The City and County of Grande Prairie are asking for public feedback on the recently drafted Intermunicipal Development Plan.

The plan is required by the Municipal Government Act and is described as a long-term, strategic plan outlining a vision for infrastructure development near municipal boundaries, which Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says will help the two municipalities continue their collaborative partnership in the future.

“[The plan] ensures that the City and County of Grande Prairie continue to collaborate and achieve our shared vision for growth and sustainability,” she says.

To assist in the process, two open houses are scheduled to encourage participation from residents in both communities, with the first on July 18th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the TARA Centre’s LSM Room, and the second on July 19th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Teresa Sargent Hall.

Officials suggest that additional open house opportunities will be made available in August, upon completing the final version of the IDP before the public hearing.

The federal government has announced its support for a combined investment worth more than $10.3 million to build a new affordable apartment building in Spirit River.

The investment comes with hopes that the facility will provide 24 homes for local seniors. The four-story apartment will include one and two-bedroom self-contained suites, equipped with full kitchens and elevators on each floor.

According to officials, the apartments have been designed in a way to provide seniors with a “nurturing and empowering” environment that offers the freedom of independent living while maintaining access to the necessary support systems in the community.

The majority of funding for the project comes from an $8.4 million federal investment, with the remaining amount provided by the Grande Spirit Foundation and the G5 municipalities including, Saddle Hills County, Birch Hills County, MD Spirit River, Town of Spirit River, and the Village of Rycroft.

The building is being developed by the GSF under a mandate to provide safe and affordable housing and support services for low-income seniors and families.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

Numerous transit routes and roads will see impacts during the city’s upcoming Canada Day festivities.

According to the city, the Canada Day parade is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. on July 1st and will travel from Hillside to the Northwestern Polytechnic parking lot along 100th Avenue.

As a result, 100th Avenue between 98th Street and 102nd Street will be closed from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., 100th Avenue between 96th Street and 106th Street will be closed from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., 108th Avenue between 94th Street and 96th Street will be closed from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and 96th Street between 108th Avenue and 100th Avenue will be closed from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Additionally, transit routes one, three, four, six, seven, and eight will be unavailable from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., while routes two, five, and nine will remain unaffected by Canada Day impacts.

Director of Transportation Services for the City of Grande Prairie Wade Nellis says the adjustments will ensure a “safe and enjoyable” experience for all attendees of the city’s Canada Day festivities.

“We appreciate the community’s cooperation and encourage everyone to plan their travel accordingly,” he says.

Transit will operate for free on Canada Day with regular service running on Sunday hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Late Night On-Demand services from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart Charity’s annual Jumpstart Month is underway in Grande Prairie to encourage shoppers to donate to help kids participate in sports in their communities.

Jumpstart is described as an institution in Grande Prairie, assisting local youth sport organizations such as the Regional Sport Connection, Camp Tamarack, and the Peace Wapiti School Division.

Jumpstart President Marco Di Buono says this year’s month is more significant than ever, as last year, one in three families reported they couldn’t afford sports for their kids, and this year, that number has increased to one in two.

“The most important is that this year, more than ever, the affordability crisis is hitting families with respect to what they can do for their kids relative to sport and physical activity,” he says. “We know that one in every two families is telling us the same thing and the downside to this is not being able to prioritize sport and physical activity for their kids.”

During the Christmas season, some harrowing statistics came out of Grande Prairie’s Salvation Army, which reported one in every five Grande Prairie families accessing food services during the holidays, and Di Buono says youth sports are unfortunately not even an option for some families in 2024.

“If one in five are saying they can’t afford to eat, one in two are telling us that they can’t prioritize sports anymore,” he says. “It is disheartening because we know that participating in sport is not only important for physical and mental well being, but it helps kids do better in school.”

Di Buono credits the recent “State of Play Youth Report” when he says that the issue is not one of disinterest from kids, but rather a supply issue, saying there are simply not enough affordable sports options for kids and their families. Outside of high registration costs, Di Buono says costs associated with equipment, tournament fees, and transportation are a major deterrent for many families in Grande Prairie.

