Senior Administration
The City of Grande Prairie's Senior Administration is made up of the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) who focuses on corporate capacity and growing our people. This includes strategically building the corporate capacity to achieve outcomes that will keep Grande Prairie as a great place to live, work, play, and do business. To grow our people, we encourage personal and professional development activities that contribute to employee and organizational health, safety and well-being.
- City Manager, Shane Bourke
- Interim Chief of Staff, Rory Tarant
- Chief Financial & Administrative Services Officer, Danielle Whiteway
- Chief Operating Services Officer, Brian Glavin
- Chief Public & Protective Services Officer, Dan Lemieux
- Chief Investment & Strategy Officer
- Chief of Police, Dwayne Lakusta
Members of CLT are responsible for the planning, organizing, development, implementation and administration of their respective service areas. They also:
- Promote the City of Grande Prairie Mission and Values.
- Participate in Corporate Planning and Policy Development.
- Establish and maintain an effective working relationship with staff, administration, members of City Council, and the public.
- Undertake strategic and business planning initiatives and other studies to improve organizational efficiency and productivity.
- Maintain a high profile and public relations function in the community and province demonstrating a personal commitment to City Values and Guiding Beliefs.
- Maintain a constant awareness of new trends and developments in their field.
- Ensure workplace health and safety.
Council & City Manager's Office
The Council and City Manager's Office sets the overall direction for the organization and leads a workplace culture to support employees across the City to make it happen.
They provide corporate leadership in the overall management of the City's operations by overseeing and directing the administrative and operational functions of all departments.
This service area includes the City Council, the Office of the City Manager, City Solicitor and Human Resources.
Pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, the City Manager is responsible for exercising general control and management over the entire municipality, providing oversight of Council and Committee of Council recommendations, and ensuring policy directions of Council are implemented. The City Solicitor and Human Resources teams provide corporate support to guide the organization's operations and people. The Council & City Manager’s Office liaises with municipal, regional, provincial, and federal government officials, as well as organizations, businesses, residents, and community groups to formulate policies and to represent our community position.
Human Resources (HR) is dedicated to supporting employees and departments in reaching their full potential. Guided by core beliefs, HR collaborates with leaders, teams, unions, and partners to maintain a safe, healthy, and dynamic workforce. HR plays a vital role in the City's success by fostering continuous learning, innovation, and driving best practices. The focus is on developing and promoting system programs and tools that enhance the organizational culture, facilitate change, and help achieve business objectives.
The City Solicitor department of Grande Prairie plays a crucial role in providing legal services that support the City's governance and operations. This department is responsible for ensuring that the City adheres to applicable laws, including the Municipal Government Act, while also aligning with the priorities set by the City Council. By providing timely and effective legal support, the City Solicitor Department helps facilitate the City’s initiatives while ensuring legal compliance in municipal governance.
Financial & Administrative Services
Financial & Administrative Services provides a foundation for all City departments by anticipating and responding to organizational, Council and public needs.
The focus of this service area is to ensure the organization conducts business in the most effective and efficient manner while adhering to legislative requirements. This is achieved through the following key departments:
The Financial Management department is responsible for overseeing the City’s financial health and ensuring fiscal integrity. The department provides comprehensive financial services, including budget planning, accounting, payroll and benefits administration, asset management, debt management, investment oversight, internal and external financial reporting and regulatory compliance. It also plays a critical role in safeguarding municipal assets, optimizing financial resources and providing transparency to stakeholders, all while supporting the City’s long-term financial stability.
The Taxation and Assessment department is responsible for generating and collecting funds from the public so that the City can provide services to its residents. Assessment is responsible for determining and defending fair and equitable assessments for all properties. Taxation is responsible to collect the different taxes levied against properties on behalf of the City of Grande Prairie, the Province of Alberta, the Grande Spirit Foundation and the Grande Prairie Downtown Association.
The Procurement and Supply Chain Management department is responsible for the procurement of goods, services and construction for all City departments as a centralized service. Governed by the trade agreements, they provide strategic services to internal and external stakeholders. Procurement provides the necessary resources, education and training to facilitate effective and efficient procurement processes for both external and internal stakeholders.
The Geographical & Information Technology Services (GITS) department is essential to the City's operations, providing specialized knowledge and support for various aspects, from network infrastructure hardware and software applications used across departments. This comprehensive, centralized approach to technology ensures that municipal departments can carry out their operations efficiently and effectively.
