December 2007 [PDF - 1.3 MB] - County of Grande Prairie

County
Connections
The County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Fall/Winter 2007/2008
Reeve’s Message
I would like to
begin by thanking
my fellow
Councillors for
electing me Reeve
for another term.
It is an honor
and privilege
to be Reeve of
such a diverse and thriving
municipality. Congratulations
to our new Councillors and
the incumbents. We extend
our best wishes to one of
the County’s longest serving
councillors, Brock Smith who
retired after serving 21 years.
Brock’s input and experience
will be missed. All the best
to Dalton Longson and Kurt
Balderston who served the
County well during their
terms in office.
We faced many challenges
and opportunities over the
last year. There is optimism
in one of our economic
pillars, agriculture. This
edition of the newsletter
contains informative articles
for farmers. While the oil and
gas industry did experience
a slower year, levels remain
comfortable.
A major challenge is the
continued threat of the
mountain pine beetle. As
this insect continues to infest
our forests, municipal grants
to fight the pine beetle have
been reduced. As a member
of the Ministers Advisory
Committee, I will continue
to lobby the province for
appropriate funding and
advocate solutions for this
area.
Many of our hamlets continue
to grow, in particular
Clairmont. To facilitate that
growth, the County and
Peace Wapiti Public School
District have partnered to
build a K-8 school in the
hamlet. The County has
financed an expanded
gym, daycare facilities and
community rooms as part
of the facility. In August,
the Clairmont & District
Agricultural Society agreed
to enter into a five-year joint
operating contract with the
County to renovate and
operate the Clairmont arena.
The County has committed
$500,000 and has applied for
capital grants. A local group,
Save the Clairmont Arena
Continued next page
Clairmont School
and Community
Facility Sod-Turning
Pictured from left to
right-Sonia Ens, Peace
Wapiti Board Chair,
Chris Warkentin, Peace
River MP, future student,
Everett McDonald,
County of Grande Prairie
No. 1 Reeve, Mel Knight,
Grande Prairie-Smoky
MLA
What’s Inside
Our Council 2
Clubroot Disease 4
PFRA Shelter Belt Program 6
Keep Alberta Rat Free 7
2007 Rural Beautificaton
Tour 8
2007 Communities in Bloom 9
Update for River of Death 10
Win Prizes For Photos 11
Historical Designation
Partnership 11
New Transfer Station
in Tee Pee Creek 12
Public Works Update 13
Fire Services 14
Enforcement Services 15
Bringing our communities and region closer together

Reeve’s Message (continued)
Committee, is fund raising
to help us ensure this facility
serves the needs of this and
future generations.
The tremendous growth and
development in the County
made Council realize the
need to reassess our parks.
The Parks and Open Spaces
study provided a vision for the
County that you will get the
chance to provide your input
on over the next year.
Realizing that communities
need to grow and talk of
annexation efforts surfacing
again, you can be assured
this Council will be
reasonable but at the same
time, work hard to ensure
you maintain your rural
lifestyle. We strongly believe
that cooperation among all
municipalities is the only
way that we can maintain
affordable, high quality
municipal services.
In November, the County
negotiated a two-year
extension to our fire service
agreement with the City of
Grande Prairie that will carry
us to December 31, 2010.
This will give both Councils
appropriate time to negotiate
a regional fire service model.
We have introduced a new
feature in this edition of the
newsletter, Councillor reports.
In my Division, we will see
the completion of the paving
of RR 51 from SH 670 to
TWP 712 (68th Ave) and TWP
712 to the City this year that
will allow better access for
our ratepayers to the East to
enter the City. Council has
drilled a new well to supply
additional water in the hamlet
of Bezanson and the sewage
lagoon will be upgraded in
2008 allowing for superior
effluent treatment and growth
for the community. News
washroom facilities were
built at two jewels of the
County, Kleskun Park and
Kleskun Museum. Many of
the County’s recreational and
cultural activities continue
to be provided by volunteer
organizations. Please join me
in recognizing the backbone
of many of our organizations,
our volunteers. These people
dedicate countless hours
to many groups such as
school, museums, fire, and
agricultural societies to
maintain the rural life. Please
feel free to contact me at
emcdonald@countygp.ab.ca
or 532-0976.
Apply Now!
I n f o r m a t i o n o n
Councillor Sharon Nelson
Division 2
email: snelson@countygp.ab.ca
Phone: 567-2143
I thoroughly enjoyed campaigning throughout the election,
meeting neighbors old & new. I was reminded of what
a unique & diverse area we live in. I was also reminded
of the phenomenal growth we are experiencing & the
pressures arising from it. People expressed many concerns:
road conditions, crime rate, security, community service
accommodation, recreation facilitation, housing constraints, environmental issues
& the disappearance of good farm land. I endeavor to address each & every one in
a timely manner through out my 3 year term. I believe agriculture is the foundation
of our county. I wholeheartedly support rural sustainability. Having been involved
in the Hamlet of Clairmont for over 25 years, I also understand the need for urban
development. It’s a mix for sure. My goal is to become as knowledgeable as possible
on the issues brought forth & represent your concerns to the best of my ability, bearing
in mind “What is best for the entire community?”
Don & I continue to live northeast of Clairmont on the quarter we moved to in 1977.
We are still involved in a livestock operation comprised of horses, cattle & (to Don’s
chagrin) poultry. Our family; Narda( Jim Dunsdon),Craig(Tina Thomlinson),Kirk(Marla
Hogg) & Daniel(Tracy Bozarth) have blessed us with 13 grandchildren whom are
my continuous source of inspiration to work towards making our home, community,
country & world a better place to be. I wish to take this opportunity to thank my family
& friends for their continuous support throughout the election. I wish to thank my
community for your vote of confidence. I shall do my best.
Councillor Leanne Beaupre
Division 3
email: lbeaupre@countygp.ab.ca
Phone: 538-3809
As I begin my second term as your Councillor, I would
like to provide an update on some of the committees I
belong to such as Vice-Chair of the County’s Family and
Community Support Services. Council and our FCSS
Director have worked hard to put our ratepayers and
communities first. As Chair of Community Futures of Grande Prairie and Region, I
am encouraged by the number of clients and programs that we have served through
RCED funds and our investment portfolios. The partnerships that we have cultivated
and maintained have made this branch one of the most successful in the province. At
our recent organizational meeting, I was also named Chair of the Municipal Planning
Commission.
This past year has been a challenge with a threat of a different kind, the mountain
pine beetle. I was first made aware of the “pest” through my membership on the
Weyerhaeuser Environmental Advisory Committee. I will continue to lobby industry
and the provincial government to stay the course on eradicating this threat through
programs and continued provincial funding.
During my second term, one of my goals is to see to fruition accessible high speed
internet service to our ratepayers in remote and unserviced locations. As the Councillor
with the closest contact to our urban neighbour, I will continue to work on mutually
beneficial projects and concerted efforts at a provincial level. I am very excited to
remain on the River of Death and Discovery Dinosaur Centre Steering Committee as it
comes closer to being a reality. As well, I am part of a 3-member Council committee
that is renewing efforts to re-designate Saskatoon Mountain and Kleskun Hills natural
areas as provincial parks. The committee will also explore the possibility of a provincial
park in the Wapiti Dunes area.
The deadline for applying for the
preauthorized payment plan for taxes is
December 15th of each year to allow for automatic monthly payments to occur
in the following year. For more information please call our Tax Department at
513-3968, or download a copy of the application from our website at
www.countygp.ab.ca/taxes/taxinstallment form.

