The Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department will be temporarily closed for 48 hours due to the inability to secure physician coverage.

From 7:00 a.m. August 26th to 7:00 a.m. August 28th, 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.

AHS has issued an advisory for some parts of Sturgeon Lake in the MD of Greenview after identifying Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae in the waters.

As a result, residents living near the shores of the lake, as well as visitors to the lake are advised to avoid all contact with algae blooms, avoid swimming or allowing pets to swim in any areas where algae is visible, and avoid eating whole fish from the lake; however, AHS suggests that fish fillets are still safe for consumption during this time.

Visitors can identify blue-green algae due to its unique appearance of scum, grass clippings, fuzz, or globs on the surface of the water, and is usually blue-green, greenish-brown, or pinkish-red in colour, with a “musty or grassy” smell.

Those who come in contact with visible cyanobacteria or ingest water containing the algae could experience symptoms such as skin irritation, rash, sore throat, red eyes, and in some cases vomiting or diarrhea. AHS adds that exposure to the bacteria could be fatal to pets.

The health authority maintains that the waters of Sturgeon Lake where cyanobacteria is not visible are still suitable for recreational purposes, even under the advisory.

Alberta Health Services has lifted the boil water advisory for the Town of Fairview that was issued one week ago.

The advisory was issued as a “precautionary measure” for residents living in the areas of 116th Street between 103rd and 105th Avenue due to an issue with the town’s water system.

The lift is effective immediately and residents can now return to normal water consumption practices as boiling is no longer required.

Despite the lift, residents are encouraged to flush their lines to avoid any contamination after the advisory’s ending. According to AHS, residents should turn on all taps and flush water lines for at least five minutes in homes, and 10 minutes in apartment buildings.

Residents should consider following the manufacturer’s instructions for flushing, cleaning, and sanitizing cisterns, water filters, and ice dispensers.

Additionally, hot-water tanks that are set below 45 degrees should be drained and refilled, and homeowners are encouraged to run water softeners through a regeneration cycle according to the instructions from the manufacturer.

The County of Grande Prairie Council approved the transfer of the current fund balance of the Ron Pfau Memorial Scholarship to local charity, the Northwestern Alberta Foundation.

Each year, the County offers the $500 scholarship annually in memory of dedicated County Administrator Ron Pfau to a current or former County Resident in pursuit of post-secondary studies in Alberta.

This year, NWP Business Administration student Brady Roberts took home the prize due to his dedication to his school work and his community.

During council’s most recent meeting, NAF CEO Laura LaValley and her colleague Ali Thibert were in attendance to discuss options for transferring the management and administration of the scholarship funds.

Council approved the transfer of the fund balance of $11,866 to the foundation and directed county administration to include additional amounts with the hope they will generate a $1,000 award for council’s consideration during budget deliberations in the Fall.

Some businesses in Grande Prairie’s downtown core are without power after an unexpected outage took place this afternoon.

According to witness reports, a power line was struck by a vehicle near the Co-op Gas Bar leading to outages in at least three businesses in the area.

As a result, members of the Grande Prairie RCMP, along with Peace Officers, closed down the section of 98th Street between 99th and 100th Avenue to allow ATCO crews to assess and begin repairs on the severed power line.

One officer on the scene alleges that a garbage truck could be the responsible party; however, no information has been confirmed.

While ATCO crews are on the scene, no repair time has been set as crews are still conducting an assessment of the area.

More than 9,000 workers have been affected by the labour disruptions at CN and CKPC, but Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says residents will soon bear the weight of the stoppage if a resolution is not reached soon.

According to Mayor Clayton, the city’s main industries are almost entirely dependent on CN. At the height of the agricultural season, local crop producers have been forced to consider alternatives to rail, which she says is no easy task.

“Alberta is really blessed with a lot of resources, [but] those resources are only as valuable as how fast we can get them to market,” she says. “You can only store agricultural products for so long, and when we, as a province and as a country, are in a locked position with no access to rail, we’re forcing international trading partners to look to other markets.”

Clayton mentions the supply chain issues that Alberta and most of the country have struggled through since the pandemic, saying the consequences could be dire if a solution is not reached quickly.

“Every rail car not delivered means a lost shift in a mill or a grain elevator,” she says.

“This is about more than just GDP or an industry’s bottom line, this is the impact that it has on everyday workers and our communities and our quality of life,” she adds. “These industries in our region, agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, and manufacturing make up a significant part of Alberta’s 90 billion GDP alone so if you think of the significant impact from the north in that 90 billion of Alberta’s GDP, it really has an impact.”

The Mayor criticizes the federal government’s decision to deem rail “non-essential,” saying it is now on the feds to take a second look at the Canada Labour Code to include rail as an essential service.

