Residents from the Town of Jasper could be returning to the community as soon as the end of this week.

According to an announcement the Incident Management Team is expecting to have all the Re-entry Criteria met by Friday, and the townsite will have minimum services to make it “safe for residents to return.”

The announcement reads, “We are working hard to ensure residents have a safe and timely return. The return date of August 16 is conditional on achieving and maintaining the re-entry criteria.”

If there is an increase in fire activity or unplanned changes to critical services this could impact the re-entry date.

“There are still many areas in the park that must be assessed for safety. Many risks remain in closed areas, such as ash pits, reduced air quality, hazardous trees and hazardous waste requiring containment. It will take more time for these areas to re-open.”

Mayor Richard Ireland issued a statement following the announcement, saying he understands while all have lost something because of the fires but for some, the loss is greater than others.

“We must strive to rise together. As we have been united in tragedy, we must return united in recovery. Just as we have recognized that in a community, loss for one is loss for all, let us approach our re-building and our recovery with equal inclusivity: where gains for some become gains for all; where social equity and community wellness are imbedded outcomes.”

At the end of July, the re-entry criteria was released by Parks Canada including wildfire not being an imminent threat to the townsite, hazards in the community being secured or mitigated and an approved re-entry plan in place. Other criteria originally released includes emergency services and critical services being restored, including utilities such as electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater while grocery stores, gas stations, banking and pharmacy locations need to be reopened.

Trails, campgrounds and day-use areas are not included in this phase of the re-entry process.

Grande Prairie drivers are being advised of upcoming work at the intersection of the 132nd Avenue rail crossing.

According to the city, CN will conduct infrastructure upgrades on August 14th, resulting in a temporary lane reduction. The work is expected to last one day depending on the weather.

As a result, the 132nd Avenue CN rail crossing between 97th and 99th Street will see traffic reduced in each direction to one lane. The city maintains that traffic will be kept in both directions throughout the duration of the project to minimize disruption.

Drivers are urged to plan ahead and exercise caution while travelling through the area until the completion of the project.

The wildfire danger for the Grande Prairie Forest Area went from being considered moderate to “very high” over the weekend.

According to Alberta Wildfire, crews are actively responding to numerous out-of-control wildfires in the Saddle Hills County area. The new fires were detected on Sunday after a storm moved through the area and produced dry lightning. Officials suggest cloud-to-ground lightning can strike the dry surface material and spark a wildfire.

Additionally, crossover conditions are expected in the coming days. Officials explain crossover occurs when the relative humidity is less or equal to the temperature, and serves as an indicator of extreme burning. Warm and windy conditions are also expected for the next few days.

Since the beginning of the year, 93 wildfires have been reported in the Grande Prairie Forest Area, burning around 383 hectares.

Of the reported wildfires, 78 have been extinguished, five are listed as out-of-control, one has been turned over to the responsible party, and six are listed as under control.

As the Municipality of Jasper enters its third week of evacuations and emergency management due to the wildfires near the townsite, mental health for evacuees has been top of mind for a number of authorities.

Recently, the Calgary Counselling Centre, through Counselling Alberta, announced their intentions to provide mental health supports for those affected by the wildfire’s destruction.

The counselling service maintains that its services are available to all Albertans, regardless of their location, and in-person counselling is available in six cities, including Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Grande Prairie. Virtual sessions are also available for residents across the province to accommodate the needs of those who may be displaced or are unable to travel.

In Grande Prairie, GPREP representative and Chief of Public and Protective Services for the City of Grande Prairie Dan Lemieux says GPREP has been working with the province to help facilitate mental health resources for evacuees in GP.

“We are providing some support from Alberta Health Services for their mental wellbeing,” he says.

Additionally, the Town of Jasper has compiled a few resources for evacuees to utilize for their mental health during the difficult situation.

Evacuees are encouraged to reach out to the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta at 1-888-424-0297, the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642, the Crisis Text Line by texting “CONNECT” to 741741, or Alberta 211 if they are facing a mental health crisis.

The City of Grande Prairie has announced its intention to sell a piece of land near the Activity and Reception Centre for an under-market price to Smith Social Enterprises.

Officials explain that Smith Social is a newly incorporated entity coming out of the Grande Spirit Foundation which focuses on affordable housing. As a result of the sale, Smith Social will be required to build a residential development that will see 30 per cent of the units being rented as affordable housing for a period of 20 years.

