Council Work
The most vital job of Councillors is talking to the community. It is our job to keep you informed about what Council and the City are up to. But more importantly, we need to be constantly hearing about your experiences, concerns, and ideas in order to build a City that works for you. This is why I am always advocating for more and better approaches to communication and public engagement to be implemented. Personally, I spend a lot of my time showing up at community events to chat with people, meeting residents for coffee, and engaging online to talk about my work and hear from you.
I have also been appointed by Council or the Mayor a number of boards and committees to represent Council to other organisations. These appointments have been in addition to my work done with Alberta Municipalities.
Here are my current appointments:
Investment & Strategy Committee (Chair)
Financial & Administrative Services Committee
Police Commission: The governance body of the Grande Prairie Municipal Police Service. Responsible to hire and supervise the Chief, set policing policies and priorities, oversee the budget, and interface between the MPS and Council, the community, and other stakeholders.
Inter-municipal Collaboration Framework Negotiating Committee: City and County Councillors are appointed to this Committee to negotiate provincially mandated cost sharing agreements between our two municipalities
Grande Prairie Storm Board: Governance body for the Grande Prairie Storm
Health Care Task Force: A City working committee made up of Councillors and City staff to guide medical professional recruitment and retention efforts.
Previous appointments I have received:
CHAIR of Public & Protective Services Committee: An internal Council Committee responsible for advising Council on matters relating to Police, Bylaw, Fire, Community Social Development, Transit, Housing, Recreation, and Culture.
CHAIR Infrastructure and Economic Development Committee: an internal City Council committee responsible for advising Council on: Economic Development, Engineering & Environmental Services, Geographic Information Services (GIS), Inspections Services, Planning & Development, Transportation, and other matters as referred by Council. This committee is also the deciding authority for some land development processes.
CHAIR Community Opioid Response Task Force: a task force made up of City departments, provincial organisations, non-profits, and business organisations to address the Opioid crises in Grande Prairie.
CHAIR Municipal Police Advisory Committee: a Committee made up of mostly public members which gives advice and community input to the RCMP and Bylaw Enforcement. Also provides advice about policing and enforcement to Council.
InvestGP Committee: A Standing Committee of Council which does work to provide oversight and develop policy for City service areas involved with economic and land development.
Alberta Winter Games Board: Local organising Committee for the Alberta Winter Games which will welcome thousands of youth athletes and their support people in February, 2023.
Wapiti Recreation & Trail Management Advisory Committee: A committee struck by the province to help advise area management planning for the Wapiti recreation cooridor.
Community Living Committee: an internal City Council committee responsible for advising Council on: Culture and Heritage, Eastlink Centre, Fleet, Parks, Recreation and Sport, Revolution Place, Transit, and other matters as referred by Council.
Corporate Services Committee: An internal Council Committee responsible for advising Council on corporate matters such as budgets, Fiscal Management, communications and Human Resources.
Financial & Administrative Services Committee: An internal Council Committee responsible for advising Council on matters relating to financial management, legal & risk management, taxation, procurement, and IT.
Subdivision & Development Appeal Board: hears appeals regarding decisions made by the City's subdivision and development authorities and renders decisions based on the evidence presented.
Assessment Review Board: responsible for hearing complaints about assessments made on property and businesses.
Youth Advisory Council: a body made up of youth aged 14 - 24 and two City Councillors. This group exists to give youth voices input into City decisions, develop youth leadership, and to empower youth to work towards positive change in our community.
Inter-City Forum on Social Policy: an organisation used by member municipalities to share information, network, and undertake advocacy on social issues.
Joint Regional Emergency Management Committee: provides oversight to a formal partnership setup to allow local municipalities to coordinate their responses to large emergencies or disasters.
Bylaw & Policy Review Committee: tasked with reviewing City policies and Bylaws and offering recommendations to modernize them
Avondale Planning Committee: a Committee made up of City Councillors and Public School Board Trustees to plan for future uses of the Composite High School and Leisure Centre lands
Police Act Review: I attended a number of roundtable discussions to represent the City during a provincial review of the Police Act. These discussions involved police forces, indigenous bands, municipal governments, professional associations, and non-profits from across Alberta.
Grande Prairie Regional Recreation Committee: this is a group made up of officials from the City, County, MD of Greenview, Sexsmith, Wembley, Beaverlodge, and Hythe. It exists to discuss collaboration on recreation initiatives which benefit our entire region.
Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection Board: this non-profit exists to assist and promote local sport groups.
Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance Board: this organisation receives support and board members from municipalities, first nations, and private industry. It exists to ensure that planning is undertaken to ensure that the Mighty Peace Watershed ecology is properly cared for to maintain its environmental, economic, and social sustainability
Composite High School Site Planning Committing: A Committee consisting of City Councillors and Trustees with the Grande Prairie School District to help guide future planning for the Composite High School and Leisure Centre lands.