Local photographer Paul Pivert has passed away
Feb 2014: 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 Paul Pivert, March 2013).

Feb 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.

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.


View VIDEO> (2:35min)

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.

GRANDE PRAIRIE NEWS 2014 ARCHIVED

Dinosaur Museum Takes Shape. 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. (enlarge photo) 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. enlarge photo 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. -County of Grande Prairie JDA Kings Corey Wamsteeker was named MVP.

:May 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.- 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. 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. RENTCO Equipment will be 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. 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. - 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. (enlarge photo) 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 shows a fisherman reeling in a nice size Rainbow Trout. View VIDEO> (1:25min)
	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.

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 2014: The 2014 Grande Prairie Dream Home draw took place and Joan Kuss of Grande Prairie is the winner. See the winners list plus photos of the inside of the Dream Home. 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. - Hansen Ford Lincoln had a grand opening of their used Super Centre, located behind Walmart along 111 Street and 104 Avenue Grande Prairie. - 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. - The Podollan Inn & Suits on 100 Avenue Grande Prairie is expanding to include another 68 rooms and a banquet facility.

Alberta REAL ESTATE MARKET SETTING NEW RECORDS
July 2014: 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.

August 2014: The Centennial Spectacular took place in celebration of Grande Prairie's 100 Anniversary. Lots of things to see and do at Muskoseepi Park, including the Ol' Fashioned Carnival at the Museum, plus many activities and entertainers at the Twin Stages. The evening concluded with a performance by Emerson Drive and a Spectacular Fireworks. View VIDEO> (5:23min)

August 2014: Local artist, Des Mcaffrey has two of his drawings of whitetail deer featured on a series of $20 silver coins being produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. Only a limited amount are available. - Safeway located on 114 Avenue Grande Prairie will be opening Safeway Wine & Spirits on the NE corner of the parking lot. Currently under construction with it opening later this year. - World Gym is now known as Motion Fitness as the franchise has changed their name at all their locations -

August 2014: The Jan Cinema in Grande Prairie is closing its doors after 49 years (August 12, 2014) as attendance has been declining over the years. The Lyric Theatre in the Prairie Mall closed in 2012, while the Gaiety Theatre located downtown had been closed for many years, and was finally torn down in 2012. -McLaurin Baptist Church will be moving to the former Grande Bingo & Entertainment Centre. It will be across from the Great Northern Casino on 107 Avenue. - Grande Prairie Storm captain Sasha Larocoque
was traded to Drumheller Dragons in return for Adam Beukeboom. It was just in March that Sasha Larocque received the MVP award. -Kirk Sutherland won his first ever World Professional Chuckwagon title by winning at the Battle of the Rockies, at Rocky Mountain House.

Sept 2014: A new school has opened in Grande Prairie, Charles Spencer High School, located on the south side of Grande Prairie next to St Joes High School. The new school was named after early pioneer Charles Spencer who some 100 years ago built the first school in Grande Prairie. - Resurfacing the westbound lane is taking place from Bezanson to Grande Prairie, with speed limits 80kph or less. - Superlube owners Debbie & Wade Bloomer have sold all their Superlube locations to Lube City. -Ensuite Bath and Kitchen has moved to be the same location as EMCO, now located near Peavey Mart, west side of Grande Prairie.