By Liam Verster

Focus turns to energy as a whole

GPPA looking to re-brand to include other energy sector industries

Mar 16, 2021 | 1:08 PM

The Grande Prairie Petroleum Association is looking to re-brand in order to expand and diversify the group’s membership.

The GPPA, which has traditionally been used to promote it’s members in the oil and gas sector, is opening up it’s group to other energy sectors operating in the region like solar, wind, and geothermal.

Tyrel Johnson, a director with GPPA, says the idea of expanding to be a more inclusive association has been in the works for the last little while. With the past year’s effect on the oil industry and subsequent membership decline, the executive team decided the time was right to diversify the association and focus more on energy as a whole, rather than just the oil and gas sector.

One of the main roles of the GPPA is to promote the oil and gas extraction in the Grande Prairie area and Peace Region, and while that industry will remain a top priority, this expansion will help other industries in the region.

“It means growth for us, it means growth for the region, and the hope is that a lot of the service providers we partner up with and have become experts in oil and gas can start going into other things and start growing their business as well,” says Johnson.

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He adds by promoting other sectors and helping them grow could have a direct impact on the people in the Peace Region.

“I think it’s a roll down effect for everybody; The more business and the more that we can promote in the area, regardless of industry and what industry it’s coming from, I think it does better for everybody,” says Johnson.

“Oil and gas is our bread and butter for us in Grande Prairie, it has been for a long time and it will continue to be, but that doesn’t mean we can’t explore and welcome new people to the table and help our existing people along the way.”

Once re-branded, the association will begin reaching out and building connections with the other sectors in order to form partnerships and find ways to collaborate. However, before that can happen, the association needs to implement some changes.

“We just opened up our options for members to submit some new names and some new ideas [on Monday]. There’s thoughts about running a logo competition to allow something that encompasses everything in the area. We’re discussing possibly going ‘Peace Region’ as opposed to ‘Grande Prairie’ (in the name) to try to get some more people that way.”

GPPA members can send their ideas on re-branding to info@gpoilmen.com. The deadline to submit ideas is April 15, 2021.

Following that deadline, the GPPA will hold a special meeting at a later date to vote on the new branding. There will also be a vote to change the bylaw that specifies a member must meet a required amount of income through oil and gas, which will officially open the group up to other industries.

Once those changes are done, the association will begin reaching out and engaging with other industries to build connections and learn of the other industries and how they can collaborate and work to make the industries grow in the Peace Region.

“We’re really looking forward to it. We’re looking forward to having some new faces at the table, we’re looking forward to having some new fresh ideas within the association. The GPPA has a long history in Grande Prairie, and a really proud history, and that’s not something we’re looking to get away from, we’re just looking to expand and make sure we’re viable for the future.”