Grande Prairie No. 1, County of

Welcome

The County of Grande Prairie No. 1 and its surrounding region offers unprecedented economic growth, business opportunity and quality of life. The influx of large and small business entrepreneurs has set the stage for enormous economic potential in the industrial, manufacturing, service and retail business industries.

We recognize the importance of good investment decisions being made on the basis of sound information. With that in mind, this profile has been designed to provide you with an introduction and a better understanding of the County of Grande Prairie and surrounding region.

Thank you for your interest in our region. We want you to make the right investment choice and therefore have designed this profile to assist you when considering the benefits of locating your business in the County of Grande Prairie.

If you require any additional information regarding development opportunities in our exciting region please contact Walter Paszkowski, Economic Development Officer at (780) 513-3956.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Area Overview

The County of Grande Prairie and surrounding area is one of the fastest growing regions in Canada. The area was deemed as one of Alberta's small business hotbeds offering excellent opportunity for continued growth in new business in upcoming years (Bank of Montreal, 2003).

Some of the reasons why people enjoy living and doing business here include:

• A strong economy supported by a thriving oil and gas industry fueled by an abundance of energy reserves. 
• An abundance of forest reserves to responsibly meet the needs of a sustainable forest products industry.  
• World-class agriculture production supported by exceptional farm land.
• An abundance of serviced and unserviced land suitable for both industrial and residential development.

 

• Unmatched scenery and culturally diverse communities with limitless opportunities for leisure and recreation. 
• An abundance of clean air and water.
• Regional strength created from policies such as no provincial sales tax and low municipal tax.
• An established infrastructure including air, rail, and four-lane highway system that the municipality continually monitors and makes appropriate changes to meet changing demands of service. 
• An exceptional quality of life with access to the best amenities, health services and community programs making the Grande Prairie Region an ideal place to raise a family. 

 

The County of Grande Prairie is committed to providing its residents with top quality services, a clean safe and friendly environment as well as to remain globally competitive with the many products which we produce.

County Council works hard to ensure that the County of Grande Prairie remains a dynamic leader in Alberta and Canada. We hope that you will make the Grande Prairie Region home for your business and family!

Climate

Weather Statistics
Current weather information for the County of Grande Prairie No.1 and surrounding area can be found at Environment Canada or at the Weather Network. 

Average Temperatures for the Month of January

• Maximum temperature: -9.5°C or +14.9°F
• Minimum temperature: -20.5°C or -4.9°F
• Daily Average Temperature: -15°C or +5.0°F

Average Temperatures for the Month of July

• Maximum temperature: +22.1°C or +71.8°F
• Minimum temperature: +9.6°C or +49.3°F
• Daily Average Temperature: +15.9°C or +60.6°F
• Number of Days Per Year Above 15°C: 124 
• Total precipitation per year: 446.6 mm or 17.6 inches
• Measurable bright sunshine: 313.9 days per year
• Total hours of bright sunshine: 2,203.1 hours per year
• Average wind speed: 12.1 kilometers per hour, from the Southwest
• Total snowfall per year: 158.6 cm or 62.4 in (Snowfall accounts for 36% of the annual precipitation).
• Days with measurable snowfall: 57.3 days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Services

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES - FCSS

The County of Grande Prairie believes that its most valuable resource is its people.

Through a partnership with the Province of Alberta the County of Grande Prairie is pleased to offer programs and services that allow its residents to develop their potential and contribute to the well being of their families and communities. The County offers the following internal programs to assure its residents enjoy the best in life and reach their full potential.

Home Support Program - Caring, responsible persons providing in-home care to families and individuals experiencing disruptions of normal family routine.

Community School Liaison Program - Providing information and support to families and students who are experiencing difficulties at home or at school.

Playschool Program - Providing a safe and nurturing learning environment to four year olds throughout the County. The County also contributes to playschool programs in the towns of Beaverlodge and Sexsmith and the Village of Hythe.

Wellington Resource Centre - Clairmont - Housing the playschool program, child care centre, out of school care program, agency offices, multi-purpose meeting room and the Clairmont Community Programmer, this new centre provides opportunities for education, recreation and social acitivities. Built in partnership with the new Clairmont Community School, the Wellington Resource Centre serves as an information and referral source for all residents in the Clairmont area.

The County's FCSS program also provides funding to Community Agencies that provide preventive programing such as, but not limited to, the following:

For more information about these programs please contact the Director of Family, Community and Social Services at 780-532-9722 or via email at fcss@countygp.ab.ca.

Community Lifestyle

It doesn’t take long to realize that the explorers and early settlers to the County of Grande Prairie Region had discovered something very special. From breathtaking scenery and varied landscapes to pristine lakes and exceedingly rich soils and agricultural lands, the Grande Prairie Region offers an enticing place to live, visit and do business. Residents appreciate the benefits of a quiet rural lifestyle and small town living with convenient access to big city amenities. Community spirit and connectedness contribute to a welcoming and nurturing community lifestyle. Come and visit and see what we mean.

Leisure and Recreation

Leisure and recreation opportunities abound for the entire family in the County of Grande Prairie. Whether you are looking to spend some memorable time camping, fishing, golfing, sightseeing, taking in a cultural or sporting event or just relaxing, the County of Grande Prairie guarantees that it has something you will enjoy! You have access to:

• 14 exciting golf courses to challenge you.
• Eight scenic County parks for personal or family adventure including both day and overnight camping, and educational and recreational activities.
• Close to 30 municipal (County managed), provincial and independent campgrounds offering unserviced to fully serviced facilities to meet your special needs.
• Diverse opportunities for fishing and hunting with family and friends.
• Archaeological and historic museums, art galleries, tropical greenhouses, tea houses, restaurants and gift shops to satisfy your mind, spirit and appetite.
• Seven provincial-level heritage sites that preserve the history of the Peace Country: Forbes Homestead in Grande Prairie, Grande Prairie High School, Monkman Homestead at Cutbank Lake, McNaught Homestead in Beaverlodge, Ronning Homestead and Melsness Mercantile Store in Valhalla Centre, Sexsmith Blacksmith Shop. 
• Several rich paleontological sites of international interest with plans to construct a Discovery Centre to exhibit these discoveries to the public.
• Year-round cultural and community events including the Telus Country Fever Festival, Swan Festival, Rio Grande Rodeo, Teepee Creek Stampede, Kleskun Hill Days, Grande Prairie Stompede, Country Gospel Jamboree, Grande Prairie River Rats River Boat Race, Farmer’s Market Harvest Fest, Terry Fox Run and Horse Racing, just to name a few!

