Organizational Meeting

City Council held their annual organizational meeting and approved the 2024 Council Calendar and committee appointments, as presented.

Delegations

Rising Above presented to City Council with a capital request of $333,000 to fund a residential addiction treatment facility, City Council referred the item to 2024-25 budget deliberations.

Brooke Blaikie presented to City Council seeking re-establishment of mowing of the Mission Heights Ravine, City Council received the presentation for information.

Proclamation

Mayor Jackie Clayton proclaimed October 15-21 Small Business Week in Grande Prairie to honor the contribution small business owners and employees make to strengthen our local economy.

Delegations

Sarah Card presented to Council to thank the City for their support of the 2023 Bear Creek Folk Festival and provide an update.

Frank Skolly inquired about signage at City entrances to promote community service groups.

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an annual day of reflection to honour Indigenous communities, walk together on a path to reconciliation and healing, and deliver on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls-to-Action.

The day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, which remembers the lives lost through the residential school system in Canada.

Flags at all City facilities are lowered in observation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Delegations

Jacob Hanlon presented to City Council regarding FoodCycler Municipal Solution, City Council directed staff to bring a report back to the appropriate standing committee, including information from Aquatera, regarding the impacts, outcomes, and procurement criteria of this program.

Deepinder Singh presented to City Council regarding a development question, City Council direct administration to bring back a report with recommended options.

(Grande Prairie, Alta – September 11, 2023) The five Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership (GPREP) municipalities congratulate Jennifer Wood, GPREP Program Manager, for receiving the Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award (EMESA).

This national award recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements in keeping a community safe. Jennifer initially began her tenure as a City employee in 2008, where she was integral in driving the creation of the Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership. She has served as the GPREP Program Manager since its inception in 2009.

City Council Highlights

For the meeting held on September 5, 2023

Delegations

Mike Kingsbury presented as a delegate to Council regarding naturalization. Council directed Administration to fall mow naturalized areas, in the pilot areas, adjacent to private properties. Further, Council directed Administration to bring back a report to the appropriate Standing Committee regarding the City's current engagement strategies.

Statement from the Mayor of Grande Prairie: Dwayne Lakusta sworn in as Chief of Police of the Grande Prairie Police Service

August 29, 2023

On behalf of the City of Grande Prairie, I am pleased to welcome Chief Dwayne Lakusta as the inaugural Chief of Police for the Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS). Today marks a milestone occasion as we entrust the oversight of the Grande Prairie Police Service to an individual of outstanding experience and expertise.

The following press release is shared on behalf of the Community Rail Advocacy Alliance, an advocacy organization of which the City of Grande Prairie is a founding member.

Grande Prairie, Alberta – Today, the Community Rail Advocacy Alliance (CRAA) and its membership met with representatives from CN Rail in Grande Prairie to discuss ongoing concerns regarding rail service throughout Northern Alberta.

City Council Highlights for the meeting held on August 21, 2023

Proclamations

Mayor Clayton proclaimed September 18 to 24, 2023 as Rail Safety Week. The week is dedicated to reducing avoidable death, injury, and damage caused by incidents involving trains and citizens.

Unaudited Financial Statements

Council received for information the unaudited financial statements and supporting information for the period ending June 30, 2023.

"With fresh memories of wildfires hitting close to home, our city is once more engaged in the Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership (GPREP) effort.

This time our partnership joins similar responses being led by the Province of Alberta and multiple cities, including Calgary and Edmonton, in supplying staff and resources to aid evacuated residents from the Northwest Territories.

In addition to the hard work of GPREP, we are also seeing critical contributions of time, knowledge and care by local organizations like the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre.