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Centre 2000
This guide will help you to plan your visit within the Grande Prairie Region. During your stay, regardless of the season, you will find excitement, culture, and an amazing variety of activities: shopping, sports, arts, dining and recreation, as well as unique attractions and events. There is so much to experience... with endless opportunities for year-round adventure and discovery! Make one of your first stops to one of the many conveniently located Visitor Information Centres in the region. Our friendly and experienced travel counselors will go out of their way to help plan your stay! We would like to welcome you to the Grande Prairie region, whether you’re a visitor, a new resident, or considering relocating to our area. We can help! While you are in our region, we want to extend a special invitation below to “Get a Taste of the Grande Prairie Region!” We trust that your visit will be unforgettable and that you will experience memories of a lifetime!
New website
Now you can book it all online! From accommodations and camping activities to attractions, events and entertainment. Go to www.northerntravel.ca
Bison Barbeques!
Get a taste of our region by taking in a free Bison Barbeque with all the fixings! Barbeques are held every Wednesday June through August from 4 - 6pm at the Visitor Information Centre, at 11330 106 Street, just off Highway 43 in Grande Prairie. Open to visitors only, not Grande Prairie residents.
Grande Prarie Rotary Club’s Bus Tour
Take in the Grande Prairie Rotary Club’s FREE one and a half (1 ½) hour bus tour of the City and County that runs every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening, June through August. This award winning tour leaves at 7 pm sharp from the Visitor Information Centre (Centre 2000, 11330-106 Street).
Welcome
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Grande Prairie Aerial - Barry Petrie
3 Welcome
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Town of Sexsmith
6 Visitor Information
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M.D. of Greenview No.16
8 Essential Travel Services
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Town of Fox Creek
10 Relocation Guide
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Events
12 The Heart of the City
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Grande Winter Ventures
14 City of Grande Prairie
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Hunting and Fishing
28 County of Grande Prairie No.1
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Golfing the Exceptional
32 Kleskun and Bezanson
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County of Grande Prairie Map
33 La Glace and Valhalla
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City of Grande Prairie Map
34 South of the City
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Breeden’s Downtown Tour
35 West of the City
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Tours
37 Teepee Creek and Area
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Dining in the Region
38 Pipestone Creek Dinosaur Initiative
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Accommodations
40 Town of Wembley
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Sandy Places in the Region
42 Town of Beaverlodge
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County and Provincial Parks
46 Village of Hythe
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Regional Campgrounds
Sundial
2012 Official Grande Prairie & Region Visitor Guide
Editor and Writer: Emilia Hovorka, GPRTA
Published by: Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association (GPRTA) #114, 11330-106 Street, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada T8V 7X9
Additional Editors: Louise Côté, GPRTA
For more information: Call: 780-539-7688 Toll Free: 1-866-202-2202 Fax: 780-539-0905 Email: info@gptourism.ca Web: www.gptourism.ca
Graphic Design: imageDESIGN Cover Photo: The Multiplex Advertising Executives: Louise Côté and Jenni Anderson, GPRTA Special thanks to all those who contributed to research, contributed photos and helped in any way to make this regional guide an informative and entertaining magazine. Any reproduction of contents in whole or in part is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the listings and information shown. The GPRTA regrets any errors or omissions. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information. The listing of any company or product in this guide does not reflect an endorsement of that company or product. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Printed in Alberta, Canada, December 2011
Contents
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We have many Visitor Information Centres that can provide regional information including accommodations, attractions, activities, events, campgrounds, and an extensive inventory of free local, regional and provincial travel publications. Most operate from May to September and all have knowledgeable counselors. Hours of operation, amenities and services vary from site to site. Amenities within the visitor information centres may or may not include washrooms, travel displays, snack machines, pay telephones, gift shop items, RV parking and rest areas. Some have a computer terminal and/or wireless internet services which are provided free of charge for those tourists wishing to either search information or contact friends or relatives back home.
Grande Prairie Visitor Centre
Located in Grande Prairie off Highway 43 (bypass) 11330 - 106 Street
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Muskoseepi Park Pavilion
Grande Prairie Airport
Beaverlodge Cultural Centre
Hythe Visitor Centre
Fox Creek Visitor Centre
Valleyview Visitor Centre
Located in Grande Prairie, 9302 102 Avenue
Located in Beaverlodge off Hwy 43, 512 5th Avenue
Located in Fox Creek off Hwy 43, behind the “Winks Store”
L’Association canadienne française de l’Alberta est voix des francophones en Alberta!
Located in Grande Prairie off Hwy 43, 10601 Airport Drive
Located in Hythe off Hwy 43
Located 2 km south of Valleyview off Hwy 43
Beaverlodge Area Cultural Centre
Services de traduction; recherche emploi et CV; services aux nouveaux arrivants, support et accompagnement, activités sociales et plus . . .
#101, 9927 - 97 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB Télé: 780-532-6335 | acfagp55@telus.net
Tea Room • Gift Shop Art Gallery • Classes 512 -5th Avenue 780.354.3600 www.beaverlodgegallery.com Visitor Information Centres in the Region
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Hot Air Balloons at Muskoseepi
AIRPORT
The Grande Prairie Airport is the air gateway to the region and the rest of Northern Canada. Connecting flights to major provincial cities such as Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver are available with five major airline carriers on a daily basis. Located off Highway 43 on the west side of Grande Prairie. Visitor services are available.
CAMPING
Camping is available throughout the region in municipal, provincial and private campgrounds. Camping rates vary. Call Travel Alberta for campground locations at 1-800661-8888 or Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association at 780-539-7688.
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
• The Grande Prairie Region has 314 sunshine days per year on average. • Average winter season temperature is -12°C (10.4°F) • Average summer season temperature is 15°C (59°F). Summers can bring thunderstorms, although they are not as frequent or as severe as those in southern Alberta. • Grande Prairie gets 295 mm (11.6”) of rain and 179 cm (70.66”) of snow per year on average. Snowfall amounts, however, vary greatly from year to year. • Being fairly close to the Alberta foothills, it can get quite windy in the Grande Prairie Region, especially in the spring and fall. Chinooks are not an unheard of occurrence in the Grande Prairie area.
BANKING and CURRENCY
Traveller’s cheques and credit cards are accepted at most commercial establishments, banks and currency exchange offices. Banking hours range from 9 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday; some banks are open Saturdays. Most automated teller machines (ATMs) accept one or more of the following networks:
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Interac, Cirrus, or Plus. They are located at all banks and in retail areas.
CUSTOMS and IMMIGRATION
Visitors from all countries but the U.S.A. need a valid passport. Photo ID, proof of citizenship and residence are mandatory for U.S. citizens (though a passport is preferred). Visitors from all other countries must possess a passport and should contact the nearest Canadian Consulate or Embassy for more information. For visa information, visit www. cic.gc.ca.
CHURCHES
There are over 50 churches in the Grande Prairie region. Contact 780-539-7688 for church information, denomination, and service times.
EMERGENCIES
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police General Line 780-538-5701 • 24 Hour Dispatch 780-538-5700 • Emergency 911 • QEII Hospital 780-538-7100 • Poison Centre 1-800-332-1414
FISHING and HUNTING REGULATIONS
Fishing licenses outside the national parks can be purchased from select sporting goods stores, convenience stores and some gas stations. Call 1-888-944-5494 for the nearest license issuer. Website: www.srd.alberta.ca Hunting regulations and special licensing requirements vary depending on the type of hunting. Hunting is absolutely prohibited in national and provincial parks. For more information on hunting and fishing, contact: Grande Prairie Fish and Wildlife office 780-538-5265 or visit: www.albertaoutdoorsmen.org
HEALTH and TRAVEL INSURANCE
Alberta has an excellent health-care system; however, the health-care plan does not cover out-of-province visitors. Clarify your coverage before entering Alberta through your personal insurance carrier.
