Nominations for the City of Grande Prairie’s Women of Influence Awards 2024 are currently being accepted until February 5th.

According to the city, the awards are observed annually and recognize local women who have made an impact by promoting equality, providing opportunities for women, and breaking barriers in their respective fields.

Three award categories are open for nomination: Young Woman of Influence for those under 30 years old, Trailblazing Woman of Influence for women 30 to 49 years old, and Distinguished Woman of Influence for those 50 and older. Nomination packages are available on the city’s website and must be submitted by Monday, February 5th, 2024.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 8th at 11:00 a.m. at the Bowes in Bonnetts Energy Centre.

The City of Grande Prairie is hosting a presentation for the winners of the “How did the chicken cross the road?” road safety competition.

Between October 30th and November 24th, Grande Prairie students from different schools were tasked with creating a road safety project in a variety of creative mediums. Competition entries were grouped into three age categories- Kindergarten to Grade three, Grade four to Grade seven, and Grade eight to Grade twelve, with three prizes available in each category- first prize is $500, second is $300, and third is $200.

The city says the ceremony will honor the prize winners from each age group, and their prize money will be awarded to the winners in front of their families and friends, alongside city officials and Safer Roads Alliance representatives.

Guests will get the chance to view the winning submissions, to showcase the creativity and thoughtfulness that went into each project.

The ceremony is set to take place on January 31st at 11:00 a.m. at  École St-Gérard in Grande Prairie.

Crack, crack, crack; these were the alleged sounds of summer for many frustrated neighbours in Royal Oaks.

Ken Westgarde, Susan Schneider, and Colin Woodcock spoke during Grande Prairie City Council’s meeting on Monday and brought forward a number of concerns regarding the location of the cricket practice pitch in Head & Salmond Park, behind their houses.

Westgarde and his compatriots say they are “disappointed” with the location of the pitch, as it is “dangerously” close to houses, walking paths, and a playground.

“[We’re] disappointed with the location of the batting cage given the opportunity for them to put it in a different location that is much more suitable for the neighbours that live there and the people that use the park so it doesn’t pose a risk from getting hit with a ball,” he says.

According to the neighbours, the problem lies in the lack of communication between the city and the residents affected by the location. Westgarde says they were not notified about the city’s intentions, and by the time they took action, they were told it was “too late.”

“Before they poured the concrete we emailed and talked to them several times and they said it was too late but the concrete hadn’t been poured yet.”

Colin Woodcock says he purchased his home specifically because of the greenspace behind it, and the already-established cricket pitch served as a “novelty” for him. Still, he says the addition of the practice cage so close to his house has led to numerous incidents of flying cricket balls, and unreasonable noise in the early hours of the evening.

“I thought it was a novelty to have a cricket pitch in the park behind my house but then they built this [practice] cricket pitch, it’s not enjoyable at all anymore,” he says. “That’s why I bought that house, and now I don’t even get to enjoy what I bought the house for.”

As a “solution” to the problem of flying balls, the city opted to install a fence to ensure stray cricket balls do not cause any property damage; however, Westgarde says he sees the fence as proof that the location is not suitable, and the noise problem remains unaddressed.

“Before you put up a fence now, again it’s just making the matter worse,” he says. “It’s proof that it’s a bad location, they want to build a fence, it’s absolute proof that it’s a bad location, the bottom line is if there’s no suitable location there’s no suitable location, a bad location is a bad location, it doesn’t matter where you put it.”

Additionally, both Westgarde and Woodcock describe the noise as “unbearable,” and if a solution is not reached, Woodcock says his only option would be to sell his house.

“I hope our conversations today actually have an impact, if not I’ll probably be moving,” he says. “I want to enjoy my summer and sit in my backyard, I can’t do that at this house.”

Deputy Mayor Gladys Blackmore says the location was chosen based on administrative reports that suggested building the pitch in the south of the park, away from residences, was not possible because of a stormwater pond that depends on a drainage slope.

“It would either be too much construction to change the entire slope of the drainage, or it would be too close to the current cricket pitch.”

Despite the report, Blackmore says she is sympathetic to the neighbours, and the lack of communication could have been responsible for their frustrations. She says council always tries to communicate with residents whose lives might be affected by city projects, but potential weaknesses with this plan in particular were not identified, leading to the concerns.

“Community engagement doesn’t necessarily mean that people have a democratic right to get their way but it does mean that we take in all opinions and we look for those weaknesses, which seem like they were not identified in this process.”

Blackmore says she is “sure” city council can come up with a solution to the issue, and in response, council directed administration to research potential new locations for the pitch.

Interprovincial Fuel Solutions Limited is set to acquire around 200 acres in the Greenview Industrial Gateway after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the energy company and the MD of Greenview.

