Grande Prairie Minute: Tree Care, Wage Increase, and the Cool Aid Society

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

This Week In Grande Prairie:

• Today, at 2:30 pm, there will be a City Council In Camera Meeting, followed by a public meeting of City Council at 3:00 pm. During the public session, Council will discuss a funding request from the Cool Aid Society. (More on this below!). Also on the agenda are the 2024 Municipal Census Demographics Report and the Annual 2024 Incoming Grant Report.
  
  
• The Council Committee of the Whole will meet on Wednesday at 1:30 pm. The Committee will discuss advocacy priorities and future road construction.
  
  
• The City is urging residents to take extra care of trees during winter to protect the urban forest. Officials warn that heavy snow, ice, and temperature fluctuations can cause damage, particularly to younger trees. Recommended steps include wrapping young trees to prevent sunscald and rodent damage, applying mulch to retain moisture, and pruning during the winter months. Clearing heavy snow from branches can also help reduce breakage. Residents are encouraged to plant native species when the warmer seasons return.

Last Week In Grande Prairie:

• The Province cut nearly 90% of the Cool Aid Society’s funding, leaving the Grande Prairie youth centre at risk of closing by the end of March. The loss jeopardizes services for 300 families and dozens of youths who rely on the centre for mental health support, learning programs, and community engagement. The Society has requested $60,000 from the City to keep operations running until the end of the school year while seeking alternative funding. Community members have expressed strong support, but without a permanent funding contract, the centre's future remains uncertain.
  
  
• The Grande Prairie Public School Division has finalized a four-year agreement with its non-instructional staff, ensuring a 12% wage increase by 2028. Employees will see their wages rise by 3% annually, retroactive to September 1st, 2024.
  
  
• Unemployment in the Athabasca-Grande Prairie-Peace River region rose to 4.4% in early 2025, up from 3.7% at the end of last year. Across Alberta, full-time jobs decreased significantly, while part-time employment increased. Despite job losses in some sectors, industries like professional services, agriculture, and transportation experienced growth. While other cities in Alberta, including Calgary and Edmonton, saw slight improvements in unemployment, Grande Prairie’s job market faced a tougher start to the year.