August 10, 2026 Council Highlights

By County of Grande Prairie - Aug 11, 2026

August 10, 2026

Council’s 2026-2027 Advocacy Priorities — Council approved the 2026-2027 Advocacy Priorities for the County of Grande Prairie. The key advocacy priorities are:

Addressing electricity distribution disparity

Highway 40X capital funding

Healthcare support including advocacy for an Alternative Relationship Plan for the specialized diagnostic clinic in the Maskwa Medical Center and a catheterization lab at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.

Other priorities include:

Northern Edge Technology Center Skilled Trades expansion

Increase the number of weather stations

Core infrastructure funding

Police funding

Provincial road maintenance funding

For additional details, read the media release.

Hythe Arena Brine Line Project Update — Council directed Administration to reallocate the remaining funding of $54,213 of the previously approved funding from remediation work to reconstruction work for the Hythe Arena. Council approved the additional funding request for the Hythe Brine Line Project of $85,143 to be added to the previously approved funding of $300,000 for a total of $385,143.

Off-Leash Dog Park Amenities – Hamlet of Clairmont — Council approved the allocation of $5,388 to purchase benches, a waste receptacle, and signage for the Hamlet of Clairmont dog park.

Whispering Ridge Subdivision Off-Leash Dog Park — Council rescinded a previous resolution to develop a dog park in the Whispering Ridge subdivision following public feedback. Potential locations in a future phase of the subdivision are being explored.

Request for Emergency Funding from the Wembley & District Agricultural Society — Council approved the emergency funding request of $12,275 from the Wembley & District Agricultural Society for the completion of repairs to the FluidPRO Arena. Council approved the reallocation of the carryover 2021 Capital Grant funds of $15,000 that were allocated to the Society’s Divider Curtain to be released to the Society for the completion of repairs.

Request for Change of Funding Source for Leased Fleet Units — Council approved the change in funding source for leased fleet units in 2026 for $672,250 to come from the Fleet Replacement Reserve instead of through the operating budget.

Clairmont Municipal Police Service Multi-Year Financial Plan — Council acknowledged receipt of and approved “in principle” the Municipal Police Service Multi-Year Financial Plan prepared by the RCMP for the Hamlet of Clairmont for a period of five years from April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2032.

Clairmont Municipal Policing Committee Bylaw — Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #3273 — Clairmont Municipal Policing Committee Bylaw. On September 8, 2025, approval was received from the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services to proceed forward with a Municipal Policing Committee.

Windsor Area Structure Plan — Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #3276 — Windsor Area Structure Plan Bylaw. The Windsor Area Structure Plan guides the development and growth of the future subdivision, its land use, servicing, transportation, and all development decisions within the area covered by the plan.

Request for Community Peace Officer Services — Council directed Administration to work with the Town of Beaverlodge to end their current Bylaw Enforcement Services Agreement between both municipalities and develop a new agreement. The new agreement will include new service hours for Community Peace Officers, Bylaw Enforcement Officers, and Animal Control Services for the Town of Beaverlodge for 2027, 2028 and 2029.

IWantWireless Lease Request — Representatives from IWantWireless presented to Council their desire to expand into the County and enter into a lease agreement. Council directed Administration to negotiate a lease arrangement with IWantWireless for the construction of a communications tower at the Dunes Fire Station and to bring back that information to a future Regular Council Meeting for consideration.

Bioelectrical Anaerobic Sewage Treatment Testing — Council directed Administration to enter into an operating agreement with Elkan Environmental Engineering (Elkan) for the continued operations of the Bioelectrical Anaerobic Sewage Treatment (BEAST) for a period of one year, with all costs covered by Elkan, and transfer the Alberta Environment and Protected Areas Operating Approval from the County to Elkan. Council directed Administration to report on the project in a year’s time.

Northern Medical Program Community Advisory Committee Councillor Appointment — Council appointed Councillor Terri Beaupre as the County of Grande Prairie’s representative on the Northern Alberta Medical Program Community Advisory Committee for a term expiring October 31, 2026.

Weyerhaeuser Public Advisory Group Councillor Appointment — Council appointed Councillor Terri Beaupre as the County of Grande Prairie’s representative on the Weyerhaeuser Public Advisory Group to participate in the Weyerhaeuser Grande Prairie Forest Management Plan Revision meetings.

Request to Change Budget Council Meeting Dates — Council directed Administration to reschedule the Budget Council Meeting (Business Cases) from October 29–30, 2026, to November 12–13, 2026, due to scheduling conflicts.

Council and Board Member Honoraria & Expense Reimbursement Policy Updated — Council approved Policy F10 — Council and Board Member Honoraria & Expense Reimbursement as amended to reflect updates to section 8.2. around attendance and reimbursement at non-fundraising events hosted or attended by Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs).

Preventive Social Services Grants Policy Updated — Council approved Policy G10 – Preventive Social Services Grants as presented. The policy was updated to clarify applicant eligibility, funding priorities, reporting requirements, and other revisions.

Proposed Land Redesignation Update — Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw #2680-26-027 to redesignate 2.02 hectares (5 acres) of land located approximately 3 miles southwest of the Town of Beaverlodge, west of Range Road 103 and north of Township Road 714 from the Country Residential (CR-5) District to a Rural Industrial – Direct Control (RM-DC) District.

Public Hearings:

Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-26-030 to redesignate 5.21 hectares (12.87 acres) of land located approximately 1.06 miles northwest of Elmworth, east of Range Road 115, and Township Road 703, from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Country Residential (CR-5) District.

Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-26-031 to redesignate the following parcels of land located within the Emerson Trail Industrial Park north of Highway 672 and west of Highway 2:

2.02 hectares (5 acres) within Pt. SW-14-73-6-W6 and Pt. SE-14-73-6-W6 from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Rural Medium Industrial (RM-2) District;

3.54 hectares (8.75 acres) within Pt. SW-14-73-6-W6 and Pt. SE-14-73-6-W6 from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Highway Industrial (RM-4) District.

Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-26-032 to redesignate land located approximately four miles southwest of the Town of Sexsmith in the Emerson Trail Industrial Area along Range Road 62 and north of Highway 672 from an Agricultural (AG) District to a Rural Medium Industrial (RM-2) District.

Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-26-033 to redesignate land located east of Range Road 73 and north of Town Road 722, approximately 7 miles northwest of the City of Grande Prairie adjacent to Bear Lake from a Country Residential (CR-5) District to a Country Industrial (CM) District.

Sponsorship Request — Council approved the following sponsorship requests:

$3,800 (Award category sponsor) to the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce for the 2026 Small Business Week.

$2,500 for a table at the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) - A Night with STARS fundraising event on October 1.

Council to purchase tickets at a cost of $80 per person for the County of Grande Prairie Firefighters Charitable Foundation - The Neon Party: Glow for a Cause event on September 26, 2026.

Council took no action on the sponsorship request from the Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce for the 2026 “Your Region, Your Voice” event.

Council directed Administration to extend an invite to South Peace Rural Community Learning Association to present at a future Committee of the Whole Meeting.

The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on August 24, 2026. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on August 27, 2026.

Council and Committee meetings are available to the public via live stream. Find connection instructions and meeting agendas under the Council icon on the County website.