Grande Prairie Inclusive and Caring Community (GPICC)

The Grande Prairie Inclusive & Caring Community (GPICC) project strengthens newcomer integration, employer capacity, and community collaboration in Grande Prairie.

GPICC is funded by the Government of Alberta through the Settlement, Integration and Language Program (SILP).

GPICC Phase One

From 2023 to 2025, the City of Grande Prairie led the Grande Prairie Inclusive and Caring Community (GPICC) project, which was funded through a $300,000 grant from the Government of Alberta's Settlement, Integration and Language Program (SILP). The initiative focused on creating a more inclusive community by helping employers, service providers, and local organizations better support the integration and retention of newcomers.

Phase One aimed to:
- Improve awareness of local programs and services for newcomers.
- Increase employer and service provider understanding of newcomer needs.
- Equip community actors to more effectively support settlement and retention.
- Strengthen local partnerships to build a welcoming and economically vibrant city.
Over two years, GPICC delivered a range of innovative tools and activities:
- Passport to GP: A newcomer integration guide, (500 printed copies and online availability), providing step-by-step settlement support and key local contacts.
- Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) Follow-Up Survey System: Tools to track newcomer employee and employer experiences.
- Cultural Awareness One-Pagers: Focused on Grande Prairie’s top five newcomer groups, plus a guide to help employers and service providers build trust.
- Community Engagement: Welcoming Week (2023, 2024 and 2025), Experience GP, and Fireside Chat (2025)—collectively reaching over 7,000 residents.
- Employer & Service Provider Workshops: Ten sessions on inclusive hiring, cultural responsiveness, and local settlement trends.
- Cross-Departmental Coordination: Collaboration across City departments to enhance resources for newcomers.
- Employers often act as informal guides for newcomers—simple tools like the Passport to GP make their support more effective.
- Community-driven design improves results: flexible, responsive planning allowed us to address evolving local needs.
- Inter-departmental collaboration significantly amplifies impact and sustainability.

GPICC Phase Two (April 2025 - March 2027)

Building on the momentum of Phase One, Phase Two focuses on turning successful pilot tools into sustainable, employer-driven practices that support long-term newcomer integration and workforce retention.

Phase Two is funded through Alberta’s Settlement, Integration and Language Program (SILP).

Phase one created foundational tools—like the Passport to GP, Integration Roadmap, and initial cultural awareness training. Phase 2 moves from development into implementation, ensuring those tools are:
- Widely adopted.
- Adapted to employer needs.
- Embedded into everyday business practices.
- Support employers with practical strategies for workforce integration.
- Embed cultural awareness and inclusive practices into everyday business operations.
- Foster long-term retention of newcomers through structured tools and peer learning.
- Strengthen Grande Prairie’s reputation as a welcoming, inclusive city.

Funded By

This project is funded by the Government of Alberta through the Settlement, Integration and Language Program (SILP).

Grande Prairie Inclusive and Caring Community (GPICC)

Grande Prairie Inclusive and Caring Community (GPICC)