News

The Administration office is closing at noon on Friday, December 5, for a private staff event, and will be back to regular office hours on Monday, December 8.

Please join Council during their Regular Council meeting on December 3rd @ 10:00 AM, either in person at the MD Administration Office or virtually.

Join Meeting

Passcode: V2cH3UW9

For access to the agenda, click on December 3rd Regular Meeting Agenda

The Northern Spirit Light Show is an annual holiday event hosted by the Peace Draft Horse Club at Evergreen Park in Grande Prairie. It features a drive-thru experience with over 220 light displays created by local businesses, families, and community groups. The 2025 edition began on November 13 and will run through December 31, with hours from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM for vehicles and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM for wagon rides.

The show operates on Thursdays through Sundays until December 7, after which it runs nightly until New Year’s Eve, except on Christmas Day. The event supports local charities, with over $600,000 raised since its inception. Food bank donations are accepted, and visitors can enjoy hot chocolate and treats.

The show is located on the west side of the Wild Horse Casino & Lounge parking lot.

The MD of Spirit River is once again offering rides to the Northern Spirit Light Show on Friday, December 12th and Friday, December 19th. Pick-up times for both dates are at the MD office at 5 pm. Each trip is $25.00 per person; you can book early to reserve a seat.

The MD of Spirit River has joined the campaign to save the Fairview Campus and will have a copy of the petition for residents to sign at the MD Administration Office.

The Fairview Campus is a satellite campus of Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP), located approximately 56 km north of the Town of Spirit River. It has served as a hub for technical and specialist training programs, including Veterinary Technology, which benefits from an on-site working farm, and trades and technology labs. The campus features a large multi-sport gymnasium known as the “Wolf Den,” a theatre, and on-campus housing. However, on October 29, 2025, Northwestern Polytechnic announced the closure of the Fairview campus at the end of the 2025-26 academic year due to financial unsustainability, low enrollment, and over $100 million in deferred maintenance. The closure has sparked concern among students and community members, with some calling for an independent third-party review of the decision. The campus will continue operations through the remainder of the academic year, including apprenticeship programs scheduled to run from January to July 2026.

Since this decision was made, a group of concerned citizens has formed an initiative to prevent the closure.

“Save Fairview Campus is a community-led initiative dedicated to protecting the future of the Fairview Campus. For over 74 years, the campus has been a cornerstone of education, innovation, and opportunity in the Peace Country – providing vital programs in trades, agriculture, animal sciences, and more.”

If you would like to help, please stop by the MD of Spirit River office from now until the end of January 2026. Additional signing locations in our area include the Town of Spirit River and the Village of Rycroft. For the most up-to-date location list, you can visit the Save Fairview Campus Facebook page.

Important Signing Requirements:

To ensure your signature counts, please fill out all required fields exactly as outlined. This includes:

• Physical street address or legal land description
• Municipality
• Postal code

PO Boxes will NOT be accepted

The Legislature’s staff will verify every single entry to confirm signers are Albertans and that all requirements are met. Any missing or incorrect information may result in a signature being voided.

Thank you for supporting this community effort—every signature matters.

With your FREE membership at the Rycroft Community Library your adventure begins:

Happening in December

Kids Kreate – Guided Art Sessions

December 3^rd & 17^th from 3:30-5:00

Community Café – Open Mic hosted by Steve & Janet

December 12^th starting @ 5:30PM

Youth Club – Ages 12-17

December 18^th from 3:30-5:00PM

Dates are subject to change. Please follow the library website or Facebook page for updates on programs.

Come and enjoy approximately 30 minutes of structured discussion and/or activities and the rest is up to you! Feel free to chat with other parents, ask questions or weigh your baby.

Next Session will be on December 2, 2025 from 2-3pm at the Rycroft Community Library.

This is a session for parents and caregivers with infants up to 18 months old.

** Registration recommended, call Nikki at 780-765-3973.

This is an Alberta Health Services Program facilitated by a Public Health Nurse.

Job Search Supports & Research Centre being held at the Rycroft Community Library on December 9, 2025, as well as February 3 & April 21, 2026. Click on link for details.

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