615,000.

“I was late for work, and had stopped to buy it on the way,” she explained. “The cashier told me I’d won, and I looked at the screen and started reading the number and was shocked.”

While she isn’t sure on the specifics just yet, Belyan says she will be spreading the wealth between family and friends.

“This will help me help a lot of people in my life,” she said. “It’s just perfect. A perfect feeling.”

The County of Grande Prairie admin office will remain open throughout the lunch hour as of Tuesday. County officials say the change to being open over the lunch hour supports the County’s Strategic Plan which identifies “Customer Service Excellence” as a key factor.

Prior to the change, the county would open up the help desk during tax season, to allow for payments to be made close the deadline at the end of June.

The Administration, Transportation and Utilities, and Community Services Buildings will now be open over the lunch hour on weekdays, except for statutory holidays and on occasion to accommodate all-staff events.

One person was airlifted to hospital following a single vehicle collision on Highway 2 near Township Road 750 Sunday afternoon.

The Grande Prairie RCMP says the unidentified driver remains in hospital in stable condition.

Highway 2 has reopened to traffic in both directions.

The Grande Prairie RCMP are on scene of a single vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on Highway 2 at Township 750.

Police say both the north and southbound lanes of Highway 2 will remain closed for several hours, and drivers in the area are being urged to consider another route if possible. Mounties will remain on scene as collision reconstructionist officers continue their investigation.

The Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department will be temporarily closed for 24 hours due to the inability to secure physician coverage.

From 7:00 a.m. September 3rd to 7:00 a.m. September 4th, the Fairview ED will be without an onsite physician.

AHS says nursing staff will remain on-site to provide triage, assessments, and referrals for patients to alternate emergency departments in surrounding communities.

Residents are asked to call 9-1-1 in case of emergency and EMS will remain available to the community with re-routing to surrounding healthcare centers. For non-emergencies residents are asked to call Health Link at 8-1-1, for 24/7 inquiries.

A Grande Prairie man is facing arson charges after an alleged break in and subsequent fire in a hanger on Range Road 63 on Friday.

The Grande Prairie RCMP says they received a complaint of a break in enter in progress into a Hangar located on Range Road 63, and when they arrived, a suspect saw police and attempted to steal a snowmobile. Police say when the suspect was unsuccessful, he attempted to run but was quickly arrested.

As police were arresting the male, the hangar burst into flames which ignited several accelerants inside that caused significant damage. The fire was held under control and eventually put out.

55-year-old Daryl Claeys is now facing charges of resisting arrest, break and enter, arson and possession of break in tools.

Damages to the building and items inside are estimated to be in the millions.

Several city facilities will be free to use for one day this weekend. The City of Grande Prairie announced they are celebrating Alberta Day on August 31st by offering free access to recreation facilities, including Bonnetts Energy Centre and Eastlink Centre.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says that celebrating Alberta Day with these free activities is a way to commemorate the province’s anniversary.

“Alberta Day is a fun way to celebrate culture and growth of our province,” Clayton says. “We’re excited to provide free access to various recreational and cultural facilities and encourage everyone to come out and make the most of the day recognizing Alberta’s 119 year as a province.”

Activities, including free swimming and public skating will be available throughout the day. The municipality says various facilities will be open on Saturday for the following hours:

Eastlink Centre from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Activity & Reception Centre from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m.
Bonnetts Energy Centre public skate from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with Grande Prairie Storm joining at 11 a.m.
Grande Prairie Museum from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Reverend Forbes Homestead from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A new partnership between Lethbridge Polytechnic and the Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS) will ensure newly hired officers have the sharp skills and knowledge they need to begin serving their community. 

Before policing alongside a field training officer, new GPPS recruits will complete the polytechnic’s Police Cadet Training program. The first class of 12 will begin training Sept. 9 in Grande Prairie. 

Two instructors and the cadet coordinator from the polytechnic’s Centre for Justice and Human Services will travel to Grande Prairie several times over the course of the 22-week program to teach law and to guide scenario assessments.  

