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GRANDE PRAIRIE
ALBERTA, CANADA
GRANDE PRAIRIE NEWS - 2005 ARCHIVED
January 2005- Joeys Only Seafood Restaurant has moved. Now open daily 11-9 across from the Co-op Gas Bar near Royal Oaks. (along the Highway by-pass).
January 2005- The Wedding Show will be at the Bowes Family Crystal Gardens Sunday January 30. Many exhibits again this year. Doors open 10am, Fashion Show at 11:30am and 2:30pm. Tickets $10 per person. The Grande Prairie Home Show takes place March 11,12,13 at Crystal Gardens. It is "One Big Show Under One Big Roof". Also the Agri-Show is scheduled for March 10, 11,12 to be held at Evergreen Park. This will be the 20th Anniversary of this show.
February 2005- For those looking for new or used RV's or service, you can check the Camping Page of this website that now includes Grande Prairie RV dealers, McGoverns RV Centre, Happy Trails RV, Leisureland Camper Village, and Windsor RV.
February 2005- A Special page called "Events of the Peace Country" has been added to this website. Events
February 2005- The ATB bank will be opening the doors to their new location at West Side Plaza on March 14. The Commonwealth Credit Union is now open in their new building at the corner of 100 Street and 99 Avenue. The Grande Prairie Auto Show will be held March 4 to 6 at the Canada Games Arena and Crystal Centre featuring 13 dealers.
February 2005- The Rotary Club of Grande Prairie keeps you posted on the progress of an 8 day road trip to Mazatlan, Mexico delivering 3 donated firetrucks and a school bus. The donation was made by the Grande Prairie Rotary and Swan City Rotary Clubs. 5 Grande Prairie businessmen, 2 Edson businessmen plus one Grande Prairie Firefighter will make the journey starting February 19. Pictures posted on www.gprotary.com.
Additional website information: Each week, a special feature on Parks and Lakes of the Peace Country have been appearing in the Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune newspaper each Friday, as well as the Peace Country Sun newspaper each Friday. (total of 20 features in each newspaper) The features were written by Ken Connors with information from this website.
March 2005 - Ainsworth Lumber announced it will be expanding its Grande Prairie plant. It will become the world's largest producer of OSB and creating up to 300 more full-time jobs. The new CreekSide Manufactured Home Subdivision is now selling homes and lots at their east-end location, 92 Ave & 92 St. Also on the east side, another new subdivision will start up this year called Crystal Landing. (East of Ivy Lake). Two new developments in the north and two more in the northeast corner of the city will also come on board this year. The Grande Prairie Home Builders Association will be hosting a Fall Home Improvement Show (besides the Spring Home Show) and is slated for Oct 21-23, 2005.
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Thousands attended the Grande Prairie Agri-Show at Evergreen Park, Grande Prairie March 10,11,& 12, 2005. There were many interesting displays including the colorful Peace Country SUN newspaper booth. (pictured left are Sharlyn Carter and Ken Connors representing the Peace Country SUN.)
The new St Joes Catholic Church is now under construction along 102 Street (banks onto Bear Creek) Estimated opening, March 2006. City has approved a $16.6 million library/art gallery project for the old Montrose site on 101 Avenue. Also a $4.75 million upgrade to 108 Street is underway near the Canfor Site. Upgrading from a 4 lane undivided road to a 4 lane divided road which will include widening of the road which will include turning lanes.
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GRANDE PRAIRIE NEWS - 2005 ARCHIVED March 2005 - Construction will begin on the new Brick location as soon as the ground dries located just west of Home Depot along 100 Avenue. The new Brick will have a showroom of 30,000 sq ft and is expected to be completed by October. -Spilchen's Country Fever will take place July 1-3 at Evergreen Park, Grande Prairie. Some of the big names include Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Anderson, Restless Heart, Uncle Kracker, as well as Karla Crawford, The Cruzeros, Tracy Millar, Duane Steele, The Poverty Plainsman, Corb Lund Band, George Canyon, Dr. Hook, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Tracy Millar & Duane Steele.