Due to the nature of the sale, city residents now have the opportunity to petition against the proposal. Petitions must be filed with the City Clerk on the third floor of City Hall no later than 4:30 p.m. on October 7th of this year.

Should any petitions fail to meet the requirements by the afternoon of October 7th, the city will proceed with the sale of land without further notice.

Interested residents are asked to direct questions regarding the proposal to the City’s Director of Planning and Development, Joe Johnson at (780)-538-0419.

Northwestern Polytechnic will receive a nearly $44,000 gift from the Regional EMS Foundation that officials say will help the school facilitate health training in the coming years.

The polytech has been working to develop a new Emergency Medical Responder certificate and officials suggest that the funding will help with the purchase of new specialized training equipment at NWP’s Health Education Centre in the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.

NWP President and CEO Dr. Vannessa Sheane has been quite vocal regarding her school’s plans to continue expanding local healthcare training and says a critical part of the process is establishing effective learning environments for students.

“A key component of our work to expand local health care education offerings is establishing leading-edge learning environments where students can safely refine their knowledge and skills,” she says. “We are very grateful for the ongoing support from the Regional EMS Foundation and look forward to seeing this equipment in action once the program is fully operational.”

The Emergency Medical Responder program has an anticipated start date of January 2025, and hopes to equip learners with the skills and experience necessary to succeed in the emergency response industry.

The new equipment will be purchased ahead of the semester in preparation of the influx of students who will benefit from the new tools. The school maintains that the investment will complement existing hands-on lab technology including patient care mannequins and a new ambulance training environment.

Applications for the EMR program are expected to open in the coming months.

The MD of Spirit River has given the first reading to a bylaw that if passed will see the dissolution of the MD’s ward system in favour of an at-large voting system.

At present, the MD is split into four electoral divisions, or wards, that allow voters to elect council members to represent their specific division’s interests. Should the change be implemented, electors will vote for councillors at-large, who will represent the municipality as a whole.

Before council can make such a significant change to the voting system, the Municipal Government Act requires them to allow for a petition period for voters to determine whether the proposed bylaw should be passed.

The petition must be signed by electors in the MD of Spirit River equaling at least 10 per cent of the population. Should the petition not reach the required 10 per cent turnout, council has indicated that the bylaw will be passed.

A petition must be filed with the MD’s CAO within 60 days after August 21st, meaning the deadline to file is October 21st of this year.

More information regarding the petitioning process, or the bylaw itself, is available through the MD of Spirit River’s CAO Dan Dibbelt at (780)-864-3500.

A 3.9 magnitude earthquake shook the ground in the City of Grande Prairie on the evening of August 7th.

According to Natural Resources Canada Earthquake Seismologist Alison Bird, the quake which had social media buzzing overnight was “likely induced” by some of the industrial facilities in the area where it occurred.

She says the earthquake which took place around 65 kilometres from the city at a location just off Highway 40, was measured at a magnitude of 3.9, and posed no threat to anyone who felt it.

“A 3.9 earthquake is actually quite small, most people don’t start feeling earthquakes until magnitude five, but this was relatively shallow so that might be why people felt it,” she says. “An earthquake can happen anywhere and this was fairly small, so it’s not really a concern, it’s not an earthquake that could harm anyone or cause any damage.”

The seismologist notes that the quake was odd, as northern Alberta is not typically a hot zone for that sort of activity.

“It is in an area where we don’t really have a lot of activity, most activity tends to be towards the coastline where we’ve got major faults and a lot of pressures,” she says. “That’s an area where it’s known to have induced activity due to the industrial facilities in the area.”

While small, Bird suggests that earthquakes can happen anywhere, so it is important to stay aware of some measures to take to stay safe if they do occur, including finding cover quickly, avoiding doorways despite popular belief, and covering your head and neck in case of falling debris.

On Friday, Highway 16 will open to all traffic for the first time since Jasper Wildfire Complex forced an evacuation at the end of July.

Parks Canada announced today, that depending on conditions the highway will be open to all east and westbound traffic daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Those who are going to be driving through Jasper National Park are being advised that stopping or exiting off Highway 16 is not allowed and there are no washrooms or refuelling options along the highway. As well drivers are being urged to follow all posted speed limits and signage.

According to the announcement from Parks Canada, “Peace officers will have enhanced patrols to ensure these travel restrictions are followed.”