For more information on leisure and recreation opportunities and to obtain copies of regional parks brochures and visitor guides visit the County website at www.countygp.ab.ca or the Grande Prairie Regional Tourism website at www.northernvisitor.com. 

Landscape Diversity and Wildlife

The County features broad, gently rolling plains, deeply incised, steep sided river valleys, native grasslands and mixed wood boreal forests. Located approximately 160 km east of the Rocky Mountains, County residents can enjoy the scenic view of the mountains from almost all parts of the County. The Grande Prairie Region is identified by a number of unique features and important wildlife habitats that are well worth visiting including:

• Saskatoon Mountain, located west of Grande Prairie, rises to 945 metres or 3,100 feet offering a spectacular view of the County.
• The lakes of the Grande Prairie Region are part of a globally significant Important Bird Area because they support significant numbers of breeding and staging Trumpeter Swans as well as very large numbers of staging ducks and geese.
• Over one percent of the estimated global population of Trumpeter Swans and approximately 10 percent of the Rocky Mountain population nest and stage in the Grande Prairie area. Several lakes have also recorded over 20,000 staging ducks during fall migration.
• An annual Swan Festival is held at Saskatoon Island Provincial Park where over 500 nature, wildlife enthusiasts and community members gather to celebrate and appreciate these beautiful birds. We encourage you to take part in the festivities!
• Kleskun Hill Park offers visitors a unique opportunity to view the most northerly deposit of badland topography in Alberta. It protects some of the last remaining grasslands and over 160 species of flowering plants, including cactus. The park offers many opportunities to learn about fossilized marine life, unique vegetation and the area’s settlement history through a native burial ground and museum.
• The County offers some of the finest bird and wildlife viewing opportunities in the province. Opportunities abound to see everything from Bald and Golden Eagles, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, swans and other waterfowl species to Moose, Deer, Elk, Coyote, Wolf and more. Clearly the opportunities for outdoor exploration, peace, tranquility and quality of life are abundant in the region.

County Parks

The County of Grande Prairie owns and operates 8 parks and campground facilities within its boundaries, seven of which offer overnight camping, while one offers day use facilities only. The campgrounds offering overnight camping include Pipestone Creek, Hommy, Kleskun, Demmitt, Bear Lake, Redwillow Park and Valhalla. Saskatoon Mountain Park is open for day use activities only.

To find more information on the County's parks and view maps of the County Parks and Golf Courses visit www.countygp.ab.ca/parks/info.

 

 

Golf Courses

There are 8 challenging golf courses located within the County of Grande Prairie:

• Bear Creek Golf Club - 538-3393
• Dunes Golf & Winter Club - 538-4333
• Grande Prairie Golf & Country Club - 532-0340
• Morningview Golf & Country Club - 568-4357
• Pipestone Putters Golf Club - 766-2720
• Riverbend Golf & Country Club - 354-2538
• Spruce Meadows Golf & Country Club - 568-4653
• Wildrose Golf Club - 814-6919

To view a map showing the locations of these courses click here www.countygp.ab.ca/admin/golf courses.

 

 

 

 

Cultural and Recreational Facilities

The County and surrounding region has an abundance of facilities, programs and services to meet the recreational, spiritual, cultural and artistic needs of our communities. These include numerous arenas, baseball diamonds, ski hills/trails, farmer's markets, churches, parks and campgrounds, rodeo grounds, curling rinks, historical sites, lakes and rivers, community halls and gymnasiums. The strength of our communities is reflected in the numerous art societies, dance clubs, service organizations, community associations, culture clubs, agriculture societies and hospital auxiliaries that are active in the County.

Kleskun Hill Park Museum

Featured Sites

Evergreen Park - Grande Prairie Regional Agricultural and Exhibition Society, hosts major regional trade-shows and events serving northern Alberta and B.C.

Nitehawk Ski Area - Regional year round facility offering downhill skiing and snowboarding, including a triple chair lift and platter lift, year round facility rental and new Swan City Rotary Wilderness RV Park.

South Peace Centennial Museum - located near Beaverlodge, is one of the greatest displays of how life used to be, where actual working machinery, equipment and tools are on display. The popular Pioneer Days attracts thousands annually.

Wapiti Nordic Ski Centre - constructed for the 1995 Canada Winter Games. This is a world-class facility offering over 35 kms of classic and skate skiing trails. This facility offers opportunities for a variety of recreational outings during the off season along its multi-use trails including walking, hiking, mountain biking and nature viewing.

Economic Base

Although well known for its productive agricultural areas and agri-food products and services, our region is making waves with its thriving oil and gas, forestry, manufacturing, construction and tourism industries.

Our booming oil and gas economy and growth in related industries is the main reason why the Grande Prairie Region has become one of the fastest growing markets in Canada. Opportunities abound and the influx of people to the region is evidence of this.

Area Population

The Region’s population grew 22.3% between 2001 and 2006, compared to Canada’s national average of 5.4%. The County of Grande Prairie grew 14.9%, while the City of Grande Prairie grew 27.3% (Statistics Canada 2006 Community Profile).

Growth trends are expected to continue with the County population expected to be 19,963 and the City of Grande Prairie at 50,626 by the year 2010. (Population forecasts project an average County population growth of 2.75% for the next 20 years. Forecasts for the City of Grande Prairie are for 4.17% growth for the next 2 years, 3.35% for the following 3 years and then 2.5% thereafter.)

• County of Grande Prairie Population – 17,989 (March 2006 Municipal Census)
• City of Grande Prairie Population – 50,227 (2007 Municipal Census)
• Market Area Population – 250,000 within a 200 km radius (about a 2 hour drive)

Economic Facts

Major Regional Employers

Alberta Health Services-Peace Country Health (www.pchr.ca) is the region's largest public sector employer. It employs 3,400 people who provide health services to a population of 130,000, making it not only the largest employer in the Peace Country but also the largest employer north of Edmonton.

