Grande Prairie Minute: Issue 79

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

📅 This Week In Grande Prairie: 📅

• The City of Grande Prairie will host transit education sessions on October 9th to help residents better understand and use the City’s bus system. The sessions will cover topics such as reading route maps, planning trips, and purchasing fares, aiming to build confidence among riders. Mayor Jackie Clayton emphasized that the initiative is part of the City’s effort to make transit welcoming and accessible for everyone. The sessions are especially geared toward newcomers or anyone looking to learn more about public transit. They will be held at the Ernie Radbourne Pavilion in two time slots: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm, and residents can register or find more information on the City’s website.
  
  
• Nominations are open for the 2025 Annual Volunteer Awards, celebrating individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the community. The George Repka Outstanding Achievement Award honours individuals with 20+ years of service in recreation, culture, or social services who have made a notable impact. The Bill Bowes Volunteer Organization of the Year Award recognizes local volunteer groups or foundations that have provided exceptional service, fundraising, or community development benefiting residents.  Nominations for both awards close on October 17th, 2025, and community members are encouraged to submit entries before the deadline.
  
  
• The City is accepting applications for public member positions on its 2026 Boards, Committees, and Commissions, offering residents a chance to help guide City decisions. There are 30 positions available across seven groups, including the Assessment Review Board, Combative Sports Commission, Community Advisory Committee, Community Knowledge Campus Advisory Committee, Grande Prairie Airport Commission, Public Library Board, and Joint Appeals Board. Serving on these bodies allows residents to provide diverse perspectives and contribute to improving the community. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and submissions close on November 21st, 2025.
  
  
• Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) has appointed three new members to its Board of Governors. The new members are Jan Nutting, a business and tax strategy advisor with experience on nonprofit boards; Tab Pollock, a financial planner specializing in retirement and estate planning; and Wendy Schmaltz, a CPA and business owner who also manages a family farm. NWP Board Chair Shawna Miller welcomed the appointees, highlighting their expertise and community contributions, while NWP President Dr. Vanessa Sheane emphasized that the additions will help the Polytechnic expand post-secondary opportunities and strengthen community engagement in northern Alberta. The Board of Governors oversees the management and direction of NWP under the Post-Secondary Learning Act.
  
  
• Starting October 2nd, the City will be improving sidewalk safety in the northeast quadrant by levelling uneven sections to reduce tripping hazards. SafeSidewalks Canada will complete the work, which involves grinding raised concrete at about 280 sites, with each site taking roughly 10 minutes. While pedestrian access may be briefly interrupted, crews will accommodate residents with mobility needs, and vehicle traffic will not be affected. The work is scheduled around school hours to minimize disruption in school zones.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

The municipal election is now underway.

Nomination day has passed, and the list of candidates is now final.

You can view the complete list of candidates on the City’s official election website:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!