Message from the mayor of Grande Prairie
Bill Given
Grande Prairie has long been a community that’s seen the economic benefits of resource abundance, population growth, and diversity of industry. We are a young city, with a median age of 31.9 and more children under the age of five than seniors over the age of 65. We are also a community that has been impacted by a shifting economic landscape on all fronts. Now more than ever, it is important we anticipate our city’s needs long into the future with clarity to understand and plan for a healthy and thriving community. It is no secret that recent years have slowed the production of natural resources across Alberta. At home in Grande Prairie, we felt an economic slow down, but we continued
to see investment and industry activity. Moreover, we continued to be one of the most prosperous cities, in one of the most prosperous provinces, in one of the most prosperous countries in the world. There are positive signs for our community, particularly related to the construction industry. Housing starts in Grande Prairie were up 38 per cent in 2019 compared to 2018. As well, 923 permits worth $242.2 million were issued in the city in 2019 while the previous year saw 1,013 permits issued worth $172.2 million. The Tri-Municipal Industrial Partnership (TMIP) consisting of the City of Grande
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Prairie, County of Grande Prairie, and MD of Greenview signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Province of Alberta that will continue to see work being done to attract global investors to Northwestern Alberta, creating long-lasting jobs and boosting the local and provincial economies. Highway 43X opened in the summer which allows for easier passage of truck traffic through the region. The opening also means that control and maintenance of the old Highway 43 route was passed on to the City, which will require paving and road rehabilitation work in the coming years. Seven Generations Energy is building their $35 million operational headquarters in Grande Prairie that will house 175 offices for their entire current staff and growing workforce. The headquarters will support operations in the region within a single, collaborative working environment, particularly as they develop the world-class Montney resource as part of their Kakwa River Project. Our strength as a regional urban hub for retail, business, government, and health services continues to be demonstrated with new development investment and retail opportunities being attracted to Grande Prairie. The provincial government also announced the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital is slated to be opened in late 2020, a project that, upon completion, will draw more health care providers to Grande Prairie and bolster the services available to residents across the Peace Country. From new development, to agriculture, to oil and gas, Grande Prairie continues to be an area that draws investment from big players and homegrown entrepreneurs. With many positive signs, 2020 is shaping up to be a successful year in the Grande Prairie area, and we look forward to partnering with industry to build the future of the region. -
