STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.
Photo by Curtis Galbraith.
By Curtis Galbraith
City Hall

City officials hoping new ideas attract more family doctors to Grande Prairie

Dec 11, 2024 | 2:23 PM

Mayor Jackie Clayton says 16 specialists, and a total of 20 health care professionals, have moved to Grande Prairie in the last year.

Clayton says there is still a need for more family doctors.

At its December 2 meeting, council approved a new Family Physician Attraction Program that includes financial incentives for doctors to move here.

It includes a cash incentive of $7,500, to be paid out in thirds after 30 days, one year, and two years of service.

Clayton says she is confident that this, plus an Ambassador Program where volunteers teach potential new physicians about the community, will help.

“So that concierge service with the ambassadors of calling people up to remind them about winter tires if they’ve maybe never lived in a community where you need to consider putting on winter tires or being that resource for them to answer questions about your community when it comes to non-profit groups or sport or culture or activities for your children.”

Clayton says if new doctors can learn about Grande Prairie more quickly, they will be happy here more quickly.

She adds she is looking forward to seeing the results from that ambassador program and thinks many different people and groups would volunteer to teach physician recruits about the Swan City.

“Community leaders, non-profit volunteers, as well as industry leaders that really take pride in the fact that Grande Prairie is an incredible place to work, live, play and invest and so with that, they want to be able to have that opportunity to share what they love about our community.”

Clayton says she is still hearing that close to 10 per cent of the people here are looking for a family doctor.

“As AHS determines those numbers and the (Grande Prairie) Regional Hospital identifies specialists that are needed, we’re really there in a supportive role, based on them determining the levels of support that they need.”

Clayton says the city has reached out to neighbouring municipalities to work together on any initiatives they might have to recruit more doctors.

by Curtis Galbraith