Highlights from July 14 meeting of Grande Prairie City Council

2025 Special Olympics Summer Games

The 60 athletes and coaches that represented Grande Prairie at the 2025 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games came to council as one big delegation. They were all in their blue team jackets and some were wearing their medals, a lot of them had more than one medal around their neck. Team GP won 35 medals; 15 gold, 13 silver, and seven bronze. The presentation included glowing reviews for how the games went and for the athletes and their performances and sportsmanship. The games took place over the weekend at eight different venues around the city.

A delegation from the Helping Hands Society also talked to council about efforts around food security The delegation says they started a shopping model at the end of May that is run out of the former Northreach Society location at 98 Street and 97 Avenue.

The store has refrigeration so can offer milk and other dairy products, along with seasonal fruit and vegetables. People shop for what they need rather than being given a hamper. There have been 257 individuals and families come in to shop since it opened in the second week of May.

Youth Advisory Council report

Council accepted a report on and met with several members of the city’s Youth Advisory Council. This year’s council included 18 young people. They held 11 monthly meetings at city hall and met with various delegations like the Kool Aid Society and Sunrise House. They also met with other youth at a career expo where they asked other young people what they would work on if they were on city council. The top three were better access to mental health supports, more sports facilities, and updates to school curriculums that allow for different ways of learning,

Nitehawk funding agreement

Council gave approval in principle to a four-way funding agreement for Nitehawk. The four partners would include Nitehawk, the MD of Greenview and the City and County of Grande Prairie. City staff will now work on putting together an agreement.

New Urban Forest Strategy

Council approved a new Urban Forest Strategy and asked administration to work on a report to protect trees on private land. The strategy includes goals of working with people in the community, managing forests to head off future threats, tree planting programs, and using management principles for urban forests.

Northridge Cricket Pitch

Council also approved keeping the Northridge Cricket Pitch as a youth pitch and that the neighbourhood be notified. This came about after a request from the Grande Prairie Cricket Association. A batting cage would also have to be approved by council before it is installed. Nearby homeowners had previously complained about noise and other issues from the adult pitch. The adult pitch moving to a new location in the Signature Falls area.

Council’s next meeting is set for July 28.

by Curtis Galbraith