“I think that it’s unfortunate that the federal government deemed rail not essential, once this resolution is done and the labour dispute is done, for the long term, the conversation has to shift to the Canada Labour Code to include rail as an essential service,” she says. “If the two parties in the conversation can’t find a solution, the federal government has the opportunity to fix that and really that’s their job.”

Despite Clayton’s criticisms, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently made a statement on the situation, saying his government “isn’t taking the shutdown of Canada’s railways lightly.” The PM says the federal government will have more to say as the stoppage develops. 

The Veteran’s Association Foodbank of Grande Prairie is inviting residents to join them in their grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The event is scheduled to run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on August 30th, complete with face painting, prizes, cake, a barbecue for attendees to enjoy, and a ribbon cutting to commemorate 16 months of operations in Grande Prairie.

The Veteran’s Association Foodbank focuses on a “veterans helping veterans” approach and took a moment to recognize the hard work of their volunteers and community members who have helped the foodbank cement itself as a community resource for local veterans and their families.

“Let’s celebrate our grand opening together and give thanks to our wonderful veterans continuing to care for our local veterans in need,” the foodbank says.

The event is free to attend, but attendees are encouraged to pre-register to ensure adequate resources are allocated to address catering and capacity needs before the grand opening.

Grande Prairie Enforcement Services has announced they will be moving their front counter from Cedar Point to the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment on September 23rd.

As a result of the merger, in-person GPES front counter services such as vehicle for hire and animal licensing will no longer be offered at Cedar Point. Anyone in need of Enforcement Services programs and assistance will be directed to the local RCMP detachment at 10202 99th Street.

The move will also allow the extension of GPES front counter hours by 30 minutes as the front counter at the RCMP detachment operates from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. An additional two staff members will be joining the GPES front counter team as well.

Enforcement Services officials maintain that access to online and phone services will not be affected by the change.

A&W’s annual Burgers to Beat MS campaign is returning to Grande Prairie on August 22nd.

During the event, A&W will donate $2 from every Teen Burger sold across the country to MS Canada. According to MS Canada, the event is significant as Canada has some of the highest MS diagnosis rates in the world with more than 90,000 Canadians living with MS as of 2024.

MS Canada Wellness Coordinator Carla Holton says the event is longstanding across the country going on 16 years and raising more than $20 million so far for her organization.

“It’s a wonderful day in which people can come out, eat a teen burger and $2 from every team burger goes to MS Canada,” she says. “These funds are used for things such as research MS is something that is very prevalent here in Canada.”

The fundraiser is a dear one in Grande Prairie, with the city consistently putting up some of the highest fundraising numbers for the past several years. To mark the occasion, this year will feature a “Show n’ Shine” car show at the west-end location, which local MS Society representative Adele Carr says provides residents with the chance to see some of the best muscle and sports cars the city has to offer.

“If you want to see some of the most amazing cars here in the Grand Prairie area, you’re going to go to the West Side location, which is located near Costco,” she says. “There’s typically anywhere from 200 plus vehicles, that happens around supper time so grab your supper and hit the boulevard and look at some of the amazing cars that Grand Prairieans have to offer,” Holton adds.

Overall, both representatives say they hope that Grande Prairie rises to the occasion for yet another year and encourages everyone to come out and support the campaign on the 22nd.

A Beaverlodge woman has been charged after police allegedly seized drugs, and a weapon from a vehicle following search earlier this month.

According to the RCMP, members of the Grande Prairie Crime Reduction Team were on patrol when they noticed a truck that was parked in two parking stalls, including a disability parking spot. As a result, the team initiated a traffic stop which led to officers observing what they believed to be a controlled substance.

Throughout the investigation, officers reported finding 544 grams of methamphetamine, 25 grams of cocaine, and various items “consistent with drug trafficking and weapons,” including a stun gun.

Upon the conclusion of their search, the Grande Prairie RCMP charged 32-year-old Beaverlodge local Callie Evenson with a litany of charges including alleged possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, and two counts of failure to comply with release order conditions.

Evenson was brought before a Justice of the Peace and remains in custody with a scheduled court appearance on August 26th at the Alberta Court of Justice in Grande Prairie.

The Grande Prairie Storm’s highly anticipated annual Brian Nash Intersquad Game is coming up quickly and Executive Director of the team Nicole Menzies says everyone is excited to kick off the season while supporting a good cause.

The game is named after the late Brian Nash who was a founder of the Storm in the 90s and is described by many as dedicated to his community. Now, the game benefits both the players and the fans who have the chance to donate to the Brian Nash Scholarship fund, which supports one player’s journey out of hockey and into education.

“At the end of the season we award the Brian Nash scholarship to one 20-year-old player who is leaving to continue his education,” Menzies says.

