GRANDE PRAIRIE NEWS - 2014
December 31, 2013: One of the best fireworks took place in front of thousands of people on New Years Eve, to help kick off 2014, the year of Grande Prairie's 100th Anniversary. The Fireworks was non stop for 12 minutes and DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com now features an edited version of the Fireworks.
View VIDEO> (6:38)

January 2014: The After Hours Walk-In Clinic has opened in Grande Prairie January 17, 2014, located south of Crystal Centre along 97 ave (#201-10104-97 Ave) Open only 4 days a week Sat & Sun 10am-10pm and Mon & Fri 5pm-10pm.
January 2014: The 2014 Grande Prairie Dream Home is under construction near last years, east of the City, Carriage Lane Estates. Tickets are now on sale with home planned to be open for viewing Feb 28, 2014. Photo of Dream Home, prizes etc. CLICK HERE>
January 2014: The Great Northern Casino has expanded by 2,600 sq ft, includes a 250 seating area.
January 2014: Harvey's Restaurant will open in Grande Prairie Jan 27, 2013, with a 2nd location to open located across from the Eastlink Centre opening in May, 2014.
January 2014: Mirelle Martens was named 2013 DHT Female Athlete of the Year, while Spencer Jebb was named Male Athlete of the Year.

January 2014: NEW SIGN at Muskoseepi Park. One of the most prestige parks in the City of Grande Prairie has a new sign. The sign stands 3 metres tall made of aluminum and is a silhouette of a bear. (Bear Creek) The total cost of the project which also included new lighting, benches came around $500,000.
February 2014: Home sales in January 2014 in Grande Prairie is less than last year at that time. About 168 homes were sold this year which is a decrease of 1% and the average price of a home was $324,385 which was up by 23%.

February 2014: Local photographer Paul Pivert has passed away. Paul Pivert left us on Family Day, February 17, 2014. From 1973 to 2002 he was the owner of Panda Camera, Grande Prairie. Over the years, he attended many major events with camera in hand and has donated those photos to the South Peace Regional Archives
(enlarge photo).
February 2014: Another wing is being added to the north side of Westgate Centre (west end of Grande Prairie) with more businesses to come. In the Main area, Sleep Country will open soon and Couclair is now open.

February 2014: The Daily Herald Tribune cut more staff as they laid off all Pressmen as well as the Distribution Staff responsible for inserting flyers. The DHT is selling their presses and will be printed in Edmonton. Flyers will also be inserted into the paper there, while the Fairview Post and Peace River Record Gazette will be printed in Leduc, Alberta . It wasn't that many years ago that the DHT had over 60 full time employees plus many part time staff, with count now dropping to around 20 full time staff.

March 2014: Photos of the Inside of the 2014 Grande Prairie Dream Home are now posted on DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com.
Feature page/photos.
March 2014: The 2014 Peace Country Classic Agri-Show takes place each year at Evergreen Park. (March 6-8, 2014) You can view a NEW Video spotlighting some of the events including a clip of Lyle West of Big Country 93.1 Radio as well as Dave Martin, Agri-show president. Dinosaur Museum Takes Shape.
View VIDEO> (2:35min)

April 2014: The Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum located at Wembley Alberta is under construction and is taking shape as the roof has been installed. The doors are scheduled to open to the public in December 2014.
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April, 2014: The Den Pub and Carvery is now open in the former Lions Den Pub location and Zone Sports Grill, next to the Casino in Grande Prairie.

