AHS has announced the Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department will not have a physician on-site until 7:00 a.m. on February 27th.

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 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.

AHS adds that if coverage is found, the disruption could be cancelled.

Opioid-related deaths in Grande Prairie seem to be on the rise according to recent observations from Northreach Society.

Northreach Harm Reduction Team Lead, Lindsay Loset says a new polysubstance, consisting of various opiates and potentially benzodiazepines, has led to a series of respiratory emergencies for substance users in Grande Prairie. She says through Northreach’s reach in the community, non-regulated opioids have been observed to be causing significant harm to those affected by drug addiction.

“From working with clients in certain areas of town, we’re finding that there has been an increase in deaths over the last couple weeks,” she says. “When talking to people who are using substances in the community, they recognize that there is a drug that is currently available that is yellow in colour, we suspect that it has opioids in it, a non-regulated version of an opiate, maybe Fentanyl or Carfentanyl, there’s also the possibility that there are benzodiazepines in the drug.”

Loset says Northreach is currently working on community advocacy to inform substance users in Grande Prairie regarding the potential harms associated with using opiates, especially as the drug supply remains unregulated, allowing new forms such as this to break into the scene.

“We encourage people not to use alone, making sure you have someone there with you, or using at our supervised consumption site, always having a Naloxone kit on hand and knowing how to use it,”

Naloxone kits and training programs on proper use are available at Northreach, or at any local pharmacy, and Loset says it is always a good idea to have one on hand in case of emergencies.

Additionally, Loset says Northreach has informed the AHS Drug Alert program regarding their recent findings; however, the focus remains on informing the community as the provincial Drug Alert process takes time.

After a weekend brush fire in the County of Grande Prairie near Wembley, the County of Grande Prairie issued a Fire Advisory and limited the amount of permits issued to residents.

Crews managed to extinguish the blaze in a matter of hours and left the scene shortly after.

As a result of heavy weekend snowfall and more precipitation forecasted throughout the week, County Regional Fire Service Fire Chief, Trevor Grant lifted the advisory for the entire county including the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley.

“The snow does definitely help with the dry conditions that we had before, and we’re going to monitor it once the snow starts to melt again, to see when and if we have to put that advisory back in place,” he says.

Grant adds that incidents like this seemingly happen earlier in the year, and serve as a wake-up call for residents to stay aware of the risks of another significant wildfire season.

“It’s February and we’re starting to get grassfires so people need to be aware, and very proactive, and very safe when they’re doing any type of burning,” he says. “People need to understand and realize that the winter conditions we had this year, probably some of the lowest snowpack and snowfall we’ve had in a significant amount of time.”

Despite the ban’s lift, residents are still required to follow the conditions of their fire permits, exercise extreme caution, and immediately extinguish burn piles when winds reach 12 kilometres per hour.

Due to poor road conditions, the following school buses are canceled:

All Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation School Buses are canceled.
Peace Wapiti Public School Division: Bus 369, 370, 371, 408, 411, 417, 423, 377, 455, 368

A brush fire near Highway 724 and Township Road 720 has fire crews from across the county busy on Friday afternoon.

The blaze began, according to fire officials, after sparks from a recreational fire pit spread to nearby grass thanks to some gusty winds. However, the fire has since spread to nearby outbuildings, which has sustained minor damage, before then spreading to a nearby wooded area.

County Fire Chief Trevor Grant believes it’s the earliest into the season fire of this size on record in the region. Earlier Friday, the County of Grande Prairie issued a fire advisory for the entirety of the county, which mean no burning permits will be issued until unseasonably warm, windy conditions persist.

The Grande Prairie RCMP is looking for the public’s help in tracking down a 24-year-old man who has been missing since the first of the month.

Police say Brayden Lee Lalonde was last seen in Grande Prairie on February 1st, and they’re worried for his wellbeing and would like to speak with him to confirm his safety. Lalonde is desribed as standing 6’6″, weighing approximately 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on Brayden’s whereaboutss is urged to call Grande Prairie RCMP Detachment or Crime Stoppers.

