Grande Prairie Minute: Teaching Awards, Library Updates, and the Canada Day Lineup

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

This Week In Grande Prairie:

• This afternoon, at 2:00 pm, City Council will meet in a closed session.The agenda provides limited information, simply listing “Intergovernmental Relations” and “Advice from Officials” as the topics.
  
  
• Later in the day, at 3:00 pm, City Council will have a public meeting. The land and building at 9702 - 99 Avenue are set to be transferred to Métis Local 1990. This property, which has been leased by the City of Grande Prairie to Métis Local 1990 for 20 years, includes a building that has been fully paid for by the local group and is currently being used as the Elder’s Caring Shelter. Council will also consider a request to continue its ongoing partnership with the Grande Prairie Junior A Storm. This includes providing ice at City rinks for youth hockey development programs at no cost, waiving the Bonnetts Energy Centre facility fee for the upcoming season, and collaborating with the Storm on various large events like the Home Opener and Indigenous Night.
  
  
• The City is hosting Pollinator Week from June 17th to 23rd, encouraging residents to engage in activities that support essential pollinators like bees and butterflies. One event is the GP Grows Orchard Tour on June 19th, where participants can learn about creating pollinator-friendly habitats. Additionally, teens and adults can participate in the "Pedal for Pollinators" photo challenge by capturing pollinator images while biking on scenic trails, with a chance to win prizes through submissions. More details and participation information can be found on the City's website.

Last Week In Grande Prairie:

• The Grande Prairie Public Library has received a $10,000 grant from the Telus Community Board Grant to upgrade classroom laptops for their Learn to Tech project. This grant aims to support youth up to age 29 in Canada, enhancing their educational opportunities and overall well-being. By Fall 2024, the project plans to refresh the laptops and introduce content creation and coding courses, aligning with the library's goal of providing free education and training to youth and other marginalized communities. The Library also highlighted summer plans during a Council Committee meeting last week. Due to increased demand, they will continue to be open on Sundays, and will host a Kickoff Party for the Children’s Summer Reading Games on June 22nd.
  
  
• Two educators in Grande Prairie have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to education. Julia Corcoran, principal of St. John Paul II, received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Council for School Leadership, highlighting her commitment to educational excellence and inspiring the community. Laura Noel, a teacher at Parkside Montessori School, was awarded the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Teaching Excellence for her innovative teaching methods and initiatives like the “grand-buddies” program and the “kindness ninjas” project, which promote community engagement and empathy among students.
  
  
• The City revealed the lineup for Canada Day celebrations, featuring the Derina Harvey Band, winners of a 2024 East Coast Music Award. Mayor Jackie Clayton said she is excited for the diverse live entertainment from various acts and encouraged everyone to join the free festivities downtown. Performances by the aforementioned Derina Harvey Band, along with the Northbloods, and Mandee Rae start at 3:30 pm with beer gardens nearby until 10:00 pm. The evening ends with fire dancers and fireworks at the Muskoseepi Park amphitheater.