As summer approaches, the Alberta RCMP is issuing an advisory to drivers about the rules of sharing the road.

During the summer months, the RCMP reports Alberta roads will see an uptick in the number of passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles on the road.

Drivers are being reminded to keep their distance while on the road, especially with larger vehicles so they can be seen from mirrors on both sides. Something the RCMP is advising drivers to keep in mind when behind a semi or larger vehicle “if you can’t see them, they can’t see you.” As well it is also important to remember larger commercial vehicles can create strong wind gusts, large splashes during wet conditions, or sprays of debris when they are passing from the opposite direction. Other tips include leaving extra space when passing or changing lanes in front of commercial vehicles as and staying farther behind when they are indicating a turn.

Some of the key reminders that commercial drivers are being given are to always carry the required inspection certificates and enhance safety measures by pre-planning the trip and staying updated on “roads, traffic, construction, and weather conditions.” Additionally, semi-truck, tractor-trailer, and other commercial vehicle drivers are reminded to stay pull over when driving if they are driving and properly secure any cargo being transported.

Drivers are being asked to avoid the area of Emerson Trail and Range Road 94 as County Regional Fire crews have been deployed to a tanker truck rollover.

According to the county, fire crews from the Hythe, Clairmont, La Glace, and Wembley stations are actively responding to a rollover of a tanker truck involving dangerous goods.

Officials say no injuries have been reported; however, Emerson Trail is closed between Range Roads 93 and 95.

The truck is reportedly carrying sour condensate, which is spilling from the tank. The fire service’s hazardous materials team is on the scene to mitigate the spill, which officials say poses no immediate risk to the public at this time.

First responders will remain on scene for an undetermined period of time to mitigate the spill.

Northwestern Polytechnic and the Grande Prairie Live Theatre have announced the beginning of a partnership that aims to connect the two over the next ten years.

NWP President and CEO, Dr. Vanessa Sheane, and GPLT Board Chair, Rick Svendsen inked the deal at the 62nd GPLT season reveal on May 26th. Dr. Sheane says her school is “immensely” proud to be part of the Peace Country’s continuously growing arts presence.

“This is a wonderful opportunity that will deliver value for years to come,” she says.

As a result of the partnership, the Douglas J. Cardinal Performing Arts Centre at NWP will serve as the host venue for the GPLT’s biannual musical theatre event and will continue to do so every two years for the next decade.

GPLT President Rick Svedson describes feeling “extremely excited” about the partnership, as the collaboration will enrich the arts community in Grande Prairie.

“Staging bi-annual productions at the Douglas J. Cardinal Performing Arts Centre will provide a tremendous experience for our local performers,” he says. “Together, we are building a vibrant cultural hub that welcomes all to experience the magic of theatre.”

The GPLT’s first on-campus performance- “Grease the Musical,” will run from February 8th to 25th next year. Tickets will be on sale on the GPLT’s website in the “near future.”

Beaverlodge Research Farm is set to host a buzz of an event later this June as the 68th Annual Beaverlodge Beekeepers’ Field Day fast approaches.

On June 21st, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Beaverlodge Beekeepers’ Field Day promises to deliver an insightful look into beekeeping for residents in the area.

The free, one-day event aims to provide attendees with the chance to learn about the AAFC’s current bee research, trends, and a variety of topics in beekeeping, including the role that bees play in agriculture as a whole.

Live demonstrations will be underway and guests can chat with bee experts and hobbyists about what makes them tick. Attendees can learn directly from scientists, provincial apiarists, and industry specialists as they highlight key findings from the past year.

The lineup for the day includes talks from the Tech Transfer Program Lead from the BC Honey Producers Association, Dr. Nuria Morfin, researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, a provincial apiculturist, and representatives from honey producers in both Alberta and British Columbia.

The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 21st and pre-registration is not required.

The City of Grande Prairie has opened up applications for local businesses for the Sidewalk Patio Program.

The program was greenlit weeks ago in council chambers and aims to enable local businesses to expand their outdoor seating areas onto public sidewalks and roadways to bolster community connection in the city’s downtown core.

City planner Zeel Patel describes the initiative as a way to support local businesses and enhance the pedestrian experience while passing through downtown.

“We aim to streamline the process and invigorate our downtown, boosting the economy and creating vibrant public spaces for everyone to enjoy,” she says.

Along with small businesses, restaurants, bars, and cafes with valid business licenses and compliance with AGLC standards can also participate in the program.