Major Public Sector Regional Employers include:

• City of Grande Prairie - (www.cityofgp.com)
• Grande Prairie Public School District - (www.gppsd.ab.ca)
• Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools - (www.gpcsd.ca)
• Peace Wapiti School Division - (www.pwsd76.ab.ca)
• Grande Prairie Regional College - (www.gprc.ab.ca)

Several Provincial Government offices are located with the region -
(www.gov.ab.ca/home/index.cfm)

 

 

 

 

 

Four Major Forestry Companies are located within the region including:

• Weyerhaeuser Co. Ltd. - (www.weyerhaeuser.com)
• Canadian Forest Products Ltd. - (www.canfor.com)
• Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. - (www.ainsworth.ca)
• Risley Manufacturing - (www.risleyequipment.com)

Other major employers in the oil and gas, hospitality and research and development disciplines include:

• Precision Drilling (Oil and Gas Services) - (www.precisiondrilling.com)
• Schlumberger (Oilfield Services) - (www.slb.com)
• Tri-Can (Oil and Gas Services) - (www.trican.ca)
• Pomeroy Enterprises (Hospitality) - (www.pomeroygroup.ca)
• Finning Cat (Equipment Rentals) - (www.finning.ca)
• Halliburton Canada Inc. (Oil and Gas Services) - (www.halliburton.com)

 

Agricultural Production  The County has extensive areas of highly productive agricultural land. Products include wheat, barley, canola, rye, flax, oats, peas, alfalfa, timothy, fescue, clover, saskatoons, peat moss, red meat, poultry, swine, eggs, dairy, table produce and honey. There are approximately 500 cattle producers, 5 dairy producers, 100 swine producers, 45 sheep producers, and 10 commercial poultry producers within the County of Grande Prairie.

 

Forestry Production Canfor has been a part of industry in Grande Prairie and area for decades, manufacturing a high quality lumber used throughout North America. Procter and Gamble Cellulose opened the doors of its Kraft pulp mill and saw mill in 1973, which was purchased in 1992 by Weyerhaeuser Canada. Today they generate over 50 percent of Alberta's annual pulp production. Adjacent to the Weyerhaeuser plant is Sterling Chemical's plant which produces sodium chlorate, a substitute for chlorine in the kraft pulp mill bleaching process. Risley Equipment Ltd., which is based out of Grande Prairie, plays a major role in the development and manufacturing of innovative products and technology serving the forestry industry.

Financial Institutions

All the major financial institutions have offices conveniently located within the City of Grande Prairie. These include:

• ATB Financial
• Bank of Montreal
• CIBC
• Commonwealth Credit Union
• Scotiabank
• RBC Financial Group

Information Resources

The following websites are useful resources for Economic Development related information that pertains to the Greater Grande Prairie Region and the whole of Alberta.

• Alberta Economic Development - (http://www.alberta-canada.com)
• Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce - (http://www.gpchamber.com)
• County of Grande Prairie No. 1 - (http://www.countygp.ab.ca)

 

QUICK FACTS: About the County of Grande Prairie No.1

• Latitude: 55° 10' N Longitude: 118° 53' W
• Elevation: 669.00 m
• Time Zone: MST
• Total Area: 5,570 km² or 1,376,377.08 acres
• Population density per km²: 3.1 people per km²
• Current population: 17,989 population (based on 2006 Muncipal Census).
• Population change from 2001 to 2006: 17.4% (2006 Municipal Census.
• Total Dwellings: 6,611 dwellings (2006 Municpal Census)

Planning and Development Statistics

 

The County of Grande Prairie came off a five-year period of record development. Total development permits of all types averaged 694 per year. In 2008, the number of residential permits dropped below average by nine percent, and drops in commerical and industrial development below the five year average were measured as well. However, permits issued for accessory buildings and other development were well above the five year average as existing new properties were upgraded. Accessory building development increased 26 percent and other forms of development grew 40 percent over the five-year average. For the most part, development moderated overall in the County but property owners continued to improve existing properties.

Overall the County is pleased to be able to accommodate the level of record growth experienced in the region over the past five years and will continue to take a leadership role in planning and facilitating economic and community development opportunities for the Greater Grande Prairie area.

For the latest monthly statistics released by Planning and Development of the County of Grande Prairie, click here.

Education

Primary and Secondary Education

The Peace Wapiti School Board, Grande Prairie and District Catholic School Board, Grande Prairie Public School District and Northwest Francophone Education Region No.1 serve to provide an educational environment for the Grande Prairie Region that enables all students to achieve their potential to become productive members of a changing society.

Families relocating to the Grande Prairie Region have many exceptional options to choose from when selecting an elementary, junior high or high school for their children. 

The following is a brief list of the schools located within the County of Grande Prairie:

Beaverlodge
Beaverlodge Elementary School, Grades K-6, 346 students, Phone: (780) 354-2446
Beaverlodge Regional High School, Grades 10-12, 425 students, Phone: (780) 354-2189
St. Mary’s Catholic School, Grades K-9, 108 students, Phone: (780) 354-2944

Bezanson
Bezanson School, Grades K-9, 136 students, Phone: (780) 532-6490

Clairmont 
Clairmont Community School, Grades K-6, 197 students, Phone: (780) 567-4698

Elmworth
Elmworth School, Grades K-9, 78 students, Phone: (780) 354-8375

Hythe
Hythe Elementary, Grades K-6, 219 students, Phone: (780) 356-3934
Hythe Regional Junior High School, Grades 7-9, 292 students, Phone: (780) 356-3935

Grande Prairie 
Harry Balfour School, Grades K-8, 563 students, Phone: (780) 532-9276
Peace Wapiti Academy, Grades 9-12, 474 students, Phone: (780) 513-9504

LaGlace
LaGlace School, Grades K-9, 150 students, Phone: (780) 568-2430

Sexsmith
Robert W. Zarhara Public School, Grades K-6, 337 students, Phone: (780) 568-3823
Sexsmith Secondary School, Grades 7-12, 554 students, Phone: (780) 568-3642
St. Mary’s Catholic School, Grades K-8, 140 students, Phone: (780) 568-3631

Teepee Creek
Teepee Creek School, Grades K-8, 81 students, Phone: (780) 568-2265

Valhalla Centre
Valhalla Community School (charter), Grades K-6, 65 students, Phone: (780) 356-2370

Wembley 
Helen E. Taylor School, Grades 5-9, 187 students, Phone: (780) 766-9103 
Wembley Elementary School, Grades K-4, 186 students, Phone: (780) 766-2294

In addition to the schools mentioned above, there are 13 Public and seven Catholic schools (an eighth is scheduled to open in September, 2009) available within the City of Grande Prairie with a variety of programs including French Emersion, Enrichment and Special Needs. École St. Gerard is a Catholic school which offers the only single track French emersion program for kindergarten to Grade 9 in Grande Prairie.