April 2005 - The Rotary Cleanathon is scheduled for May 7. The Rotary & Rotaract Clubs of Grande Prairie in conjunction with the Grande Prairie Downtown Association and Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce and Communities in Bloom each year help beautify the City of Grande Prairie. Bins will be located at all Elementary Schools within the city for residents to drop off their items on May 7th. April 2005 - Warrington's Country Store, located next to Zellers in the Prairie Mall will be closing after 34 years. Also The Northern Shop (TNS) recently closed their doors. They were located 11030-100Street. Just opened is Grande Prairie Hyundai in their new building on the west entrance to Grande Prairie in the Gateway Power Centre. It won't be long til the Grande Prairie Chrysler Superstore opens it doors next to this location. World Gym Fitness Centre is scheduled to be opening in a new building in September at 10629-Westside Drive, just south of the new ATB. (west part of city) May 2005- Work is underway to have the Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships held in Grande Prairie on the long weekend in September. (Sept 2-5) It is hoped to have at least 20 balloons participating. End of the Roll, opened its new store in Royal Oaks Plaza, north of City Furniture along the Highway By-Pass, 110530-117 Avenue. Living Light Home Decore also opened a Grande Prairie location at 9901-116 Avenue, just south of the Prairie Mall. Long time Grande Prairie business Pats Auto Parts celebrated its 50 years in business with Dan Gorman and father and founder Pat Gorman, located at 10530-117 Avenue. Canada Safeway is renovating and adding a new Floral Department, Deli, as well as a Seafood Department open by mid June. Starbucks will also have an outlet at Safeway.
June 2005- Northridge Village will be a new residential seniors community to open along 102 Street, west of the Prairie Mall. The 4 storey building will have one & two bedroom suites. The Canadian National Railways will re-open the 74 km of rail line from Hythe to Dawson Creek. This will be a great benefit to the entire Peace. GP Chrysler has moved to its new building and location on the westside of Grande Prairie at 11448-Westgate Drive.
July 2005- New updated pictures have been added to this website to the pages of Wanham, Eaglesham, Falher, Nampa, Peace River, Grimshaw, Brownvale, Berwyn, Fairview, Hythe, Beaverlodge, Wembley, Clairmont and Sexsmith. New feature pages have been added to this website: One Island Lake, BC and the Hamlet of St. Isidore. Lesser Slave Lake has now been added as well.
August 2005- The newly developed Centre Place (former Bargain Centre located downtown) is now officially open after months of renovations. Roots is one of the first businesses to re-locate here after closing its Prairie Mall location. The Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships are set for Sept 2-5 in Grande Prairie. August 2005- New population numbers for the City of Grande Prairie has it at 44,631 with 74% under the age of 45. The Canadian Motor Inn on the west side of the city adds a new wing with more rooms. Across from the Casino construction is underway for the new bingo hall housing both the Swan City Bingo Hall Association and the GP Bingo Association. Both bingo Associations are dissolving and creating a new society when the new bingo hall opens in the fall. OILympics 2006 is set for May 12-14, 2006. The Brick finally breaks ground after months of delay. The new building will be built west of Home Depot on the west side of the city. Taylor Estates Subdivision gets the go-ahead. The 80 home high density rural development will be located on the southeast side of the the city with lots at only 1.1 acres. It will be in the area of the recently approved 198 lot McKena Subdivision. September 2005 - The 2nd Canada Safeway location continues construction on the southside of Grande Prairie with an opening expected late October. It has been rumored that a Blockbusters Video will also open in this area. Des McCaffrey, acclaimed wildlife artist has opened McCaffrey's Wildlife Art Gallery downtown Grande Prairie next to Curry's Jewelers featuring at least 50 original works of art. The Pepper Pot Restaurant has closed its doors after serving the downtown area for many years. Air Liquide recently had its Grand Re-opening of their new location in the Grande Prairie Industrial Park, 11281-89 Avenue. Gregg Distributors is constructing a new building behind GPR Industries in the Industrial Park with still a few more months before it is ready. The first phase of expanding 116 street (near Costco-west end of city) into 4 lanes has begun with the moving of the utilities and widening certain portions of the existing 2 lane road. Right across from Costco to the north will be a new Westgate Esso with an opening planned for 2006.