Businesses have four options to choose from, all of which require a $100 fee. Option one allows businesses to operate a small sidewalk patio, option two opens up the chance for businesses to operate a patio in a parklet in front of their business, option three includes a full sidewalk patio with a re-routed sidewalk, and option four includes partial sidewalk patios with no boardwalk sidewalk.

Interested businesses can find specific information, application details, and the application form on the city’s website.

To accommodate the Grande Prairie Public Library’s extended hours of operation, hours for the Montrose Cultural Centre have shifted as well.

Beginning the week of June 2nd, the Montrose Cultural Centre will open at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays aligning with the GPPL’s hours of 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

All other hours of operation remain the same with the cultural centre being open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Fridays, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The library boasts similar hours with the facility operating from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays.

The City says the change comes from the Montrose Cultural Centre’s role as the “anchor” for cultural celebration in downtown Grande Prairie with the facility playing host to a variety of community resources available for residents.

The Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department will be without physician coverage for a period of 48 hours this week.

From 7:00 a.m. June 3rd to 7:00 a.m. June 5th, the ED will be temporarily without onsite physician coverage.

AHS says nursing staff will remain on-site to provide triage, assessments, and referrals for patients to alternative emergency departments as needed.

Patients and residents can still access 9-1-1 during a medical emergency and EMS will remain available to the community.

Residents are also reminded to call Health Link at 8-1-1 for 24/7 non-emergency health-related questions. Additionally, patients seeking care at the ED are encouraged to access services that may be available through local pharmacies.

Pride month is in full swing in Grande Prairie and the Grande Prairie Pride Society is hosting numerous events to celebrate.

Throughout the month of June, several activities are scheduled throughout the city, the first being the Party in White at the Bowes on June 1st. The event will feature numerous drag queens, including two Drag Race icons to get the party started.

On June 3rd, community members will gather to repaint the rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of 103rd Avenue and 98th Street, near City Hall and the Montrose Cultural Centre. Exciting too, this year will see a second crosswalk added for the first time. The event is free to attend and work will start at 10:00 a.m.

June 8th residents will be able to attend the Pride Family Carnival at Eastlink Centre from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The free event will feature carnival performers, bouncy castles, and carnival rides. Officials suggest that the event brings in more than 3,000 people each year.

To finish off the month, Grande Prairie City Council will proclaim June as Pride Month during a Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce mixer on June 27th at the Grande Prairie Public Library.

The City of Grande Prairie is joining the County in lifting the fire restriction due to favourable conditions.

As of May 30th the recent rainfall has resulted in low wildfire danger in the Grande Prairie Forest Area. Officials say while a fire could still ignite, it is not expected to spread to deeper vegetation layers or larger fuels like trees.

City Fire Marshal Chris Renyk says recent weather conditions have “significantly” reduced the fire risk in the area; however, wildfire mitigation remains a top priority for both firefighters and residents.

“We encourage residents to continue practicing fire safety to maintain this low risk,” he says.

Despite the lift, fire permits are still required for backyard fire pits and can be purchased from Access GP or by calling 311. Residents who choose to burn are reminded that all fire pits must comply with safety regulations to prevent any additional hazards.

United Way Alberta Northwest is welcoming its new Executive Director, Ken Loudon as a replacement for former Executive Director Tracy Zuk.

The longtime Grande Prairie resident has lived in the city for almost 30 years and is described as having a “long and profound” connection to the region. Loudon has been working in the nonprofit sector for years and officials say he holds a “deep understanding” of the community and the United Way.

The new Executive Director is an active Rotarian as a member of the Swan City Rotary Club and past President.

Additionally, Loudon has served a number of terms on the Board of the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce and received the Clem E. Collins outstanding contribution award.

Loudon has also sat on the United Way Cabinet and received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023.

Members of the Ontario Provincial Police arrested Grande Prairie resident and alleged murderer, David James “Toothless” Sietsma on May 30th.

Sietsma was charged with alleged first-degree murder following a police investigation into the remains of 34-year-old Echer Marcial that were found on Range Road 55 near Clairmont in March.

As a result, a nationwide warrant for Sietsma’s arrest was issued.

According to the OPP, members from the Schreiber and Nipigon Detachments were dispatched to an incident near Gravel River on Highway 17 on May 30th, and further investigation revealed the suspect was seen travelling in a stolen vehicle.

Officers from the Schreiber detachment observed the vehicle east of the municipality on Highway 17 and quickly utilized a spike belt with hopes of stopping the vehicle; however, the vehicle continued and was not pursued by police.