April 2014: Grant Berg who has been with Big Country 93.1 Radio, Grande Prairie as announcer and more recently as salesman has left the company after 23 years to join 104.7 Free FM Radio Grande Prairie, taking on the position of General Manager.
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April 2014: The Grande Prairie Dream Home tickets have sold out and the draw date has been moved up to Mother's Day, May 11th. The 2015 Dream Home will be built in Taylor Estates, east of Grande Prairie. It is hoped it will be open in February for viewing.
April 2014: Blaine Bablitz (Grande Prairie Athletics) won the NPHL MVP award. Blaine Bablitz was a former coach of the Grande Prairie Storm.
April 2014: County of Grande Prairie JDA Kings Corey Wamsteeker was named MVP.
April 2014: The Grande Prairie Storm have a new coach, Kevin Higo who has had coaching experience with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves and Brooks Bandits.
April 2014: Long time Grande Prairie resident Charles Leslie "Les" Longmate has passed away at the age of 91 years. He was the owner of Windsor Ford.
April 2014: EMCO has purchased the former RONA building (west side of Grande Prairie near Peavey Mart), and will be all set up for business in July.

April 2014: RENTCO Equipment will b
e moving into their new building in July as well. Their new home is just south of Future Shop, Grande Prairie. Eventually another Wendy's Restaurant will be build just south of Future Shop.
April 2014: Brenda Yamkowy is now the Executive Director of the United Way taking over from Gladys Blackmore who stepped down.
May 2014: More stores to open in Phase 1, Monaco Square beside the Westgate Shopping Centre, Grande Prairie. Moore's-clothing for Men, Red Wing Shoes will open in June and Janina's Jewelers will also open later at this location.
May 2014: The Grande Prairie Storm fire Head Coach and General Manager Matt Hues. A few weeks later it is announced Kevin Hugo is the new head coach and GM

June 2014: $20 million dollars worth of improvements are taking place at the Grande Prairie Airport. The runway will be made 2,000 feet longer as well as traffic lights will be added to the entrance (Highway 43 and Airport Road). Merge lanes are also being constructed.
June 2014: Harvey's Restaurant has opened their 2nd location, along 68 avenue Grande Prairie across from Eastlink Centre.
June 2014: Kirk Sutherland won the Saskatoon World Chuckwagon Races title.
June 2014: MOONSHINE LAKE will be adding more electrical sites in loop "C" which will be great for those who want power. They should be ready for the Spring of 2015. Most weekends, all the power sites are first to go. Also, the fish are catching at Moonshine Lake, Alberta. A short video has been added to DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com shows a fisherman reeling in a nice size Rainbow Trout.
View VIDEO> (1:25min)
June 2014: The Crystal Centre, Grande Prairie has been renamed "Revolution Place" as the Revolution Auto Group has made a 5 year agreement that will see the Crystal Centre getting $520,000 for the naming rights. The name does not affect the Bowes Family Gardens.

July 1 2014: Thousands of people of all ages lined the streets of Grande Prairie for the Canada Day Parade. Over 90 entries took part and DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com captured it all in a video.
View VIDEO> (32.11min)
July 2014: Grande Prairie Councilor Helen Rice has been named one of the Top 50 most influential people in Alberta by Alberta Venture.
July 2014: The 2014 Grande Prairie Dream Home draw took place and Joan Kuss of Grande Prairie is the winner.
July 2014: Long time resident and business owner, Leo Lauzon passed away at age of 73. Along with his with Bea, operated Lauzon's Home Appliance store for 35 years in Grande Prairie. The Lauzon's decided to retire and close the store in 2008.
July 2014: Hansen Ford Lincoln had a grand opening of their used Super Centre, located behind Walmart along 111 Street and 104 Avenue Grande Prairie.
July 2014: Free FM radio station in Grande Prairie has officially changed its music format to Top 40 and is now known as 2DayFM. Also gone are morning host Shawna Prince and hockey broadcaster Jeff Henson.
July 2014: The Podollan Inn & Suits on 100 Avenue Grande Prairie is expanding to include another 68 rooms and a banquet facility.
July 2014: Alberta REAL ESTATE MARKET SETTING NEW RECORDS. So far this year, Grande Prairie Real Estate sales are 21% ahead of the first half of 2013. The average price of a home in Grande Prairie sold in June for $325,715 which is up 8% over last year at this time.