COUNTY CO N N E C T I O N S SPRING 2026 2 Celebrate the County's 75th
8 County Open Houses
17 Safety Starts Here
20 Activities for Families & Seniors
4 2026 Budget Approved
10 2026 Road Work
18 Recreation and Culture in Numbers
20 Bi-Annual Seniors’ Tea Returns!
6 Making Sense of the Budget
13 Kitts Named 2026 Farm Family
18 June is Parks and Recreation Month 22 J.D.A. Sportsplex Summer Camps
8 Pay Your Taxes by the End of June
14 Planning Before the Crisis
19 Future Windsor Neighbourhood
23 Dino Museum Summer Programs
Reeve’s Message Spring always brings a sense of renewal and anticipation across the County of Grande Prairie. As the days grow longer, our community begins to prepare for another busy season of events, construction, and connection. It is also a time to reflect on the progress we are making together and the opportunities ahead for residents, businesses, and families who call the County home.
Budget County Council has approved the 2026 budget, focused on supporting growing communities while continuing to deliver the services residents rely on every day. The 2026 budget takes a balanced approach to growth and essential services. It includes targeted investments while remaining mindful of the financial impact on taxpayers, with funding directed to priorities such as water and wastewater systems and road infrastructure to support long-range planning. As property tax notices are issued, residents are reminded that a portion of collected taxes is directed to the province for education and to the Grande Spirit Foundation for seniors’ housing. For questions about the provincial portion of your tax notice, connect with the Government of Alberta Education Property Tax Line at 780-422-7125 or taxprogramdelivery@gov.ab.ca. Council remains committed to making decisions that support the County now and into the future. Read more about the budget starting on page 4.
Regional Growth Our region continues to experience remarkable growth. Earlier this year, we announced that the Grande Prairie–Greenview Corridor is leading Alberta in housing growth outside of the Edmonton and Calgary metropolitan areas.
The region recorded 579 housing starts in 2025, representing an increase of more than 60 per cent compared to the previous year. The County of Grande Prairie continues to be a place where people come to build a career, earn a good living, and enjoy an exceptional quality of life.
Community Safety Results from the recent Citizen Satisfaction Survey show continued confidence in the County as a safe place to live. Ninety-two per cent of residents agree the region is safe, up from 89 per cent in 2023. Residents also reported strong awareness of the County’s wildfire preparedness and prevention efforts. Programs such as FireSmart™, the County’s Wildfire Mitigation Strategy, and the work of the Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership (GPREP) help residents stay informed and prepared. Fire safety tips and homeowner checklists remain among the most widely recognized resources. If you haven’t reviewed them yet, you can find them at www.countygp.ab.ca/FireSmart. As another layer of preparedness, the County encourages residents to sign up for Voyent Alert, our subscriber-based notification system. Our County staff use this tool to deliver alerts to residents during emergencies. You can also opt-in to receive day-to-day communication such as notices about fire bans, road construction, and more. Download the app or subscribe to receive notifications by email, text, or landline. Learn more or register at www.countygp.ab.ca/alerts.
Join us at the County’s 75th Anniversary Celebration One milestone we are especially proud to celebrate this year is the County’s 75th anniversary. For generations, residents have helped shape the strong and resilient community we enjoy today. Continued on page 4.