Grande Prairie Minute: Minor Earthquake, Pollinator Crosswalk, and a Road Repair Project

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

This Week In Grande Prairie:

• There are no meetings at City Hall as Council is on summer vacation. Meetings resume with Standing Committee Day on August 20th.
  
  
• A major road repair project on 92 Street, from 74 Avenue to Woody Channel, is underway. The work includes milling, road structure updates, new markings, and landscaping improvements. During construction, a 30 km/h speed limit will be in place, and there may be traffic disruptions. The project is expected to be completed by early September.
  
  
• The City plans to sell a piece of land for $1 to Smith Social Enterprises Ltd. to build affordable housing. Smith Social, created by the Grande Spirit Foundation, must ensure that 30% of the units are affordable for 20 years. Residents have until October 7th to petition against the sale. If no valid objections are received, the sale will go through as planned.

Last Week In Grande Prairie:

• Grande Prairie has a new and colourful crosswalk painted at 91 Avenue and 99 Street, thanks to the Highland Park Neighbourhood Association. This initiative, which started with an idea in 2018, was realized with the help of City approval and a community design process beginning. The Association, which has previously worked on pollinator gardens and educational projects, had their efforts recognized when Grande Prairie earned the title of "Bee City" in 2020. They hope the new crosswalk will enhance pedestrian safety and encourage drivers to slow down.
  
  
• The Grande Prairie Northreach Society reopened its doors in its new facility after a weeks-long closure to support the move from their old location. The new space, closer to key services and clients, offers better accessibility and is designed to better support the organization’s growing needs. The updated facility features renovations and air conditioning. The organization continues to provide STI testing, harm reduction supplies, and education to residents, and hopes to expand its services in the future.
  
  
• On the evening of August 7th, a 3.9 magnitude earthquake hit near Grande Prairie. Natural Resources Canada seismologist Alison Bird indicated that the quake, which occurred about 65 kilometers from the city, was likely triggered by nearby industrial activities. The quake was small and posed no serious threat to the city.