“We don’t have a demand problem with sport, kids want to play, they’re telling us they want to play, what we have is a bit of a supply challenge,” he says. “We’re not creating enough affordable opportunities for them.”

As a result, Di Buono along with his colleagues say donating at the register is more beneficial than ever. The Jumpstart President adds that donations are always tracked and put right back into the community they came from, so residents can feel good about supporting local youth sports in Grande Prairie.

“100 per cent of every dollar that’s donated by a customer can go right back into programming,” he says. “We want to make sure that they feel confident that kids in their actual community are benefiting from the donations that they’re making at the store.”

Di Buono says over the 20 years of Jumpstart operations in Grande Prairie, nearly 7,500 kids have seen direct support from Jumpstart, with almost $1 million distributed in the Grande Prairie area alone.

Members of the Grande Prairie RCMP, and the Grande Prairie Fire department have been deployed to redirect traffic and respond to a gas leak that occurred the afternoon of June 24th.

Officers are redirecting traffic on Lakeland Drive from 95th Street to 123 Avenue while city crews respond to the gas leak.

The incident occurred after an SUV drove into an open pit in the area that is currently under construction. Numerous workers are on scene including two GPFD trucks, a number of Police and Peace Officers, and construction personnel with heavy equipment and vehicles.

The driver of the vehicle was not on the scene; however, officials have confirmed no injuries have been reported.

Police say that repairs should take around two hours to complete and traffic will continue to be redirected accordingly.

Saddle Hills County has announced the launch of a three-year trial of the Alternative Land Use Services program for agriculture producers in the county.

According to officials, ALUS will serve farmers and ranchers to build “nature-based” solutions on their land to sustain biodiversity for the benefit of future generations in the community.

The ALUS Program Coordinator in Saddle Hills will work with local producers to establish projects that will address a number of important environmental issues including work to restore “difficult to farm” lands into environmental projects in hopes they generate cleaner air and water, along with wildlife habitats, and other ecosystem services.

As a result of the program, ALUS participants in the county will receive professional support and an annual per-acre payment for the establishment and maintenance of the ecological projects.

The first step in the process will be the establishment of an ALUS Partnership Advisory Committee to allow stakeholders to guide the program in the community.

The county says the PAC will be responsible for deciding which projects will move forward and is designed to have a 50 per cent representation of local farmers and ranchers to ensure that context is available to inform participants in the ALUS program.

The highly anticipated GPPS graduation ceremony for the agency’s first Experienced Officer class, marks another milestone in the transition to a municipal police service for the city.

On the morning of June 21st, a ceremony was held at Teresa Sargent Hall in front of a crowd of dignitaries, colleagues, and family members.

The five graduates are described as having “extensive” experience as police officers with the RCMP, Toronto Police Service, and other municipal police services, with experience in a variety of policing specialties like Forensic Investigation, High-Risk Tactics, Community Engagement, and Serious Crimes investigation.

Taken together, GPPS Chief Dwayne Lakusta says the wealth of experience the new members of the city police service will make them leaders as the service continues to grow and prepares to welcome the first recruit class in the fall.

“Building a new police service is no small feat; it requires a dedicated team with experience and knowledge to help establish our foundation in developing a modern police service all residents are sure to be proud of,” he says. “Each of these officers carries with them a wealth of knowledge, a depth of experience, and a commitment to the principles that define this profession.”

The new officers underwent a five-week long program that included training on the Police Act, trauma care, Indigenous teachings, firearms, mental health, first aid, Conducted Energy Weapons, unconscious bias, Immediate Action Rapid Deployment, policies, and more, delivered locally through community partners.

Officials say the newly sworn-in officers will begin filling a number of positions over the coming weeks. Two members will work with the local RCMP detachment, one will work out of the regional ALERT office, and two will serve on the GPPS Transition Team to develop the GPPS Forensic Identification Unit, and SWAT Team, and work with the Community Engagement Team.

