What Matters to You: Beyond the
Core Issues in Grande Prairie
You have told me that while healthcare, safety, and affordability are top of mind, Grande Prairie's well-being extends to many other critical areas. From ensuring we have the right talent for our industries and revitalizing our urban spaces, to wisely investing in our infrastructure and fostering regional partnerships – these are the conversations shaping our collective future. Explore this page to understand how my comprehensive vision addresses these diverse and crucial aspects of life in Grande Prairie.
Workforce Development and Labour Shortages
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Despite a strong economy in some sectors, there's a consistent need to attract and retain skilled labour across various industries, from trades to healthcare professionals. This can hinder business expansion and overall economic growth.​
As your councillor, I will be advocating for strong partnerships with educational institutions and industry, supporting initiatives that train and reskill local talent, and actively promoting Grande Prairie as a desirable place to live and work to attract external talent.
Recreation and Quality of Life Amenities
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As a young and growing community, residents expect high-quality recreational facilities and community amenities. Maintaining and upgrading these facilities, and potentially adding new ones, requires significant investment.
As your councillor, I will be supporting funding for parks and recreation, exploring partnerships for facility development, and ensuring that strategic plans for recreation align with the community's evolving needs.
Economic Diversification and Industry Challenges
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While oil and gas, forestry, and agriculture are foundational, there's a strategic push to diversify the economy to ensure long-term stability and resilience against market fluctuations. Specific industries, like the forest products sector, face challenges with trade barriers, supply chain issues, and global competition.​
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As your councillor, I will be championing economic development initiatives, supporting local businesses, and advocating for policies that promote competitiveness and sustainability in key sectors. This also includes exploring opportunities for digital infrastructure and leveraging the region's natural advantages, like a colder climate for data centers.
Downtown Revitalization and Urban Development
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Like many cities, Grande Prairie's downtown core faces challenges related to vacancy rates, social disorder, and the need for revitalization to make it a vibrant and attractive hub.
As your councillor, I will be supporting development incentive grants for downtown projects, investing in public realm improvements (e.g., streetscaping, public art), and implementing strategies that address social disorder through a combination of enforcement and support services like Mobile Outreach.
Infrastructure Gaps and Aging Assets (Beyond Roads)
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While roads are a constant topic, the city has a vast array of infrastructure (water, sewer, facilities, parks, fleet) with a significant infrastructure gap – the difference between what's needed for maintenance and growth, and available funding.
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As your councillor, I will advocate for increased provincial and federal infrastructure funding, exploring innovative financing models, ensuring robust asset management planning, and transparently communicating the need for infrastructure investments to the public.
​Regional Collaboration and Service Delivery
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Grande Prairie is a regional hub, meaning it provides services and attracts people from a much wider area. This puts strain on city infrastructure and services, but the funding model doesn't always fully account for regional use.
​As your councillor, I will be championing inter-municipal agreements, advocating for dedicated regional service centre funding from the province, and promoting a spirit of cooperation that benefits the entire Peace Region.