METRIC CONVERSION
Canada uses the metric system. All highway and traffic indicators are in kilometres (km) and km/h, gas is sold by the liter, temperature is measured in Celsius, and the electrical current is 110 volts. • 1 kilometre = 0.62 miles • 100km/h = 62 mph • 3.8 litres = 1 gallon • Temperature 25°C = 77°F Celsius readings are oriented from the temperature at which water freezes which is set as zero in Celsius; this is 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
MOTORCOACH TRAVEL
Special tours and services are available throughout Alberta. Drivers and guides offer historical information and insight to the area. For more information visit Travel Alberta at www.travelalberta.com
PETS
Owners must accompany their pets when entering Canada. Owners of dogs and cats must bring a certificate issued by a veterinarian clearly identifying the pet and certifying that it has been vaccinated against rabies in the preceding 36 months. There are exceptions made for seeing-eye dogs and puppies or kittens that are younger than 3 months old. For details contact: Canada Customs Regional Office Bay 32, 3033-34 Ave N.E. Calgary, AB T1Y 6X2. Within Canada, call toll free: 1-800-461-9999. Outside of Canada, call: 403-292-4613 or 204-983-3500 or visit: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
RENTING A CAR
All car rental companies have a strong network of outlets in Alberta. To rent a car you must be 21 years old and hold a valid driver’s license and major credit card. (A small surcharge applies for drivers under 25 years of age.)
RENTING A MOTOR HOME
Renting a motor home is a convenient way to explore Alberta. You may purchase insurance at the time of rental. For lower rates, it is recommended that bookings be made three or four months in advance. For more information, visit www.travelalberta.com
ROAD REPORTS
For local road reports call 780-532-0148 or visit www.ama.ab.ca
RV SANI DUMP SITES
RV Sani Dump Sites are located in some campgrounds (refer to Regional Campground Listings) and at Muskoseepi Park, 780-5380451.
SPEED LIMITS and DISTANCES
Speed limits and distances in Alberta and the rest of Canada are in the metric system. To
convert from kilometres (km) to miles, multiply km by 0.62 = miles. Common highway speed limits are 100 km/hour = 62 mph; urban areas are 50 km/hour = 30 mph; school zones are 30 km/hour = 20 mph.
TAXES
Alberta is the only province in Canada with no Provincial Sales Tax (PST). The Canadian Government charges a five per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on most purchases. GST rebates on some accommodations and purchases taken out of the country can be claimed by non-residents of Canada.
TRANSPORTATION
• Air Canada Jazz • Corporate Express • Grande Prairie Airport • Grande Prairie Transit • Greyhound Bus Lines • Swanberg Air • WestJet
1-888-247-2262 1-800-661-8151 780-539-5270 780-538-0377 780-539-1111 780-513-8977 1-800-538-5696
U.S. PORTS OF ENTRY
For more information in Canada, call 1-800-66-visit; outside Canada, call 902-4325608, or visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax
International visitors driving to Canada can use any of the following ports of entry: • Aden, Alberta/Whitlash, Montana • Carway, Alberta/Peigan, Montana • Del Bonita, Alberta/Del Bonita, Montana • Coutts, Alberta/Sweetgrass, Montana • Chief Mountain, Alberta/Chief Mountain, Montana
TIPPING
WEAPONS
The average tip in Canada is 15 per cent, however, depending on the level and the nature of the service, tipping may range from 10 percent to more than 20 percent. Tips are given for good service by food and beverage servers in bars and restaurants, taxi drivers, tour guides and hotel bellman. It is not necessary to tip other service staff.
Revolvers, pistols, fully automatic firearms, other weapons and self-defense sprays (e.g. mace, pepper spray) are prohibited entry into Canada. All firearms (e.g. hunting rifles, shotguns) must be declared. To obtain information on firearms legislation, please call the Canadian Firearms Centre inquiry line at 1-800-731-4000.
Flying Somewhere? Planning your next Vacation or Business Trip? Then check out your
Peace Country Connection to the World
Make US your FIRST Choice to Fly!
www.grandeprairieairport.com Essential Travel Services
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View of Muskoseepi
This directory and the information supplied with it is a compendium of services, supplies and resources for people who intend to relocate their household and/or business to the Grande Prairie Region. The listings include members of the Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association. The information here is presented as a guide to the range of services and resources available; details were correct at press time but are subject to change. Please call to confirm information with supplier.
TOURISM/WELCOME SERVICES Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association Travel Alberta Welcome Wagon
780-539-7688 1-800-ALBERTA 780-832-0081
BANKS
Beaverlodge ATB Financial CIBC
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780-354-2235 780-354-2221
Grande Prairie ATB Financial 106A St ATB Financial 99 St ATB Financial Kateri Dr BMO Bank of Montreal Business Development Bank Canadian Western Bank CIBC 100 Ave CIBC 116 St Royal Bank 98 St Royal Bank 80 Ave Scotiabank 100 Ave Scotiabank 104A Ave Scotia Mcleod Servus Credit Union 117 Ave Servus Credit Union 99Ave Servus Credit Union 84 Ave TD Canada Trust Westside Dr TD Canada Trust 92 St
780-539-7450 780-538-5225 780-538-8000 780-538-8150 780-532-8875 780-831-1888 780-538-8300 780-538-8363 780-538-6500 780-538-8288 780-532-9250 780-833-1660 780-513-3505 780-532-8866 780-831-2928 780-402-2928 780-538-8100 780-538-8144
Hythe ATB Financial
780-356-3823
www.gptourism.ca
Sexsmith ATB Financial Royal Bank
780-568-4055 780-568-3852
Wembley ATB Financial
780-766-2511
Valleyview ATB Financial Bank of Montreal Scotiabank
780-524-3965 780-524-3376 780-524-3395
SCHOOL BOARDS
Conseil Scholaire Du Nord Quest 780-624-8855 Grande Prairie Public School Board District 780-532-4491 Grande Prairie Catholic School District 780-532-3013 Peace Wapiti School Division 780-532-8133 Post Secondary Education Grande Prairie Regional College 1-888-539-4772 NAIT Grande Prairie Campus 780-539-2075
HEALTH CARE RESOURCES
Health Care/Hospitals Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) 780-538-5210 Alberta Blue Cross 780-532-3505 Canadian Red Cross 780-539-7127
Alberta Health Services 780-538-5387 Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital 780-354-2136 Central Peace Health Complex 780-864-3993 Fox Creek Health Care Centre 780-622-3545 GP Community Cancer Clinic QEII 780-538-7588 QEII Hospital 780-538-7100 Valleyview Health Centre 780-524-3356 HEALTHLink Alberta 1-866-408-LINK (5465) You never know when you’ll need immediate health advice or information. That’s why Health Link Alberta is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. One call will connect you to a Registered Nurse who can answer your questions and give you sound advice whenever you need it. ALBERTA WELLNET - online network of health care links and resources. http://www.albertawellnet.org
HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Grande Prairie Real Estate Board Grande Prairie Home Builder’s Association Family and Community Support Services
780-432-8700 780-532-5408 780-532-4548 780-538-0380
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Air Transportation Grande Prairie Airport
780-539-5270
Bus Service M and D Terminals (Greyhound Service) Northern Express City Transit
780-539-1111 780-968-8225 780-538-0337
Grande Prairie transit has an exact fare system and offers routes that operate daily throughout the City. This means that drivers do not sell passes or tickets, make change or handle money. Fares may be paid by cash, ticket or monthly pass. www.gptransit.ab.ca Taxi Cabs Blacktop Cab Canadian Cabs Checker Cabs GP Ltd. City Cabs Co-op Taxi Comet Taxi Dial-A Cab George’s Driver Service Golden Cabs GP Cabs Inc. Keys Please Prairie Cabs Prestige Cabs (Beaverlodge) Royal Cabs Swan Taxi Valley Taxi (Valleyview) Wapiti Taxi Yellow Cab
780-539-3339 780-539-4242 780-402-6500 780-532-1777 780-402-8181 780-402-2111 780-532-1111 780-814-5866 780-539-9949 780-814-6880 780-814-5866 780-532-1060 780-814-2492 780-831-0244 780-539-4000 780-524-3318 780-539-4333 780-539-3366
MOVING SERVICES and UTILITIES
Car and Truck Rentals Avis Car and Truck Rental 780-539-4101 Affordable Used Car Rentals 780-532-9229 Budget Rent A Car 780-538-3526 Discount Car and Truck Rentals 780-539-0945 Enterprise Rent-A-Car 780-538-8444 Hertz Truck and Car Rentals 780-539-3045 National Car and Truck Rental 780-532-3761 Rent-A-Wreck 780-538-1880 Super Value Leasing 780-532-9229 Thrifty Car Rental 780-835-4600 U-Haul Co. (Canada) Ltd. 780-539-9576 Visa Truck Rentals (1991) Ltd. 780-532-0636 Storage Areas AAIMS Superior Self Storage (Clairmont) 780-567-3002