o u r c o u n c i l l o r s
Councillor Jack O’Toole
Division 4
Email: jotoole@countygp.ab.ca
Phone: 532-3228
I am very honored to be your councillor and Deputy Reeve.
There has been many exciting developments in Division 4.
I must thank you for your patience as crew worked on some
major road projects including paving Flyingshot Lake road
and Spring Creek road. Weather permitting, 5 kilometres of
paving is expected to be completed on Pipestone Road before the end of the season.
It was an amazing year for the dinosaur initiative. World renowned paleontologists
spent the summer digging in our backyard, discovering new fossils. Our biggest
announcement was the hiring of Brad Bishop as Project Manager of the River of Death
and Discovery Dinosaur Centre. As Chairman of the Steering Committee, I see this as a
huge step forward towards our goal of breaking ground by 2010.
Finally, Council is working hard to get approval to reopen the Spring Creek cemetery.
A fence will be constructed in the near future to protect the area.
Councillor Pat Jacobs
Division 5
Email: pjacobs@countygp.ab.ca
Phone: 354-8376
Along with the usual Council duties, it has been my
pleasure to serve on several external committees along with
representatives from other municipalities. Among them are
the following:
Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association – This
organization is comprised of a Board made up of reps from all municipalities
within the County borders along with reps from the tourism industry. Our purpose
is to promote our area and assist tourism operators in marketing their products and
events. One initiative we have recently launched in co-operation with our hoteliers
is the “hotel tourism tax”. This fund will greatly assist in marketing the members’
establishments as well as promoting our Region. This program is already in place in
many jurisdictions such as Banff, Jasper, Edmonton and Calgary.
Branding the Peace – I have been the County Rep on this Board since its inception.
This is a very dynamic Interprovincial group comprised of both municipal reps and
reps from producer groups from the Alberta and BC Peace Country. We are currently
working on proving “Northern Vigour” so that we can brand Peace Country Products as
being “the best in the world” and be able to back up the claim with evidence.
Northern CARE is another very interesting and rewarding group. This Board consists
of member municipalities from all over northern Alberta as well as industry reps. Our
mandate is to promote recycling initiatives throughout the North and to assist our
membership to organize collection drives, source out markets for recycled materials
and share information. One very successful program in the past was the tire collection
and transportation program. The e-waste program is also going very well.
I will work with Council and administration to obtain Provincial Park status for
Saskatoon Mountain and to build overnight camping facilities at the site with
caretaking. Also, to see that completion of the twinning of Highway 43 from Wembley
to the BC border is in the 3 year plan and that the new Beaverlodge hospital remains a
priority with the provincial government and Peace Country Health.
Councillor Lois Dueck
Division 6
Email: ldueck@countygp.ab.ca
Phone: 354-2779
A long time resident of the Beaverlodge area, my husband
Peter and I had a mixed farming operation. We have
three grown children, seven grandchildren and one great
grandson. I have served as President of the South Peace
Centennial Museum for the past 12 years and am Vice-
President of the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop, as well as
volunteering at various other organizations.
help of industries that work within the County. A new bridge at Rio Grande on the
Red Willow is a must along with improvements on other bridges to help the flow of
agriculture and the oil and gas industries. My other priorities include working with the
government to finalize the twinning of Highway 43, construction of a new hospital in
Beaverlodge, and upgrading our fire and recreational facilities.
Councillor Frank Lowen
Division 7
Email: flowen@countygp.ab.ca
Phone: 356-2172
I have lived in the West County area all my life with my
wife, two sons and three grandchildren. Having worked
for the County for 32 years and seeing it go through many
stages of growth and development, I look forward to
leading the County forward. Just as we have advanced in
the past 30 years, this strong and experienced Council will
lead us through the years ahead.
Some of the issues that affect us all are infrastructure, access to healthcare, education,
and a good wholesome community life. We all want a place where we can live and
work raising our families and enjoying what the country has to offer.
I feel that development must be regulated with people and the environment in mind.
In order to govern effectively, we must keep in touch with the people we serve. Honest
and open consultation with the public is required to achieve this and to keep the
County moving ahead. My involvement with the community through volunteering and
work has made me aware of the needs of people and helps me to better serve you at
the Council level.
reopened for farmers.
Councillor Richard Harpe
Division 8
Email: rharpe@countygp.ab.ca
Phone: 356-2040
This is Richard’s eighth term on Council. Richard was
instrumental in presenting information to the Affordable
Housing task force in his role as Chair of the Grande
Spirit Foundation by providing both the rural and small
urban perspective. Richard is also heavily involved with
the Surface Rights Federation to have land compensation
Councillor Mary Ann Eckstrom
Division 9
Email: meckstrom@countygp.ab.ca
Phone: 568-4091
The role of the council is changing and has become
increasingly diverse and complex. One of my achievements
has been sitting of the Provincial Board for FCSS. As the
President of FCSSAA, I’m looking forward to the annual
convention and running as President again. The FCSS
review undertaken by the provincial government is finished
and the final results need to be worked on by the Association Executive and Board. I
believe that my knowledge of the past growth strategies and history of the Association
will help to advance the interests of all municipalities.
In addition, future negotiations and relationship building with the city and our other
municipal neighbours will be critical to the health of our region. One other interest in
my role as a county councillor is around the Agricultural Services Board and the issues
that are impacting our producers. A diversified economic development strategy is
important to the sustainable growth of our county and is of high interest to me.
Our Peace Library system is critical to the viability of rural libraries and I understand
the importance of maintaining our involvement in the process. I’m looking forward in
participating in the decision making that has challenged and will continue to challenge
our community.
In my new role as Councillor, I look forward to working with the ratepayers as well as
my fellow Councillors, departments, committees and municipalities. Upgrading and
improving our roads by paving core roads is critical to the growth of the area with the

