Photo taken from a video shown to city council.

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

City Council, organizers discuss Grande Prairie potentially hosting an event called “NASCAR in the sky”

Jan 10, 2022 | 9:23 PM

Grande Prairie City Council heard a presentation on the possibility of a Canadian International Air Race Championship series stop coming to the city at its first meeting of 2022 Monday.

Organizers call it Formula 1 Pylon Air Racing and compared it to NASCAR in the sky.

They add the plan would be to stop in Whitecourt Canada Day weekend and in Grande Prairie the weekend of July 8.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says this is a huge opportunity when it comes to tourism and entertainment.

“Council is really excited to hear more potential opportunities on what this could look like. We look forward to hearing even more when it comes back for further discussion.”

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“For now, to host an event at the airport in July of 2022, this summer, is just another thing to add to the list of many existing great events in our region,” she said.

There are still several things to work out, including agreements with landowners who live near where the races would take place and approval from the Grande Prairie Airport Commission.

Clayton says other things need to be discussed as well.

“There are still funding discussions that need to take place, but for now, it’s early, preliminary discussions about something that could be a great opportunity for people and residents of the region to attend this summer.”

One other thing to look at is the possibility of paying overtime for firefighters that would have to be on hand for this event.

Clayton says the city has a fund set aside to support such events, adding money spent on things like this gets returned to local businesses.

She adds this is also a chance to have another big outdoor event this summer.

“Heading into 2022, starting with this weekend with the Grande North Winter Festival, people are looking to get outside and enjoy entertainment,” Clayton explained. “I think that this summer in July, seeing a large-scale tourism outdoor event would be really something that people could look forward to.”

Council did approve having Mayor Clayton write a letter in support of this event subject to a number of issues being worked out. It also approved having administration discussion grants under its large-scale tourism funding program with event organizers.