Advantage Relocation Systems Ltd. Affordable Mini Storage and Trailer Rentals Border Moving and Storage Borstad Cartage Canadian Mobile Storage Canadian Stor-All County Stor-All GP Self Storage Inc. Maxim Storage Inc. Monument ATV, Boat and RV Storage R Wald and Sons Moving and Storage Ltd. Sexsmith Mini Storage and RV Ltd.(Sexsmith) Storage Pro Inc. Superior Wash and Storage Inc. Tuk A Toy Utilities Aquatera ATCO Electric ATCO Gas Direct Energy Eastlink TV Hawkeye Line Locators PAM Line Locating Ltd. Telus
780-532-2662 780-538-1000 780-538-1444 780-532-7755 780-814-5940 780-539-5250 780-538-9988 780-538-1400 780-513-7100 780-876-3425 780-539-4351 780-831-8909 780-513-0068 780-513-2081 780-831-8591 780-538-0340 1-800-668-2248 780-539-2400 1-866-374-6299 1-866-737-7662 780-882-2120 780-524-8843 310-3100
Property Management Anderson Holding Inc. 780-539-5303 Boardwalk Rental Communities 780-513-5040 Bradick and Company 780-524-4250 CarVer Property 780-539-3414 Centre 100 (Amalgamated) 780-532-2110 Concept Properties 780-402-0044 Country Estates Trailer Park 780-539-7131 Emerald Apartment Inc. 780-538-2410 Metis Urban Housing 780-539-1910 Mountview Business Park 780-532-6614 Northgate Apartments 780-539-0039 Preferred Site Management Ltd. 780-357-0343 Prime Property Management 780-538-2980 Quality Property Management 780-539-7131 Real Property Management Rentals 780-532-4900 Richer Realty Ltd. 780-539-5465 Strata Completions 780-882-6588 Wooden Show Property Management 780-532-3400
LICENCE & REGISTRY SERVICES Operator & Motor Vehicle Licences
Including Abstracts & Traffic Fine Payments
ALL CORPORATE REGISTRY SERVICES
Including Ltd. Company Packages, Annual Returns & Trade Names
ALBERTA HEALTH AND WELLNESS
New applications and changes
SEARCHES
Land, Vehicle, Personal Property & Corporate
MARRIAGE LICENCES & CERTIFICATES BIRTH & DEATH CERTIFICATES & SO MUCH MORE! FIND US AT: Unit 106 8716 108th Street Grande Prairie
P: (780) 539-5009
F: (780) 539-5033 E: david@a1licence.com Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am - 1:00pm Relocation Guide
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We invite you to eat, shop, play, relax, and experience warm hospitality, outstanding customer service, and the sense of excitement that the Downtown conveys. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
Downtown Grande Prairie - imageDESIGN
Downtown has an atmosphere that can turn the ordinary, such as working, shopping, taking a walk or meeting neighbours into the extraordinary!
The geographic centre of the city, Downtown is clean, busy and attractive. With over 400, truly unique and interesting stores and services, Downtown represents what the City is, has been and wants to be. With over 60 events and initiatives annually, there is definitely something for everyone. You really need to take the time to explore the incredible diversity of the Downtown Core. It is the embodiment of urban soul and personality. It is the cultural, retail, recreational, financial and service hub, of the City.
Downtowners believe that the best way to maintain the history and tradition of the area is to provide an atmosphere that encompasses differences in age, economic status and interest.
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99 Street
Crystal Centre
100 Street
Curling Rink
101 Street
99 Avenue Towne Centre Mall
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Wow! A 1ct!
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100% mined, cut and polished in Canada
ONLY $4995 Downtown 3
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A Fun and Unique Gift Shop
Downtown on the corner of 100 Street and 100th Avenue
For incredible homemade food and preserves! 780-830-2276 • 10023 100 Avenue
find us on facebook like us on facebook
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fur n i t ur e | d eco r | gifts 10024B 100 Ave. Grande Prairie
780-513-4433 The Heart of the City
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Grande Prairie is a thriving regional centre located in northwestern Alberta, in the heart of the Peace Country. Fur trading activity opened up the region in the late 1800s and a land rush in the early 1900s gave Grande Prairie its start. This community is among the fastest growing municipalities in Canada! Grande Prairie has a population of 50,227 and serves a market area of more than 250,000 people within a 2 hour drive. It’s a prosperous modern community with an exciting future, making the city a hub for new business and opportunities. For visitors, it’s a hot spot for services that include a wide range of dining, attractions, RV repairs and service, gas, hotel and campground opportunities before embarking on to the Alaska, Deh Cho, Mackenzie or Bighorn (Highway 40) routes.
Across Muskoseepi to College
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ACCOMMODATIONS
When visiting Grande Prairie, tourists have many hotels and motels to choose from (refer to the Accommodations Section within the Guide). Within the city, over 29 fixed-roof accommodations offer more than 2800 rooms with prices to suit everyone’s pocketbook. A number of the larger hotels provide space for small business meetings and conventions. On the perimeter of the city, within a 10-minute drive, there are half a dozen bed and breakfasts situated in the rural beauty of the region. Wherever you stay, it’s recommended you call ahead to make your reservations.
ARTS, CULTURE and ENTERTAINMENT
Grande Prairie has unlimited choices in arts, culture and entertainment. One of the main event facilities in the region, the Crystal Centre, hosts world-class entertainers and is one of the prime locations for conventions, trade shows, and public skating. Located in the city’s downtown, the Crystal Centre is also home to the Grande Prairie Storm Hockey Club, a member of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Enjoy great entertainment provided by one of Alberta’s largest and most successful community theatre companies. Now approaching its 50th season, you will definitely not want to miss any of the Grande Prairie Live Theatre productions!
AIR TRANSPORTATION
The Grande Prairie Regional Airport is newly renovated and is a fullservice facility offering a modern air terminal, aviation fuelling and ground transportation to all of the extensive amenities and services that Northern Alberta has to offer. The Grande Prairie airport is serviced by three air carriers offering scheduled service to Edmonton, Calgary, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, and beyond, with connection destinations to the rest of Canada and the United States. Air Canada and West Jet, provide non-stop flights. Swanberg Air offers salmon fishing charter packages to the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia. Airport services also include flight seeing tours, aircraft/helicopter charters, commercial flights, rental cars, taxi and limousine service, a restaurant and lounge.
Concert at Centre 2000
Al’s News A Grande Prairie landmark since 1910.
Little shop, lots of gifts. Newspapers • Magazines Unique Gifts • Souvenirs Cigars • Pipes • Tobacco
Open late until 11pm
10028 100 Ave • 780-532-3088 City of Grande Prairie
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seasonal production company is Broadway Live Broadway which offers its audience a compilation of Broadway hits.
s ative Art e for Cre tr n ge e C owl Refu e Waterf k a L l ta s rical Site Cry tead Histo s e m o H s Forbe e ship Statu d n e Fri ll a H de Bingo et Gran er ’s Mark b irie Farm untry Clu ra P e d n a lf nd Co o G Gra ie ir ra Grande P Golfing and Putt c it inks P h L e e W d an tre Live Thea de Prairie n ra G Museum de Prairie e Gran al Colleg ie Region ir ra P e d Gran rn Casino t Northe e Grea ery Centr ge Discov Herita ndial nnium Su e Mille ural Centr d Lyric trose Cult x, Jan an le Mon p e in C s theatre Movie pus ark oseepi P dge Cam Musk y Knowle it n u m m plex - Co Multi llery ie Art Ga d more! Prair stores an x o b , s ll ping ma Shop
The Centre for Creative Arts, located downtown, promotes a variety of arts programming to the community. Many of the courses offered are co-ordinated by local artists and may include photography, weaving, oil and water color painting, pottery, stained glass. It features a gift shop and more! Open through the week, you’re invited to view the artists at work and purchase their goods as you tour new exhibits each month. The Montrose Cultural Centre on 98 Street at 103rd Avenue is home to the Prairie Art Gallery and the Grande Prairie Public Library. The Prairie Art Gallery is a Category A Alberta Art Gallery, one of only seven in the province. It offers many art courses throughout the year, boasts works from very talented local artists and shows works from its permanent collection. The Grande Prairie Public Library makes things simple for travellers with free public Internet access. Drop in and use a computer. You don’t even have to be a member. The Library welcomes out of town guests to check their home e-mail, make a campground reservation online, or access the daily supply of world newspapers. Throughout the year, the library holds monthly programs for all age groups.
