Grande Prairie Minute: Parental Leave, Mayoral Reflections, and Happy New Year

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

This Week In Grande Prairie:

• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. Regularly scheduled meetings will resume next week.
  
  
• Tuesday is New Year’s Eve! A celebration will take place at Muskoseepi Park from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm, with a variety of free activities for all ages. There will be horse and wagon rides, skating with music and lights on the pond, and snowshoe rentals. Children can participate in crafts, face painting, and colouring, while live music and fire dancing by Dream Dance Circus will provide entertainment. Indoor activities will take place at the Ernie Radbourne Pavilion, and the evening will end with a fireworks display over the Muskoseepi Park reservoir at 10:30 pm.
  
  
• As we ring in the New Year, we’re reflecting on the work we’ve accomplished and the challenges ahead. To kick off 2025 strong, we’ve set a goal to raise $5,000 by midnight on December 31st. This crucial fundraiser will ensure we can continue our mission in the coming year. If you’ve valued our efforts and want to see us achieve even more, please consider making a donation today. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference, and we’re incredibly thankful for your support. Click here to donate and help us start the year on the right foot. Thank you and Happy New Year!

Last Week In Grande Prairie:

• Mayor Jackie Clayton reflected on 2024 as a year of growth and restructuring for Grande Prairie. She noted that a key achievement included the expansion of the Grande Prairie Police Service. The City also made strides in healthcare, with more specialists joining the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital. Additional highlights were hosting the Alberta Winter Games, the unveiling of Tenille Townes Way, and completing a new connector trail between the City and County of Grande Prairie. Clayton expressed optimism for continued growth in 2025.
  
  
• Council has approved a new parental leave policy for Councillors, with the goal of making it easier for young people to run for office while balancing parenthood. The policy allows up to 16 weeks of leave for Councillors, with mandatory attendance at certain meetings like budget deliberations, either online or in person. Leave must begin within three months of the baby's due date or birth.
  
  
• Council also approved a land sale to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), enabling the organization to expand affordable housing near Willow Place by adding 55 new units. Mayor Jackie Clayton described the decision as a natural choice, as CMHA has been successfully operating in the area already. Construction is slated to begin in summer 2025, with completion expected in two to three years. The land, valued at $391,000, was sold to CMHA for one dollar.