Due high winds and unseasonably dry conditions, a fire advisory has been put in place for the Grande Prairie Forest area. The advisory comes into effect days after wild fire season started in the province, a week early.

With the advisory existing fire permits are still valid, but any new ones will be issued only for essential burning and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Alberta wildfire is reminding the public that other than a campfire, any burning without a permit is not allowed. Those burning campfires are also being reminded to make sure their fire is extinguished by soaking the flames, stirring the ashes and soaking them again.

Those who operate equipment are also being reminded to clear debris from moving parts, not operate in tall grass and keep an eye on your surroundings as sparks and friction can cause dry fuel to catch on fire possibly causing a wildfire.

The fire advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve.

The Grande Prairie Police Service is looking to fill its first recruitment classes for both experienced police officers and new recruits.

According to the GPPS, the first class will be for officers who have at least 18 months of experience as a sworn police officer in Canada. The class will be held in the spring, and chosen officers will receive “a transitional allowance of up to $25,000.” The second class is planned to be held in the fall and will be the first new recruit class for the service.

According to a release from the GPPS “the rigorous application process involves a series of assessments including written, physical, psychological, and polygraph tests, along with behavioural and personal disclosure interviews and a comprehensive background investigation.”

Grande Prairie Police Service Chief of Police, Dwayne Lakusta says the service is looking for individuals who embody the service’s values, along with being compassionate and community-minded.

“Our vision is clear, our dedication to service is unwavering, and we are eager to build a team that reflects the high aspirations we hold for our community,” Lakusta says. “When fully staffed, we will be a comprehensive public safety agency boasting more than 225 personnel, including police officers, peace officers, outreach workers, social workers, nurses, and other civilian professionals.”

The starting salary for a GPPS hire is $76,854 and reportedly could increase to $113,859 after five years with the force. Officers will also be able to fill specialty roles within the force including Police Dog Services, tactical team, serious crimes, community engagement, and school resources.

To date along with Chief Lakusta has hired the GPPS’s executive and support team, which is made up of nine individuals. These include Executive Director and Administrative Operations Darrin Balanik, along with Staff Sargent of Training and Recruitment Mike Lefebvre.

Grande Prairie ATCO Electric customers are being warned about an alleged phone scam.

According to a social media post from the City of Grande Prairie, the scam targets ATCO customers, with the caller posing as an ATCO representative. During the phone call the “representative” will threaten to disconnect the customer’s power unless payment is provided.

According to the post, ATCO costumers are being advised that “ATCO Electric would NEVER ask customers for payment, as they do not collect money directly from customers for utility bills. ATCO Electric will NEVER ask you to provide payment by any method, including by telephone or in-person.”

Anyone who does receive this phone call is being advised to hang up and not provide the person on the other end of the phone with personal banking or payment information, and to resist the pressure to act because “legitimate businesses will give you time to make a decision.”

Anyone who does get a suspicious phone call is being encouraged to call the RCMP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to report it.

The Fairview Health Complex Emergency Department will not have a physician on-site for 24 hours starting Thursday.

According to Alberta Health Services, the disruption will start at 7 a.m. on Thursday, February 22nd and is expected to end at 7 a.m. on Friday, February 23rd.

However, the provincial health authority will cancel the disruption if sufficient coverage is found.

Nursing staff will remain on-site to provide triage and assessments. EMS calls will be rerouted to surrounding facilities, including the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.

Three new Board of Governors have been added to the Northwestern Polytechnic board.

According to Board of Governors Chair, Shawna Miller the three new members, which include Jason Forbes, Dennis M. Landis, and Ken Wittig, were officially confirmed by a Government of Alberta Order in Council on February 16th.

“We are delighted to further strengthen the capacity of our Board through the addition of exceptional community members and contributors,” Miller says.

Between them, the three bring decades of law, business, and field experience. Forbes also brings experience from time on the QEII Hospital Foundation and Home Builders Association boards.