While the game’s primary purpose is to raise money for the scholarship fund, Menzies suggests that it also serves as a chance for fans to get a look at the players fighting for their spot on the 2024-25 roster.

“It’s our first opening to exhibition and it’s a great way to check out the team and everybody who’s vying for a spot,” she says.

The game is storm versus storm and will give new skaters a chance to show off all their hard work during the offseason as they battle for the opportunity to play hockey in front of Grande Prairie’s dedicated fanbase while returning players kick off the rust as they gear up for the season.

“It is Storm versus Storm, so Storm white versus Storm blue, and it’s all of the players who are vying to continue in camp and claim their spot on the season’s roster,” Menzies says.

The Executive Director adds that the entire organization is excited to get their men back on the ice in front of fans, and the hope is that through admission donations, the team can raise $2,500 for the Brian Nash Scholarship fund.

UPDATE: Environment Canada has extended the smoke advisory to include the City of Grande Prairie and some municipalities in the county. 

An air quality advisory has been issued for several communities in the Peace Country due to wildfire smoke.

Residents living in the areas of Grande Prairie, Beaverlodge, Valleyview, Peace River, Fairview, High Prairie, and Manning are advised that wildfire smoke is expected to cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility.

According to Environment Canada, during the smokey conditions, everyone is at risk of adverse health effects associated with smoke inhalation. Seniors, pregnant women, smokers, infants, children, people working outdoors, and those with an existing illness are more likely to be impacted by the smoke and are encouraged to stay indoors during this time.

When indoors, Environment Canada recommends keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible. Additionally, property owners are encouraged to consider installing a good quality air filter in ventilation systems and everyone is urged to use a certified portable air purifier that can filter fine particles.

Residents are asked to be mindful of symptoms of smoke inhalation such as eye and throat irritation, and anyone who suspects they might be having a medical emergency is urged to seek immediate medical assistance.

Saddle Hills County has announced that the ongoing Central Peace Regional Water Project has been awarded an additional $22.7 million in grant funding from the provincial government’s Water for Life Grant Program.

The program covers up to 90 per cent of costs for eligible projects and officials at the county say the additional funding boost will help complete phases one and two of the project which will see the pumping of water from the Peace River to raw water reservoirs in the Town of Spirit River and the Village of Rycroft.

The project is a collaborative effort between Birch Hills County, the MD of Spirit River, Saddle Hills County, the Town of Spirit River, and the Village of Rycroft.

So far, the funds allocated for the project total just over $65 million, with 90 per cent covered by Government of Alberta grants.

Officials at the county suggest that the funds raised so far will help complete the river intake, pumping station, and the first portion of one of the raw water pipelines needed to finish the project. The county says the hope is that these portions of the project will be awarded by the end of the year and the final cost of the project is yet to be determined.

Along with the new funding, the county was also awarded $280K through the province’s Drought and Flood Protection Program for the Ksituan Additional Raw Water Storage Project which will see the construction of a supplemental raw water storage facility to support the Water Treatment Plant during times of drought.

Food insecurity has been a hot topic of conversation in City Hall for months now, and city administration presented a report to the city’s Public and Protective Services Committee regarding some potential solutions to the problem.

Within their report, administration describes food insecurity as a “critical issue” in Grande Prairie, with 19 per cent of GP households reporting they face problems affording food often, and nearly half of all households saying they face the problem occasionally.

As a result, officials suggested that council consider a centralized “backbone” organization to help assist Grande Prairie residents facing food insecurity.

“We need to transform how we view and respond to food insecurity,” administration says. “This means shifting from traditional methods to more dynamic, client-centered approaches that address both immediate needs and long-term wellbeing.”

According to their report, administration says the current landscape of food insecurity boils down to four main points- organizations operating independently without a unified strategy, insufficient resources, unmet needs forcing residents to utilize numerous services to meet their basic needs, and missed funding opportunities.

Following their presentation, the PPS committee opted to recommend administration engage with stakeholders to explore the potential of a new community-based organization to address food insecurity by coordinating efforts, streamlining services, and foster collaboration between different entities.

The County of Grande Prairie’s party planners have been hard at work, announcing that the 2024 Alberta Day Festival will take place on September 1st.

The event will occur at the Bezanson Community Event Centre and is open to all County and City residents.

The festival boasts several attractions for attendees, including food trucks, complimentary carnival games, bouncy houses, and face-painting stations. In the spirit of celebrating Alberta on a local level, a number of historical organizations have been called upon to provide attendees with educational opportunities to showcase the province’s history and culture.

County Reeve Bob Marshall says his government is “thrilled” to celebrate Alberta Day locally, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing Alberta’s rich and diverse history.

“The festival provides a wonderful opportunity for residents of all ages to come together and honour Alberta’s rich history, heritage, and culture,” he says.