Fourteen-year-old Anna Letnes has not been heard from since Saturday, June 22nd and police are turning to the public for help locating her.

According to Grande Prairie RCMP, they are concerned for Letnes’s well being and would like to speak with her. She is described as being 5’5″, with blonde hair and brown eyes.

Anyone who may know where Letnes is located or has any information is asked to contact Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5700 or to contact Crime Stoppers.

Registration for the 2024 Eastlink Centre Triathlon is coming to a close and the city is encouraging interested residents to register in one of the various race categories.

Event registration closes on June 30th, one week ahead of the race on July 7th. Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says the city is looking forward to this year’s event having the highest turnout yet, and encourages anyone interested in participating to register.

“There are less than 50 spots left, so make sure you register before the deadline to make unforgettable memories at this year’s triathlon,” she says.

This year features a number of race categories including a “try-atri,” sprint, team sprint, and Kids of Steel for children under 13.

Athletes who register now will receive a spot for a free carb load dinner the night before the race, a free bike safety check, a finisher medal, a branded cup, and prize packs for the winner of each category.

Additionally, the city is still looking for volunteers to support the event. Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and start the day with a free breakfast. Interested volunteers can register by calling 3-1-1.

Interested athletes can register on the City of Grande Prairie’s website.

The County of Grande Prairie has published its 2023 Annual Report, highlighting key moments from the 2023 fiscal year.

Within the report, the county reflected on the devastating Dunes West wildfire that saw the evacuation of more than 1,900 residents and 440 homes.

The county credits the “united response” from GPREP and the surrounding communities that delivered support for nearly 1,000 evacuees during the blaze. GPREP also offered damage assessments of hundreds of homes so residents could return safely.

The county’s Wildfire Mitigation Strategy was put to the test during the fire, and officials suggest the collaboration of fire services from each of the GPREP municipalities was key in bringing the wildfire under control. According to the county, a collaboration of this magnitude was only possible through common command systems, training, and familiarity to form a unified response.

“It’s also why our fire team members have been able to assist at every major fire in Northwestern Alberta since 2011,” the county says.

Looking ahead, the county describes the Dunes West Wildfire as a “pivotal event” that is refining the county’s emergency response planning for the future.

In the future, the county says FireSmart planning and vegetation management, enhancing focus on FireSmart activities, upgrading equipment, enhancing air support, evolving GPREP, and developing training initiatives for volunteers remains a top priority for the county.

Officials say the lessons learned, and strategies implemented during the 2023 fire season will continue to fortify the community against wildfires in the future.

A pair of local schools have been awarded grants through Inside Education’s “A+ Energy Program.”

The grant program is open to schools across the province and funds are used to pursue projects that will enhance student understanding of the national energy landscape including efficiency, conservation, and the future of the industry.

Peace Wapiti Academy was awarded $1,500 for its PWA Bike Program. Officials suggest that the funding will help the school open a bike shop where residents can receive free repairs and maintenance, reducing emissions and waste through the reclamation of bikes and parts that would otherwise end up in the landfill.

Hythe Regional School was awarded the maximum amount of $5,000 for its “Building the Future: One Light Step at a Time” project. The project will see students tracking electricity generation from solar panels during the year to determine what small changes could be made to reduce energy consumption.

On top of the grant funding, the lead teachers from both schools, Holly Gould and Debbie Harris from Hythe, and Matthew Vavrek and Julian Camsell from PWA, have been awarded full scholarships to attend a two-day PD program and celebration dinner in August.

The Grande Prairie Friendship Centre has received a more than $1.8 million funding boost through “Reaching Home,” Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.

The funding will be split between 2024-25 and 2027-28, and officials say the new partnership with the Friendship Centre and Reaching Home, Indigenous-led services and design choices to meet the needs of Indigenous individuals and families experiencing homelessness will be supported more than ever.

The Friendship Centre says after 59 years of service in Grande Prairie, offering a variety of programs and services, the new funding will allow the centre to further its mission of providing safe, supportive assistance to Grande Prairie’s homeless population.