Highway 16 is the only roadway opening, while Highway 93N and other roadways throughout the park are still closed to all “non-incident” traffic.

Alberta 511 will also have the latest updates posted online.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 7th Yesterday, the Jasper Wildfire Complex is still classified as out of control and the perimeter is 34,000 hectares.

The Beaverlodge RCMP has charged four youths with various offences related to a vandalism incident at the beginning of the month.

On August 1st, the RCMP was made aware of a “significant act of vandalism” that saw more than 70 windows broken at St. Mary Catholic School in Beaverlodge, resulting in an estimated damage of more than $100K.

Police say thanks to community assistance, four youths between the ages of 12 and 15 years old have been charged with alleged damage to property over $5,000, damage to property under $5,000, and obstructing enjoyment of property.

Law enforcement officials say all four young people were released with conditions and are scheduled to appear in Grande Prairie Provincial Court on September 25th.

The City of Grande Prairie is starting a road rehabilitation project on 92nd Street between 74th Avenue and Woody Channel on August 8th.

As a result, a reduced speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour will be implemented in the area and drivers are asked to cooperate with all signage and directions from flaggers, with the expectation of potential delays.

According to the city, the project aims to accommodate current and future traffic needs to enhance the quality and longevity of Grande Prairie’s roads.

The project includes asphalt milling and road structure replacement, new roadway markings such as crosswalk and line painting, and landscaping enhancements along the roadway.

During this time, access to local traffic will be maintained; however, short-term road closures are anticipated, but no transit routes will be affected. Pathway access on the east side of 92nd Street will remain open throughout the construction.

Officials suggest that the project is anticipated to be complete by early September depending on weather conditions.

Wildfires across northern Alberta have led to concerns regarding air quality across the province.

Recently, a blaze in Saddle Hills County led to a familiar smell in the air; however, the County of Grande Prairie shared that the smoke was not significant enough to pose any risk to the public.

Still, when it comes to air quality, Environment Canada and Alberta Health Services maintain that staying cautious when living and working in a smoky environment is critical for the health and safety of residents.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.

Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations. Health officials suggest protecting your health by reducing exposure to smoke altogether.

People with lung disease or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant women, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke.

Some measures to take include stopping outdoor activities and contacting your health care provider if you experience shortness of breath or other symptoms of smoke exposure.

As of August 7th, Environment Canada has listed Grande Prairie’s air quality as a two out of ten, meaning residents are free to enjoy any and all outdoor activities at their leisure.

Repairs and replacements of stormwater infrastructure are underway across several neighbourhoods in Grande Prairie.

Residents in the areas of Northridge, Crystal Ridge, Crystal Lake Estates, Copperwood, Avondale, Countryside South, Pinnacle Ridge, and Westpointe are advised that crews will be working on projects throughout the rest of the summer.

According to the city, the project will focus on removing and replacing damaged storm structures and pipes, along with the restoration of roads, sidewalks, driveways, and landscaping.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts will be variable during this time, with significant disruptions in Westpointe and along 102nd Street in Northridge. Clear detours have been established for pedestrians. Residents affected by temporary changes to driveway access have received notification letters.

As a result of the project, several impacts are expected including possible alternating single-lane traffic could be implemented on 102nd Street, and an excavation site on 83rd Avenue, stretching from the Westpointe Drive intersection to the cul-de-sac at 114A Street.

The County of Grande Prairie’s electoral boundary review opened up on August 6th to give residents a chance to view some of the proposed options for boundary changes.

Following the dissolution of the Village of Hythe in 2021, the Provincial Government mandated a review of the County’s electoral boundaries before the next municipal election in 2025.

According to the county, Phase One of the engagement process has been completed and included an online survey from June 3rd to the 23rd.

Within the initial findings, officials suggest that the bulk of respondents suggested that the Hamlet of Clairmont be split into two or more electoral divisions with part of the surrounding rural land included or be its own division.

Additional findings included the majority of residents saying they feel fairly represented under the existing electoral boundary structure; however, more than a quarter of residents reported feeling they are not feeling fairly represented.

The county says the feedback gathered from the survey in June was used to develop three alternative boundary options for the county.

As a result, the county is looking for residents to complete the second and final electoral boundary review survey online.

Following the completion of the second survey, council will decide on potential boundary changes and give the bylaw first reading during their September 23rd meeting along with a petition period on the matter.

Local service dog school Muskoseepi Service Dogs is looking to localize and smooth out the process for Grande Prairie residents to receive service animals in the city.