According to the MD, IFS plans on developing and constructing a $600 million petrochemical facility on the site to manufacture low-carbon synthetic gasoline from natural gas, water, and oxygen.

The facility has the capability to produce 5,600 barrels of “low-carbon, ultra-clean” synthetic gasoline per day, and abides by current and 2030 fuel regulations in Canada. IFS says the gasoline produced in the facility requires no new distribution infrastructure, which will help fuel the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Reeve Tyler Olsen says the operation is significant as the gasoline produced will have the “lowest carbon intensity score on the market,” and will create hundreds of job opportunities for the community.

“Taking locally produced natural gas and upgrading it to gasoline and hydrogen follows the exact vision for the GIG,” he says. “This development will create hundreds of jobs, local business opportunities, and substantial taxes municipally, provincially, and federally.”

The MD says the project will generate 600 regional construction positions with an estimated 50-70 full-time positions once construction is complete. Development is scheduled to begin in 2025, and construction is on track to start in 2026.

UPDATE: Environment Canada has ended the wind warning for the Peace Country.

Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for the majority of the Peace Country including Grande Prairie, Beaverlodge, Valleyview, Sexsmith and La Glace.

The warning is the result of rain showers that are reportedly moving eastward, which could result in wind gusts up to 90 kilometres an hour at times throughout the morning.

According to Environment Canada “Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur. High winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break.”

Drivers are being advised that driving conditions could be hazardous on the highways because of the wings, “especially in high-profile vehicles”.

Grande Prairie RCMP and Collision Analyst attended the scene of a fatal three-vehicle collision over the weekend.

On January 27th, at around 7:10 a.m., investigators responded to a traffic collision on Highway 40, 2.5 kilometres north of the Canfor Cut Across south of Grande Prairie.

Law enforcement suggested that a Dodge Dakota travelling northbound crossed the centre line into the path of a Chevrolet Silverado heading southbound. According to police, after hitting the Dakota, the Silverado entered the west ditch and struck a Ford F550 which entered the ditch to avoid the collision.

Upon investigation, police found the lone occupant of the Silverado, a 57-year-old man from the Grande Prairie area dead at the scene. Additionally, the drivers of both of the other vehicles suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

As a result of the crash, Highway 40 experienced traffic delays for most of the day; however, emergency crews have cleared and traffic has returned to normal.

The Grande Prairie RCMP is asking for help from the public in finding a 34-year-old missing person.

Taylor Craig was last seen on January 26th, 2024, in Grande Prairie and is described as having a fair complexion, weighing 140 pounds, 5’6″ tall, with green eyes and blonde hair.

Anyone with information regarding Craig’s whereabouts is asked to contact the GP RCMP at (780)-830-5701, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

There were four accidental fatal drug poisonings in reported in October in Grande Prairie.

According to the Alberta Substance Use Surveillance System this is up from the number of deaths reported the previous month, with one accidental drug poisoning death reported in the city in September. All four incidents were reportedly connected to non-pharmaceutical opioids.

From January to October of 2023, there were 29 accidental drug poisoning fatalities reported in Grande Prairie. Across the province, there were 143 fatal drug poisoning incidents reported in October.

Following a two-vehicle crash originally reported as having fatalities, the RCMP has issued an update regarding the collision.

On January 25th, a traffic collision involving a grader and a pickup truck on Highway 676, East of Range Road 260 resulted in a highway closure and emergency response from the RCMP and STARS.

Initially, police say the incident was originally reported as a fatality; however, the RCMP now says while serious injuries did occur, no one was killed as a result of the crash, and the injured parties were transported to the hospital by STARS.

Additionally, after being closed following the incident, Highway 676 has since reopened for travel.

The County of Grande Prairie has announced the regional fire service in Beaverlodge, Wembley, and Sexsmith are recruiting rural responders.

Applications are currently being accepted for paid firefighting and medical first responders at fire stations in Bezanson, Hythe, La Glace, Teepee Creek, and the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley.

The county says positions will operate on a “flexible, on-call” basis in their communities, and compensation will be provided for emergency response, station duties, and training.

Interested applicants do not require previous firefighting; however, must meet five requirements- living within 15 kilometres of their closest fire station, be at least 18 years of age, and have valid Alberta Driver’s License with a safe driving record, a Grade 12 diploma, a criminal record check, and a doctors letter confirming medical eligibility.

The recruitment effort comes as Alberta Fire continues to look to build on the provincial fire service following last year’s devastating fire season.

Interested individuals can apply online on the county’s website, and the deadline to apply is February 16th.

County non-profits are gearing up for the 2024 Roadside Cleanup on February 1st.

According to the county, the event offers a chance for local non-profit organizations the chance to raise funds while contributing to the cleanup of roadsides, ditches, and hamlets across the county.

Last year, the county says crews cleaned over 350 kilometres of ditches and raised $60,000 for non-profit organizations, and officials say they are looking to beat the record this year.

The county has distributed a list of preparation steps for participants to take. Participants are asked to complete an online checklist two weeks before, report to the Clairmont Centre for Recycling and Waste Management to pick up supplies like high-visibility vests, gloves, and bags up to 48 hours before the cleanup, complete an online checklist, upload photos, and return supplies on cleanup day.

In total, 50 zones are available for cleanup, ranging between 1.6 and 20.5 kilometres in size, and around a $200 payout per kilometre cleaned for teams.

Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the county’s website which features an interactive zone map, and sign-up tools for teams.

The County of Grande Prairie has announced the winners of the 2024 Farm Family of the Year.

The county says Darren and his wife Sherene Hawkes took home the award thanks to their hard work, spirit, and dedication to agriculture in their community.

The husband and wife duo keep 250 head of cattle on their farm near Sexsmith, and say they are “humbled and grateful” to be recognized at such a high level, and Sherene says the award is meaningful as the farm has seen multiple generations take the helm.

“It’s wonderful to be recognized and to show others the hard work and teamwork behind our family generational farm,” she says. “We both work on the farm, so it truly is a collective effort that unites our family, made possible by the tremendous support from our parents and extended family.”

Both Darren and Sherene’s parents- Andy and Fran Johnson, and Terry and Joyce Tomshak, played important roles in collaboration with each other to shape the family farm into what it is today by contributing their expertise and support to their children.

The Hawkes’ have been involved in their community through numerous community service endeavors such as coaching junior hockey and volunteering at the Teepee Creek Stampede.

The award will officially be presented at a banquet during the Peace Country Classic Agri-Show on March 8th.

The Grande Prairie and District Catholic School and Peace River School Division’s Board of Trustees have passed a motion to add a new joint-use K-9 facility for GPCSD and K-6 facility in the community of Fairview.

The school divisions say by ensuring both capital plans include similar priorities, both divisions are displaying a “strong willingness” to the provincial government to collaborate to create the best possible educational facility for students in the Fairview area.

Crystal Owens, Chair of the Peace River School Division Board of Trustees says her school division is used to collaboration between divisions, and often opens up opportunities for schools in rural areas to offer more options for students.

“It’s not an unfamiliar concept for us, we have a very successful joint-use facility located in Grimshaw with the HFCRD, and the joint-use facility in Fairview would offer us two school divisions the opportunity to partner and offer the greatest number of resources to the students living in this area,” she says.

Grande Prairie and District Catholic School Board Chair Russ Snoble shared similar thoughts, saying it is important for not only students, but the community to have as many educational opportunities for children in the community as possible. He adds that the collaboration presents a unique opportunity to maintain the Catholic Division’s core values while opening up options beyond education such as greater athletics and extracurricular options as well.

“One of the advantages is the choice to have both the Catholic School Division and the Public School Division work together so that our Catholic Division students and parents can look at still maintaining the curriculum and yet join with a facility that has a larger amount of options available,” he says.

Owens says the opportunity was one that simply worked as a win-win for both divisions, as each one had needs and strengths the other could help with and utilize.

“We were willing to help out with the situation they were in with their school, and with our elementary school, it is underutilized, so by advocating together for a joint-use facility we hope that we’ll be able to build a new school that is appropriately sized for all of the students,” she says.

Officials say the joint-use facility is the first step in a multi-year process to have a new, permanent school structure in the Fairview area.

The Grande Prairie Palliative Care Society is looking for volunteer pet owners to bring in their furry friends to visit some of the patients in hospice.

According to Kristen Yaceyko, Director of the Society, the program started before the COVID-19 pandemic as a way for patients and their families in care to interact with a variety of pets to brighten their day during difficult times.

“What we’re looking at is having different types of animals coming in, it doesn’t have to be just dogs,” she says. “It’s a great way to get your pets out and see people, but the big benefit is for the patients there, it’s just another element of comfort that we can provide them.”

Yaceyko says the opportunity is quite beneficial for residents, and rewarding for everyone involved, and volunteering is a simple process.

“It would be around four to six hours per week and the volunteers come in for one of those shifts to see the families, and we get kids coming in too so that’s appreciated.”

Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the GP Palliative Care Society’s website to sign up. From there, dates and times will be scheduled, and residents and their pets can visit during their time slot to play, laugh, and interact with one another.

The Alberta RCMP’s recent awareness initiative surrounding idling vehicles during the winter has proven to be a success.