A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E
?
Did you know
Clubroot was added as a
declared pest to Alberta’s
Agricultural Pests Act (APA)
this year. The APA is the
legislative authority for
enforcement of control
measures for declared pests
in Alberta. The Minister of
Alberta Agriculture and
Food is responsible for this
Act.
Clubroot
Symptoms on
Canola and
Mustard
Clubroot galls are a nutrient
sink, so they tie up nutrients,
and severely infected roots
of canola cannot transport
sufficient water and nutrients
for aboveground plant
parts. Symptoms will vary
depending on the growth
stage of the crop when
infection occurs. Early
infection at the seedling stage
can result in wilting, stunting
and yellowing of canola
plants in the late rosette to
early podding stage.
Such symptoms may be
wrongly attributed to heat
stress during periods with
high temperatures or to other
diseases such as blackleg or
fusarium wilt. In such cases,
proper diagnosis includes
digging up wilted plants to
check for gall formation on
roots
Clubroot Disease
of Canola and Mustard
Clubroot is a serious soilborne
disease of cruciferous
crops (canola and cabbage
family) worldwide and was
first identified in Europe in
the thirteenth century. This
disease is a major problem
in cole crops (cruciferous
vegetables) in some areas of
British Columbia, Quebec,
Ontario and the Atlantic
provinces.
Although at the moment there
have not been any reports
of this disease in our region,
there have been two previous
reports of clubroot in cole
crops in other parts of Alberta.
Clubroot has continued to
spread in the Edmonton area.
The disease can affect
broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese
cabbage, kale, kohlrabi,
radish, rutabaga and turnip.
Canola/rapeseed and mustard
are also susceptible to this
disease. There are several
weak, non-cruciferous hosts,
but their contribution to
disease development and
carryover of the clubroot
pathogen is not well known.
Pest inspectors have the
power to enter land at a
reasonable hour, without
permission, to inspect for
clubroot and collect samples.
The owner or occupant of the
land has the responsibility for
taking measures to prevent
the establishment and spread
of clubroot.
Resting spores germinate
in the spring, producing
zoospores that swim in soil
water to root hairs. These
resting spores are extremely
long lived, with a half-life of
about 4 years, but they can
survive in soil for up to 20
years. The longevity of the
resting spores is a key factor
contributing to the seriousness
of the disease. Resting spore
germination is stimulated by
exudates from the roots of
host plants. As this develops,
plant hormones are altered,
which causes the infected
cortical cells to swell. Clusters
of these enlarged cells form
“clubs” or galls (see below).
Although there are no
airborne spores released by
this pathogen, the resting
spores are capable of moving
with infested soil transported
by wind or water erosion and
field machinery.
Warm soil (20-24°C), high
soil moisture and acid
soil (pH less than 6.5) are
environmental factors that
favour infection and severe
disease development.
Unfortunately, these
conditions exist in a
significant portion of the
traditional canola growing
areas of Alberta.
Very severe clubroot on canola.

