Reach

The City of Grande Prairie has advanced its 2025 capital construction season with road rehabilitation work beginning today (Wednesday, July 2) on Crystal Lake Drive between 124 Avenue and Lakeland Drive, helping extend the life of the roadway and improve driving comfort. This work includes asphalt overlay paving in areas requiring surface improvements but not full reconstruction.

Additional work in Crystal Ridge is scheduled to begin around July 7 at the following locations:

·123 Avenue between Crystal Ridge Road and 97B Street.

The Alberta RCMP Serious Crime Branch advise that an arrest has been made in connection with a June 22, 2025, homicide on Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. On June 29, 2025, Branden Munro (35) was arrested in British Columbia and charged with the second-degree-murder of 28-year-old Isiah Cordell Cardinal.

Munroe has been remanded into custody and will be transported back to Alberta where an additional hearing will take place to determine his next court appearance.

Despite this arrest, the Alberta RCMP Major Crime Unit continues with the investigation.

Alberta's government has named its own provincial police force and announced its first chief.

Premier Danielle Smith says former deputy Calgary police chief Sat Parhar has been tapped to lead the new force, which the province will call the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service. 

Parhar retired in 2019 after more than two decades with the Calgary Police Service in a variety of roles. 

Farm Credit Canada's Transition Loan program has been enhanced.

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald says transferring the family farm or business can be stressful; the new changes will help address the financial barriers many people face.

The loan's new terms are designed to make it easier for both buyers and sellers by allowing disbursements to the seller over a 10 year period.

The loan is available for farms, agribusinesses, or food businesses going through changes in ownership, be it within or outside the family.

After weeks on the road, Nicole Troyer has officially completed her solo trek across Alberta, travelling on foot and bike from the Saskatchewan border to the B.C. line. She crossed her final finish line Saturday, June 28 in Demmitt, where friends and supporters welcomed her with a handmade banner and plenty of cheers. 

“It was weird waking up that day,” Nicole said in a follow-up interview Monday. “I thought I’d be excited, but I felt kind of sad. My brain just couldn’t process that it was the last day.” 

Two former members of Alberta's governing United Conservative Party are resuscitating the province's once-dominant Progressive Conservative Party.

Former infrastructure minister Peter Guthrie and legislature member Scott Sinclair were booted from caucus earlier this year for pushing back against the Premier Danielle Smith's government and now sit as Independents.

Sinclair says the province's two-party system has become too divisive, and they want to galvanize support from Albertans who feel they don't have a political home.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the Grande Prairie and Wembley area. 

Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon across western Alberta, with some becoming severe—bringing large hail and strong wind gusts.

There's also a slight risk of a tornado between Edson, Whitecourt, Slave Lake, and Westlock/Barrhead.

If conditions worsen, a tornado watch may be issued. Remember: when thunder roars, go indoors. Stay alert and be ready to act if warnings are issued.

Information provided by: Environment Canada 

The campground report is sponsored by Happy Trails Campground and Cabins.  

North of Grande Prairie  

Happy Trails Campground and Cabins (https://htcampground.com)  

July 2 –  62 sites 

 
Moonshine Lake Provincial Park (shop.albertaparks.ca)  

July 2– CLOSED DUE TO WILDFIRE 

Dunvegan Provincial Park (shop.albertaparks.ca)  

July 2–  51 sites 

 Irrican owns multiple hydroelectric facilities and solar sites

A new battery storage facility is helping power two southern Alberta irrigation districts.

Irrican Power, a renewable energy producer, comprised of the St. Mary River Irrigation District and Raymond Irrigation District, has announced the commissioning of the Raymond Enhanced Battery and Renewables Project.

The eBAR facility is located at the Raymond Irrican Hydropower Plant near Raymond.

The City of Grande Prairie advises residents of road closures, transit route changes and temporary Eastlink Centre facility impacts due to the Grande Prairie Triathlon taking place Sunday, July 6.

Facility Impacts

The Eastlink Centre serves as the central venue for the triathlon.