By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

More money for Public Security Unit, Swanavon outdoor rink, approval of Land Acknowledgement Policy among highlights from Monday’s meeting of Grande Prairie City Council

Apr 18, 2023 | 6:00 AM

Highlights from Monday’s meeting of city council:

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Council approved taking $710,000 from a reserve fund to continue funding the Public Security Unit Pilot Project until the end of this year.

Council says the idea to have private security contracted to answer things like trespassing calls has been well-received by the community.

More discussion on if it should have permanent funding is expected at budget talks this fall.

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Council approved by a 5-4 vote, to reallocate some money to upgrades to the outdoor rink in Swanavon.

Those upgrades will include better lighting, replacing the boards, a concrete pad and a roof.

Paying for the roof means $125,00 from another outdoor rink project that did not go ahead plus $368,655 from a reserve fund to cover a higher than budgeted cost for the roof.

The total cost has climbed to over $900,000.

The boards in the old Leisure Centre, a building that will be demolished, will be moved to this location.

The work is expected to be done this summer.

Councillors O’Connor, Bosch, Bressey and Pilat voted against the idea of reallocating money for the roof.

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Council approved a new Land Acknowledgement Policy.

This comes after several people had asked councillors about this.

The policy says the city sees a land acknowledgement as an act of Truth and Reconciliation.

It would be used at council and committee meetings, public announcements, and large events.

The words are as follows:

“The City respectfully acknowledges the Beaver, Cree, Dene, and Métis people as the original caretakers of these Lands and surrounding areas. We are grateful to live, learn, work and play on Treaty 8 territory within Turtle Island and acknowledge these Lands have been home to diverse and sovereign First Nations and Inuit Nations since Time Immemorial.”

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Council also approved its 2023-2025 Indigenous Relations Framework.

The document says its objectives are to make a community that has respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

City Hall says it includes 29 actions to address the legacy of residential schools and to work toward reconciliation.

These are based on the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Some of these include having regular meetings with local Indigenous governments and organizations, providing programming that relates to Indigenous culture and tradition, and working to have Indigenous art around Grande Prairie.

It can be read here.

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Council approved giving the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie another $10,000 so it can provide English as a Second Language classes to Ukrainian refugees who come to this area.

This money will come from a reserve fund.

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Mayor Jackie Clayton read out two proclamations.

One declares Saturday, April 22, as Earth Day. A celebration is planned for Saturday at the Montrose Cultural Centre.

The other proclaims this week as National Volunteer Week and asks everyone to recognize the important roles played by volunteers.

Both proclamations were made in partnership with County of Grande Prairie Reeve Bob Marshall.