City of Grande Prairie

By Liam Verster

Supports & Services during COVID-19 Pandemic

City to host video calls with local non-profits to discuss services, challenges during pandemic

Apr 28, 2020 | 1:57 PM

The City of Grande Prairie is going to start hosting weekly Zoom video-conference calls with local non-profit organizations, to see how they are operating, and what challenges they are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Angela Sutherland, the Manager of the City’s Community Social Development Department, says these calls will help build a connection between the City and these organizations.

“We’d like to be able to discuss innovative ideas for service delivery, connect with agencies on what challenges or opportunities they are facing, and what supports do they need.”

One of the big challenges local groups are facing has to do with fundraising. Sutherland says the higher levels of Government have been announcing grants and funding for charities, and one way the City can help the local agencies is by being the go-between and using connections to ensure funding ends up in Grande Prairie.

Sutherland also says, through these conference calls, local non-profits will be able to share their ideas and ways their operations are working, which in turn could lead to other groups learning from them. Through this information sharing, some groups may end up adopting those methods, and find ways to efficiently provide their services as well.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

“We all work with different demographics, but we all work for the community, and we’re all part of a big system.”

Sutherland adds that during these conference calls, they will not only have to brainstorm ways to continue operating during the pandemic, but also start planning for post-COVID, as it will likely have a social impact on the community.

“So when we think about the challenges and stressors and things like that, mean right now, we’re in the middle of it, but we also have to think ahead. How are we, as a community, our social serving agencies, and stakeholders, going to come together to ensure that we’re mitigating impacts after the pandemic’s over, because there’s going to be long lasting effects we need to manage.”

She says those effects can be everything from financial strains, to employment opportunities, to education outcomes, to physical and mental health.

Sutherland says they will need to seriously plan ahead, and be ready to help people, both throughout this pandemic and into the future.

The video-conference calls will take place every Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m., starting this Thursday, April 30. Those who wish to participate in the call can do so by contacting the City at csd@cityofgp.com and requesting to join the Zoom meeting. The City plans to run the meetings through the end of May, but Sutherland says if they need to, they will extend this service into the coming months.