October 2005- Safeway officially opened its 48,500 sq ft Southview location with a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday October 27, 2005. Mayor Wayne Ayling, and Doug Felker, store manager along with department managers helped cut the ribbon. The new "Lifestyle" design store is located at 8060-100 Street and employs almost 150 people. October 2005- A new hotel is under construction next to East Side Marios, along 100 Avenue. It will be many months before Podollan Inn & Suites is open. Don McFarlane, golf pro at the Grande Prairie Golf & Country Club will be moving on in a few months. It is reported that he will be moving to Red Deer and getting involved with a golf course there similar to what he has been doing. Midwest Countrywide Home Furnishings located along the Highway By-Pass has been sold. The new owners belong to the Countrywide chain and are from Medicine Hat. Midwest has been in the Wigelsworth Family since 1956 when it opened as Midwest Electric. Don Wiigelsworth says he is off to New Zealand, and eventually he hopes to work on a cruise ship. This sale does not affect Midwest Furniture Rentals, located downtown.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Grande Prairie on Sunday November 27, 2005 for the annual Santa Claus Parade. Santa was joined by many colorful floats. (This year the parade travelled west to east on main street)
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October 2005- "It takes longer to travel 7km across Grande Prairie than 21 km across Edmonton", an unofficial test done by Ken Connors owner/developer of discoverthepeacecountry.com. This story makes the news on Sun FM radio October 21, also top story on Big Country XX news October 28, and story also appeared on CFRN TV... read more
The Park Hotel, also known as the Avenue Hotel located next to 214 Place will be shut down November 1, 2005. Grande Prairie Place Enterprises, which owns 214 Place has purchased the hotel with future plans to renovate it and use it for other purposes which would include shutting down the bar.
Woodland Castle Centre on 100 Avenue has changed its name to Woodland Tim-Br Mart. Greg Bartolotta, general manager says the new name is actually the same name the store had when it originally opened. November 2005 - The Sargent Family Fireworks for the United Way is to take place over the reservoir near the Elks Hall, Thursday November 17 at 8pm. It was announced that Country recording artist Charlie Pride will be coming to Grande Prairie May 5th. He will perform at the Canada Games Arena. Construction continues on the new UFA at the new location, north of the City at the four mile corner. The opening is expected in February 2006. Two more motels are also to be built near this location as well. The Grande Prairie Sam Awards, is planned for January 14th which will announce the Home Builder of the year, Distinguished Trade and more.
December 2005- Ainsworth Lumber celebrated 10 years of successful operations at the facility south of Grande Prairie. Just opened is another Blockbuster next to the new Safeway on 84 Avenue and 100 Street, with the Grand Opening scheduled for January 7, 2006. One of the biggest stories of 2005 will continue into 2006 with more discussions on the City's proposed massive annexation 50 year plan that would include 80,000 acres of land in every direction around the city. December 2005- After months of detours, the 116 Avenue intersection is now open next to Costco. Dogs Diner & Billiards Club has opened its doors downtown at 10015-100 Avenue, former location of China Lilly. Alderman Bill Given has announced he will be running as an Independent in the Federal Election to be held in January. Also running are Chris Warkentin-Conservative, Tanya Kapo-Liberal, Susan Thompson-NDP, Patrick Head-Green Party. Bobby Martens is leaving the Dunes Golf and Winter Club to become the general manager of the Grande Prairie Golf & Country Club. It was announced that a 2nd Bottle Depot would be built in the new year near the South Firehall. |
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