If you or someone you know needs emotional support or feels overwhelmed, remember you are not alone. Call one of the resources below for help.

If someone is in immediate danger or immediate risk of suicide, call 911 or go to the emergency room at your local hospital.

Alberta Health Services is the best source of public health information.

For regular updates on the pandemic, please visit alberta.ca/covid19.

For any residents experiencing symptoms, please use the online COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool by AHS or call HealthLink by dialling 811.

Details for the financial support available for residents can be found here:

• Province of Alberta supports available here
• Government of Canada supports available here

At the February 22, 2021  Council meeting, Council directed Administration to draft relevant bylaw amendments and procedures to:

• Extend the property tax deadline for both residential and non-residential property owners to August 31.
• Eliminate penalty fees for July.
• Waive the Tax Installment Payment Plan sign-up fees and NSF charges until August 31, 2021.

Bylaws amendments for these tax deferrals are set to come forward at a future Council meeting. 

The City of Grande Prairie recognizes that families and businesses are facing a great deal of uncertainty as a result of COVID-19. Taking early action on something within the municipality's control was a key factor for our Council.

Fares

Free fares for all riders including users of our paratransit service is in place until the end of May 2020.

All existing rider passes will be extended by a month once City operations return to normal service delivery.

UPDATE: Transit fares were re-instated as of Monday, June 29, 2020. Passengers who had valid monthly passes as of March 19 automatically received a full month added to their pass.

Bus Pass Purchase Locations

All bus pass purchase locations have re-opened.

Transit Access Passes, offering a 50% subsidy on the Grande Prairie Transit SUPERPASS to qualifying applicants, will also be available for application at City Hall and the Ernie Radbourne Pavilion in Muskoseepi Park. For more information, visit cityofgp.com/tap.

Health and Safety Practices
The following measures have been put in place to avoid the spread of the pandemic:

• Additional safety features have been implemented for transit operators and passengers by way of driver barriers and/or face shields. 
• Passengers are asked not to stand near the operators but rather to take a seat on the bus and in doing so sit apart from each other if possible to ensure the health of residents and operators.
• We have increased the frequency of wipe-downs for high contact areas of the bus and are using disinfectant spray to clean all buses.
• In keeping with provincial guidelines, masks are required by all passengers.
• Riders who are feeling ill, have been tested positive for or suspect being exposed to COVID-19 must refrain from using transit services until their health recovers.

Masks

A provincial mask mandate remains in effect.

Disposable masks will be available upon boarding for riders who do not have their own.

The City of Grande Prairie thanks all transit users for their understanding and co-operation as we all do our part for the community.

Service Adjustments
Effective Monday, April 13, 2020 transit service hours are adjusted to support the City of Grande Prairie’s continued commitment to the health, safety and well-being of the community and our employees.

Weekday service Monday to Friday operates as follows:

• All routes end approximately one hour earlier in the evening
• Routes 1 to 4 end at 8:15 p.m. at Town Centre Mall
• Route 5 ends at 8:06 p.m. at Prairie Mall
• Route 6 ends at 8:00 p.m. at Eastlink Centre

Saturday Service:

• All routes end approximately two hours earlier in the evening
• Routes 1 to 4 ends at 7:15 p.m. at Town Centre Mall
• Route 5 ends at 7:05 p.m. at Prairie Mall
• Route 6 ends at 7:00 p.m. at Eastlink
• There will be no changes to Sunday or holiday service

The City of Grande Prairie appreciates everyone’s co-operation and understanding during these adjustments.

On-Demand Evening Service
To accommodate rider needs during the evening, an on-demand by-reservation pilot project began on Monday, April 13, 2020. It provides transit between existing bus stops.

The service is available Monday to Friday 8:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. and Saturday 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Reservation requests must be submitted before noon on the day of the planned trip. Requests will be reviewed and responded to with a pick-up time window and bus stop location.

To submit a reservation, call 780-830-7433. All bookings require a name, email address, phone number and nearest bus stop or address, and destination. A home address will be used only to help locate the nearest bus stop.

To cancel a reservation, please call 780-830-7433. Failure to cancel a reservation may result in removal from the program.

Accessible Transit
Grande Prairie Accessible Transit (GPAT) has modified its service as a result of the current COVID-19 situation and to better match the demands we are experiencing. GPAT trips for accessible transportation will continue for registered clients. 

Hours of operation for accessible buses are being adjusted as follows:

• Monday to Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (last pick up at 8:15 p.m.)
• Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (last pick up at 6:15 p.m.)

Dispatcher hours are being adjusted to Monday to Friday between 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for bookings.

The current 7-day advance booking period will remain with the exception of allowing up to 9 days for bookings that are made on Fridays, in order to accommodate bookings for the following weekend.

If you need to cancel your trip after-hours call dispatch at 780-830-7433 and leave a message.

UPDATE: The final day to access the COVID-19 Community Care program is March 31, 2021. For additional supports, please see the items below.

The COVID-19 Community Care Program: Food & Pharmacy helps ensure residents of the GPREP service
area have continued access to essential items, like food and medication, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The program is dedicated to helping vulnerable individuals and families – those at heightened risk who have no other supports available, and are in urgent need of food, medication and essential goods. 

Residents of all ages from the GPREP service area (the City of Grande Prairie, County of Grande Prairie, Beaverlodge, Hythe, Sexsmith, Wembley) who have an urgent need for essential goods because they: 

• do not have access to other financial support to purchase essential goods 
• are unable to visit stores, supermarkets and pharmacies because of requirements for self-isolation, as directed by Alberta Health Services and have no one who can assist them 
• live in a location within the GPREP service area where delivery service is not available 

To apply, fill out the application here.

Learn more at www.gprep.ca/covid19/communitycare/ or by calling the hotline at 780-830-7070.

Salvation Army Food Bank
The Salvation Army Food Bank office is open 8:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Call 780-532-3720 for more information.

Grande Prairie & District Victims Services
Grande Prairie and District Victim Services are offering delivery of groceries and prescriptions. Contact them at 780-830-5897.

Other Delivery Options
Many grocery stores and pharmacies are offering local delivery. Please contact your store to inquire about what options are available.

Aquatera continues to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation and act accordingly as new information becomes available. To date, there are no interruptions to water, wastewater, solid waste (garbage and recycling) or curbside collection services.

To stay up-to-date on their services during the pandemic, visit www.aquatera.ca/covid19