Minister Vandal launches PrairiesCan service location in Grande Prairie and announces federal investments across northwest Alberta

From: Prairies Economic Development Canada

News release

Over $9.4 million for businesses, organizations and communities across northwest Alberta.

Over $9.4 million in federal funding for Grande Prairie and area organizations and communities announced at newest PrairiesCan service location

June 27, 2023 – Grande Prairie, Alberta – PrairiesCan

The economic strength of northwest Alberta is vital to the resilience of Alberta’s and Canada’s economies. The region is home to hardworking Canadians, innovative entrepreneurs, close-knit communities, and rich Indigenous history and culture. The federal government is partnering to support the distinctive industries, businesses, problem-solvers and communities within the region and the significant contributions they make to creating good jobs.

Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, officially unveiled a new PrairiesCan service location in Grande Prairie to enhance collaboration between Albertans and the federal government and to help capitalize on economic opportunities across northwest Alberta. The new office is located in Centre 2000, a collaborative hub that is already home to a number of economic and community-focused organizations serving northwest Alberta.

Communities throughout the Prairies have unique needs and priorities and the people who live there know how to best address them. That is why the Government of Canada is strengthening community economic development across the Prairies by opening seven new PrairiesCan regional offices, including in Grande Prairie.

As part of the launch, Minister Vandal announced more than $9.4 million in PrairiesCan investments for 23 projects to support tourism, community economic development, innovation, and economic growth across northwest Alberta.

Examples of projects that have received support include:

  • The County of Grande Prairie received $750,000 to construct a new multi-use trail that is connecting existing City of Grande Prairie trails with County of Grande Prairie trails.
  • The Town of High Level received $750,000 to enhance High Level Community Park with new baseball diamonds, soccer fields, pathways, washroom facilities and infrastructure that better support year-round recreation activities in the community.
  • The Sagitawa Friendship Society received $500,651 to repurpose the Al-Adair Recreation Centre in downtown Peace River into a community centre and Indigenous Cultural Hub.
  • The River of Death and Discovery Dinosaur Museum Society received $315,628 to launch interactive tourism experiences that increase awareness of and visitation to northwest Alberta and the Philip J. Currie Museum.

Projects announced today support more than 160 jobs while creating modern public gathering spaces that facilitate community-focused events and activities, enhance attractions that draw tourists to northern Alberta, and increase the production capacity for businesses manufacturing Alberta-made products.

Quotes

“Northwest Alberta plays a large part in Alberta’s prosperity, which is why our government is making strategic investments so the region can continue creating and attracting high quality jobs Canadian workers can depend on. Our new service location in Grande Prairie helps PrairiesCan to work more closely with the local community to sharpen our focus on further strengthening the area’s economy. This is just one more example of how our government is working in partnership with communities on the Prairies to respond to local priorities and seize new opportunities for economic growth.”
–The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan

“These projects will be great news for families, communities and businesses in Alberta’s northwest. Through collaboration with PrairiesCan, municipal governments and other community partners, Alberta’s government will continue to find ways to assist rural Alberta.”
–The Honourable Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks, Government of Alberta

“The establishment of a PrairiesCan service location in Grande Prairie demonstrates that our region is an engine of economic development in the province and across Canada. Having local access to federal funding opportunities will be a significant benefit to organizations and entrepreneurs in the Grande Prairie region and across Northwest Alberta. Continued investment in our strong regional economy is a significant part of what makes the County of Grande Prairie a great place to live, work, and play.”
–Bob Marshall, Reeve, County of Grande Prairie

"Northwestern Alberta continues to serve as an economic engine for the nation and we are pleased to see strong investment in the region through the creation of a PrairiesCan service location in Grande Prairie. This strategic investment recognizes our economic potential, advances local economic priorities, and will continue to bolster prosperity in our community and country for years to come. We remain proud of the great entrepreneurial drive that exists within Grande Prairie and look forward to ongoing collaboration with the province, federal government, and stakeholders across industries to drive our joint success.”
–Mayor Jackie Clayton, City of Grande Prairie

“This funding from Prairies Can has been critical to the museum. This injection of funds to complete and enhance projects halted by the pandemic enables the museum to recover and achieve key tourism goals of the museum, region and province. The funding will help both the museum and other tourism initiatives in the region as we collectively develop the tourism economy.”
–Linden Roberts, Executive Director, Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum

Quick facts

  • In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada provided funding for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) to transition into two new Regional Development Agencies – Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) – serving the Prairies, and Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) – serving British Columbia.

  • In August 2021, the Government of Canada officially launched PrairiesCan and announced plans to open seven new service locations across the Prairies: Lethbridge, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie in Alberta; Regina and Prince Albert in Saskatchewan; and Brandon and Thompson in Manitoba. 

  • These seven new service locations significantly extend our reach to better serve our clients. They operate in addition to the PrairiesCan headquarters in Edmonton and existing offices in Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Ottawa. 

  • PrairiesCan’s enhanced community-based approach addresses the specific circumstances and needs of local communities and their surrounding regions, and increases collaboration with a range of local organizations from different sectors to strengthen economic development.

  • The PrairiesCan service location unveiled today is located in Centre 2000, on the banks of Muskoseepi Park in Grande Prairie, Alberta. 

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Associated links

Contacts

Kyle Allen
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Kyle.Allen@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

Rohit Sandhu
Communications Manager
Prairies Economic Development Canada
rohit.sandhu@prairiescan.gc.ca

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Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378
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