An instructor from the Be Fit for Life Centre will be on-site initially to evaluate recruit fitness levels and to establish a fitness program that will be taught by a local instructor. 

Upon completion, GPPS recruits will receive a certificate in Police Cadet Training from Lethbridge Polytechnic. 

“This partnership with Lethbridge Polytechnic will strengthen Grande Prairie Police Service’s recruit training and ensure our newest officers are well prepared for their field training with post-secondary-calibre instruction,” says Chief Dwayne Lakusta. “GPPS is proud to provide all of its training locally and is grateful to be working with the polytechnic to further our success in building a progressive, responsive and modern police service for the City of Grande Prairie.” 

Lethbridge Polytechnic also partners with the Lethbridge Police Service, Taber Police Service, Blood Tribe Police Service, Manitoba First Nations Police Service and Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City to provide training to their recruits and newly hired officers. 

In addition to earning a post-secondary certificate, all graduates also receive an automatic 42 credits toward the polytechnic’s Criminal Justice Policing diploma, should they wish to further their education. 

Lethbridge Polytechnic Centre for Justice and Human Services Dean Trudi Mason adds the local institution is excited to have a new partner. “And for the role our institution and experienced instructors will play in preparing their cadets for successful and rewarding careers in public safety.” 

Lethbridge Polytechnic will continue to provide yearly recruit training classes for the GPPS until their ranks are filled, and on an ongoing, as-needed basis in the future. 

With files from Stan Ashbee

A fire restriction in place has been lifted across the entire County of Grande Prairie. In place since July 29th, the restriction and advisories in the region were lifted thanks in large part to cooler day time temperatures and a fair bit of rain over the last few weeks.

Effective at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, the restriction was also lifted in municipalities across the country including Beaverlodge, Sexsmith and Wembley.

Despite the lift, fire officials are still urging residents to check any burn piles from this winter to ensure they are completely extinguished, and show appropriate caution when burning anything, especially when conditions get dry.

During her visit to the Peace Country, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland took a moment to discuss the status of her government’s price on carbon and the effect it has had on Alberta. 

According to Freeland, projects such as the carbon capture technology being utilized at the Glacier Natural Gas Plant in Saddle Hills County are “cementing Alberta’s future” in a carbon-neutral world. She says while Ottawa is a long way from the Grande Prairie region, the work being done in the Peace has not gone unnoticed. 

“I know that Ottawa is a long way from here,” she says. “I also know that amazing things are happening in Alberta and amazing things are happening in the part of the world that is especially close to my own heart, which is Northwestern Alberta.” 

Freeland credits the work being done by Calgary-based greentech company, Entropy, who recently inked a  is responsible for the new carbon capture technology being utilized by the Glacier Natural Gas Plant, with moving the province’s economy forward.

“I guess what I want to say to all Albertans and to people across Canada is that here in northwestern Alberta, here in the Peace Country, the future is happening,” she says. “I think this is quite literally the future of Alberta’s economy and of Canada’s economy.” 

The Peace Country native says she is “proud” of the developments being made in Northwestern Alberta’s oil and gas sector, and says all of Canada should look to the region as further advancements are made. 

“As a daughter of Alberta, a daughter of Northern Alberta, I’m proud that it’s happening here,” she says. “Every single Canadian should realize that we as a country are not just talking about this stuff, we are doing it, and I think we are going to see more and more of this happening.” 

Despite her words, the federal price on carbon remains a hotly debated topic in Parliament, with the feds raising the carbon tax to $80 per tonne on April 1st of this year, and leader of the Opposition Pierre Poillievre saying Canadians can no longer afford their basic needs as a direct impact of the tax on carbon.

A local veteran is looking to put together a committee that will provide input on a beautification project for the Grande Prairie Cenotaph.

Grande Prairie’s Royal Canadian Legion First Vice President Frank Skolly says the state of the Cenotaph leaves some things to be desired and adds that local veterans are ready for a change.