Forbes, Landis, and Ken Wittig will attend their first meeting in their new roles at the February 22nd board meeting.

The number of people unemployed in the economic region, including Grande Prairie, ticked upwards in the first month of 2024. According to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate for the Athabasca – Grande Prairie – Peace River region was 4.7 per cent in January, up from the 4.3 per cent reported the previous month.

The number of people unemployed across the region saw a year-over-year decrease compared to the 5.2 per cent reported in January 2023.

Across Alberta, the unemployment rate to start 2024 was 6.2 per cent, a slight downtick from the 6.3 per cent reported in December; but a slight increase from the 6 per cent reported in the same month the previous year. The Red Deer region recorded the highest unemployment rate in January and the Camrose-Drumheller region reported the lowest.

Wildfire season across Alberta is starting early in 2024, kicking off on February 20th.

Current drought conditions across the province are being cited as a cause for the early start. According to the Wildfire Information Officer, Kelly Burke this could lead to a possible increase in wildfire danger if there is no “significant rain in the spring.” Adding anyone who may have had burning projects over the winter month should go back and check to make sure they are fully extinguished.

During the 2023 wildfire season, 1,750,867 hectares of land were burned by wildfires across the province.

As of February 20th in the Grande Prairie Forest Area, there are eight active wildfires burning, with six of them reportedly being carryovers from last year. All eight wildfires are listed as under control and are being monitored.

During wildfire season any sort of burning, whether it be residential, industrial or agricultural will require a burning permit in the region. However residents are being reminded if a fire ban is put in place, all permits are suspended.

Anyone who spots a wildfire can report it by calling 310-FIRE.

Building permits issued by the City of Grande Prairie saw a significant drop from November to December of last year.

According to the latest report from Invest GP in December, 31 building permits were issued worth over $3,369,708, down from the nearly $20 million issued the previous month.

In 2023 the total construction value for the 579 permits issued in the city was $86,446,891.

Grande Prairie parents and guardians could help in educational planning by taking part in the Alberta Education Assurance Survey.

According to the Grande Prairie Public School Division, the survey will be sent to families with students in grades 4, 6, 7, and 10 may receive an Alberta Education Assurance Survey via your community mailbox. The completed surveys will be used to gauge “the quality of education” students are receiving and how well it is preparing them for success.

Results will reportedly be reviewed by local school authorities before being shared with the community “through their education plans and annual education results reports.”

The online survey is open until March 1st and more information can be found on the provincial website.

The 2024 Alberta Winter Games have officially come to a close after a three-day-long battle for more than 2,500 athletes and coaches.

Board Chair Mike Hussey described the lead-up to the event as a “year-long Christmas Eve” and now the presents are finally open.

“I’m biased but I think it was one of the best Alberta Games ever, winter or summer,” he says. “Everybody’s happy, for the most part, we got everyone through unscathed, a few injuries but nothing major, and the most important thing, we’ve handed out a couple hundred medals but everyone ended with a smile.”

At the closing ceremonies, Zone 8 (Peace Country) took home two of the three trophies- The Minister’s Cup, and the Spirit of Sport award, while Zone 3 (Calgary) captured the Alberta Cup.

The finalized standings saw Zone 3 dominating the competition capturing 1st place with 61 golds, 52 silvers, and 36 bronze medals, nearly double the medal count of the second-place Zone 6 (Edmonton) team. Zone 8 came in 7th with five golds, seven silvers, and 15 bronze medals.

Despite the trophies and awards, Hussey says the games mean so much more to the athletes. He says the memories created at the games are the most important part of the event.

Throughout the games, athletes lived with, travelled with, and ate with one another, and Hussey says the comradery built between athletes is what truly makes the games so special.

“I hope we’ve given them a lifelong experience to remember forever,” he says. “The hope is that this will make them want to give back as a coach or a volunteer or as an organizer.”

The next Alberta Winter Games are set to take place in Lakeland after Bonnyville was selected to host in 2026.