The 190 seat Second Street Theatre is located at 10130 - 98 Avenue in the downtown area. The Grande Prairie Live Theatre presents plays with local talent that appeal to everyone, guaranteeing a phenomenal night out. You can also see many other productions at the recently renovated 506 seat DJ Cardinal Performing Arts Centre in the Grande Prairie Regional College. The Ovations Dinner Theatre, located downtown in the former Catholic Church, is another great choice for an evening out. Visitors can enjoy many different types of plays throughout the year, featuring local, semi-professional actors and playwrights. Another
Centre for Creative Arts
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The annual Street Performers Festival is a major event that you do not want to miss. July 20th to 22nd, downtown Grande Prairie will be bustling with large crowds of spectators to watch street performances of clowns, comedians, jugglers, mime artists, magicians, and more. Don’t forget your pocket change; the only cost you incur is after the street performance, when you are asked to show your appreciation to the performer. Street performers come from around the world, making it a great family experience you’ll never forget! Grande Prairie’s history is brought back to life within the Grande Prairie Museum. Located in Muskoseepi Park off 102 Street, the museum captures some of the best historical memorabilia of northwestern Alberta. The museum includes an outdoor heritage village with a restored post office, school, church, fire hall, and barn. In the summertime, you can follow the wooden pathways, decorated with gorgeous flowers and gardens, making it the perfect facility for a wedding ceremony that can be held in the pioneer church.
Grande Prairie Museum Heritage Village
OPENING IN SPRING 2012 The soon to be completed Prairie Art Gallery building will include: • • • •
A total of 7 exhibition spaces 2 classrooms A permanent childrens gallery Award winning architectural space
www.prairiegallery.com #103, 9839-103 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 6M7
THE PRAIRIE ART GALLERY
City of Grande Prairie
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Photo by Suzanne Sagmeister Photography and Tanya Sedore Photography
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At the north end of the park, the Heritage Discovery Centre is a modern museum located in the lower level of Centre 2000.The museum features state-of-the-art technologies to interactively portray the natural and cultural history of the Peace region of northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia. The centre also has the Kin gallery, which features traveling exhibitions and displays.
Feb 4-6
vents
Peace Cha llenge Curl Feb 26 ing Cup Cabanne A Sucre (Ma Mar 22-27 ple Sugar Fe Alberta M stival) ixed Provin Apr 12-17 ci als, GP Curl Grey Pow in g Club er Curling Apr 16-17 Champion Swan Festi ships val May 4-8 Reel Short s Film Festiva May 13 l Regional H eritage Sch Jul 1 o o l Fair Canada Da y Celebrati Jul 22-24 o ns/Parade Street Perf ormers Festi Nov 18 va l Vegas Nigh t Nov 27 Santa Clau s Parade
For your listening enjoyment there are eight radio stations servicing the city: • 88.9 CKYL FM 5 - YL Country (country) FM • 93.1 CJXX - Big Country XX (country) FM • 96.3 - Shine FM (contemporary Christian) FM • 97.7 CFGP - Rock 97.7 (active rock) FM • 98.9 CIKT - Q99 FM (rock) FM • 100.9 CKUA - FM 4 (public broadcasting) FM • 102.5 CBXP - CBC Radio One FM • 104.7 CFRI - Free FM (active rock) • 90.5 CHFA FM 5 - La Première Chaîne Television newscasts are provided by Global News, CFRN and CBC from Edmonton and, locally, by Eastlink Cablevision. Grande Prairie has three movie cinemas for your viewing pleasure – the Jan Cinema, located in the downtown core; the Cineplex Odeon in the west end Gateway plaza; and the Lyric Theatre situated in the Prairie Mall. The Great Northern Casino in the Gateway Power Centre will provide you with hours of entertainment at the slot machines or games tables, or enjoy some great food and a variety of musical and/or comic entertainment in one of its show rooms. If bingo is one of your pastimes, The Grande Bingo Hall in the Gateway plaza, has opened. It is conveniently located across from the casino. If exercise is more your style, then try bowling! We have a ten pin and a five pin bowling facilities; HJ’s Family Bowling Centre and Bowling Stones Ten Pin Bowling. If you like the outdoors, then lawn bowling at Muskoseepi Park may be another option for you! The city also offers visitors a wide variety of pubs, dance and music clubs for your enjoyment.
Casino
BUS SERVICE
M & D Terminals, authorized agents for Greyhound Canada Charter buses, provide regularly scheduled passenger and courier service between Grande Prairie, Peace River, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Edmonton. For more destinations & information, call (780) 539-1111.
CAMPING
Across from the Visitor Information Centre, campers are invited to stay at the Rotary Park Campground. More camping sites are available at the south end of the Muskoseepi Park system at the Wee Links Campground. See page 86 for the detailed regional campground list.
CITY TRANSIT
Grande Prairie Transit has an exact fare system; drivers do not sell passes or tickets, make change or handle money. Fares may be paid
Rotary Park Campground
City of Grande Prairie
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A Diverse Regional Economy Fueled by Entrepreneurial Spirit
Opportunity Awaits You Request a FREE Grande Prairie Business Directory Phone: 780-532-5340 E-mail: info@gpchamber.com
Daily Specials 10% off everything from 3-5pm 15% off all wine Saturday and Sunday
www.grandeprairiechamber.com
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www.gptourism.ca
780 532-8080
by cash, ticket or monthly pass. Children under 12 years old, accompanied by a paying adult customer ride free, to a maximum of four children. Eight transit routes operate daily throughout the City. Cash fares are a maximum $2.00 per adult. (Fare prices may be subject to change) For more information on routes and times call 780-538-0337 or email: gptransit@cityofgp.com or access http://www.cityofgp.com/ citygov/dept/transit
DINING
Grande Prairie offers a variety of dining choices in restaurants and city hotels. Choose from Western Canadian fare, Greek, East Indian, Italian, Mexican, African, French, Vietnamese, Japanese or Chinese. Many of the restaurant menus feature our famous Alberta beef! For a list of dining venues stop by one of the visitor information centres.
HIGHWAY CONNECTIONS
Grande Prairie is on the CANAMEX trade route linking Canada, the United States and Mexico. The city is connected to its other major northern trading partner, Edmonton, about 4.5 hours southeast via the mostly divided Highway 43 corridor, and to the national parks system via the Bighorn Highway 40. These two highway routes join with Highway 16 (Yellowhead Route) running west from Edmonton to form the circle route known as the Grande Alberta Trail. Traveling north via Highway 2 from Grande Prairie, travelers can visit Grimshaw, which is the start of the Mackenzie Highway to the Northwest Territories. You can then continue on west and then south on the Deh Cho Travel Connection circular highway route. More information on these routes can be accessed from the Visitor Information Centre in Grande Prairie. Drive west via Highway 43 from Grande Prairie for approximately 1.5 hours to reach Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Mile Zero of the Alaska Highway.
POST SECONDARY EDUCATION
Grande Prairie Regional College The Grande Prairie region is fortunate to have access to high-quality career, trades and university programs and instruction through
Grande Prairie Regional College
Grande Prairie Regional College. The college, which serves more than 10,000 students annually, is a comprehensive community college with campuses in Grande Prairie and Fairview. • GPRC offers a wide variety of programs including university studies, options for degree completion, certificate and diploma programs and trade programs. • Instruction is based out of campuses in two communities in northwestern Alberta: Grande Prairie and Fairview. • Strong programming and highly qualified faculty ensure comprehensive opportunities for the learners of our region and the college welcomes students from around the world. • Students at the GPRC campus may choose from a wide range of certificate or diploma options, or begin degrees or professional programs in Arts, Science, Education, Commerce, or Physical Education. Several degrees may be completed right here on campus through collaborative programs with Alberta universities. Selected trades programs are offered on the Grande Prairie Campus. • The campus attracts students from a wide geographic area due to its low tuition, small classes, personal contact and extensive awards program. • On-campus residence is available in townhouse-style units. • The Grande Prairie Regional College was designed by renowned Aboriginal architect Douglas Cardinal. Visitors are invited to view this building of rounded structural lines blending with the beauty of the Bear Creek valley and reservoir.
Four Seasons of the Year 1-888-8JASPER • www.mpljasper.com (1-888-852-7737)
LOBSTICK
AMETHYST
• Relax in our indoor pools, hot tubs and saunas • Kitchenettes and designer suites available • Full service facilities for meetings and special group events
POCAHONTAS
MARMOT
CHATEAU JASPER
• Wireless access in all Jasper town site hotel guest rooms • Enjoy award-winning cuisine at any of our restaurants then cozy up to one our lounge fireplaces
City of Grande Prairie
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GPRC Fairview College Campus GPRC offers a wide selection of pre-employment and technical program options at the beautiful GPRC Fairview College Campus. Programs include Animal Health Technology, the Harley-Davidson® Technician Program, Power Engineering plus apprenticeship and preemployment training for Motorcycle, Automotive, Heavy Equipment Mechanic and Outdoor Power Equipment Technician. • T he Fairview campus features a golf course, indoor aquatic centre with hot tub and waterslide, covered outdoor ice rink, theatre, full working 200 acre farm, greenhouses and much more. •O n-campus residence is available in dormitory or townhouse style units. • Small town atmosphere with big city education.
RECREATION
The city encompasses over 62 square kilometres and offers visitors campground and RV parks and a variety of world class attractions and events. Recreational facilities within the urban area include two golf courses and an extensive network of parks offering over 18 kilometres of hiking trails, bird and wildlife watching, cross-country skiing, fishing, minigolf, swimming, ball diamonds and lawn bowling. Muskoseepi Park, adjacent to Centre 2000, runs through the entire city, from north to south. Visitors can walk paved trails from Centre
GP Farmers Market
2000 and the Heritage Discovery Centre to the Muskoseepi Park pavilion and the main museum. Swimming is available indoors at the new Aquatics and Wellness Multiplex on the south side; an outdoor pool is located off 100 Avenue in Muskoseepi Park. There is also a waterfowl refuge located at Crystal Lake in the city’s northeast, where visitors may catch a glimpse of a family of trumpeter swans and cygnets. The trumpeter swan is the symbol of Grande Prairie; the city is often referred to as the Swan City. Sports excellence has always been a major pursuit of the residents of Grande Prairie. The City of Grande Prairie’s Aquatics and Wellness Multiplex is a fabulous addition to the Community Knowledge Campus located on the south side of the City of Grande Prairie. The Multiplex opened in December 2011. It provides recreation, aquatics, wellness and sport adventure opportunities in Grande Prairie and for the entire region with its 54 metre Olympic-sized swimming pool, 25 metre program and therapeutic pool, lazy river, dive tower, field house, run/walk track, 16,000 sq.ft. fitness area and the highly anticipated FREE FM Flowrider, which will allow you to go surfing all year round! There are also shopping, health services and eating facilities located on site. This venue will be a destination for families, whether they come for sporting events or for their next holiday.
Downtown Grande Prairie
Muskoseepi Skateboard Park
Muskoseepi Park Pavillion
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RETAIL SERVICES
Grande Prairie offers an array of choices in clothing, international foods, dining, pharmaceutical, home and hardware, sports, arts, souvenir, entertainment, banking, fuel, RV sales and service outlets. Many businesses are concentrated in the user-friendly downtown core along 100 Avenue, and along 100 Street North. The downtown boasts many unique shops for those seeking that that one of a kind souvenir. North on 100 Street is the Prairie Mall Shopping Centre, with over 90 stores to serve you. Throughout the city, there are many strip malls with a variety of unique stores and franchises. Another great shopping area is the Gateway Power Centre, located in the west end of the city. It’s comprised of large chain stores. Costco, Wal-Mart and Home Depot department stores are of particular interest to American and out-of-province visitors. The Grande Prairie Farmers’ Market is also a popular shopping choice for visitors. Locally produced fresh vegetables, meats, pastries, jam
and jelly preserves and handicrafts are offered for sale to people interested in groceries and arts and crafts mementos. Located at the corner of 101 Avenue and 101 Street, the market is open every Friday evening and Saturday year round, plus Wednesday evenings during the summer months. The Farmers Market has undergone large renovations and now resembles a traditional red barn with white trim. A food court is now open to the public daily for lunch with seating areas and seasonal vendors.
RELOCATION
Are you thinking of making Grande Prairie your home? Make sure to visit City Hall located at 10205 - 98 Street, phone 780-538-0300. There is a growing demand for single and multi-family home construction and newer subdivisions are being developed in areas such as Cobblestone, Mission Park, Pinnacle Ridge and O’Brien Lake, just to name a few. To get more information on the city be sure to check out the website: www.cityofgp.com, or see page 10-11 in this guide.
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3 LOCATIONS Grande Prairie Museum located in Muskoseepi Park, boasts an exceptional gallery of pioneer artifacts, a Heritage Village that displays many of Grande Prairie and district’s historic buildings and is home to South Peace Regional Archives. The Museum is opened year round, Heritage Village (May-Sept).
The Heritage Discovery Centre located in Centre 2000, is a family friendly, hands on museum featuring a life size animatronic dinosaur, interactive computer games, an impressive aboriginal component and hands – on displays. Open year round.
The Forbes Homestead, was the first hospital in Grande Prairie. Open to the public May-August. Call ahead for an appointment 780-830-7090.
CANADA
Come discover the Spirit of the Peace!
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VISITOR HEALTH CARE and EMERGENCY SERVICES
VISITOR INFORMATION
The College and Community Health Centre is a walk-in medical clinic located on the eastern edge of the Grande Prairie Regional College campus. Up to seven doctors are on-call daily and there are plans for an on-site pharmacy. The clinic is accessible off Richmond Road at 106 Street and 104 Avenue. In addition to regular ambulance services, Grande Prairie is serviced by the S.T.A.R.S. program which ensures rapid evacuation of patients in need of specialized treatment.
Also located 5 minutes south of Centre 2000 on 106 Street is the old visitor information log cabin where motor homes and recreational vehicles have free access to sewage pump-out and fresh water courtesy of the City of Grande Prairie. Visitors can also enjoy picnic sites, fire pits, and walking trails.
The Queen Elizabeth II Hospital located at 98 Street and 105 Avenue, is a fully accredited, modern regional facility providing a wide range of services including an emergency room, specialized surgery, coronary and cancer care, respiratory therapy, pediatrics, obstetrics, and rehabilitation. The QEII Hospital provides MRI services on location.
The City as well as the County of Grande Prairie and the surrounding region are policed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on a 24-hour basis. Police, ambulance and fire services offer a 911 emergency communications system.
Year-round visitor information services are provided by travel counselors in the state-of-the-art Centre 2000 located on the Highway 43 bypass at 106 Street. Pick up local, provincial and regional information. If you are in the area, this impressive cedar and pine building with its views of Muskoseepi Park and the Bear Creek reservoir is a must see!
Grande Prairie – modern, exciting, entertaining, educating, safe and family friendly. Visit us and stay awhile, and you’ll understand why so many people keep returning year after year!
OPEN NOW 24 Hour Fuelling 5000 Sq.ft. Convenience Store Showers Driver`s Lounge And Much More!
West of GP on Highway 43 Centre 2000
10909 100 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3J9 Reservations: 1-800-661-787 • Phone/Fax: 780-539-4700 City of Grande Prairie
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The County of Grande Prairie No. 1 is Alberta’s first county. It was established in 1951, and encompasses 5570 square kilometres with a population of approximately 20,000 residents. In 2009 the County celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the survey and settlement of the region!