Local vendors will also be in attendance for festival goers to shop for Alberta-made products at the Alberta Market, and the main stage will host several speeches from local leaders, and performances throughout the afternoon.

The festival is scheduled for September 1st, between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Bezanson Community Event Centre.

The Grande Prairie RCMP is seeking help from the public in finding a missing 46-year-old man.

According to police, Darryl Neufeld was last heard from on August 2nd, and the Grande Prairie RCMP says they are concerned for his well-being and would like to speak with him.

Neufeld is described as a middle-aged male standing six feet two inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with a bald head and brown eyes.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Grande Prairie RCMP at (780)-830-5700 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

The city is advising Grande Prairie commuters of a road rehabilitation project that will have numerous traffic impacts for drivers in the Westpointe area.

On August 21st, a “comprehensive road rehabilitation project” will begin on 84th Avenue and 116th Street, with the goal of addressing current and future traffic demands.

The work will move forward in three stages, with an expected completion date in early October.

The first stage includes full-depth reclamation work on the eastbound lanes of 84th Avenue and includes the removal of existing pavement, compacting, repaving, and new roadway markings. Stage two will see traffic management measures implemented as a result of the FDR portion of the project. Following the completion of the work on 84th Avenue, FDR and milling/overlay work will begin on 116th Street, marking the beginning of stage three.

As a result, during stage one, eastbound lanes on 84th Avenue will be redirected to the westbound lanes to accommodate two-way traffic. The city suggests that short-term road closures could occur and a reduced speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour will be enforced.

Stage two will see the bulk of traffic impacts with no through traffic being allowed at the intersection. Southbound traffic on 116th Street going east on 84th Avenue will be redirected to the northbound lanes at 89th Avenue, allowing for two-way traffic; however, local traffic to the Kensington area will be maintained. Non-local traffic will follow a detour at 89th Avenue. Trucks and non-local traffic in Northbound lanes will be detoured at 68th Avenue with local traffic having the option to follow a detour at 77th Avenue.

During stage three’s milling and overlay work, similar traffic management measures will be implemented.

No transit impacts are expected, but riders are encouraged to anticipate some delays. Additionally, pedestrians will not have to worry as access on the south side of 84th Avenue will remain open throughout the construction.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland appeared at the Glacier Gas Plant to announce the beginning of a landmark carbon capture project in the Peace Country.

Recently, the Government of Canada announced a $200 million investment in Calgary-based cleantech company Entropy Incorporated that led to the establishment of new carbon capture technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a local natural gas facility.

Vice President of Policy and Carbon Markets at Entropy Erik Petursson explains the new tech is the first of its kind, marking a significant step for Alberta’s oil and gas sector in reducing emissions.

“[It is] the first of its kind carbon capture that’s made in Canada technology that has never been deployed on post-combustion carbon capture.”

He says the new technology captures emissions before they are released into the atmosphere, before being placed under immense pressure to keep the CO2 in a liquid state, and eventually being buried 2,000 feet underground where it will stay for “millions of years.”

Freeland says her government is “proud” of the work being done in the Peace Country to help Canada move forward in a net-zero economy, and hopes to see the new technology rolled out nationwide.

“This is another first in the whole world, and it is one of the pieces that is making this work, this project, this technology financially viable,” she says.

According to Freeland, once the new tech is operational in 2026, emissions at the Glacier facility will be reduced by approximately 2.8 million tonnes over 15 years, or roughly 160,000 tonnes per year, while providing more than 1,200 jobs for Northwestern Albertans during that time.

The Deputy Prime Minister spoke on carbon pricing in Canada and insists that Entropy’s work to reduce emissions is an example of how the federal price on carbon is creating jobs and driving investment into clean energy.

“It’s creating a revenue stream and an incentive for businesses like this one here to lower their emissions,” she says.

While the price on carbon remains a controversial issue for many in Alberta, Freeland says residents, especially in the Peace Country, should be proud of the work being done to reduce emissions in the region. She adds that the implementation of Entropy’s new carbon capture tech “guarantees” Alberta’s future as the federal government continues to work on reducing emissions across the country.

“What this means is the next chapter in the future of the natural gas industry in Alberta and in Canada,” she says. “It’s jobs today, and even more importantly, from my perspective, it is guaranteeing a future for Northern Alberta, for Alberta, for Canada in a net zero world.”

Ultimately, both Petursson and Freeland agree that the rollout of the new tech marks a significant step in carbon emission reduction while providing Northwestern Alberta with the first “clean” electrons on the power grid sourced entirely from clean natural gas.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the Grande Prairie – Beaverlodge – Valleyview region. Environment Canada says conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, damaging hail, and heavy rain.

People are warned that very large hail can damage property, break windows, dent vehicles and cause serious injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.