The Grande Prairie Police Service’s Community Standards Unit and Grande Prairie Fire Department have worked together to board up a vacant property that posed safety concerns to the community.
Police were called to the house in Cobblestone for a wellness check on March 27, 2025, and found it to be in complete disarray. The property was no longer in the care and control of its owners and there was evidence that people with no connection to the residence had been using the building as a flop house which created uninhabitable conditions.
Consulting with partner agencies and nearby residents, GPPS officers heard evidence of people randomly coming and going from the home for the past few months. There were further concerns about the activities taking place inside the residence, which was determined to be in foreclosure.
With the permission of the owner of the title, the Grande Prairie Fire Department conducted an inspection of the property, and a conjoint assessment was made that the level of hazards and activity present would lead to impending fire, injury, and/or death.
The home was barricaded on March 31, 2025 to maintain compliance with the National Fire Code (Alberta Edition) under governance of the Safety Codes Act of Alberta. The Act gives the authority to take any action considered necessary to remove and reduce the danger if there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe there is an imminent serious danger to persons or property because of a fire hazard or risk of an explosion.
“It is imperative that we prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all community members by upholding standards that foster secure, healthy, and thriving neighborhoods,” says GPPS Chief of Police Dwayne Lakusta. “The presence of flop houses can result in increased criminal activity, including drug use, theft, and disturbances, which erode the sense of security that is essential for families and individuals. The Community Standards Unit was created for this purpose.”
Information provided by GPPS