By Sheena Roszell

City Councillor Clyde Blackburn diagnosed with leukemia

Mar 5, 2019 | 9:17 AM

A Grande Prairie city councillor has announced on his personal Facebook page that he has been diagnosed with leukemia.

Clyde Blackburn says in his post that he is facing an aggressive form of cancer that requires an aggressive chemotherapy regimen.

He is at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton.  Blackburn says he will be there for the next month or so receiving chemotherapy treatments.

Blackburn is a very active member with the community of Grande Prairie.  He has been a city councillor since October 2017.  He is the Co-Chair of the International Street Performer’s Festival, sits on the Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Board and is involved with the Grande Prairie Public School District Education Foundation.

Blackburn made the post Monday evening and within hours it had hundreds of comments from friends, colleagues and community members showing their support and wishing Clyde well as he began his fight with leukemia. 

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“The response to my post has been overwhelming.  There are over 400 comments and they’re all very, very supportive with lots of offers for help and I am feeling very encouraged as a result,” said Blackburn.

Mayor Given spoke with EverythingGP and shared how the city will be supporting Blackburn at this difficult time.

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with him and his family and we want to ensure that he has the time and space to be able to get the treatment that he needs, without having to think about anything back home and any sort of processes,” said Mayor Given.  “I would expect that at our next council meeting, council will approve a leave for Councillor Blackburn so that is off his mind and so he can focus fully on his health.” 

Everyone at EverythingGP and the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group would like to wish Councillor Blackburn well.