The Information Technology Services (ITS) team is responsible for maintaining a consistent and stable systems architecture while safeguarding against unauthorized access. Their role is pivotal in ensuring the reliability and security of the municipality's technology ecosystem, which includes vital infrastructure, critical systems and applications, sensitive data and corporate assets.
The Geographic Information System (GIS) team enables the organization to visualize, question, analyze and interpret business data to understand relationships, patterns and trends. Geographic information is the key to better decision-making from day-to-day operations to long-term planning. Government agencies use GIS technology to foster innovation in their organizations and build smart communities. GIS is a pillar to municipal governance and an essential service for corporate management. GIS is fully integrated throughout the City for internal operations, emergency services and external public information.
Operational Services
Operational Services is responsible for ensuring new and existing infrastructure meets the current and future needs of the community.
From roads and parks to drainage systems and traffic lights, this service area maintains essential City infrastructure to support safe and efficient daily life for residents and visitors. Operational Services is committed to leading in innovation, environmental sustainability, and operational efficiency through the following key departments:
Engineering & Transportation Services is responsible for managing, preserving, and optimizing the City’s public infrastructure, both above and below ground, within the City’s right-of-way. This includes a range of City-owned infrastructure such as roadways, sidewalks, pathways, traffic signals, and stormwater drainage systems, as well as infrastructure owned by other entities, like power, gas, cable, water, and sanitary services.
This department oversees the inspection, rehabilitation, and growth of City-owned linear infrastructure through capital projects and maintenance programs. During the summer months, Transportation crews work to ensure safe road and sidewalk conditions for residents. Their activities include pothole repairs using cold and hot patching techniques, road paving for larger projects and small overlays, rural road grading, and city-wide street sweeping.
Additionally, Engineering & Transportation Services maintains the stormwater infrastructure with a dedicated stormwater crew focused on mitigating spring melt flooding, repairing catch basins, and maintaining manholes. In the winter months, the department shifts to snow removal operations, working continuously to provide clear and safe roadways for Grande Prairie residents.
The department’s traffic division includes specialized teams for Traffic Engineering, Signal Maintenance, and Signage. These teams collaborate to maintain and optimize traffic control devices, supporting efficient and safe traffic flow for both vehicles and pedestrians across the city.
Fleet Management provides and maintains vehicles and equipment to internal departments. Fleet Management also completes external vehicle and equipment maintenance.
Internal Equipment and Vehicle Maintenance
- 165 vehicles; 35 accessible and public transit buses; 230 pieces of equipment
- Every vehicle has scheduled duration where its condition is inspected
- Preventative maintenance tailored to specific needs of vehicle or equipment using Fleet Management System (completed through mileage or time)
Corporate Facility Management is responsible for managing the City’s energy (gas and electrical utilities) and vertical assets (facilities). Responsibilities are divided into four divisions:
- Asset Management (Plan): Monitor the conditions of facilities physical assets, ensure facilities meet current operational requirements and asset data management.
- Project Management (Build): Management of capital and renewal facility construction projects, consultation services, manage future project requests and ensure City facility construction projects meet all legislated and code requirements.
- Facility Maintenance (Maintain): Service delivery of all facility related daily reactive work orders (e.g.: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc.) and ongoing scheduled preventive and predictive maintenance.
- Energy Management (Optimize): Management of City energy resources & programs with a focus on reducing environmental impacts.
Environment & Parks is responsible for the care, maintenance and protection of both natural and developed outdoor spaces in Grande Prairie. The dedicated team enhances parks, open spaces and ecological assets that are essential to quality of life and environmental health. Working with internal and external stakeholders, the department ensures that green spaces are safe, clean and well-maintained in an environmentally and economically responsible manner.
Environment focuses on protecting the City's natural assets—air, water and land. The team promotes sustainable practices, ensures regulatory compliance and responds to environmental emergencies and contamination. Through collaboration and community engagement, the department fosters long-term environmental responsibility and strengthens Grande Prairie’s ecological health.
Parks maintains turf, flowers, shrubs and trees and manages pests such as noxious weeds and mosquitoes. The department also cares for parks infrastructure, including outdoor rinks, benches, toboggan hills and the municipal cemetery, ensuring safe and enjoyable outdoor experiences for residents, no matter the activity.