“Well, the Cenotaph in Grand Prairie, she’s getting a little run down on, and it needs to be updated too it hasn’t been properly updated in years,” he says. “People would like to see it come back to what it did look like.”

According to Skolly, when the Cenotaph was dedicated in 1959, the site looked quite different. He says the desire is there to rejuvenate the memorial site, and right now, it’s just a matter of getting local vets together to get the job done.

“Jubilee is a nice park, but it’s time for an update, the shape it’s in right now, it does need some rehab,” he says. “Right now I need to get a committee together and form a plan of what we want to do and set a budget.”

Skolly shared some ideas for how the site could be revamped, saying he’s been in contact with the city’s parks department to get rid of some of the dead trees, install some flagpoles behind it, and install better lighting to ensure the site is more accessible ahead of Remembrance Day.

He says the Cenotaph is an important part of a veteran’s lifestyle, and after serving six years in the armed forces himself, the VP says the memorial is meaningful year-round.

“When you have a military lifestyle, you know, it’s a comradeship amongst us that, it just doesn’t really go away,” he says. “The Cenotaph is to remember those who helped ensure our freedoms and rights and also remember the horrors of war.”

Any veterans interested in helping Frank achieve his goal are encouraged to check out the Grande Prairie Cenotaph Facebook group or contact him directly through the legion.

As summer break winds down, the Grande Prairie Public School Division has released several tips for students to ensure they keep their minds healthy as they prepare to hit the books.

According to the GPPSD, some students describe the back-to-school rush as a “wonderful” time of the year, but some say the time can be quite stressful. As a result, some of the school division’s mental health experts collected a few resources to help students more easily transition.

Officials suggest that the first step to take is a simple one- establishing a healthy routine. According to the GPPSD, families can help their students smooth out the back-to-school jitters with praise, understanding, and a little bit of structure. Mental health officials within the school division suggest establishing a morning routine, a more rigid sleep schedule and even a bit of homework can help alleviate some of the shock that comes with the end of summer.

When it comes to anxiety, the school division says anxious feelings are normal for children and teens returning to school, and empathy can be one of the number one tools for parents who have a student who might be experiencing some anxiety before the school year.

“Preparing for a new school year is a shared journey,” the GPPSD says.

Parents of children who require additional mental health support can now reach out to their school administrators directly ahead of the school year.

The County of Grande Prairie has officially declared this year an “agricultural disaster,” due to low crop yields as a result of extreme drought-like conditions in the region.

County Reeve Bob Marshall says this is not the first time he’s seen a significantly low crop yield, but due to the hot, dry conditions in the county this year, producers just couldn’t keep up.

“It’s been spotty, the rain and everything has been spotty,” he says. “Our cereal crops and canola and stuff, everything now looks like it’s well below average.”

Marshall explains that declaring the local agriculture situation a “disaster” is simply a tool that will allow the county to engage with the provincial and federal government to see if some relief is available for farmers, who he says will take the biggest hit.

The Reeve says he has already been in contact with the Provincial Agriculture and Environment Ministers to see what can be done to help local producers.

“That’s going to put a strain on all our producers, financial implications and things, so this agricultural disaster that we declared, it’ll give us a chance to advocate the province for some sort of relief program,” he says. “It’s a tool that allows us to go to the province and say, hey, we’re in this situation, what can be done to help out.”

Marshall maintains that residents will not see any direct effects at the grocery store, as some parts of the province managed to hit their targets, ensuring food is still available across the province.

“Certain areas have been done very well and other areas haven’t, and unfortunately for the county, we’re one of the areas that haven’t done very well,” he says. “We’re very localized, there’s spots around Alberta that are struggling because of what weather’s done, and there’s other spots that have excellent crops.”

Ultimately, the Reeve and his council will continue to stay in contact with officials at the provincial and federal level to ensure local farmers are taken care of during this difficult time.