Michaela Stuart, a service dog trainer and Volunteer Coordinator for Muskoseepi Service Dogs says right now, many residents are forced to look for service animal training in cities like Edmonton or Calgary, which can be expensive and time-consuming for those in need.

As a result, Muskoseepi Service Dogs opened up in 2023, making the service the first and only government-accredited service dog training school in northern Alberta.

“Being accredited, it means we can provide clients with fully-trained service dogs,” she says. “Right now, people are having to either go to Edmonton once a week, or pay for a trainer to come out to Grande Prairie, in order to do a fully trained program, but now that we’re here it’s a huge cost saver for them, not having to travel to Edmonton.”

The organization prides itself on having a variety of options for residents in need. Stuart says her organization provides service animals for residents experiencing everything from PTSD to depression, and even low blood sugar.

“We like to say we don’t discriminate when it comes to your disability, if your doctor says that you need a service dog, we are happy to do that,” she says. “We work with everything from PTSD, whether that be with a veteran or maybe someone who’s had an unfortunate incident happen when they were younger or kids with autism we work with a lot, any sort of psychological need like depression, anxiety.”

Stuart spoke on some of the impacts her organization has had on Grande Prairie clients, saying several patients have described feeling like their lives have changed.

“We have people that are anxious to go to stores, and people that want to stay inside, we have people now going to the mall and they were like- oh my gosh this is the first time I’ve been to the mall in five years,” she says. “We are working with a lady who has a child who’s diabetic, and she says things like- oh my gosh I don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to check on my son’s blood sugar, it’s just… I get shivers whenever I talk about it, it’s amazing to see people have a sigh of relief.”

Additionally, Stuart says those who might be interested in registering their pet as a service animal have the option with her organization. She says pet owners can ask about the two-year training program for their animals, and upon completion, their pet can be certified as a service dog.

Members of the Peace River RCMP are on the scene of a serious collision on Highway 2 at Range Road 255 south of Grimshaw.

Officials suggest that traffic has been alternating to allow flow in both directions to get through the scene. The RCMP says drivers should expect slow traffic; however, it is suggested to avoid the area altogether when possible.

The RCMP Collision Reconstructionist has been made aware and police say an update will be sent when the scene is clear.

Emergency departments across the Peace Region will experience temporary closures due to a lack of physician coverage on August 7th.

In Beaverlodge, the Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital Emergency Department will be without coverage from 8:00 a.m. on August 7th to 8:00 a.m. on August 8th. Meanwhile in Fairview, the Fairview Health Complex ED will be without coverage from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on August 7th.

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 as EMS will remain available to the community and will be re-routed to surrounding healthcare centers. For non-emergencies, residents are asked to call Health Link at 8-1-1, for 24/7 inquiries.

The City of Grande Prairie is advising residents of a culvert replacement that will lead to temporary closures on some areas of Highway 670.

The work will see a closure between Range Road 55 and Range Road 54, beginning on August 7th at 5:00 a.m. with the work expected to be completed by August 9th at 10:00 p.m.

The city says the work is “critical” as it is in direct response to a culvert failure, requiring immediate attention to ensure the safety of drivers in GP.

During the closure, local traffic will still have access to properties just past Range Road 55 as detours have been established, and electronic messaging boards have been installed to inform commuters.

Eastbound traffic flow on Highway 670 will detour north on Range Road 55, returning to Highway 670 via Range Road 54 off Highway 43. Westbound traffic will detour north on Range Road 54 to Highway 43, returning to Highway 670 via Range Road 55.

Heavy trucks are advised to utilize Highway 43 during the closure to minimize traffic disruptions, and the city maintains that there will be no impact on transit services or pedestrian pathways during this time.

The MD of Greenview is reminding residents that the annual photo contest is underway until September 3rd for photographers to show off their best shots from around the MD.

The contest opened up on February 1st and is open to photographers of all ages. Submissions must be taken within the MD and each photographer may submit up to five photos, but only one will be eligible to win.

Upon the contest’s conclusion, 13 winners will receive an enlarged copy of their submission, a calendar, social media shoutouts, and artist credit in the distribution of 1,000 calendars.

The grand prize winner will be featured as the cover image of the Greenview 2025 calendar and will receive a prize package valued at $250.

Interested individuals can submit their photos online or by downloading the photo contest entry form PDF and emailing the form and photo to [email protected].