COUNTY CO N N E C T I O N S SPRING 2025 2 2025 Budget Approved
10 Apply for Community Grants
15 Spring & Summer Activities
19 Strengthening Crime Prevention
4 Making Sense of the Budget
11 Election Workers Needed
17 Volunteer Excellence
20 Campgrounds & Parks Now Open
6 Pay Your Taxes by End of June
12 Spring Wildfire Safety
18 J.D.A. County Sportsplex
22 J.D.A. Sportsplex Summer Camps
8 Construction Projects 2025/2026
14 Aldes Named 2025 Farm Family
18 County Open Houses
23 Dino Museum Summer Program
Reeve’s Message At this time of year, I often find myself excited for all that is in store for our community this summer and beyond, knowing that we will meet any challenges together as a unified and resilient community. I am proud to share the latest news and developments as we head into the warmer months.
Budget With final budget deliberations complete, we now have a clear roadmap for the year ahead. Council approved the 2025 budget with a 2.4 per cent municipal tax rate increase to ensure alignment with public feedback which consistently identifies roads and public safety as key priorities. Reflecting these priorities, Council directed approximately 70 per cent of the capital budget toward road and bridge projects in addition to significant funding for policing services. The approved budget also considered the cost of delivering programs and services to the County’s growing population, recorded as 26,701 in our 2024 municipal census – up 26 per cent since our last census in 2012. Read more about the budget starting on page 2.
Crime Prevention Initiatives We all play a role in keeping our community safe. The County held two crime prevention town halls in January and provided an online survey to hear resident concerns, followed by two additional town halls in April. Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on this important matter—more on this on page 19. I’d like to remind residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the RCMP.
Intermunicipal Development Plan Update In December, Council signed a Recreation and Culture Cost Sharing Agreement with the City of Grande Prairie, recognizing that facilities like the Eastlink Centre, Bonnetts Energy Centre,
Evergreen Park, and the J.D.A. County Sportsplex serve both County and City residents. The County has committed $2.76 million, with an ongoing annual contribution adjusted over the four-year term. In addition, we’ve agreed to a one-time retroactive payment of $4.6 million to the City, distributed over four years, to support prior building costs of facilities. The County continues to support the Grande Prairie Public Library and Art Gallery to ensure these valuable services stay accessible for all residents.
Engagement Surveys and Events We encourage our residents to participate in surveys and open houses. Work continues on the Plan Your County project to gather feedback on the draft Municipal Development Plan at a series of open houses this spring. Stay tuned for updates at engagecounty.gp.ca. We also invite local businesses to participate in the 7th Annual Business Retention and Expansion Survey.
Advocacy We’ve been busy advancing economic growth in our region. Invest Northwest Alberta is an agreement between the County of Grande Prairie, City of Grande Prairie, and Municipal District of Greenview to attract economic investment to northwestern Alberta. In January, we launched a promotional video highlighting the region’s robust economy, exceptional amenities, and strategic transportation networks, underscoring why northwestern Alberta remains the entrepreneurial capital of Canada. This tri-municipal partnership is invaluable—we’re stronger together and proudly work as a unified front to promote this region. In March, we attended CERAWeek, a Texas-based global energy conference, and in April, we took part in our first Advocacy Day in Edmonton to amplify the County’s voice in provincial politics. These meetings provide crucial opportunities to advocate for improvements to transportation, health, community safety, and economic development. Our advocacy work also continues for a fairer electricity rate for northern Alberta users.