Wapiti River - Barry Petrie
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Pioneer settlement in the County area began around Cutbank Lake, west of the present day City. Thomas Kerr of the Hudson Bay Company established a fur trading post there in 1881, and in 1898 Alexander Monkman - fur trader, explorer, and road builder, built another post at Lake Saskatoon. Homesteaders began to follow to the buffalo prairie or ‘la grande prairie’ in the early 1900s as agriculture became the mainstay of the region. Today, the County of Grande Prairie stretches east from the British Columbia border to the Smoky River, and south from the Saddle Hills to the Wapiti River. Because of its location, the County has a gentle mix of rolling hills and prairie providing grand breathtaking vistas in this land of endless sky and days filled with sunshine that makes farming a suitable fit here. Consisting of around 40 percent farmland, it is one of the most northerly and most fertile agricultural areas in the world! To get a breathtaking view of the region, visit an outstanding central feature within the County. Located west of the City of Grande Prairie or six miles east and five miles north of Beaverlodge, Saskatoon Mountain rises to about 3100 feet or 945 metres, making it the highest point in the County. Evidence has been found of human occupation dating back 9000 - 10,000 years. Other landscapes in the County include the mixed-wood boreal forests of the Saddle Hills to the north, mixed-wood forests of the lower foothills of the Rockies to the west, the boreal highland forests to the south and the aspen and balsam poplar parklands to the east.
Attraction
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Albright Fa rmer ’s Marke t Bad Heart Straw Church Bear Cree k Golf Course Bear Lake Park Corn Maz e at Country Roads RV Park Demmitt Park Evergreen Park Hommy Pa rk Kleskun H ill Natural Area Melsness Mercantile Va lhalla Centre Morningvi ew Park Golf Course Old Bezans on Town Site Pipestone Creek Park Pipestone Golf Club Red Willow Park Riverbend Golf and Coun try Club Saskatoon Island Provinci al Park Saskatoon Mountain View point South Peac e Centennial Museum Spring Lake Resort Spruce M eadows Golf and Country Club The Dunes Golf and Win ter Club Valhalla Pa rk Wapiti Nor dic Ski Trails
Saskatoon Mountain Viewpoint
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ventsShow FeatuPeraceeCouE Agrintry Classic
Mar 8 - 10 po r 1 Sports Ex Mar 30 - Ap val sti Fe Swan Apr 21, 22 acing Live Horse R o Jun - Aug Timer ’s Rode Grande Old io R Jul 1, 2 Stampede Teepee Creek 15 Jul 12 of Trees Festival Nov 15 - 18 ght Show Christmas Li Dec 1 - 31
breathtaking scenery, sunshine, and warm summer nights. Whatever you desire you can pick the perfect combination for that special vacation.
DID YOU KNOW
In the 1970s, oil was discovered in the Elmworth Deep Basin in the southwestern end of the County. The gas processing plant at Elmworth is estimated to contain one billion barrels of recoverable petroleum liquid and is one of the largest known natural gas reservoirs in western Canada. There are 3400 energy resource sites within the County of Grande Prairie in operation. Oil and gas exploration and production have now become one of the region’s most important economic drivers.
Located within the County of Grande Prairie are the communities of Sexsmith and Clairmont to the north, Wembley, Beaverlodge and Hythe to the west, Valhalla Centre and La Glace to the northwest, Teepee Creek to the northeast, Bezanson to the east and Wedgewood to the south. Within its borders also lies the City of Grande Prairie, a vibrant regional service centre for northwestern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia and the North West Territories. You can enjoy the quiet lifestyle of the County, making it a wonderful place to live and visit! Visitors can expect to spend one to two days traveling throughout the County. The County offers a traveler endless opportunities for recreation and first class events: small town living with big town amenities. Take the opportunity to create your own day trip tour inhaling the
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Rustic Farmhouse
South Peace Centennial Museum
Saskatoon Island Tour - Margot Hervieux
Northwestern Frit - Margot Hervieux
Valhalla Troll Statue
Corn Maze
Touring in the County of Grande Prairie No.1
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Kleskun Hill
The park is 20 kilometres east of the Highway 43 interchange, turn north on Township Road 724 Traveling east on the newly twinned Highway 43, the surrounding prime agricultural farmland produces plentiful fields of barley, canola, wheat, and oats. Fields turn bright yellow in July as the County is one of the largest growing areas of canola Canada Oil. The fields seem endless - alfalfa, timothy, clover, fescue (top-notch grass) and seed forage crops providing hay for the dairy and beef farms. Game farms for elk, bison, llamas and alpacas are also gaining popularity in the region. Kleskun Hill Park is part of a provincial natural area and is managed by the County of Grande Prairie and a private museum society. Once part of a prehistoric river delta, the natural area protects some of the last remaining native grassland in the Grande Prairie region. Here cactus grows in the desert-like conditions where remains of prehistoric lakes and seas are visible in the exposed hills. Kleskun Hill boasts more than 160 flowering plants, as well as a number of birds that are usually found in the prairies of the south; its soils contain fossils from the marine sea and dinosaur eras.
Paintbrush - Margot Hervieux
Going back in time, pioneers would sometimes use the white mud from the hills to chink the gaps in their log homes. A clue to early settlement also lies in the original wagon ruts from the early pioneers who traveled along the Edson Trail. Today within this natural area there are walking trails, and 9 unserviced camping sites for visitors to enjoy. The Kleskun Hill Museum Society has preserved the original East Kleskun school, teacherage, barn, outbuildings, the first area post office, and a Catholic church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Visitors may also view a native burial ground; evidence of the days of the last territorial disputes between the Beaver and Cree people. From Kleskun Hills, proceed south to Highway 43 and follow the signs east towards the Old Bezanson townsite. Along the banks of the Smoky River, just 12 km southeast of Bezanson are the remains of A.M. Bezanson’s dreams. In the early 1900s, he started to build a townsite in anticipation of a rail link. The line passed through Grande Prairie instead and all that survives are the imprints of the foundations of the original buildings, marked with signs. Today the Old Bezanson historic site is a picnic area with walking trails and a rustic campground.
Kleskun Hill - Arbuckle
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La GLACE
3 kilometres north of Sexsmith and 30 kilometres west on Highway 59 The Hamlet of La Glace traces is roots back to the early 1900s. Folklore has it that it was named after Chief LaGlace who drowned in 1909 in nearby Valhalla Lake while trapping muskrats. Within the Hamlet is La Glace Heritage Park, which has beautiful brick-pathed gardens and a Cairn in memory of the well-respected native leader plus many pioneers of the area. The Cairn explains the local history, names of pioneers and has a time capsule filled with memorabilia and predictions from local children.
VALHALLA
15 kilometres west of La Glace is the Hamlet of Valhalla Valhalla is home to many Norwegian descendants including Halvar Ronning, a Lutheran minister and missionary who facilitated a significant Scandinavian settlement. His son Chester, who was born in China, also lived in Valhalla Centre becoming a teacher and diplomat. Chester was an important link between China and North America, advocating recognition of the Peoples Republic of China and its admission into the United Nations. The Ronning Homestead in Valhalla became a Provincial Historic Resource in 2001.
La Glace Church
Make sure to stop and visit the restored Melsness Mercantile, a provincial historic site in Valhalla Centre. Originally a general store and post office, the local residents decided in 1994 to restore and save it as a local landmark. Thanks to the efforts of the Valhalla Heritage Society, the once rundown, abandoned building is now a coffee shop serving scrumptious homemade food, a museum and a studio for local artists. Valhalla Park is a picnic area that preserves plants indigenous to the region and where 3 ft, hand-carved wooden trolls greet visitors in tribute to the area’s Scandinavian heritage.
Melsness Mercantile, La Glace
Grain Field - Don Reid
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Evergreen Park - Barry Petrie
THE DUNES
Across Highway 40, (2.5 kilometres off Hwy 40) 18 hole championship golf course and driving range, travellers also have the choice of staying at Camp Tamarack, a Good Sam RV Park, which has all the amenities you could wish for (87 fully serviced sites, satellite and cable TV, laundry, store, indoor TV room and camper wash) or continue south to A River Road Bed, Breakfast and Bales.
EVERGREEN PARK
Further east via the Correction Line Road Evergreen Park campground offers 80 sites, comfort stations, fire pits, electrical hook-ups, and picnic tables. Built in the sand dunes south of the City, Evergreen Park hosts summer events such as the annual Stompede (world class chuck wagon racing and pro rodeo), Bud Country Fever (world class country and western musicians) and the Whispering Pines Rodeo. The new T.E.C. Centre offers simulcast racing from around the world and off-track betting 364 days a year.
