Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

Highlights from Grande Prairie City Council’s September 23 meeting

Sep 24, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Other highlights from Grande Prairie City Council’s meeting on September 23, besides the discussion around answering medical calls, included the following:

Counselling Alberta funding

Council has agreed to lobby the province to continue funding for Counselling Alberta. This was started in 2023, and funding is set to run out in 2025 and allowed the Calgary Counselling Centre to help offer help to those needing it across Alberta.

Catholic Family Services is the contracted local service provider. Two people from that organization spoke to council about this program. They say that more than 175 people in Grande Prairie have received counselling since this idea came about.

They also told council these sessions cost anywhere from $8 to $20 each for households with an income below $60,000 per year. The cost for in the private sector is $175-$250.

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

Council has also asked city staff to work with Catholic Family Services to see what assistance they can provide.

Proclamations

Mayor Jackie Clayton read out a proclamation for National Forest Week. This is meant to recognize the economic, health and recreation benefits of forests. National Forest Week runs through Saturday.

Clayton also read out a proclamation for Rail Safety Week. This is meant as a reminder to the public to be careful around railways. The proclamation says 229 incidents involving either crossings or people going across railway the tracks at other points on the line, which is considered trespassing, across Canada in 2023. There were 66 people killed and 39 others seriously hurt. Rail Safety Week also runs through Saturday.

Doug Edey & 2025 Special Olympics

Doug Edey stopped by to thank council and city hall for hosting the recent Touch A Truck fundraiser. All the money raised will go towards helping Grande Prairie host the 2025 Special Olympics.

Freson Bros. will host a celebration of Edey’s 34th anniversary with the store on Saturday. Money raised at a pancake breakfast will also go towards the 2025 Special Olympics. Edey says it will go from 10 a.m. until noon.

Council’s next meeting is set for October 7.