Operation Cold Start was a project launched between January 8th and 12th to help law enforcement educate the public about the potential theft of idling vehicles, and involved 38 RCMP detachments around the province, and included vehicle checking and education opportunities.

According to Alberta RCMP Public Relations Officer Corporal Mathew Howell, more than 1,800 vehicles were checked and proved the RCMP’s point as 521 were found to be unlocked with the keys still in them, and 855 were found locked with keys still in the ignition.

Corporal Howell says police made contact with 424 vehicle owners in a number of ways, including leaving playful notes with a serious undertone in unlocked vehicles.

“They often put notes, or otherwise in the car saying- had it not been an RCMP officer, had it been a thief your car would be gone by now,” he says.

As part of prevention efforts, police issued a total of 100 steering wheel locking devices, which Corporal Howell says act as a deterrent for any would-be car thieves.

“What happens with a lot of car thieves is a lot of them are opportunists, so they see the opportunity and they will take it [and] if they see there’s a steering wheel lock or other anti-theft mechanisms in place, they’re going to go to an easier mark,” he says.

Howell adds that the safe amount of time to leave your car running unattended is “about zero seconds” and car theft can happen in as quick as 30 seconds.

“We’ve had cases where people go get their coffee because they forgot it and they came back and the car was gone,” he says. “It can be that quick, especially if someone’s watching, there’s certain businesses where people are likely to leave their car running while they are running in, leaving their car for 30 seconds to drop something off or drop a kid off for example.”

Additionally, Howell emphasizes the importance of keeping valuables out of your vehicle whether it is running or not, and any valuables should be kept out of sight, or better, out of the vehicle completely.

As Grande Prairie’s South Peace Regional Archives prepare to move to their new Centre 2000 home, they have announced they will be closed during the relocation.

From February 1st to May 1st, the archive will be closed to the public as much of the inventory will be packed and not accessible. Additionally, the archive says donations will not be accepted, researchers will not be hosted, and requests will not be accepted during this time; however, archives and digitized records will still be available online through the South Peace Archive’s website.

According to the archive, since it was founded in 2000, operations have run through the Grande Prairie Museum but will move completely to Centre 2000 in May. The move adds 5000 square feet to the archives, which will allow them to continue growing their collection safely.

The new space features a number of new amenities for history buffs to utilize during their time at the archive, including a dedicated reading room for researchers, a meeting room for community gatherings, and a small exhibit space. The hope is the new space will make the archives more accessible and increase the services they can offer to the community.

The move is being funded through the federal and provincial government, alongside the City of Grande Prairie, the County of Grande Prairie, and the M.D of Greenview.

The Greenview Fire-Rescue Service received a $15,000 donation to support the purchase of wildland personnel protection equipment.

The donation from Keyera Corp’s social investment program came as a recognition for Greenview Fire-Rescue’s dedication and hard work during the 2023 Alberta wildfires, and their work protecting Keyera facilities and employees during the hardship.

According to the MD, the donation is important as it assists fire crews with the purchase of “crucial” equipment as the community prepares for fire season.

“Your commitment to the safety of GFRS members and the community is truly commendable,” Greenview Reeve Tyler Olsen says.

Regional Fire Chief Wayne Brown says the donation will go towards PPE for wildland protection crews and will be a “welcome addition” for use during the anticipated wildland, and grass/brush fire season.

Keyera says the safety and well-being of the communities where the O&G company operates, and the investment marks a support for the firefighters that operate in the community.

After a series of public engagement sessions, the City of Grande Prairie has narrowed down what a potential new recreation facility could look like in GP.

During council’s Public and Protective Services Committee Tuesday meeting, committee members received feedback from city administration regarding how different community members would like to utilize the facility.

According to a report, the top three most highly-valued services according to members of the public include an indoor walking track, a turf surface, and an indoor playground, and Deputy Mayor Gladys Blackmore says the feedback has been useful for the city, to ensure the facility’s services will be adequately used.

“We’re still in the planning process for the multi-sport recreation facility, we’ve heard the input from the community that they want many sports to be able to use the building,” she says.

Additionally, council has narrowed the potential location for the facility down to two areas, both in the area of Avondale. Both locations see the facility near Peace Wapiti Academy; however, parking concerns continue to be a topic of discussion for councillors, but Blackmore says input from the community has been a key factor in council’s decision going forward.

“We’ve looked at the locations that have been recommended by administration and we’ve looked at the input from the community, [and] that will come forward in a future agenda, I’m not sure exactly what the timeline will be but we will be dealing with that over the next couple of months.”

During council’s 2024 Budget Deliberations, $10 million in capital funding was approved for the project as a result of high demand from community members.