THE WAPITI NORDIC CENTRE
The Dunes
6 kilometres south on Wapiti Road (Bighorn Highway 40) This is one of Canada’s premier cross country skiing and biathlon facilities. The centre was home to the Nordic events of the 1995 Canada Games and 2010 Arctic Winter Games. Besides the magnificent “Steve Cooper Lodge” there is 35 kilometres of trails that range from challenging to easy; both classical and skate skiing. The centre includes the longest night skiing trails in Alberta with four-and-a-half kilometres of lighted trails that wind through a forest of spruce, poplar and tamarack. In the summer, visitors can stop to hike the Weyerhaeuser Forest Interpretive Trail, where the forest trails are a haven for mountain bikers and hikers. Day passes and memberships are available for sale through the chalet.
Northern Alberta’s Largest Full Service Garden Centre Visit our Garden Centre, Nursery and Giftshop on Hwy 40 South Serving Grande Prairie and Area since 1952
Year Round Garden Centre • 780-532-8280 South Grande Prairie on Hwy 40 Apr-Aug (Extended Hours) Mon-Sat 8:30-9 • Sun 11-5 Sept-March Mon-Sat 8:30-6 • Sun 11-5 • Gift Cards Available 34
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Visit Dunvegan on w w w. d u nve g a n g p. c a
Saskatoon Lake Warf - Margot Hervieux
SASKATOON ISLAND PROVINCIAL PARK
25 kilometres west of Grande Prairie and north off Highway 43 This park is operated by the province and offers 96 forested campsites, seasonal interpretive programs, picnicking, walking trails, birdwatching, fire pits and berry picking. In late April, the park hosts the annual Swan Festival. Visitors get a chance to see Trumpeter Swans and participate in a wide variety of activities celebrating the return of this important local resident. A lot has changed since Saskatoon Island and four other provincial parks were dedicated in 1932. Saskatoon Island is now one of over 500 protected areas across the province providing recreation, protecting habitats, preserving history, extending our cultural identity,
and contributing to a quality of life that embraces healthy environments and lifestyles. There is a park or protected area within an hour’s drive of every household in Alberta. As the community of Lake Saskatoon grew on the lakeshore between 1910 and 1925, Saskatoon Island became a focal point for picnics and berry picking. By the 1930s the park was home to the annual Old-Timer’s picnic that attracted over 1000 visitors on a Sunday afternoon. Two church camps had their home on the island in the 1940s and 50s and a band shell was added to celebrate the Province’s Jubilee in 1955. Today’s campground and day use facilities were constructed in 1983.
Reserved grandstand seating for rodeo and chuckwagons GIANT Midway TOP Country Music Performers Advanced tickets on sale NOW! Purchase tickets at: Crystal Centre Box Office 10017-99 Avenue 780-538-0387 For more information call the Stompede Hotline 780-532-4646
MAY 23 - 27, 2012 • www.gpstompede.com Touring in the County of Grande Prairie No.1
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Sutherland and Risdale - Teepee Creek
wagons cross the finish line. It is located in our hall on the rodeo grounds and people come from near and far to dance the night away to live music. There is free camping and a delicious home-cooked pancake breakfast served with all the fixing’s starting at 7:00 am every morning of the rodeo. Don’t forget about our homemade pie for a little later in the day! The Teepee Creek Stampede is a must see for the summer, it is full of excitement and good old country charm. We look forward to seeing you in July! Bullriding - Doreen Altman
The Teepee Creek Stampede is one of the oldest running rodeos in Canada. 2012 will be our 97th year, the 6th anniversary of our going PRO! For anyone who has been to a professional rodeo event, you know that you can expect an outstanding show. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of taking in a pro rodeo, it’s a must see for the summer! Along with the professional events, we have a number of local crowd pleasers that even YOU can participate in! These events include Wild Cow Milking, The Cow Hide Race, and everyone’s favourite, the Wild Horse Race! Unlike many associations, Teepee Creek allows the professional cowboys to participate in these events and this makes our rodeo one of the highlights of every cowboy’s calendar! It is a thrill for our local cowboys to get the chance to complete against the best in the business! The Teepee Creek Stampede’s signature event will always be the TEEPEE CREEK TERROR! This is an opportunity for one lucky cowboy to make a little extra cash (if he can ride “the terror”) and for the crowd to enjoy the spectacle of the rankest horse in the pen! The Teepee Creek Stampede also has 3 nights of exciting chuck wagon racing. We have thoroughbred wagons from the “Taste the Dust” GMC Tour, along with pony wagons and chariots. Teepee Creek also has a legendary dance that takes place Saturday night after the last
Bad Heart Valley to Kleskun Valley
Built with 400 bales of rye straw, the Bad Heart church, located northeast of Sexsmith, is the only historic straw building in Canada. In 1954, Father Francis Dales, a penniless Catholic priest, built the tiny church with his parish. The estimated cost of the structure was approximately $605. The straw bale walls, some four bales thick, were bolted together using pipes, covered by stucco on the outside and plywood veneer on the inside, and are still in excellent condition. No windows were installed in the walls, only in the gables. The original altar, pews and kneeling rail are still intact. The steeple is now gone and the bell was moved to a Presbyterian church in Wanham. The Wanham church bell eventually ended up at the new Pete Eagar fire station in Grande Prairie on Resources Road. To get to the Bad Heart Church from Bezanson follow Highway 43 east to Secondary Highway 733. Take Highway 733 for 26 kilometres north to Range Road 250. Turn right and head east on Township Road 750 and north again on Range Road 30 to the hamlet of Bad Heart, near the upper reaches of the Bad Heart River. From Bad Heart, retrace your drive to Township Road 750 and head west towards Highway 2. As you travel this road, you will enter the Saddle Hills area, the northernmost boundary of the County. You can look forward to enjoying southern views of the magnificent valley and some of the richest farmland in Alberta lying between the Kleskun Hills and Saddle Hills. In 1916, the original Kleskun Hill Ranch was established when Kleskun Lake was drained. The ranch marks the first effort to raise horses and cattle in northern Alberta.
Teepee Creek and Area
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If you’ve got a dino-crazy kid in the family or secretly wish you were a palaeontologist, Wembley, AB has a lot of fun in store for you. Even if you have no particular passion for prehistoric beasts, it’s likely you’ll develop one quickly in the dino-loving Peace Country.
Museum Exterior
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Museum Interior
Dr. Phil Bell and student
Go fossil-hunting with a trained guide along the banks of Pipestone Creek where massive Pachyrhinosaurus dinosaurs once lumbered, 73 million years ago. Theatrics, fossil demonstrations and a lot of great information make the Pipestone Creek Dinosaur Initiative (PCDI) tours of the Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai bonebed (available summertime weekends, see curriemuseum.ca for details) a fun and fascinating way to learn about the dinosaur riches of the Peace Country. Another great option is the dinosaur play at Pipestone Creek Park. Get ready for great costumes, singing, dancing and a palaeontological plot with a twist in the ‘tail.’ PCDI’s family events and fundraisers are an excellent way to find out more about the dinosaurs of the Peace Country, and an easy way to support the future Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, which will be built right next to Wembley. Events like Family Dino Day or Fossil Hunter Geocache are chock-a-block with games, activities, face-painting and of course, fossil demonstrations and tours of the Pipestone Creek dinosaur bonebed. In addition to the family events, each year brings a blowout fundraising event. In July 2011 Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd hosted the ‘Aykroyd Family and Friends Dinosaur Ball and Celebrity Dino Dig,’ bringing in a crew of his famous friends to join palaeontologists from Encana Management digging
around the world excavating fossils and raising money for the museum at the glitzy Dinosaur Ball gala. Information on all events can be found on curriemuseum.ca or on the Currie Museum Facebook page. The biggest event of all will be the opening of the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, planned for the summer of 2013. A world-class, $27 million facility named after Canada’s premier palaeontologist, it’s going to bring the dinosaurs ‘to life’ in a whole new way. But let’s rewind to the beginning of this story. It all started in 1974. Local science teacher Al Lakusta was on a relaxing nature walk along Pipestone Creek looking for plant fossils when he stumbled across something far more exciting – dinosaur bones. It kicked off a chain of events that culminated in a major excavation by a team of palaeontologists from the Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. Why so much attention focused on this one site? Well, it was no ordinary find. Instead of just a few, there were thousands of bones packed densely together. It was a bonebed, a site where a massive herd of dinosaurs all died at once. In 2008 it was announced by Dr. Currie and his colleagues that the dinosaurs in the bonebed were a unique species – one never seen before in modern time – the Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai. And it’s not the only dinosaur in town. A new species of hadrosaur (duck-billed dinosaur) was announced in fall 2011. Others are expected to follow. “Our suspicions have been confirmed that we’re sitting on a virtual gold mine. We’ve already discovered two new species in the last few years, the potential for more is outstanding,” says Dr. Phil Bell, PCDI palaeontologist, of the Peace Country. When the significance of the Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai bonebed was realized, the idea came up quite quickly to build a museum that would bring the area’s incredible natural history ‘to life,’ so to speak. A group of local paleontological enthusiasts worked to make this vision come to life and in 2009, a task force of five dedicated staff members and a museum society board were created. The team has been hard at work ever since to make the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum a reality. The 41,000 sq.ft. facility will host cutting-edge interactive displays, a lab for visiting palaeontologists, a 64 seat theatre, and 2 SMART technology enabled classrooms. When the doors open, this museum is going to change tourism in the Peace Country. And there’s lots of dinosaur fun to be had in the meantime! Dinosaur play at Saskatoon Island
Pipestone Creek Dinosaur Initiative
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Named after Wembley, England, the Town of Wembley has traditionally served the agricultural sector. As it pays tribute to its rural nature, this neighborly community gets together to celebrate annual events that you do not want to miss. Each August, Wembley hosts Day in the Park on the Recreation Centre grounds. This event includes a parade, barbeque, family activities and more. Sunset Lake Park features a boardwalk, water spray deck, upgraded play area and campground. It is also a bird sanctuary. Wembley currently has a population of over 1500, and has amenities such as a skating rink, skateboard park, soccer, baseball and football fields.