Friendship Centre President Len Auger describes a feeling of “overwhelming gratitude” to receive the funding and promises that the centre will continue to work to provide top-quality services in Grande Prairie.

“We are honored to have our efforts recognized in this manner and will work diligently to provide the best services while working for our Indigenous people.”

The Friendship Centre remains closed to the public as repairs are currently underway due to the recent fire that occurred in the facility.

A local Grade 9 student has been honoured alongside 12 recipients of this year’s Alberta School Boards Association’s Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Award.

Paige Aubichon, a Grande Prairie Composite High School student, was selected from 230 nominees from across Alberta due to what the Grande Prairie Public School Division calls “exceptional leadership, courage, and commitment” to her cultural and educational journey.

Aubichon has organized a number of activities for her school’s beading club, and has been a strong advocate for the younger members of the Traditional Paths community dance group outside of school.

She received her award on June 11th during a ceremony held during the GPPSD’s Board Meeting. The well-attended ceremony was led by Elder Joey Lane and included smudging, prayers, and wrapping Aubichon in her Star Blanket- one of the highest honours in local Indigenous communities.

In the future, Aubichon says she plans to pursue a career in healthcare while continuing her advocacy work to emphasize the importance of culture and education in her community.

Tree Canada’s Community Tree Grants program has provided a $10,000 grant to the City of Grande Prairie to bolster the continuation of community tree planting in the community.

As a result of the extra funding, the city was able to plant 19 additional trees around the perimeter of the field near Holy Cross and IV Macklin Schools, building on the efforts from 2020 when nine trees were planted through the same grant program.

The city says planting trees near schools enhances the overall experience for both students and residents in the area. Additionally, Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says by planting a variety of large shade trees, the city is aiming to create a more “resilient and vibrant” environment while building canopy cover.

“This project not only beautifies our city but also provides essential benefits for our students and residents, supporting a high quality of life in Grande Prairie,” she says.

Tree Canada and its partner CN EcoConnexions- From the Ground Up program have provided funding for 252 projects since 2012 in cities across Canada.

As the City of Grande Prairie continues to identify a means of combating the healthcare workforce shortages in the region, City Council has greenlit the city’s new Health Care Attraction and Retention Strategy.

According to the city, the strategy focuses on three key areas- information, incentive, and infrastructure and aims to support initiatives that raise awareness regarding careers in healthcare through a variety of incentives in hopes of attracting new healthcare workers such as physicians and specialists to the Peace Country.

Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton calls the strategy an “essential step” in addressing the dire need for healthcare in Grande Prairie to ensure the city remains a thriving, healthy community.

“This strategy highlights our commitment to support our local healthcare workforce and aligns with council’s priorities of economic readiness and quality of life,” she says.

When it comes to retention, the strategy will focus on keeping healthcare practitioners in the city by integrating them into the community and providing them with support to build their careers locally.

The city says now is a “crucial” time to move forward with the strategy as Grande Prairie is expected to grow faster than the provincial average of 1.5 per cent as the city’s median age is 34 and a higher number of residents are under 10 than over 60.

The Grande Prairie Public Library has been awarded a $10,000 grant to go towards their “Learn to Tech” project.

The funding boost comes from the Telus Community Board Grant, and library officials say the money will give the GPPL the opportunity to purchase new programming laptops and expand program offerings.

“These programs give hands-on training and education to all, but have a direct impact on those who face financial barriers in our community, including disadvantaged youth,” GPPL Network Administrator Corey Chernuka says.

The GPPL has utilized programming laptops to support a number of programs and classes such as English for Ukrainians, graphic design, writing workshops, career planning, and resume writing sessions.

Library Director Hailey McCullough describes a feeling of gratitude to Telus for providing the opportunity to expand the library’s tech programming, as the GPPL continues to navigate the digital world.

“It’s important for libraries to be working towards bridging the digital divide, and that’s exactly what we plan on doing with the technology programming we’re able to offer as a result of the Learn to Tech project,” she says.

