February 24, 2025 Council Highlights

February 24, 2025

2024 Innovation Awards Winner Recognition — The County of Grande Prairie aims to foster a culture of innovation within its organization. A campaign between June and November 2024 encouraged staff to nominate individuals and teams who demonstrated exceptional innovation within the County. A total of 27 nominations were received for the three award categories: Best Created Solutions, Best Drivers of Change, and Best Positive Impact.  

Winners were awarded a certificate and trophy at the County’s staff holiday party in November and received Council recognition at today’s Council meeting. 

2025 Fire Guardians Appointed — Council approved the appointment of this year’s fire guardians, from March 1 through to December 31, 2025. Fire guardians assist with issuing permits and educating residents on safe burning practices. Contact information for this year’s fire guardians will be available at www.countygp.ab.ca/fireguardians. 

Operating Funding Awarded to the Hythe Athletic Association — Council approved $135,795 in 2025 operating assistance funding to the Hythe Athletic Association, which includes a three per cent escalator over 2024. Council directed administration to re-evaluate the Association’s financial position before confirming operating funding for 2026. 

Event Funding Approved — Council approved a $1,500 sponsorship for the Grande Prairie Fastball Association’s third annual awards banquet and gala, taking place April 26, 2025, in Grande Prairie. 

Letters of Support — Council will provide letters of support to the following organizations: 

• Town of Beaverlodge to support their application to the Rural Transit Solution Fund. 

• Peace Area Motor Sports Association for their application to the Co-op Community Spaces grant program.  

Tender Awarded for Clairmont Community Multiuse Pad — Council awarded tender in the amount of $130,039.06, excluding GST to Knelsen Sand & Gravel Ltd. for the Clairmont Community Multiuse Pad project. The estimated total cost of the project is $138,039.06. 

Public Hearings — Council held the following public hearings: 

• Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-25-009 to redesignate 4.87 hectares of land located approximately 1.02 miles south of Highway 43, 0.5 miles west of Whispering Ridge and adjacent to Range Road 63 to the west, from the Agricultural (AG) District to the Country Residential (CR-5) District. 

• Council gave final reading to Bylaw #2680-25-011 to redesignate 15.51 hectares of land located approximately 0.4 miles north of the Hamlet of Clairmont, east of Range Road 65 and north of Township Road 730, from the Country Residential (CR-2) District to the Country Residential (CR-5) District.  

The next Regular Council Meeting will take place on March 10, 2025. The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will take place on March 3, 2025. Council and Committee meetings are available to the public via live stream. Find connection instructions and meeting agendas under Council Meetings on the County website.