École Nouvelle Frontiere is the only Francophone school located within the Grande Prairie region. It is administered by the Northwest Francophone Education Region No.1 (Conseil Scolaire Du Nord-Quest No.1) and offers francophone classes for children in kindergarten through grade nine and currently has 112 students enrolled; Phone: (780) 814-7945. 

Contact information for all four school boards is available below:

Peace Wapiti School Division - www.pwsd76.ab.ca
Phone: (780) 532-8133

Grande Prairie Public School District - www.gppsd.ab.ca
Phone: (780) 532-4491

Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools - www.gpcsd.ca
Phone: (780) 532-3013

Northwest Francophone Education Region No.1 (Conseil Scolaire Du Nord-Quest No.1) - www.csno.ab.ca
Phone: (780) 624-8855

Emergency Services

Policing

Policing in the County of Grande Prairie is the responsibility of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who are the provincial police service for the Province of Alberta. In 2008, the RCMP detachments of Grande Prairie and Beaverlodge integrated to form a single detachment. The current detachment works closely with volunteers to offer residents a number of community based programs including Auxiliary Constables, Citizens on Patrol, Rural Crime Watch, Crime Stoppers, DARE, PARTY, and School Liaison Programs. 

Contact Info:    Emergency: 911

                       Non-Emergency Complain Line: (780) 830-5700

                       General Inquiries: (780) 830-5701

Click on this link to be directed to the RCMP Grande Prairie-Beaverlodge Detachment. 

County Protective Services

The County of Grande Prairie is proud to have one of the most comprehensive Protective Services Departments in the Province. The County has proven itself to be a leader in the delivery of policing programs, fire protection and disaster services, and is proud to provide a safe and secure environment for residents and businesses. The County's Protective Services Department, under the direction of the Director of Protective Services, consists of the following: Enforcement Services; Fire Protection, Disaster Services; RCMP Enhanced Policing and SPCA.

Enforcement Services
This program offers supplemental Enforcement Services to the RCMP in the form of Special Constable policing. County Special Constables enforce provincial statutes related to traffic and safety and are tied to the commitment and values of the Traffic Safety Vision Plan 2010 Program, which has the objective of reducing the number of deaths and injuries on Alberta’s highways. County Special Constables are responsible for road protection through commercial vehicle weight enforcement and are appointed to enforce select municipal bylaws.

The County of Grande Prairie is also contracted to supply Special Constable Services to the surrounding communities of Sexsmith, Beaverlodge, Wembley, and the MD of Greenview. Special Constables work closely with the RCMP, Fire Protection, and other community groups to delivery safety and education.

Fire Protection
Eight fire departments are located throughout the County – three belong to the County and five are located within other municipalities. County operated fire departments include LaGlace and Bezanson with a tanker station at Teepee Creek. Municipal Departments are located in Beaverlodge, Hythe, Sexsmith, Wembley and the City of Grande Prairie. The County has ongoing Mutual Aid agreements with these municipal fire departments as well as the MD of Greenview. These agreements provide for fire suppression, equipment, resources and manpower.  The County of Grande Prairie is accredited with the Alberta Safety Codes Council for all fire investigation standards and provides inspections on a regular basis.

Disaster Services
Disaster Services works closely with the Petroleum Industry, Emergency Management Alberta, EMS, Fire, Family and Community Services, Industry, Enforcement and Police to deliver up to date, quality services and training. An Emergency Operation Center with state of the art communications equipment capable of handling both wide-scale or local state of emergency disasters is located in the County of Grande Prairie Administration Complex.

RCMP Enhanced Policing
The County employs two full-time RCMP officers pursuant to a contract with the Alberta Solicitor General’s Department, to supplement and enhance provincial policing resources within the County. Currently one member is stationed in the Beaverlodge detachment and the other in the Grande Prairie rural detachment. RCMP enhanced policing works closely with the County Enforcement Services Department to ensure the delivery of traffic safety programs.

SPCA
The SPCA is under contract to patrol and respond to complaints of both animal control and protection in nature. The program includes the provision of shelter services for the County and surrounding communities as per the contract provisions.

Health Care

Health and Emergency Response Services in the Peace Country are of high quality. Alberta Health Services-Peace Country Health administers health services to a population of 130,000 people in 16 communities, covering an area of over 150,000 square kilometres. County residents are served by two hospitals: the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital located within the City of Grande Prairie and the Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital located within the Town of Beaverlodge. Doctors are also based in the communities of Hythe, Beaverlodge and Sexsmith. 

Queen Elizabeth II Hospital

The Queen Elizabeth II Hospital is a fully accredited modern-day hospital committed to providing exceptional patient care.

• Provides 160 acute care beds with more than 20 specialist physicians on staff.
• Offers a wide range of services from specialized surgery to coronary care, respiratory therapy, pediatric care, obstetrics, and rehabilitations.
• Service is supplemented by visiting consultants from Edmonton who provide out-patient services in specialty areas such an ENT, dermatology, rheumatology, pediatric cardiology, endocrinology, and gerontology.
• Employs over 1,000 people who, collectively, care for more than 10,000 inpatients and more than 100,000 outpatients annually.

Grande Prairie Associate Cancer Centre

The Grande Prairie Associate Cancer Centre is staffed by specially trained registered nurses and local physicians. The program allows patients from the Peace Country to access the cancer treatment they need close to home.

Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital

The Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital offers the best in health service with 24 hour emergency care and 18 acute care beds. The hospital offers a wide range of services including medical laboratory, obstetrics, outpatients, pediatrics, palliative care, physiotherapy, and radiolology.

Alberta Health Services-Peace Country Health EMS

Alberta Health Services-Peace Country Health EMS provides a high standard of advanced life support ground and air ambulance service for the Peace Country. It is committed to saving lives and reducing life-long impairment due to injury and illness through timely, professional and compassionate Emergency Medical Response in partnership with protective health and community services throughout the region and beyond. It offers a variety of services to both residents and businesses including industrial ambulance and pre-hospital education programs.

Western Air Rescue

Western Air Rescue provides the residents of the Peace Country with rapid air evacuation of patients in need of specialized care. Rescue helicopters can be dispatched to sites like motor vehicle collisions, oil rig site incidents, or backcountry rescues. The attendants are highly qualified flight paramedics trained at levels which equal organizations such as STARS Air Ambulance.

STARS in Grande Prairie

Alberta Shock Trauma Rescue Society began operation in Grande Prairie in December 2006. STARS currently operates three bases – with the other two in Calgary and in Edmonton – and a fleet of five helicopters. The organization’s mission service area covers about 90% of Alberta’s population as well as several communities in southeastern British Columbia. The new Grande Prairie base allows STARS to enhance its current coverage area to serve a greater number of individuals in need of specialized care and rapid transport.

Key Contacts for Business Development

Need More Information?

If you require any additional information regarding development opportunities in our exciting region or have questions about the information presented here please contact:

Municipal Contacts

County of Grande Prairie office at:
10001 - 84 Avenue Clairmont, AB T0H 0W0
Tel: 780-532-9722
Fax: 780-539-9880
E-mail: countygp@countygp.ab.ca

Everett McDonald, Reeve
RR#1, Site 4, Box 5
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2Z8
Hm: 532-0976
Cell: 831-8590
E-mail: emcdonald@countygp.ab.ca  

W.A. (Bill) Rogan, County Administrator
Tel: 780-532-9722
Fax: 780-539-9880
E-mail: brogan1@countygp.ab.ca

Walter Paszkowski, Economic Development Officer
Tel: 780-513-3956
Fax: 780-539-9880
E-mail: edo@countygp.ab.ca 

Provincial Contacts

Alberta Economic Development:
Main reception: 780-538-5230 3501
Provincial Building
10320 - 99 Street
Grande Prairie, AB, Canada T8V 6J4
Website: www.alberta-canada.com/aed/index.cfm

Bob Hall, Director, Regional Economic Development
Tel: 780-538-5636
Fax: 780- 538-5332
E-mail: bob.hall@gov.ab.ca

Nicole McMullan, Regional Development Project Officer
E-mail: nicole.mcmullan@gov.ab.ca

Back to Table of Contents

Legislative Assembly of Alberta

Mel Knight, Member of Legislative Assembly [MLA]
Grande Prairie - Smoky Constituency

#132, 10800 - 97 Ave.
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
Tel: 780-427-1879
Fax: 780-415-0968

#105, 9804 - 100 Avenue
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 0T8
Phone: (780) 513-1233
Fax: (780) 513-1247
E-mail: grandeprairie.smoky@assembly.ab.ca

Wayne Drysdale, Member of the Legislative Assembly [MLA]
Grande Prairie - Wapiti Constituency

#127 Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
Phone: (780) 415-0109
Fax: (780) 427-5441

101, Junction Point Village
9814-97 Street
Grande Prairie, AB
Canada T8V 8H5
Phone: (780) 538-1800
Fax: (780) 538-1802
E-mail: grandeprairie.wapiti@assembly.ab.ca

Chris Warkentin, Member of Parliament [MP]
Peace River Constituency

Parliamentary Address:
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Constituency Office:
#207, 10605 West Side Drive
Grande Prairie, Alberta  T8V 8E6

E-mail: warkentin.c@parl.gc.ca
Website: www.chriswarkentin.ca

Toll Free: 1-800-667-0456
Phone: (780) 538-1677
Fax: (780) 538-9257

Local Chambers and Business Associations

Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce
Dan Pearcy, CEO
217-11330-106 Street
Grande Prairie Alberta
Canada T8V 7X9
Phone: 780-532-5340 

Copyright 2006, County of Grande Prairie No.1 Photo Credit: Country Proud Photography

Location

The County of Grande Prairie covers an area of 5,570 square kilometres and is located 460 kilometres (268 miles) northwest of Edmonton.

Located within the County is the City of Grande Prairie, the Towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith and Wembley, the Village of Hythe, the Hamlets of LaGlace, Bezanson, Clairmont and Valhalla Centre, numerous small country points, and a small federal Indian Reserve. The County is bordered by the Municipal Districts of Greenview, Clear Hills, Saddle Hills and by the Province of British Columbia.

The County of Grande Prairie and surrounding region provides a diverse trading market serving over 250,000 people within a 200 km radius. With approximately 3.1 people per square kilometer it offers uncrowded, unspoiled scenery, and unlimited potential for industrial, commercial and residential development.

Post Secondary Education

Grande Prairie Regional College

The Grande Prairie Region is fortunate to have access to high-quality career programs and instruction through the Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC). The college, which serves more than 10,000 students annually, is located in the City of Grande Prairie.

Effective July 1, 2009, the GPRC assumes stewardship of the Northern Alberta Instistute of Techology (NAIT) campus in Fairview, located 124 km north of the City of Grande Prairie. All programming currently offered by NAIT in Fairview and Grande Prairie will be under the auspices of GPRC after that date. The combined strengths of the two institutions, and their strong resources of programming and highly qaulified faculty, ensure expanded opportunities for the learners of our region, now and for the future.

• Offers a wide variety of programs including university studies, options for degree completion, certificate and diploma programs and trade programs effective July 1, 2009.
• Instruction is based in the main campus in the City of Grande Prairie and through off-campus facilities in Grande Cache, Hinton, Slave Lake and several Peace Region communities.
• Trades and agriculture programs are offered at Fairview Campus, with some pre-employment and apprenticeship programs available on campus in Grande Prairie.
• Campus attracts students from a wide geographic area due to its qaulity education, low tuition, small classes, personal contact and extensive awards program.