A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E
Prevention and Management
of Clubroot in Canola and Mustard
entering or leaving all fields.
The equipment cleaning
procedure involves knocking
or scraping off soil lumps and
sweeping off loose soil.
clubroot by contaminated
seed or straw is much less
than by the transportation
of contaminated field
equipment.
Since clubroot infestations are
still not widely distributed in
Alberta, various precautionary
measures should be taken
by producers to curb the
spread of this disease outside
the known infested areas.
Growers should be vigilant
to prevent the introduction
of clubroot to clean fields
because few economic
options currently exist to
control infestations in canola.
Recommended preventative
measures include the
following:
• Use long rotations: canola
every four years or more.
Although this practice will not
prevent the introduction of
clubroot to clean fields, it will
restrict this and other disease
development within the field
and probably avert a severe
infestation.
• Practice good sanitation
to restrict the movement
of possibly contaminated
material (this approach will
help reduce the spread of
other diseases, weeds and
insects too). The resting
spores are most likely to
spread via contaminated
soil and infected canola
plant parts. Thus, producers
should follow the practice of
cleaning soil and crop debris
from field equipment before
For risk-averse producers, the
following additional cleaning
steps may provide some extra
benefit, but they involve
considerably more work and
expense:
• After removing soil lumps,
wash the equipment off with
a power washer, preferably
with hot water or steam.
• Finish by misting equipment
with a weak disinfectant
(1-2% household bleach
solution).
• Use direct seeding and
other soil conservation
practices to reduce erosion.
Resting spores move readily
in soil transported by wind
or water erosion and by
overland flow.
• Scout canola fields regularly
and carefully. Identify causes
of wilting, stunting, yellowing
and premature ripening – do
not assume anything!
• Avoid the use of straw bales
and manure from infested or
suspicious areas. Clubroot
spores are reported to survive
through the digestive tracts of
livestock.
• Avoid common untreated
seed (including canola,
cereals and pulses). Earthtag
on seed from infested
fields could introduce
resting spores to clean fields.
Certain seed treatment
fungicide may control
spores on contaminated
seed, but this observation
needs further research
to confirm its validity.
Note: the risk of spreading
Managing clubroot after
establishment in a canola
field is difficult. There is no
known clubroot resistance
in current Canadian canola
varieties. Partly resistant
varieties in Europe have racespecific
resistance that is not
durable.
Currently, there are no
registered fungicides
for clubroot control or
suppression in canola.
Although there are fungicides
registered for clubroot control
in cole crops around the
world, the relatively high
cost and application method
(transplant bed drench or
broadcast incorporation)
make them unsuitable for
canola field production.
Liming acid soils to above pH
7.2 has shown poor or erratic
results for clubroot control in
cole crops in British Columbia
and eastern Canada. Given
the inconsistency and high
cost of the practice, liming
is not a reliable option for
clubroot control in canola.
Calcium cyanamide, an old
form of nitrogen fertilizer with
fungicidal properties, has
shown promise for reducing
clubroot in cole crops,
but high application rates,
significant cost and limited
availability make it a poor
option for canola.
For more information on
this disease please contact:
Mary Lupwayi, Agricultural
Fieldman at 513-3959.

A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E
PFRA Shelter Belt Program
The Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Prairie Farm
Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) in conjunction with the
County of Grande Prairie No. 1 would like to inform County
landowners about the Shelterbelt Program.
Shelterbelts provide many benefits for prairie farmers. They
reduce the wind around the yard, thus protecting buildings,
reducing heating costs and controlling snow. They protect
livestock from the cold winter winds. Shelterbelts provide
wildlife habitat, protect the soil and trap snow for additional
moisture. They also trap and store greenhouse gases.
The benefits of shelterbelts continue to remain the same,
however, there have been recent changes to the Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada-PFRA Prairie Shelterbelt Program. Some of
the changes include:
• 5 acre (2ha) minimum to qualify for the program, (last year it
was 40 acres.)
• New rating guide – in the past applications have been
approved on a first come first serve bases. Each application
will now be rated based on the type of planting (riparian,
field, livestock, wildlife, yard or roadside); number of
seedlings applied for; and species composition.
• Hybrid poplars will now be sent as a mix and no longer
available as a single species. This is so that we can send the
species most suitable to each area of the province, and also to
avoid monoculture problems.
• New application form which lists all of the species available.
• No more free plastic mulch. In the past, the Shelterbelt
Enhancement Program provided free plastic mulch for weed
control. That program has now expired. Clients must now
purchase their own plastic mulch. However, PFRA still
supplies the plastic mulch applicators.
While there are changes to the Program, some things remain the
same:
• The trees are still free of charge (clients must pay the shipping)
• Applications are still accepted from June 1 to March 15 for
May delivery.
• Applications are available at the County of Grande Prairie
No. 1 Agricultural office; at PFRA offices; by calling 403-340-
4291, toll free 1-866-766-2284 or on the internet at http://
www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/shelterbelt_e.htm
• Seedlings will be shipped to the County – where the client
will pick them up
• Trees arrive at the County in early May
• Land preparation is important to successfully plant the trees
• Weed control for 3-5 years after planting is vital to the
establishment of the seedlings
If you have any questions about the program or would like an
application, please call Don at 403-340-4291 or toll free at
866-766-2284.