Later on, law enforcement says the vehicle was located in the area of Sunset Drive and the suspect was located and placed under arrest.

Investigation revealed that the individual was David Sietsma who is currently being held in custody until he is returned to the Grande Prairie RCMP.

Sietsma was brought before a justice of the peace and remains on a six-day hold while he awaits transfer back to Grande Prairie for a court appearance.

The City of Grande Prairie has released the full lineup of activities for this year’s Canada Day festivities.

On July 1st, the celebration kicks off with the Canada Day parade at 2:00 p.m. starting at Hillside School before traveling down 96th Street and 100th Avenue and ending at Northwestern Polytechnic.

Following the parade, Muskoseepi Park will host numerous activities for all ages including free drop-in swimming at the Aquatera Outdoor Pool from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Additionally, live entertainment, beer gardens, fire dancers, carnival rides, a kid’s zone with bouncy castles, and food trucks will be available at Muskoseepi.

All Canada Day activities are free to attend.

Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says Canada Day is “always a special time” for the community, and providing activities to celebrate is always a priority for the city.

“I encourage everyone to join us at our Canada Day events to celebrate our diversity, community, unity, and creating grander memories together,” she says.

The day ends with a fireworks display at 11:30 p.m. from the reservoir at Muskoseepi Park.

The City of Grande Prairie has extended the deadline for artists to submit their expressions of interest for the creation of a Treaty 8 monument to June 12th.

Originally, the deadline was May 29th; however, the extension gives artists even more time to come up with the required three conceptual sketches, and any examples of previous work.

The project comes as a celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Treaty 8 signing. The anniversary takes place this year on June 21st and is described by the city as a “significant” event for Grande Prairie to commemorate the lands the city is on.

Interested artists can submit expressions of interest detailing their experience with designing and sculpting public art surrounding indigenous themes.

Responses will be evaluated based on artistic vision and relevance to Treaty 8, experience and skill, cultural awareness, feasibility, and connection to Treaty 8 Territory.

Artists can submit their expressions of interest on the city’s website until June 12th at 2:00 p.m.

Alberta RCMP Major Crime Units have conducted multiple arrests during a homicide investigation in Velleyview.

According to police, on November 8th, members of the Valleyview RCMP responded to a report of a male who had been assaulted and was suffering serious lacerations to his body at a residence on Sturgeon Lake First Nation.

The man was quickly transported to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy revealed that the victim, 36-year-old Aaron Bellcourt, died as a result of his injuries, and the death was deemed a homicide.

Alberta Major Crimes took over the investigation and conducted a “lengthy” multi-detachment investigation.

Major Crimes, the Valleyview RCMP detachment, the Grand Prairie RCMP Municipal Detachment, Grand Prairie RCMP General Investigation Section, Western Alberta District GIS as well as Alberta RCMP Forensic Identification Services and Interview Assistance Team conducted the arrest of three suspects on May 24th.

Alberta Major Crimes Unit Corporal Cale Marriott says murder investigations “always” hold the “utmost importance” to the RCMP as they are even more important to the friends and family affected.

“The conclusion of this file, only possible thanks to the work of multiple detachments, sections and teams from your Alberta RCMP, not only underlines this fact but shows the work, dedication and teamwork that goes into everything we do,” he says.

35-year-old Red Deer resident Sara Dawn Aleisha Kappo, 30-year-old Angel Rae Kappo, and 23-year-old Dallas Goodswimmer, both Valleyview residents, were charged with alleged first-degree murder.

The three individuals were brought before a justice of the peace and remain in custody, with a scheduled Alberta Court of Justice date on June 24th.

The Peace Wapiti Public School Division received an $8,000 donation from this year’s Iceberg Hockey Tournament.

PWPSD officials describe feeling “extremely grateful” to the tournament and its organizers for their donation to the PWPSD’s mental health resources.

The Iceberg Tournament was founded in 2017 and aims to raise funds for children’s mental health. According to the organization’s website, all tournament proceeds will provide direct funding for mental health assessments in schools.

As of May 2024, the Iceberg Hockey Tournament has raised more than $50,000 for children’s mental health initiatives.

This year’s tournament, held in April, saw four days of hockey and included 13 teams of players aged 13 and 14 from the Grande Prairie area participating in the competition.

As of 11:00 a.m. on May 30th, the County of Grande Prairie has lifted the fire restriction for the entire county.

