The Rural Renewal Stream is attracting workers to the Grande Prairie region as more municipalities adopt the provincial program. A local business owner has filled job vacancies through the program, after a “historically low” year for applications in 2022.“It was difficult generating any interest in the positions,” said Shawna Miller, who owns 16 Subway franchises in […]
A recent trend in asks for funds from local municipalities has had a focus on recreation, couched in its role to boost the attraction and retention of medical professionals.According to a Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) study, recreation is a factor for health professionals, but not a priority.“A welcoming community was the number one […]
The Town of Spirit River is finding regional support after the province removed medevac fixed-wing air ambulance service there in November 2022.The medevac fixed-wing air ambulance service is slated to resume April 1, pending appropriate weather conditions. In the same period last year, 15 incidents used this service.STARS helicopters and ground ambulance continue to respond […]
After an ambitious effort by a local parent group, Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) is asking the community its opinion. The PWPSD survey, tasked to explore the possibility of bringing junior high classes to Beaverlodge, was launched online Jan. 24. Community members can attend meetings at the Beaverlodge Elementary School on Feb. 14 from 6:30 […]
The way South Peace residents mark the death of their loved ones is evolving, largely due to the two-year pandemic.Oliver’s Funeral Home director of operations Chris Clements says that he has seen a dramatic effect on local services during the pandemic, when service sizes were at times mandated to a maximum of 10 people.“For some, […]
The province announced a $1-million investment to explore options of delivering medical education at Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) and the University of Lethbridge (U of L) last Thursday (Jan. 26). The nationwide shortage of healthcare workers disproportionately affects rural areas, said the province. The University of Alberta (U of A) and the University of Calgary (U of C) […]
Volunteers young and old are being asked to help their community by lending a hand to their local hospital.Volunteer resources co-ordinator Mavis Mintenko says that spare hands are needed at both the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital (GPRH) and the Queen Elizabeth II Ambulatory Care Centre.“We have a volunteer resources office at both locations in Grande […]
Long-time Grande Prairie resident William Robert “Bob” Neufeld hosted his last ski lesson in March at the age of 92: Teaching his great-grandkids to ski.Four generations have skied under Bob’s watchful eye; with his passing on Dec. 2, instructors at Nitehawk Adventure Park say to this day they still feel Bob’s gaze watching over them.Bob […]
More mental health supports are now available to South Peace youth with the addition of walk-in mental health services in the city.Alberta Health Services announced on Thursday (Jan. 19) that the service will provide assessments, single sessions with a child and youth addiction and mental health therapist, and parental support, and referrals to additional community […]
The location of the four dogs deemed vicious by the County of Grande Prairie in the fall of 2021 are currently unknown by its enforcement services.A months-long saga around a dog attack near Beaverlodge that sent one person to hospital culminated in the owners relinquishing the dogs last summer, says county superintendent and enforcement services […]