A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E
Keep Alberta “Rat Free”
Did you know that Alberta is a “rat free province”? Do you know why?
Over 50 years ago, when rats were spreading west through
Saskatchewan, the Alberta Government had a vision - stop them
at the border. A rat patrol was created and they continue to
inspect premises in a strip 18 miles wide, south from Cold Lake
to the Montana border, destroying every rat and rat habitat they
find. Throughout Alberta, pest inspectors like me investigate rat
sightings, set traps and ensure we stay rat free.
The Rocky Mountains to the west and the natural “desert” to the
South keep rats from moving in on foot from those directions.
However, rats can certainly hitch a ride with our “more mobile
than ever society”. With stories of recent rat sightings in
Alberta, we are asking land owners to be vigilant and report any
occurrences to the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 Agricultural
office at 513-3955. At this time of year rats will be looking for
warmth and food to over winter - so watch out for signs such
as, tracks, scat, chewing [holes, wiring] and animals moving
- especially at dusk or dawn.
Juvenile muskrats may still be relocating at this time as well, so
a few things to look for are:
• Young muskrats are about the right size and shape but will
tend to amble or swagger, Norway rats will scramble and
jump.
• Muskrat hind feet are much larger proportionately, with longer
claws and partial webbing.
• Muskrats are also usually dark or black, and their tails are
flattened [for rudder use] vs. the Norway’s typically grey to tan
colouring and rope-like tail.
If you do believe you’ve seen a Norway, either in the wild
or being kept as a pet [even the white rat], call Agricultural
Fieldman Mary Lupwayi at 513-3955. Please help keep our
region rat free.
Coyote Control Program
The County of Grande Prairie
No.1 is pleased to announce
that there is Predator Control
Services throughout the year
due to increase in demand
for these services. Please
note that these services are
provided on a complaint basis
and some restrictions may
apply.
If you are having coyote
predation on your livestock
or for more information about
this program please contact
Darrell Fisher at 513-3955.
Alberta Environmentally Sustainable
Agriculture Program
The County of Grande Prairie’s Rural Extension officer Jill Henry
is working in partnership with the “Alberta Environmentally
Sustainable Agriculture Program” to reduce agriculture’s impact
and promote adoption of beneficial management practices.
Awareness is the first step to practice change. Whether you are
a livestock / crop producer, or even an acreage owner, ongoing
educational workshops and field tours throughout the season
will bring you up to date on the things you can do to minimize
your impact on the environment.
Watch the county website and local newspapers for future
workshop dates and times.
Stop by anytime or call the agriculture office to find out the
latest updates on:
• Environmental Farm Plan workshops planned for the County
of Grande Prairie.
•Grants available to implement beneficial management
practices
•Publications and resources about environmental stewardship
•Watershed stewardship
We look forward to meeting you!

A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E
2007 Rural
Beautification
Tour
This year’s tour was a wonderful success with great weather and
three bus loads of bustling residents.
The 2007 tour of the east of the County was held on July 20th.
About 137 people attended the tour. We had seven families
who kindly let us tour their gardens. These participants were:
The Calvert Family, The Pomeroy Family, The Pizycki Family,
The Shaw Family, The Sorken Family, The Teichroeb Family and
The Truhn Family.
The County wishes to thank all the 2007 participants for their
involvement especially those who showcased their yards.
To honor the participants, the County will be presenting the
families with an award of participation in Council Chambers.
We would also like to thank the following companies for their
generous donations for door prizes:
Staples, The Wagon Yard, Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse,
Moxie’s Bar and Grill, Tim Horton’s, Barton’s Archery,
Grande Equipment, Northern Bridge and Mat Rentals,
Explosives Ltd., Northern Metallic, Weyerhaueser,
Shoppers Drug Mart (Prairie Mall), Safeway (Northside),
GP Fire Extinguishers, Wal-Mart, Peavey Mart
The County of Grande Prairie No. 1 values its residents and
businesses participation in this worthy and much appreciated
program and is encouraging residents and businesses to
continue participating in showcasing their yards.