Wapiti River south of Wembley imageDESIGN
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www.gptourism.ca
Wembley is the gateway to the dinosaurs and has been the chosen site for the future home of the Philip J Currie Dinosaur Museum. The Pipestone Creek area, located south of the Town of Wembley, has received international attention due to the discovery of the world’s largest Pachyrhinosaurus (“thick nosed” horned dinosaur) bone bed. The Pipestone Creek site contains hundreds of dinosaur skeletons, and is one of the best horned dinosaur bone beds found in North America. The Dinosaur Museum will be a world class museum with a natural history ‘Time Walk’ surrounding the exterior of the building. A few of the attributes the building will have are a theatre for sixty persons, two state of the art classrooms, galleries and a gift shop. The Museum and the Dinosaur Bonebed will be a major tourism destination site for northwestern Alberta travellers. During summer months, the Pipestone Creek Dinosaur Initiative will be providing tours of the Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai bone bed. Groups of 4-15 people are taken on a tour of the bone bed. The site is known as the highest density bone bed in the world. Visitors will find out why the bones are there, who found them and have answers to every question you may have.
Infant Pachyrhinosaurus - Sheldon Graber
Grande Prairie science teacher Al Lakusta discovered the Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai bone bed in 1973. Roughly 3500 bones and over 20 skulls or partial skulls have been collected from the site. The paleontological wealth in this region is very rich, most bone beds have about 20-60 fossils per square metre; the Lakustai bone bed has between 100-200 fossils. The educational tour will be filled with detailed information on the natural history of the area, erosion and paleontology. Some of the laws that exist in Alberta are touched on concerning fossil excavation. According to the Grande Prairie Regional College paleontology program, it’s a theory that during a migration more than 70 million years ago, a herd of the thick-nosed, plant-eating pachyrhinos tried to cross a river in a flood. The animals may have panicked and similar to the mass mortality of a Quebec caribou herd in the ‘80s, the dinosaurs died in the flood. It’s theorized the carcasses were washed downriver until they settled in a final location. Once there, the bones were disarticulated, jumbled up like a puzzle. The tours will be offered on a regular basis. Pipes tone Cre ek Dino T Pipes ours tone Golf Club Suns et Lake P ark and C Wem ampgrou bley Farm nd er ’s Mark Wem et bley Skate board Pa rk
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The Old Red Barn
Feature Evr fuen acntivtitiess
Day outdoo Feb 21 Family Demolition Derby Sep lloween Oct 31 Safe Ha brance Day Nov 11 Remem rland of Trees Dec 2 - 3 Wonde fla Snow ke Gala
Pipestone Creek Park
Town of Wembley
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Nestled in a picturesque valley is the town of Beaverlodge. With a community of over 2300 people, Beaverlodge has experienced steady growth over the past decade. The agricultural, forestry, oil and gas sectors have all contributed to the town’s prosperity. Today, Beaverlodge is the largest town in the County and is the service and medical centre for the entire west side of the County with a full complement of doctors and dentists, plus a hospital and pharmacy. The town boasts several excellent recreation facilities including the ice arena, curling rink, agricultural barns, tennis courts, ball diamonds, and several playgrounds. Look for the new indoor pool and fitness centre opening in 2012!
Beaver Sculpture and Cultural Centre - Alex Lojczy
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www.gptourism.ca
Beaverlodge is a little town with a lot to offer. One of its most popular attractions is the South Peace Centennial Museum, the largest and only working steampowered farm equipment museum in northern Alberta. The Museum is open daily throughout the summer months and offers overnight un-serviced camping for tents and RVs. The museum hosts their annual Pioneer Days the third Sunday in July featuring working steam-powered equipment, antique cars and trucks and musical entertainment all in keeping with the agricultural theme. Visitors are also encouraged to stop at the Beaverlodge Area Cultural Centre, inspired by local, well known painter Euphemia McNaught who dreamed of preserving the art and culture of the area. The Art Gallery is open daily (except Mondays) and also features a pink tea room and gift shop. Artisans at the centre work in stained glass, pottery, weaving, bookbinding, silversmithing, film making, drawing, and painting. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. New shows, including the art of exceptional Peace country painters such as Robert Guest, are presented monthly. Opposite the Cultural Centre and tourist information centre, visitors can view the magnificent cultural roadside attraction in the form of Canada’s national animal, the beaver. The sculpture stands 17 feet tall by 28 feet long and weighs 3000 pounds. The town manages and operates the Pioneer Campground. It was once the original Lower Beaverlodge School, one of the first schools of the area, the building was then restored and relocated to the campground. The campground is open from mid-May to mid-September. It has 19 sites (10 fully serviced sites with 30 amp service), picnic tables, fire pits, washrooms, showers and an RV dumping station. Tourists may also visit the Pacific Regeneration Technologies tree nursery. This is the only PRT facility in Alberta; the greenhouses cover seven acres and produce eleven million seedlings of pine and spruce. The Agriculture Canada Research Farm (started in 1916 by farmer William Albright) is now the Canadian centre for the management and production of bees and honey (apiculture). It is also the most northerly agricultural research station in North America and is open to the public for tours. Appointments only phone 780-354-2212. Saskatoon Mountain Natural Area, accessed north at Huallen off Highway 43, offers one of the most spectacular views of the south and the west portions of the County. Visitors can explore over 2200 acres for bird watching, hiking, picnicking, and cross country skiing. To view the Elmworth gas basin area, turn right onto Secondary Highway 722, south from Beaverlodge and then Highway 667 to take in some spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains. At Red Willow River crossing be sure to visit the lovely Red Willow Market Gardens with its excellent produce, local crafts sales and tea room. Nearby Red Willow Park is a day-use picnic site with washrooms and kitchen shelter.
Pink Tearoom - Cultural Centre
ctiorens Attdgre a Cultural Cent
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Apr 20 Duc ks Unlimited Dinner and Auction Jul 1 Rio Grande Ro deo Jul 13-14 Jo nes Country Ja mboree Jul 21-22 M useum Pionee r Days and Peace Countr y Opera Jul 22 Eu phemia McNau ght Heritage Festi val Aug 18 Ag ricultural Fair and Trade Sh Sep 20 New ow comers Barbeq ue Sep 15 Fi reman’s Steak and Lobsterfes Oct 20 Co t medy Night an d Supper Oct 20-21 Cr aft Club Show and Sale Oct 27 Dia mond Dinner Nov 11 Re membrance D ay Services Nov 23-24 Chr istmas Festiva l Nov 30 Ch ristmas Craze
Pioneer Days - South Peace Centennial Museum
Town of Beaverlodge
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