Fairview Campus

A wide selection of pre-employment and technical program options at beautiful Fairview Campus under the stewardship of the Grande Prairie Regional College. Some of the more recognized programs include Animal Health Technology, Turfgrass Management Technology, the Harley-Davidson Technician Program and pre-employment carpenter, millwright and welder. The campus includes a state-of-the-art fitness facility, indoor aquatics centre, theatre, 3-hole golf course and pond stocked with trout. It is a must see in the summer months and offers regional residents another quality option for post-secondary education.

For more information about the trades and agriculture programs offered at both the Grande Prairie and Fairview Campus, visit the college's website at http://www.gprc.ab.ca/.

Taxation

Municipal Tax Structure

Municipal tax rates in the Grande Prairie Region are highly competitive with other regions of Alberta and the U.S. making the area a desirable place for young families and commercial businesses to relocate.

2008 Municipal Taxation Rates  Source: County of Grande Prairie No.1  

2008 Mill Rates - County of Grande Prairie No. 1
2008	Farmland	Residential	Non-	M & E (Non-	Linear (Non-
			Residential	Residential)	Residential)
Municipal	8.1555	3.5759	10.6752	10.6752	10.6752
Alberta School	2.2414	2.2414	3.5147	N/A	3.5147
Foundation - Public
Roman Catholic
Separate School
District
Grande Spirit	0.0332	0.0332	0.0332	0.0332	0.0332
Senior's Foundation
TOTAL 2008 Mill Rates	10.4301	5.8505	14.2231	10.7084	14.2231
(Public/ Separate
School Supporter)

Provincial - Corporate and Personal Taxes

Alberta ranks very low in Corporate Income Tax rates against other provinces in Canada and the United States. Alberta’s provincial personal tax rates are among the lowest in Canada. A two income family of four, earning $60,000 (Cdn$) per year, pays approximately $600 less in total provincial taxes (including health care premiums, salary taxes and other excise taxes) in Alberta than in Ontario and about $2,300 less than in Quebec.

Income

The average household income in the County of Grande Prairie is $84,802 (Statistics Canada, 2006 Census). The household income national average for the past four years has been $54,000. Clearly the average County of Grande Prairie household income is substantially higher than the national average making the region attractive to families looking to relocate.

Transportation

The Grande Prairie Region is well connected to the rest of Alberta, Canada and the U.S. by road, air, rail and cable. It has been distinguished as the service centre for the north because it provides economical services, communication and transportation to over 250,000 people within a 200 km radius.

The County of Grande Prairie is part of the North-South Trade Corridor (NSTC), a 1,175 kilometre network of multi-lane highways providing fast, safe and efficient transportation of goods from the British Columbia border near Grande Prairie, through Edmonton and Calgary to the CANAMEX Trade Corridor at Coutts on the Montana border. The CANAMEX Corridor connects local businesses to suppliers and markets in the U.S. and Mexico.

North-South and CANAMEX Trade Corridor Map

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regional Highway System

There is a strategic network of both primary and secondary highways within the County of Grande Prairie, including approximately 3,300 miles of well maintained service roads connecting to the major paved arteries.

Highway #43 connects Grande Prairie via Valleyview from Edmonton. It connects Grande Prairie to Dawson Creek, B.C. and the Alaska Highway; to the John Hart Highway 93 going south to Prince George, and to the ports of Prince Rupert and Vancouver.

Highway #40 connects Grande Prairie with Grande Cache, Hinton and the Yellowhead Highway leading to Jasper to the west.

Highway #2 connects the City of Grande Prairie with points north such as Clairmont, Fairview, Grimshaw and Mile 0 of the Mackenzie Highway #35.

Highway #59 connects Highway #43 northwest of Hythe to Highway #2 north of Sexsmith. Secondary highways within the County of Grande Prairie include #667, #668, #670, #671, #672, #674, #720, #721, #722, #723, #724 and #733. The major bus line which provides regular scheduled service to and from Grande Prairie is Greyhound Canada. The region is well serviced by a number of major trucking and courier companies.

To view a pdf version of the County Map Click Here

Connecting by Air

The Grande Prairie Regional Airport, located 6.5 kilometres west of the city centre, provides scheduled passenger service, cargo and charter flights throughout western Canada. Just a 50 minute flight to the Edmonton International or Municipal Airports, or a 90 minute flight to the Calgary International Airport, the region is well connected to areas beyond our doorstep. The major airlines servicing the Grande Prairie Regional Airport include Air Canada, West Jet, Airco, and Swanberg Air .

Connecting by Rail

The railway links Grande Prairie to the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Churchill, Thunder Bay, and Hay River in the Northwest Territories. The rail network, operated by CN Rail, connects with the Swan Landing (near Hinton, Alberta) in the south, and stretches to Hythe, Alberta in the northwest branch (near Dawson Creek, British Columbia) and Wanham, Alberta in the northeast branch.

Railway links from Grande Prairie

High Speed Internet and Network Communications

Grande Prairie area residents and businesses have access to state of the art telecommunications technologies through Telus and Persona which offer high speed internet and cellular phone access, and cable internet, respectively. There are also a number of other companies that offer high speed internet and network services.

In March 2008, the County of Grande Prairie partnered with local internet provider GPN Wireless Network Solutions Ltd. to set up 10 high-speed internet towers for the rural areas in the municipality. The contractor also set up another 40 towers in contracts separate from the County. Starting in 2009, high-speed internet service is to be expanded into hard-to-reach areas due to their isolation or unique geographical characteristics.

Regional Internet Service Providers
To access the most complete and up to date listing visit Canadian Internet Service Providers website at (www.canadianisp.com)

The Alberta SuperNet now connects over 402 smaller rural communities and all libraries, schools, hospitals and provincial government offices across the province with affordable, high-speed broadband connectivity. Approximately 4,200 facilities in 429 communities are linked through the SuperNet.

Utilities

Aquatera is a regional utility corporation formed by the County of Grande Prairie, City of Grande Prairie, and Town of Sexsmith. Aquatera owns and operates the wastewater treatment system, water distribution, water collection mains and structures, and sanitary sewer services for the City of Grande Prairie, Town of Sexsmith and a portion of the County. Aquatera also provides landfill service to the City of Grande Prairie and recycling programs through their Eco Centre including educational programs and information on recycling and composting, school tours and classroom visits.