A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E | A G R I C U LT U R E
2007 Communities in Bloom
The County’s Hamlets received big praise and acknowledgment
from this year’s Communities In Bloom Provincial Judges for
all their hard work in areas such as landscape beautification,
environmental stewardship, floral arrangement, community
involvement and heritage conservation. The County of Grande
Prairie No. 1 extends huge congratulations to the communities
of Teepee Creek and Valhalla Centre for representing our area
and bringing the event to a whole new level.
The 2007 Communities in Bloom Provincial Awards were held
in Sedgewick, Alberta this year, which honoured municipalities
from across the province.The County of Grande Prairie
participating hamlet are as follows:
HAMLET 2007 Blooms 2006 Blooms 2005 Blooms
Teepee Creek 4 Blooms 4 Blooms 3 Blooms
Valhalla Centre 4 Blooms
4 Blooms
WINNER*
3 Blooms
The results were very pleasing as the Hamlets worked hard for
this year’s entries. More important than the overall marks are
the benefits that are realized for the participating communities.
The program brings increased tourism to these communities
and a real sense of community pride and ownership, build
relationships and of course creates more beautiful spaces and
scenic properties to admire.
The County wishes to thank all the volunteers who worked
and contributed so much of their time in their Hamlets. The
volunteers were present at the Gala Awards ceremony in
Sedgewick.

Did you
know
Update for
River of Death
and Discovery
Dinosaur Centre
the Aquatera Eco center is now taking
paint used oil from county residents
?
?
if every Canadian household switched
one incandescent light bulb to a
compact flourscent bulb, it would
equivalent to removing 66,000 cars
from the road.
Project Porchlight – spiral fluorescent
bulbs will be delivered to county
residents through the 4 H folks.
?
?
display. The booth was a
very popular stopping place
with thousands of interested
participants stopping and
expressing interest in the
project. Thank you to all who
helped staff the booth.
the County’s landfills do not accept
propane tanks because of safety.
County residents can take expired
propane tanks to the Aquatera Eco
Center.
information about groundwater in the
County can be found via the internet
at the following website - http://www.
telusgeomatics.com/tgpub/ag_water/.
This website provides information
regarding the construction and water
production from wells throughout the
County of Grande Prairie.
even a private well should be sampled
for chemistry results every year. Why?
Because any changes in the wells
production or the formation where the
water is produced can be noticed to
changes in the chemistry of the well.
?
?
?
Brad Bishop,
Project Manager
The summer was truly a busy
one for those interested in
dinosaurs within the County
of Grande Prairie. Scientists
from around the world spent
part of the summer exploring
old sites, and finding and
defining new ones. Several
new and significant findings
are clearly indicating that this
region has significant material
to add to the world’s history
of dinosaur remains.
The River of Death and
Discovery Dinosaur Centre
Steering Committee was
invited to participate at the
Edmonton Capital X dinosaur
The committee has advanced
the project from the study
stage to implementing the
recommendations. Several
applications for funding
have been submitted and,
most importantly, a project
manager/coordinator has
been hired.
Brad Bishop has been
hired to oversee the growth
and development of the
facility. Brad comes to the
project with a wealth of
background experience. He
brings valued tourism and
organizational experience.
Brad will be responsible for
fundraising, communicating,
and management of this most
exciting project. Welcome,
Brad.
The Grande Prairie Regional
College is also in the
process of hiring a part-time
paleontology professor/
paleontologist. The college
will be providing the
educational and research
development for this project.
10

4th Annual County
Photo Contest
The County of Grande Prairie and Watson’s Foto Source are hosting the fourth
annual photo contest. In the past, the contest has been most successful with many
high quality entries profiling the beauty of the County.
This year the contest has been divided into two specific categories:
1. Scenes of the County – Focus on
the scenes and specific sites located
within the County.
2. Children in the County – Focus on
children participating in activities
while in the County.
Entries must be received by Monday, December 3, 2007 at either Watson’s
Foto Source or the County office.
There will be prizes in each category:
1st
2nd
3rd $50.00
4th
5th
Digital camera (valued at $400-500) plus $100.00 worth
of photofinishing
$100.00 plus $100.00 worth of photofinishing
Golf Shirt
Denim Shirt
All entrants will receive a voucher from Watson’s Foto Source
to develop a 24-roll film or 24 digital prints, free of charge.
Special thanks to Watson’s Foto Source for co-sponsoring the
contest.
County Enters into a Historical Designation Partnership
In order to better preserve the rapidly changing history of the
County of Grande Prairie, the County will be joining with
the Province’s Department of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and
Culture, through the Municipal Heritage Partnership Program,
to research, document, record and assist in the restoration of
buildings and sites of historical importance in the County.
The project will be the first step of a process to designate
buildings and sites that have been part of the County prior to
1961 and should be preserved for future generations to better
appreciate our early history.
A context paper describing the early history of the County has
been completed. A preliminary survey, identifying fifty buildings
and sites, has been developed, and an independent research
consultant will be hired. Financial support from the Municipal
Heritage Partnership Program, to research and record the
significance of some of the sites, will help fund part of the costs.
In order to be designated, written permission from the owner
is required. Once designation has been approved through the
Municipal Heritage Program, the site becomes eligible for
matching funding, depending upon the designation. It also can
become a candidate for additional designation status.
Should anyone have a site which they consider of historical
importance, please feel free to contact your local councillor or
the Economic Development Office at the County.
11