Transit Services have a direct impact on the lives of residents and visitors by providing multiple mobility and transportation options. Grande Prairie Transit currently provides three types of service delivery: conventional fixed route services that utilize larger buses, accessible door to door service for people with mobility challenges, and on demand service that serves specific areas within the city during the day and provides all of our late night service which operates Monday to Saturday 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Development Services is dedicated to supporting the safety, quality of life, and growth of the community through comprehensive land-use planning, development, inspection, and permitting services. This department combines key responsibilities, including compliance with Alberta’s Safety Codes, land management, and planning, to foster a safe, efficient, and sustainable environment for Grande Prairie residents.
Development Services upholds uniform compliance under Alberta’s Safety Codes system to ensure safe and inclusive community standards. Through permit issuance, inspections, customer service, education, investigations, and enforcement, the department provides services that maintain code compliance and assure that all buildings are safe for occupancy and enjoyment. They engage with the community via online resources and events to increase public awareness around required permits and offer fee waivers for green initiative projects.
The department also supports residents, developers, builders, and businesses throughout the planning, design, and construction processes. Development Services focuses on four primary areas:
- Land Use Planning – Maintains and updates statutory land use plans and policies, guiding the community’s growth to be aesthetically pleasing, efficient, and environmentally friendly.
- Development Permitting – Administers the City’s Land Use Bylaw, reviews and makes decisions on development permit applications, and issues Certificates of Compliance.
- Land Management – Manages public land within the City boundary, including acquisition, disposition, leasing, licensing, and encroachments, ensuring fair, effective, and economically viable use of City-owned land.
- Business Licensing – Issues licenses for businesses and activities, supporting an organized and regulated business environment.
Public & Protective Services
The role of Public & Protective Services is to provide a healthy, vibrant and welcoming community through exceptional cultural, recreational and social amenities while addressing public safety.
Focused on delivering inclusive programs, services, and facilities, this service area enhances the quality of life for Grande Prairie residents through the following key departments:
The Recreation and Events department combines a wide array of recreational, cultural, and event-based services that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Through its comprehensive offerings, it provides a mix of sports, wellness, cultural programming, and event management, supporting an active, engaged, and vibrant community.
Community Knowledge Campus (CKC) acts as a central hub for sports, education, and recreation programs. Located in the south of Grande Prairie, the campus includes multiple City-owned facilities such as the Eastlink Centre, Design Works Centre, Hansen Lincoln Field, and the Aquatera Community Skating Oval, among others. The CKC supports fitness and wellness for the community, including dedicated training spaces for first responders, and hosts a wide range of regional, national, and international events. The Dave Barr Community Centre and Aquatera Outdoor Pool, which offers seasonal aquatic programs, are also managed under the CKC umbrella.
A focus on sports, culture, and heritage resources enriches Grande Prairie’s recreational landscape. Through partnerships with community groups, grant management, sport tourism support, and recreational infrastructure maintenance, this service area promotes active and cultural opportunities across the city. Additionally, it coordinates recreational and athletic programming, museum operations, and heritage initiatives, ensuring accessible leisure spaces and programming for residents.
Premier event facilities, including Bonnetts Energy Centre and the Montrose Cultural Centre, serve as key venues for both community and commercial events. Supporting a broad range of activities, from AJHL Storm Hockey games to conferences, weddings, and tradeshows, these venues enhance Grande Prairie’s reputation as a destination for diverse events. This service area also manages large-scale City events like Canada Day and New Year's Eve Celebrations, along with other concerts, sports events, and community gatherings.
Housing & Community Development is committed to enhancing the well-being of Grande Prairie residents by providing comprehensive social services and essential housing supports. This unified department focuses on addressing the social and housing needs of the community, ensuring that services are accessible, responsive, and centered on individual needs to promote healthier, more prosperous lives.
Through partnerships with Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) and other community organizations, Housing & Community Development facilitates essential social programs aimed at improving community health and well-being. By supporting a network of services, the department ensures coordinated, client-centered support that addresses the unique challenges faced by residents.
