Invest Grande Prairie has launched the Family Physician Attraction Incentive Program as an important step under City Council’s Health Care Attraction and Retention Strategy to respond to local health care work force challenges.

Family Physician Attraction Incentive Program

The Family Physician Attraction Incentive Program is a key initiative to enhance health care services in the community. This action step focuses on increasing awareness, offering targeted incentives, and strengthening infrastructure to attract and retain family physicians committed to practicing in Grande Prairie for at least three years.

The program is designed not only to recruit physicians but also focus efforts and attention on retaining physicians, by supporting their integration into the community and providing resources to help their families settle and succeed in Grande Prairie. 

The application portal opened on January 1, 2025, eligible physicians can apply and learn more on the City’s website at cityofgp.com/healthstrategy .

Health Care Ambassador Program

To support the Family Physician Attraction Incentive Program, the Grande Prairie Health Care Ambassador Program was created to identify community leaders and volunteers that can assist Invest Grande Prairie in welcoming new health care providers from pre-re-location site visits to post-relocation community integration. 

Interested community members can email the Invest Grande Prairie team at ecdevinfo@cityofgp.com to indicate their interest and receive further program details and eligibility requirements. Applications will be received on an ongoing basis, and ambassador engagement will be driven by workforce growth and newcomer needs.

“The Family Physician and Ambassador programs are an investment in the well-being of our residents and the future of our city,” said Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton. “These two programs work together to attract skilled professionals and their families, to ensure they feel welcomed and supported in building their lives and careers in Grande Prairie. By fostering connections and community integration, we’re strengthening health care services for our residents.”

Background

Both the Family Physician and Attraction Inventive and Health Care Ambassador Programs are being actioned as part of the Health Care Attraction and Retention Strategy which focuses on three key areas: information, incentives, and infrastructure. To read the Health Care Attraction and Retention Strategy and Action Plan, visit cityofgp.com/reports-publications. The full strategy and action plan were approved by Council in June 2024.