New Transfer Station
in Teepee Creek
By Steve Madden,
Environment Manager,
County of Grande Prairie
Construction workers are busy finishing up the final touches on
a brand new transfer station located in the Teepee Creek area.
The location is the previous Teepee Creek Landfill which has
been converted to fully functional transfer station equipped with
transfer bins and recycling bays.
The transfer station provides
clean recycling bays for:
Tires
Metals
Wire
Clean wood materials
Residents are encouraged to separate these items and drop them
off within the designated areas. For general refuse, transfer bins
are provided with an easy access ramp to allow residents to
dispose of regular refuse in a cleaner more improved fashion
that also provides protection for our environment.
Residents are reminded that Teepee Creek hours of operation
are:
Summer:
May 1 to Nov 1 – Tuesday and Thursday’s – 2:00pm to 8:00pm
Saturday’s - 10:00am to 6:00pm
Winter:
Nov 2 to April 30 – Tuesday and Thursday’s – Noon – 6:00pm
Saturday’s – 10:00am – 6:00pm
Residents are also encouraged to take part in County of Grande
Prairie recycling programs where plastics, tin, paper and glass
can be recycled through recycling bins throughout the county’s
hamlets.
County Residents can also now take Household Hazardous
waste to the Aquatera Eco Center located in the City of
Grande Prairie. Separating this material is very important to
the protection of our landfills and our precious groundwater
resources. Proper disposal ensures this protection.
For more information, please contact County of Grande Prairie
Public Works at (780)532-7393.
12
12

Clairmont Landfill
Extended
Hours!
The Landfill will be open
Monday-Saturday, 8 am
to 6 pm effective
February 1, 2008. Due
to soaring costs and
capacity issues at the metals
recycling area, a $100 special
handling fee per car body will
be charged. County ratepayers
can avoid this cost by taking their
derelict vehicles to local metal recyclers, some of whom take
these metals for free. The County will apply for a provincial
grant to develop a transfer station and recycling centre at
the Landfill. Over the past few years, usage has increased
dramatically from 10,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes making it
difficult to maintain clean working areas.
Landfills Holiday Hours of
Operation
ALL County landfills will be CLOSED December 24, 25 & 26
and January 1, 2008.
Clairmont Landfill Open- 10 am to 6 pm-December 27, 28, 29,
2007 & January 2-5, 2008
Demmitt Landfill Open-9am to 5pm-December 29, 2007 &
January 2 & 5, 2008
Teepee Creek Landfill Open-Noon to 6pm-December 27, 2007
& January 3, 2008
Open-10 am to 6 pm-December 29, 2007 & January 5, 2008
For inquiries regarding Landfill hours, please call 513-3967.
Regional Landfill-Open-December 27, 28, 29, 2007 & January
2-5, 2008
For further information regarding Regional Landfill hours, please
call 356-0007.
Public
Works
GIRL GUIDES – WATER AWARENESS TRAINING –
BEZANSON WATER TREATMENT PLANT
The 3rd GP Girl Guides group of Grande Prairie area enjoyed a tour of the Bezanson Water
Treatment Plant in October. The tour was one item of a list of tasks and training the girl guides
needed to complete to obtain their water badge. The water badge teaches the girls about the
importance of water protection, conservation and ways to improve water quality. County staff
volunteered to provide the girls with the training required to obtain this badge.
The weather conditions this
summer offered challenges
to the construction program
within the County. The Public
Works Department would like
to thank our residents for their
patience with the difficulties
and delays they endured
during our 2007 construction
season. We would also like
to thank the many employees,
both County and contractors,
for the long hours they
worked to complete the many
projects.
During our winter
maintenance program we
would like to remind the
traveling public, when driving
behind a plow truck or grader,
it is important that safety is
exercised. Staff works many
long hours, night and day, to
keep the roads maintained in
a safe manner for the traveling
public. You may contact the
Public Works Department at
532-7393, should you have
any questions.
13

P R O T E C T I V E S E R V I C E S | P R O T E C T I V E S E R V I C E S
Fire Services
The County and City of Grande Prairie have agreed to a twoyear
extension to the existing fire agreement. The County will
pay a $1.6 million fee-for-service in 2009 and $1.9 million
in 2010. The County has already purchased a building south
of Grande Prairie with the intent to convert it to a fire hall.
With an agreement in place with the City, renovations will
not proceed. However, Fire, Enforcement and Parks staff will
relocate to the building due to the shortage of space at the
County Administration building. A decision on the long term
use of the building will be made as negotiations with our
regional partners proceed. Council has directed administration
to proceed with plans for a north fire hall that will house
four County departments and ensure appropriate emergency
response times in the Clairmont area.
The mutual aid contracts with our other regional partners
expire at the end of 2008 however we look forward to not only
continuing our relationship with them but enhancing it and
creating even closer synergies in the areas of fire suppression,
fire prevention, fire inspection and training.
Stay Informed!
Clairmont Fire Hall
Before You Burn It,
Get a Permit
– It’s Free
Fire Permits are required in the
County of Grande Prairie No.1 for
ALL open fires from January 1st
through December 31st. All persons
wanting to burn within the County
of Grande Prairie No. 1 MUST notify
the County Fire Protection Office
BEFORE lighting the fire. For more
information or to obtain a free permit
please call (780) 513-3953 during
normal office hours.
Visit our website
and sign up to have County news
releases emailed immediately, view
the latest Council Highlights, post
your upcoming local and regional
events on the Community Calendar
or sign up for our online services.
Just log onto
www.countygp.ab.ca.
14