Housing & Community Development is also responsible for strategically investing government funds to support housing stability and reduce homelessness. As the Community Entity for Federal Reaching Home Funding and the Community-Based Organization for provincial funding, the department allocates funds to operate a wide spectrum of housing services. These services include affordable housing, eviction prevention, supportive housing, transitional housing, and emergency programs. Additionally, the department leads the community’s Housing Hub coordinated access process and manages facilities such as Cedar Point, the Street Outreach Centre, and Fletcher House.
With a focus on community engagement, research, advocacy, and program monitoring, Housing & Community Development addresses evolving needs and collaborates on new opportunities to build a supportive, inclusive community.
The Grande Prairie Fire Department (GPFD) is dedicated to safeguarding the community by protecting life, property, and the environment through a wide range of specialized services. With a commitment to excellence, GPFD provides fire suppression, emergency medical response, and specialized rescue services, ensuring rapid, effective assistance during critical situations.
In addition to emergency response, GPFD is committed to educating the public on fire safety and prevention. Through community programs and educational initiatives, the department empowers residents with essential knowledge to protect themselves and their property. GPFD also conducts rigorous fire inspections and investigations, ensuring compliance with safety codes and reducing the risk of fire incidents. The department manages permits for fire pits, fireworks, and pyrotechnics, reinforcing safe and legal practices for community events.
Grande Prairie 911 (GP911), operating within the GPFD framework, delivers essential 911 Call Answer and Emergency Fire Dispatch services. GP911 serves the City of Grande Prairie and over 60 partner municipalities, covering 47% of Alberta and parts of Northeastern British Columbia. Guided by Alberta’s 911 Standards and local legislation, GP911 ensures swift and efficient emergency dispatch, providing a critical lifeline for residents and first responders alike.
Together, the Grande Prairie Fire Department and GP911 are dedicated to maintaining safety, readiness, and resilience within the community, upholding the highest standards of emergency response and public safety.
Emergency Management encompasses both Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership and the Integrated Emergency Communications Centre.
Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership (GPREP), is an organization that coordinates resources, personnel, and the response to large scale emergencies or disasters. GPREP believes that by working together, the communities are safer, and residents are better served. GPREP is comprised of and funded by the City of Grande Prairie, the County of Grande Prairie, and the Towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley. Personnel from these five municipalities collaborate to prepare for and respond to disasters across the region. GPREP prepares municipalities by coordinating emergency response exercises and providing training opportunities. GPREP’s disaster response includes bringing together key players to support the emergency response.
The Integrated Emergency Communications Centre (IECC) centralizes 911, police, fire, and municipal enforcement services, supporting response times and coordination through dispatch. This service streamlines emergency operations, supports community policing, and enhances public safety by reducing delays. The IECC also offers long-term cost savings through resource consolidation and improved multi-agency collaboration.
Investment & Strategy
Investment & Strategy is the backbone for projecting the City in a positive light and attracting investment and ensures the City of Grande Prairie’s needs and attributes are recognized locally, provincially, and nationally.
Through leadership, support, and coordination across departments, this service area advocates for the City’s interests, supports City Council, and strives to enhance quality of life in Grande Prairie. These goals are achieved through the following key departments:
Invest Grande Prairie supports local business retention and assists local businesses in achieving their expansion goals. The department provides economic research and trend analysis relevant to key markets and sectors of the economy. Through partnerships, the department works collaboratively to address local and regional workforce needs and ensures entrepreneurs and innovators are connected to supports and networks to help them launch and scale. The department seeks to accommodate the needs of residents and businesses by providing exceptional customer service, supporting the development needs of the local community, encouraging new investment and supporting local economy focused organizations.
Invest Grande Prairie oversees delivery of the Rural Renewal Stream Immigration program in collaboration with other departments to maintain the highest standard of regulatory review for employer applications and candidate endorsement. Municipal endorsement letters are delivered to candidates to solve labour shortages for local employers.
Assessing the largest need to recruit and retain workers, the department focuses to deliver concierge services with the highest impact to the quality of life of residents, most specifically: childcare and healthcare.
The department also guides businesses and investors through the development process by acting as a facilitator for municipal services and provides a concierge service to developers in the commercial and industrial sectors who are looking for opportunities to invest in the city. As part of the City’s investment attraction focus, the department markets the City’s opportunities on a provincial, national and international level.
