City Hall
Highlights from Tuesday’s meeting of Grande Prairie City Council
Oct 4, 2023 | 6:00 AM
Grande Prairie City Council met on Tuesday. Highlights from the meeting include:
- Council approved one-time Emergency Community Group Funding of $26,000 for the Elders Caring Shelter Society. City staff says the organization not being able to fundraise during the pandemic, plus the higher cost of living, means it is running a deficit after being able to pay its bills over the last 20 years. Staff adds lately, the shelter has been unable to meet payroll or cover costs like utilities and groceries, also leading to the deficit. The money would come from what had been set aside in the budget for operating grants for neighbourhood associations. A shelter spokesperson says there is a business plan in place that includes a raise in rent; something the shelter did not want to do. There is also a fundraiser planned during Metis Week and another fundraiser planned for February 2024.
- Close to 20 people from the Mission Heights area came to council to voice concerns over the naturalization of the Mission Heights Toboggan Hill & Ravine. Three people made presentations to council. They cited a long list of concerns that included a higher fire risk, decreasing home values and more predators coming into the area. They say they want this spot mowed and they’ve come to the city many times and are getting frustrated nothing has changed. The city says a report on how a naturalization pilot project went this year is due at the committee level October 10. Residents of other neighbourhoods where naturalization is being done have brought up similar concerns.
- Bear Creek Folk Festival producer Sarah Card came to council to thank the city for its support of the festival this year. Card says ticket sales jumped 27 per cent this year and that more than 6,000 people were on site each day. She adds less than half of the attendees came from within Grande Prairie with fans coming from all over Western Canada and some from the U.S. Card says they had 600 volunteers this year and could have used 100 more. She also adds that some people are already on the list for tickets for next year as soon as they go on sale in November. Card says they may be able to announce one 2024 artist before Christmas.
- Mayor Jackie Clayton read out a proclamation for Small Business Week. It will take place October 15 to 21. The proclamation calls small businesses a “vital part of our region’s economy” and Small Business Week is “a time to celebrate our successes.” The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce has some events planned to mark the occasion, including the Women in Business Lunch that will feature guest speaker Ashley Callingbull on October 17, and the presentation of the 2023 Chamber Awards of Distinction on October 19.
- Representatives from the Grande Prairie branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie came to council to ask about updating the signage coming into the city that promotes community groups. They say there are two such signs right now, but they are at the old city boundaries. They are asking that five new ones go up and groups like the Salvation Army and ANAVETS be included. The city would pay for this. Council asked staff to prepare a report and bring it to a future committee meeting.
Council’s next meeting is set for October 16.