P R O T E C T I V E S E R V I C E S | P R O T E C T I V E S E R V I C E S
County Enforcement
Celebrates 30 Years!
The County of Grande Prairie No. 1 celebrates 30 years of
having its own Enforcement Department. On this 30 year
anniversary we will also see our biggest change to date.
In 1977 the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 formed the “County
Police Department” to aid the RCMP in reducing crime in the
rural area and to protect the County’s massive road system. This
was an armed police department that served as a supplement
the RCMP. The County Police existed from 1977 – 1989.
In 1989 changes to the Alberta Police Act brought about a
name change to “County Law Enforcement Department”. No
longer “police”, the County Constables also lost their side arms.
The mandate of the Law Enforcement Department became
traffic enforcement along with commercial vehicle weight
enforcement. The Law Enforcement Department existed from
1989 – 2004.
In 2004 our name changed to “Enforcement Services
Department” and we went from “County Constables” to
“Special Constables”, due to changes in governmental policy. In
May of 2007 the Alberta Solicitor General’s Department revoked
our criminal code authority as part of the Special Constable
Program review, restricting the department to traffic related
provincial statutes only.
On May 1, 2007 the Alberta Peace Officers Act came into
effect. We are currently “Community Peace Officers” and with
that come new uniforms, titles, appointments and vehicle
decaling.
The taking away of Criminal Code authority was to standardize
and create a baseline for the new program. There were some
agencies with full criminal code authority, like ours, others with
limited authority, and yet others with no code authority, like the
City of Grande Prairie. As of today’s date, Peace Officer’s are all
the same province wide
Our vehicles display the words “Peace Officer” in blue lettering
on the rear and on the sides. Our uniform of red pant stripes
and navy shirts will soon be replaced. We will wear light grey
shirts and have grey trouser stripes replacing the red we have
always worn.
Who Are Peace Officers?
There are two different kinds of Peace Officers appointed under
the Peace Officers Act; Alberta Peace Officers (provincial) and
Community Peace Officers (municipal governments and health
authorities). Each will consist of two levels at this time.
Alberta Peace Officers Level 1 will be Solicitor General,
Highway Patrol Sheriffs and Court Security Sheriffs. Level 2 will
be Conservation Officers, Transport Officers, Fish & Wildlife
Officers along with other provincial government enforcement
agencies.
Community Peace Officers Level 1 will be our Enforcement
Services Department, traffic patrol Special Constables and
those similar positions employed by the City of Grande Prairie.
Level 2 Community Peace Officers will include Animal Control
Officers, SPCA, parking control, taxi commission, Bylaw
Enforcement Officers and Photo Radar Operators.
As Peace Officers we remain supplemental to the RCMP. Our
role will not change and we will continue to have a mandate for
both traffic safety and road protection. As the program unfolds
and develops, we will be able to obtain a limited criminal code
authority for certain items approved by the province, though
not to the full extent as before. A new name and look to an old
department that will deliver the same level of service!
The Enforcement Services Department can be reached by email
at www.enforcementservices@countygp.ab.ca, or by phone at
(780) 532-9727.
15

Contact
Information
County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Email:
countygp@countygp.ab.ca
Address:
10001-84 Avenue
Clairmont, AB T0H 0W0
Phone:
(780) 532-9722
Website:
www.countygp.ab.ca
Office Hours
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Note: The County office is open from 12 noon
to 1 pm for BILL PAYMENTS ONLY
Be the Editor!
We want to know what you would like to
see in upcoming newsletters! Please submit
any ideas or suggestions to Communications
Coordinator Lesley Nielsen-Bjerke by phone
(780)532-9722 or email
lnielsen@countygp.ab.ca.
Senior Administrative Team
From left to right sitting: Dianne Nellis (Manager of Legislative
Services), Kathleen Turner (FCSS Director), Bernie House (Protective
Services & Parks Director), Noreen Vavrek (Finance Director),
Standing: Herb Pfau (Superintendent Public Works), Bill Rogan
(Administrator), John Simpson (Planning Director), Barry Donovan
(Chief Assessor)
Administration
Bill Rogan, Administrator 780-532-9722
Agricultural Services
Mary Lupwayi, Agricultural Fieldman 780-513-3955
Assessment
Barry Donovan, Chief Assessor 780-513-3952
Economic Development
Walter Paszkowski, Economic Development Officer
780-513-3956
FCSS
Kathleen Turner, FCSS Director 780-532-9722
Finance / Systems
Noreen Vavrek, Finance Director 780-513-3961
Planning and Development
John Simpson, Planning Director 780-513-3951
Protective Services & Parks
Bernie House, Protective Services & Parks Director 780-513-3954
Public Works
Herb Pfau, Superintendent 780-532-7393
Return undeliverable
Canadian addresses to:
The County of Grande Prairie No. 1
10001-84 Ave., Clairmont, AB T0H 0W0