The County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service says due to cooler temperatures and recent rainfall, conditions have improved enough to let the county lift all advisories in place as the fire danger in the region is now considered low.

Despite the lift, residents are encouraged to check any burn piles from the winter to ensure they are completely extinguished, and always practice safe burning. A list of best practices is available on the county’s website or through the fire service at (780)-532-9727.

The lift includes the entire county along with the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley.

A local Grande Prairie couple took home the second-highest Lotto 6/49 prize during the May 4th Classic Draw.

Vilma and Leo Colandog say they are long-time fans of Lotto 6/49 and have been playing since 2013.

The couple won $129,894.60, splitting the draw prize with another ticket purchased in Ontario. Leo describes a feeling of disbelief and says he had to double check that he actually won such a large sum of money.

“I scanned it on the self-checker and didn’t believe it, so I checked again,” he says. “I called my wife and sent her a picture… She didn’t believe me either!”

Leo’s partner Vilma says now that the shock has started to wind down, they have big plans for their winnings.

“We’re hoping to put it towards a new home because we are renting now,” she says. “I’d love to use some to help with my online travel business as well.”

The Colandogs purchased their winning tickets at Wally’s Mini Mart at 9318 100 Street in Grande Prairie. Their winning numbers were 2, 16, 21, 27, 38, 45, and the bonus, 43.

The Grande Spirit Foundation has announced the grand opening of Pleasant View Lodge in Spirit River on June 1st.

To celebrate, the foundation is inviting members of the community to attend the ceremony during “Spirit Days” weekend.

Officials say the opening of Pleasant View Lodge is “more than just a celebration” and marks a testament to the support and collaboration between the community and the foundation.

Alberta Minister of Seniors, Community, and Social Services Jason Nixon says the project comes thanks to the “dedication and hard work” of the Grande Spirit Foundation.

“The Grande Spirit Foundation’s dedication and hard work to create a home of comfort and care go a long way to prioritize the well-being of our seniors and strengthen community bonds,” he says.

Grande Spirit Foundation Chair Judy Kokotilo-Bekkerus describes the moment as the mark of the beginning of a new chapter for the foundation and says the home will provide a sense of comfort and care for its residents.

“As we open the doors of Pleasant View Lodge, we welcome our seniors to a home of comfort and care,” she says. “Every smile, every laugh, and every shared moment reaffirms our commitment to enriching the lives of those we serve.”

Ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a free barbecue meal with ice cream and lemonade will be served, providing the chance for attendees to mingle with friends and neighbours.

It’s been nearly half a year since the Grande Prairie Police Service took over Enforcement Services and Mobile Outreach, which officials say has been a great success thus far.

GPPS Chief Dwayne Lakusta spoke on the first five months since the takeover and describes the takeover as a “great opportunity” for the newly established police service to have an impact on the community they serve.

“This was a great opportunity for us to start having an impact on road and public safety in the City of Grande Prairie because it ties right into our tiered policing model,” he says.

Lakusta has been quite vocal about the tiered policing model that the GPPS will utilize when it comes time to take over jurisdiction from the RCMP in Grande Prairie. The model includes initiatives such as community connection through evaluating which situations require or don’t require a “badge and a gun.”

Lakusta adds that the past few months have included an “exhaustive review” of what Enforcement Services provide to the city, and as a result, staffing levels have been increased to better serve the community.

“Traffic safety is a concern so what we’ve done now is we’ve brought our staffing levels up to a full complement, we’re just a few shy, [but] we’re working through the final stages of employment offers,” he says.

Following the elimination of the Public Safety Unit that previously provided services to the city, Lakusta says residents will soon see GPPS officers on the streets in a more fulsome capacity, which will ultimately lead to increased engagement with residents and business owners.

“We’re going to start deploying our officers, they are right now in a limited capacity, but we’re going to have more engagement with the Downtown Business Association with the community engagement team we established,” he says.

Targeted enforcement remains a key area for the GPPS, and Lakusta says as the police service is granted more resources, more opportunities for enforcement will come as well.

“We’re hearing a lot within the city when it comes to speed on certain roadways, and we hear a lot about excessive noise from vehicles, so now with the resources we have, we’re able to conduct those targeted enforcement activities, which is what the city is asking for,” he says. “This is about road safety, it’s not about revenues, it’s about we want people to change their driving habits so it does have an impact.”

Lakusta adds that the GPPS is continuing to look into “other initiatives” with hopes of enhancing the level of road safety in Grande Prairie.