Regional Water Line The County of Grande Prairie entered into partnership with the City of Grande Prairie and the Town of Sexsmith in 2006 to build a Regional Water Line carries treated water to residents in the County. The source of the water is the Wapiti River, which is then treated at the Aquatera Water Treatment Facility and distributed to the Hamlet of Clairmont, Town of Sexsmith and service development adjacent to the highway right-of-way. The water line provides a safe, secure water source for the growing needs of residential and industrial areas of the County.

The County of Grande Prairie provides high quality utility services to the following communities:

• Water and sewer service to the Hamlets of Bezanson, Teepee Creek and LaGlace.
• Sewer service to the Hamlet of Valhalla.
• Westlake Village, Carriage Lane and Wedgewood subdivisions, the Hamlet of Clairmont and the industrial development north of the City of Grande Prairie are provided with water and sewer service from Aquatera.
• The municipality is developing a rural utility service for the rural area west of the City of Grande Prairie. 

Regional Landfills and Recycling

The County of Grande Prairie No.1 prides itself as a “green” County and encourages everyone to be respectful of our environment and mindful of our management of waste and consumer products.

The West Grande Prairie County Regional Landfill was created by the Regional Landfill Authority through an original partnership between the County of Grande Prairie and the Towns of Beaverlodge and Wembley. In 2005, the partnership expanded to include the Town of Sexsmith and Village of Hythe. The Regional Landfill, which is located nine miles north and three miles east of Beaverlodge, serves the partnering municipalities.

The County operates two landfill sites, two transfer stations and offers six recycling depots across the County. For more information about the recycling programs in the county and what is accepted at each location visit the County website at www.countygp.ab.ca.

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas and Electricity

ATCO Gas distributes natural gas while ATCO Electric distributes electricity for the County of Grande Prairie. This means that they are responsible for distributing connecting and maintaining gas and electrical lines, respectively, for businesses and residences. Once a service is established, residents and businesses must choose between a number of gas and electricity providers, either regulated or competitive, who are responsible for billing and account management.

Direct Energy is the regulated natural gas and electricity provider in the Grande Prairie area. The competitive retailers for natural gas are Alberta Energy Savings L.P., Direct Energy Essential Services and ENMAX. The competitive retailers for electricity are Direct Energy Essential Services and ENMAX.

To find out more valuable information about regulated and competitive energy provider options within the Grande Prairie Region visit www.customerchoice.gov.ab.ca.

Contact Info

Electrical Power

ATCO Electric
9717 - 97 Avenue
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Tel: 780-538-7000
Tel: 1-800-668-2248

Natural Gas

ATCO Gas
8801 - 112 Street
Grande Prairie, Alberta
T8V 6A4

Gas Customer Assistance Centre
Tel: 310-5678 (toll free) or
1-888-511-7550
48 hours notice is required for service

Telephone

TELUS
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Tel: 780-532-9115
General Customer Service Tel: 1-888-811-2323
Business Customers Tel: 1-888-811-2828

Internet Services

The number of companies providing high speed internet service is constantly growing. To view a complete list of service providers in our region and across the province visit www.canadianisp.com. 

 

Population

Total Population
Population 2008*	17,989
Population 2007*	17,989
Population 2006*	17,989
Population 2005*	15,638
Population 2004*	15,638
Population 2001**	15,640
Population 1996**	13,750
Population 1991**	12,314
Population % change 1991-1996	10.44%
Population % change 1996-2001	12.08%
Population % change 2001-2006	13.06%
* Source: Official Population List, Alberta Municipal Affairs ** Source: Statistics Canada Census

Total Population 1991-2001

Population by Age and Gender	1996  Male	1996  Female	1996  Total	2001  Male	2001  Female	2001  Total
Age 0 - 4	485	470	955	565	465	1,030
Age 5 - 14	1,355	1,295	2,650	1,375	1,360	2,735
Age 15 - 19	655	565	1,220	735	660	1,395
Age 20 - 24	435	320	755	425	405	830
Age 25 - 34	930	945	1,875	955	915	1,870
Age 35 - 44	1,275	1,270	2,545	1,445	1,440	2,885
Age 45 - 54	920	805	1,725	1,315	1,120	2,435
Age 55 - 64	595	490	1,085	715	625	1,340
Age 65 - 74	365	295	660	415	330	745
Age 75 and older	140	125	265	195	160	355
Total All Persons	7,170	6,580	13,750	8,150	7,490	15,640
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Grande Prairie No. 1, County of Population by Age Group (2001)

Education Statistics

Highest level of schooling for Population 20yrs and older	2001	%
People without high school certificates	3,485	33.16%
People with high school certificates	1,280	12.18%
People with trades or non-university certificate or diploma	3,700	35.20%
People with post-secondary education (not completed)	1,020	9.71%
People with university diploma/certificate	150	1.43%
People with university degree	875	8.33%
Total Population 20 years and older	10,510	100.00%
Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Grande Prairie No. 1, County of Highest Level of Schooling 2001

Population with Post Secondary Qualifications	1996	%	2001	%
Agriculture and biological sciences	275	7.42%	280	5.89%
Commerce, management and business administration	570	15.38%	830	17.46%
Educational, recreational and counseling services	430	11.61%	500	10.52%
Engineering and applied science tech. and trades	1,535	41.43%	1,885	39.64%
Engineering and applied sciences	65	1.75%	135	2.84%
Fine and applied arts	205	5.53%	210	4.42%
Health professionals, science and technologies	355	9.58%	575	12.09%
Humanities and related fields	110	2.97%	90	1.89%
Mathematics and physical sciences	10	0.27%	45	0.95%
Social sciences and related fields	135	3.64%	195	4.10%
Other and/or no specialization	0	0.00%	0	0.00%
Total people with post secondary qualifications	3,705	100.00%	4,755	100.00%
Females with post-secondary qualifications	1,665	44.94%	2,290	48.16%
Males with post-secondary qualifications	2,040	55.06%	2,465	51.84%
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Labour Force

