Grande Prairie Minute: Borrowing Bylaw, Nuclear Feedback, and a High School Expansion

Grande Prairie Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Grande Prairie politics

This Week In Grande Prairie:

• This afternoon, at 2:00 pm, there will be a City Council In-Camera Meeting. Then, at 3:00 pm, there will be a public meeting of City Council. The agenda includes Second and Third Reading of a borrowing bylaw authorizing the City to borrow $10 million for a new recreation facility. Council will appoint the 2025 Weed Inspector and the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Clerk. A delegation from the Grande Prairie Beach Volleyball League will request that Council complete a study on the feasibility of expanding the existing beach volleyball courts from four to eight. At 6:00 pm, there will be a Public Hearing to gather feedback on the Arbour Hills Area Structure Plan.
  
  
• Energy Alberta plans to build a new nuclear power plant north of the Town of Peace River and is currently seeking public feedback on the project. The Peace River Nuclear Power Project proposes two twin nuclear reactors that would operate for around 70 years, producing 4,800 megawatts annually. The project is undergoing an assessment to meet federal regulatory requirements. Printed project descriptions are available at local municipal offices, and feedback can be submitted online.
  
  
• The City will launch its yearly pest control program in May, targeting weeds, insects, and plant diseases on City property. The operations, which run through October depending on the weather, use only Health Canada-approved products. Residents are also reminded they must manage noxious weeds on their private property as per provincial law.

Last Week In Grande Prairie:

• Grande Prairie Composite High School received provincial funding for a major expansion. The school planned to add a three-story structure with 18 classrooms, accommodating 450 more students. Since opening in 2022, the school saw a 25% enrollment increase, reaching capacity sooner than expected. The funding came as part of Alberta’s $8.6 billion Accelerator Program, aimed at speeding up school construction to match population growth. Other local school projects, including one in Fairview, also received funding.
  
  
• The City of Grande Prairie issued a fire advisory, effective retroactively from 3:00 pm on April 15th. Similar advisories had already been put in place for the County of Grande Prairie and the MD of Greenview. The City suspended all open burning and fireworks permits, and will evaluate new fire pit permits on a case-by-case basis. Safe wood campfires, backyard fire pits, and portable propane fire pits remain permitted. The advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve, and residents are urged to follow safety guidelines closely. More information is available online.
  
  
• The Grande Prairie RCMP reminded residents to stay vigilant against online and phone scams. As digital communication continues to grow, fraudsters are developing new tactics to target unsuspecting individuals. The RCMP advises ignoring suspicious messages, changing passwords regularly, and using anti-virus software to boost online safety. People are also urged to protect their personal information on social media and never share sensitive details like banking information or SINs with unverified contacts. Anyone who suspects a scam should contact local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.