In a statement released today, Mayor Bill Given said City Council will consider whether masks should be made mandatory in Grande Prairie. 

All options will be explored in early August, and Council will consider the state of COVID-19 cases in our region, risk to our community, provincial advice, and requests received from health professionals like the United Nurses of Alberta. 

“I want to be clear: Council has not yet made a decision on if masks should be mandatory in public areas.” 

Mayor Given hopes that they will not have to implement more government regulations, but that people will follow best practices to prevent the spread of the virus.  

“Our individual behaviour dictates the spread of COVID-19. It is very easy to believe the greatest risks are behind us, but we’ve learned from other communities how quickly the virus can spread when we each fail to act.” 

Council is asking everyone to wash their hands frequently, limit in-person contacts, physically distance and voluntarily wear a face-covering in public areas when distancing isn’t possible and follow all public health regulations. 

“You have the ability to keep your friends and loved ones safe, simply by making the right decisions. Together, we have the ability to do this.”