Council Visits Grande Prairie

APEGGA Council's September meeting in Grande Prairie gave councillors a chance to learn about the booming community in the Peace River Branch region. Top left, Coun. John Moldon, P.Eng., PhD, checks out one of the myriad of forestry, agricultural, and oil and gas equipment jobs under way at Risley Manufacturing. Beside him, at right, is Dr. Hasan S. Rizvi, P.Eng., one of the company's designers for a product line of feller-bunchers. Reg Isley, an honorary member of APEGGA, is the innovator behind the major Grande Prairie employer. Top right, he speaks during a pre-Council dinner. Right, a scene from within Muskokeepi Park in Grande Prairie.

The linear park runs through the heart of Grande Prairie, along Bear Creek. And inset, Deputy Mayor Gerry Mazer addresses the dinner. Grande Prairie has nearly reached the 40,000 population mark, he said, and has a trading area of more than 250,000 people. The city is a northwest hub, regularly drawing shoppers from Dawson Creek and Fort St. John in B.C. Grande Prairie "keeps on growing and getting better," Mr. Mazer said.