Legislative & Executive Services is committed to supporting the City Council, Administration and residents by fostering partnerships, delivering excellent service and developing innovative solutions aligned with the Council's strategic plan. The department coordinates activities for the Mayor and CAO, providing executive support, event planning and communication management. It organizes Council's strategic planning sessions and oversees progress on the strategic plan. Additionally, Legislative & Executive Services manages intergovernmental relations with municipal, provincial and federal governments, advocating for City Council priorities and enhancing Indigenous relations as part of Truth and Reconciliation efforts. The department also focuses on maximizing grant revenues and managing the City’s insurance portfolio, claims process, FOIP issues and expertise in the Municipal Government Act.
Corporate Communications & Marketing provides strategic leadership and support to the City of Grande Prairie, ensuring that public information is clear, timely, and aligned with Council priorities. This unified department combines expertise in communication planning, media relations, issues management, and community engagement to foster civic understanding and participation in City policies, programs, and services. Through AccessGP, the City's 311 service and central information hub, residents, businesses, and visitors can access non-emergency information, submit service requests, and receive guidance on City processes and transactions.
Corporate Communications & Marketing also stewards the City’s brand, maintaining a consistent and positive image through targeted marketing strategies. The team drives community engagement and facility usage while managing sponsorship and advertising opportunities to support revenue generation. As brand ambassadors, they uphold the City’s image, tone, and voice across all channels, ensuring that marketing initiatives resonate with and represent the community.
Through creative graphic design, comprehensive marketing planning, and strategic media buying, Corporate Communications & Marketing supports City events, facilities, and services. By delivering cohesive messaging and cultivating community connections, the department enhances Grande Prairie’s brand presence and fosters a vibrant, informed, and engaged community.
Policing Services
The role of Policing Services is to utilize best practices, innovative approaches, community
engagement, consultation, and partnerships to collaboratively address public safety and
complex social concerns in Grande Prairie.
Dedicated police officers, peace officers, outreach workers, and civilian employees work together to enhance the quality of life for residents. This commitment is fulfilled through the following key areas:
In accordance with the Police Act (Alberta) and the Grande Prairie Police Commission Bylaw (C-1455) the Grande Prairie Police Commission (GPPC) is the civilian policy making and oversight body for the Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS). The GPPC includes five appointed public members, two City Councillors and two provincial appointees. The GPPC is supported by an Executive Director.
The GPPC is responsible for ensuring that the police service operates in a manner that is accountable, transparent and aligned with the needs and expectations of the community. The GPPC is also responsible for forming and overseeing the establishment of policies and guidelines for effective and efficient policing, appointing a Chief of Police, providing the strategic direction of the service, ensuring sufficient police staffing, establishing the budget and allocating funds.
Grande Prairie Enforcement Services (GPES) provides municipal law enforcement in an amalgamated environment with the Grande Prairie Police Service, RCMP and Mobile Outreach. GPES is responsible for enforcement of municipal bylaws, provisions of the Municipal Government Act, and various Provincial Statues by authority of Peace Officer Appointments. This mandate encompasses:
- Bylaw Enforcement
- Animal Control
- Parking Control
- Traffic Enforcement
- Community Engagement & Public Safety
- Vehicle for Hire Licensing
GPES places high importance on positive public engagement, education, and communication. Through collaboration with our community partners, GPES strives to deliver an educational approach to bylaw enforcement and traffic safety whenever possible.
The Grande Prairie Police Services (GPPS) is building a modern, professional, and locally accountable police service that enhances public safety within the city. Policing services, during the transition, are delivered by Grande Prairie RCMP with GPPS officers seconded over the next few years until the GPPS assumes command as the Police of Jurisdiction for the City of Grande Prairie.
The key action items for 2025 will be strategic planning, policy development, equipment acquisition, IT system design, police officer recruitment, and police officer training.
Mobile Outreach is a diversion program focused on mitigating the impacts of street level social disorder, addiction and public intoxication. It assists businesses and residents in handling their concerns related to the street engaged population, which may include: trespassing, loitering, disturbances, public intoxication, needle debris and encampments. The program is intended to provide immediate support for a client’s basic needs and navigation through local service systems such as emergency shelters, health care, addictions treatment and housing.
Municipal Employees at the RCMP Detachment provide operational and administrative support to front-line policing services that are essential in promoting public safety and security for Grande Prairie residents. These support services include crime data and statistics, court liaison duties, cellblock guarding, CPIC entry, processing criminal record checks, call taking and dispatching.