The Learn to Tech project is scheduled to launch at the Grande Prairie Public Library sometime in the fall.

UPDATE: The frost advisory has officially ended.

A frost advisory is now in place for the GP surrounding area. Environment Canada is advising people to cover up plants, especially those in frost-prone areas.
Frost advisories are issued when temperatures are expected to reach the freezing mark during the growing season, leading to potential damage and destruction to plants and crops.

Northeastern British Columbia’s North Wind Wellness Centre is developing an Indigenous-focused Health and Wellness Centre in the Village of Pouce Coupe.

On June 18th, the site of the new centre was blessed by numerous Indigenous elders, dedicating the property for healing purposes.

Pouce Coupe Mayor Danielle Veach says the centre is a critical need for the area, as Northeastern British Columbia is currently seeing some of the highest per capita addiction rates in the entire province.

“I’m a woman in her thirties and I know over a dozen people that have lost their lives due to drugs,” she says. “When the statistics came out, I wasn’t surprised, I think I was more surprised by how the public reacted, there was no big uproar.”

Veach says taking an “activist approach” has been necessary in getting construction underway, as the project has not been without controversy from some residents.

“I do meet words of, I don’t want this in our backyard, I don’t want this in the community, I don’t want this in the neighborhood, and I have to push back because, addiction has been an issue within the region for many, many, many years,” she says. “By nobody stepping up and being willing to support this center and taking it on, we are ignoring and pushing aside a much larger problem.”

The province of British Columbia was recently granted a three-year exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize people who use drugs by Health Canada. The controversial decision has resulted in some pushback by some provincial and municipal officials; however, Mayor Veach says the move has opened the eyes of many residents in her community regarding the opiate “crisis” going on in the region.

“Prior to the decriminalization of narcotics that we’ve just gone through, it was an invisible issue and then it came out, it came out into the light, the amount of people that are suffering, that are struggling, the loss within the community and the region, and they couldn’t be invisible anymore,” she says. “The activists’ approach is just demanding people to open their eyes and see the issues happening in our backyards currently.”

The Mayor adds that the decision to begin construction on the new facility is prudent, saying drugs are a problem in the community, and the people who are affected by addiction are worth fighting for.

“I don’t want to see any more children lose their parents or parents losing their middle-aged children,” she says. “We’re not fighting for the addict, we’re not, we are fighting for those people, we are fighting for who they are, who they can be again.”

Isaac Hernandez, Executive Director of the North Wind Wellness Centre says the project is meaningful for the community as the current approach of sending addiction-afflicted individuals to the lower mainland is simply not working for northern communities.

“It means that people are going to have the opportunity to receive the services that they need instead of traveling down to the lower mainland because history has shown us that they go there if there is no bed available for them, they go into the streets and we will lose them,” he says. “By having the center here, they will have the services that they need as well as the support of their families and friends, and they can continue on with their lives.”

Numerous programs will run out of the new centre once construction is completed, including rehabilitation services, providing job opportunities, supportive housing, and even education opportunities for those in recovery through Northern Lights College.

There are only a few weeks left for residents to submit their census responses during the city’s 2024 municipal census.

The city needs 90 per cent of residents to respond in order for the census to be valid and as a result, the city is urging everyone living in Grande Prairie to participate.

According to officials, the process is essential in gathering critical information to shape decisions that affect the future of Grande Prairie including those made on infrastructure, services, and more.

Legislative Services Director Leona Hanson says the city is at a “critical point” in the census process, and if the city does not reach the mandatory 90 per cent completion rate, provincial grant dollars could be left on the table.

“These are dollars that help our community with services, programming, infrastructure, and more,” she says.

The city says census responses are confidential and will not be shared with any other department in City Hall, and the data collected cannot be used to increase your taxes or alter the assessment of your property.

“By participating, you are positively impacting your neighbors, local organizations, and businesses, who depend on these vital funding dollars,” the city says.

Anyone who has not received or lost their unique census PIN, or who prefers to complete the census over the phone is asked to contact 3-1-1.