I’ve really appreciated the many conversations I’ve been having with residents about stormwater. Thank you to everyone who is taking the time to ask questions and share your thoughts. Especially if you have been willing to do so in person at the Open House or by meeting for coffee.

An observation: most of the concerns I’m hearing aren’t necessarily about the specifics on how we finance the expenses for stormwater. Instead, objections to a Stormwater Utility Model are often (but not always!) ACTUALLY about wider concerns with the City’s budget in general. Which is fair! I think more can be done to communicate it well. And there will always be lots of debate about where the right balance is between keeping things affordable and maintaining the levels of service residents need and expect.

Next week, I’m hoping to make a post with some thoughts on the City’s overall budget and approach to spending. I look forward to more conversation about that.

But here, I’m going to focus on stormwater alone.

Read More

Big progress on indoor recreation and the Avondale School Site happened last night!

With the demolition of the Leisure Centre, our region has lost 1/3 of its indoor field capacity. Additionally, we have never had a field large enough to support the highest levels of competition in a variety of sports. So along with other municipalities and sporting groups, Council has been talking a lot about indoor field space.

Earlier this month, Council endorsed borrowing up to $10,000,000 to build an indoor recreation facility. Last night, Council endorsed Avondale (ie: where the Leisure Centre and old Composite High School sit) as the site to build on.

This is exciting for me! Literally the first political position on anything I took when I started campaigning way back in 2017: "the Leisure Centre should be replaced when it is torn down."…

Read More

Municipal Policing: there’s been a lot of talk about it this week!…

…Grande Prairie is my home. I am raising my kids in Grande Prairie. I’m passionately involved in nonprofits and co-own a business here. Most of my dear friends live in this region. I want us to have the best community possible. And I do believe a municipal police model best supports a safe and financially healthy city.

The RCMP is a remarkable model for federal and rural policing. But once a community hits a certain size and complexity, there are big flaws to contract policing. Many RCMP-policed cities have identified big advantages to forming their own police services. And urban policing is putting an incredible strain on the RCMP. 

80% of Canadians receive policing from non-RCMP services. In my strong opinion, it makes sense for us to join them. A Municipal Police Service will allow us to better meet the expectations I've heard from residents. It will also help us get better value for the tax dollars we spend on policing.

I know that many of you reading this will disagree. Strongly….

Read More

ve been seeing chatter and getting direct feedback about the Leisure Centre fieldhouse being closed with no immediate replacement available. While I agree with some of what I’m hearing, I’d also respectfully push back on a lot of it.

The biggest thing I’d push back on: the speed of decision making for “next steps.” It is being done at a deliberate, appropriate speed.

Kids aren’t missing out on play because Council is refusing to take action or dragging its feet. Instead, we are doing what it takes to build something that will be the best possible long-term solution for our community. In my opinion, that means building something new on the Composite High School and Leisure Centre sites. But that is physically impossible until the old buildings are fully gone….

Read More