Grande Prairie Minute: Keynote Speaker, Connector Trail, and Municipal Police Savings

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

This Week In Grande Prairie:

• There will be an in-camera meeting of City Council this afternoon at 2:30 pm. Two items will be discussed behind closed doors - one falling under the category of “confidential evaluations” and the other under “advice from officials”.
  
  
• At 3:00 pm this afternoon, the public portion of the City Council meeting will take place. Two residents of Arbour Hills will appear before Council to oppose a development in the neighbourhood. There will also be a public hearing to address amendments to the Land Use Bylaw that would permit detached suites without requiring internal parking stalls.
  
  
• The City is inviting applications for a keynote speaker at the 2025 Women of Influence Awards luncheon, seeking a woman who embodies the event's spirit and can inspire with personal stories and insights. The awards aim to honour women who are breaking barriers, advocating for equal access, and contributing to community growth. Applications are open until November 29th. More information can be found on the City’s website.

Last Week In Grande Prairie:

• A City report was presented to Council, highlighting anticipated savings from transitioning to a municipal police service, the Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS). The report projects that GPPS costs will be lower than the RCMP budget, with savings estimated at over $8 million by 2028. Additional cost reductions are expected as the City will no longer pay RCMP administrative charges, which currently total between $5.5 million and $6 million annually. GPPS is slated to take over jurisdiction in 2026, with the transition completed by 2028.
  
  
• The City and County of Grande Prairie celebrated the completion of the new two-kilometre Connector Trail with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Funded through a $750,000 Canada Community Revitalization Fund grant, along with City and County contributions, the trail improves recreational opportunities and enhances connectivity between the two municipalities. Located along Range Road 61, the trail includes a pedestrian crossing at Highway 668.
  
  
• The Grande Prairie Regional Hospital announced a new dining option. Good Earth Coffeehouse is set to open in its cafeteria space by spring 2025. This Alberta-based coffeehouse will offer fresh, high-quality meals, enhancing the experience for staff, patients, and visitors. Good Earth already operates in several AHS facilities, and preparations for the new coffeehouse are expected to begin soon. It will be located near the hospital's main entrance.