Lots of highlights from Monday’s meeting of Grande Prairie City Council

Council approved the schedule for meetings, appointments to standing committees, and the deputy mayor schedule at its organization meeting. Councillors Dylan Bressey and Wade Pilat were also named to the Grande Prairie Police Commission for one year and two years, respectively.

A report from the Grande Prairie RCMP on Crime Statistics showed upward trends in several categories this year compared to previous years.

That includes what police refer to as offences related to death. There were a total of seven in 2026 as of the end of August, compared to one last year and five in 2022.

Kidnapping was also way up this year.

There were smaller increases for robberies and assaults. Drug arrests, sexual assaults and other sexual offences decreased.

Council also heard a presentation from the Grande Prairie Police Service and approved sending capital and operating budget requests for 2027 to next month’s budget deliberations.

The proposed 2027 operating budget is $36,752,930, down by $436,841 compared to 2026.

The capital budget for 2027 includes $60,000 for things like building renovations, over $1 million for machinery and equipment, and $34,000 for technology.

Proponents of the D Coy Community Hub Project talked to council about plans for a major renovation project at D Company Armouries. The plan includes an expansion to the north and east, including a new marching area for the cadet organizations.

The delegation says those programs now have more than 200 kids.

They also say the building, built in 1944, needs to be upgraded and modernized, as it is no longer usable for community events. The budget is set at $5 million. Organizers are asking for $1.5 million from the city, funding they say would help them access provincial grant money. The request has been referred to next month’s budget talks.

Council also approved a motion from Councillor Dylan Bressey that administration work on a resolution for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to lobby for funding for cadet facilities operated by municipalities. He says such facilities are funded in larger communities, but not in smaller ones like Grande Prairie.

Council approved sending community group funding, grant allocations and capital requests to budget talks.

Council approved a change to have group funding changed from keeping things the same, which would see groups that do not operate city facilities see a three per cent decrease. The ones that have contracts to run city facilities would have seen a two per cent hike. The change would see all groups get a two per cent increase.

Budget talks will be held in November.

Forum Research provided more information requested by a city committee on the Resident Satisfaction Survey, results of which were released late last month.

The researchers say that 22 per cent of those who contacted the city, and 19 per cent of those who did not, felt that this was pointless and that their concerns were not heard.

Also, 54 and 59 per cent respectively agreed that the city responds quickly to concerns and that 84 and 86 percent found city staff helpful, knowledgeable and courteous.

Council opted to receive the report for information. Both Mayor Jackie Clayton and Councillor Dylan Bressey felt the numbers show there is work the city needs to do.

A delegation from STARS talked about its 20th anniversary in Grande Prairie and thanked the city for its support, from annual budget contributions and a fleet gift to attending events.

STARS Grande Prairie has flown over 5,000 missions since it started. STARS also presented the city with one of its 40th anniversary commemorative books.

Council also had a look at a new report that studied extending 84 Street to 116 Avenue from 100 Avenue. This would happen sometime in the future, depending on how the city grows.

A previous study, done in 2021, had set a route that would have gone through some wetlands.

The province then brought in legislation in 2017 that focuses on preserving these wetlands.

The new study shows a proposed route that winds around the wetlands on the east side.

Mayor Jackie Clayton read out a proclamation for Small Business Week. The proclamation says small businesses are one of this area’s greatest strengths, adding that small business people make an enormous contribution.

Small Business Week got underway on Monday and will run through Sunday, October 25.

Council’s next meeting is set for November 2.

by Curtis Galbraith