The City of Grande Prairie will continue to have a strong voice for municipalities at the provincial and federal levels. Alderman Helen Rice was re-elected Friday as Vice-President, Mid Sized Cities with the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA).

“Mid-sized cities have an array of issues to be addressed to ensure our continued vitality,” says Alderman Rice, first elected to City Council in 1979. “I am pleased with the opportunity to help identify and bring forward challenges through the AUMA and ensure solutions are arrived at with our senior governments.”

Alderman Rice has served on the AUMA Board since 2001.

She is no stranger to representing Grande Prairie at the provincial and national levels. Alderman Rice is a past member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board of Directors and is a former member of both the Canadian and Alberta Human Rights Commissions.

“We are honoured that Alderman Rice continues as a strong advocate for municipalities, particularly those under 500,000 population,” says Mayor Dwight Logan. “As a growing, vibrant community, it is important that we have energetic, effective leadership at the table when priorities for mid-sized cities are being discussed and addressed provincially and federally.”

Ald. Rice is manager of the Grande Prairie DownTown Association.

The AUMA was founded in 1905 and represents Alberta’s 284 urban municipalities, including cities, towns, villages, summer villages, specialized municipalities, as well as associate and affiliate members. It advocates on behalf of all members to both the Alberta and Canadian governments and other provincial and federal organizations.