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Legislature (Image Credit: Alberta Government)
By Tanner Smith
Alberta government

Province invests $5-million to develop Grande Prairie youth-care centre

Jan 29, 2026 | 2:33 PM

The Alberta government says its “improving care for vulnerable northern youth.”

The province is putting $5 million from Budget 2025, towards the “development of detailed design plans and a feasibility construction study” of a youth facility in Grande Prairie.

The Alberta government says this facility will replace the High Prairie one that burned down in 2023, offering 10 placements and utilizing supports through Sunrise House; to “ensure vulnerable youth in our region can access specialized, therapeutic care closer to home, in modern facilities that reflect their needs and respect their culture,” according to MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti Ron Weibe.

The provincial government says that in the last year, they’ve invested almost a billion dollars in the “child intervention system to address complex cases and placement costs.”

This funding announcement came alongside the province investing $9.5 million into the recently renovated Lac La Biche youth-care facility, which provides ten placements, a gym and a sensory room, among other amenities.

Minister of Infrastructure Martin Long added that the province is building these spaces with the goal of “youth with complex needs in northern communities,” receive care in the north.

Anyone wanting more information on this funding can visit the province’s website.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees is reacting to the High Prairie centre now closing as they develop this new faciltiy in Grande Prairie, with AUPE President Sandra Azocar saying the government owes residents an explanation.

“The government knew all along it wanted to get rid of the High Prairie Campus Based Treatment Centre, but didn’t have the courage or honesty to tell the people of High Prairie. It hoped they would forget and move on.”

She added, “dozens of workers who provided first-class care have lost their jobs or been forced to uproot and move their families to find new positions. Why was there no money to renovate this facility when it found $98 million to build three private residential facilities for children in Calgary and Fort McMurray in May, 2024?”

“The children of High Prairie, the dedicated workers and the entire town deserve better than this callous and cruel decision.”

The facility in High Prairie operated until November, 2023, when a fire damaged key infrastructure and has remained closed since.

by Tanner Smith