Labour force by activity	1996	2001
In the labour force, both sexes	7,995	9,160
Not in the labour force, both sexes	2,095	2,665
Total population 15 and over	10,090	11,830
Employed, both sexes	7,555	8,675
Unemployed, both sexes	440	490
Participation rate, both sexes	79.00%	77.00%
Unemployment rate, both sexes	5.00%	5.00%
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

 

Labour Force by Industry Division	1996	% of total	2001	% of total
Agriculture	1,565	19.70%	1,445	15.79%
Mining	670	8.43%	1,010	11.04%
Manufacturing	480	6.04%	490	5.36%
Construction	795	10.01%	940	10.27%
Transportation. & Utilities	630	7.93%	765	8.36%
Retail and Wholesale	1,170	14.73%	1,070	11.69%
Finance	160	2.01%	310	3.39%
Business & Community Services	1,820	22.91%	2,925	31.97%
Public Administration	210	2.64%	205	2.24%
Total All Industries	7,945	100.00%	9,150	100.00%
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Grande Prairie No. 1, County of Labour Force By Industry - 2001

 

Labour Force by Major Occupational Groups	1996	%	2001	%
Management occupations	475	5.98%	785	8.58%
Business, Finances and administrative occupations	1,305	16.44%	1,310	14.32%
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations	235	2.96%	465	5.08%
Health occupations	160	2.02%	320	3.50%
Occupations in social science; education; government and religion	345	4.35%	430	4.70%
Occupations in art; culture; recreation and sport	90	1.13%	75	0.82%
Sales and service occupations	1,435	18.07%	1,570	17.16%
Trades; transport; equipment operators and related occupations	1,675	21.10%	2,140	23.39%
Occupations unique to primary industry	1,760	22.17%	1,735	18.96%
Occupations unique to processing; manufacturing and utilities	470	5.92%	330	3.61%
Occupations not elsewhere classified	50	0.63%	15	0.16%
Total - All Occupations (major groups)	7,940	100.00%	9,150	100.00%
Females - All Occupations	3,410	42.95%	3,880	42.40%
Males - All Occupations	4,530	57.05%	5,270	57.60%
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Income

Family Income (Number of Families)	1996	%	2001	%
less than $19,999	340	9.54%	280	7.25%
$20,000 - $39,999	870	24.40%	685	17.75%
$40,000 - $59,999	955	26.79%	1,035	26.81%
$60,000 and over	1,400	39.27%	1,840	47.67%
Total number of families	3,565	100.00%	3,840	99.48%
Average family income	$59,753		$75,472
Median family income	$52,199		$65,003
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Household Income (Number of Households)	1996	%	2001	%
less than $19,999	635	14.35%	480	9.13%
$20,000 - $39,999	1,160	26.21%	905	17.22%
$40,000 - $59,999	1,060	23.95%	1,155	21.98%
$60,000 and over	420	9.49%	2,720	51.76%
Total number of households	4,425	100.00%	5,255	100.00%
Average household income	$55,518		$71,406
Median household income	$47,582		$60,899
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Family Expenditure

Expenditure Category	1992	% of total	1996	% of total
Food and Shelter	$45,379,135	36.80%	$63,001,320	34.75%
Clothing	$8,604,065	6.98%	$11,608,379	6.40%
Education and Reading materials	$2,738,590	2.22%	$3,951,091	2.18%
Health and Personal care	$7,613,700	6.17%	$11,803,658	6.51%
Hshld. operations and furnishings	$13,615,410	11.04%	$21,915,864	12.09%
Recreation	$10,444,815	8.47%	$15,805,560	8.72%
Transportation	$25,197,780	20.43%	$35,980,571	19.84%
Miscellaneous	$9,694,780	7.86%	$17,242,013	9.51%
Total Current Consumption	$123,320,115	100.00%	$181,308,456	100.00%
Total # of Households	3,920		4,425
Average Consumption per Household	$31,459		$40,974
Source: Statistics Canada Family Expenditure Survey 1992 & 1996 (numbers may not add up due to rounding).

Grande Prairie No. 1, County of Family Expenditures (1996)

Building Permits

Total Building Permit Values	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Building Permits Value, Commercial	$4,072,000	$6,900,000	$10,331,000	$19,388,000	$40,514,000
Building Permits Value, Industrial	$2,787,000	$27,047,000	$10,953,000	$4,209,000	$6,043,000
Building Permits Value, Institutional	$100,000	$571,000	$538,000	$750,000	$20,000
Building Permits Value, Residential	$22,221,000	$31,072,000	$25,950,000	$35,227,000	$37,310,000
Building Permits Value, Total	$29,180,000	$65,590,000	$47,772,000	$59,574,000	$83,887,000
Total Housing Starts	173	293	150	197	167
Source: Statistics Canada 2000-2004 Building Permits (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Total Housing Starts

Value of Building Permits

Dwellings

Occupied Private Dwellings by Type	1996	% of total	2001	% of total
Apartments	0	0.00%	20	0.38%
Detached Duplexes	10	0.23%	10	0.19%
Movable Dwellings	1,045	23.62%	445	8.46%
Other single attached house	10	0.23%	40	0.76%
Row and semi-detached house	25	0.56%	55	1.05%
Single-detached house	3,340	75.48%	4,695	89.26%
Total number of occupied private dwellings	4,425	100.00%	5,260	100.00%
Private dwellings, owned	4,005	90.51%	4,860	92.40%
Private Dwellings, rented	415	9.38%	390	7.41%
Source: Statistics Canada 1996 & 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Private Dwellings by Period of Construction	# of Dwellings	% of total
Period of construction, before 1946	415	7.89%
Period of construction, 1946 - 1960	415	7.89%
Period of construction, 1961 - 1970	535	10.17%
Period of construction, 1971 - 1980	1,265	24.05%
Period of construction, 1981 - 1990	920	17.49%
Period of construction, 1991 - 2001	1,710	32.51%
Total number of private dwellings constructed	5,260	100.00%
Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census (numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Farming

Grande Prairie No. 1, County of Total Farm Area : 1,440 acres

Farms by Total Farm Area (2001)	# of Farms	% of total
Farms - Under 129 acres	123	8.52%
Farms - 130 to 239 acres	361	25.02%
Farms - 240 to 559 acres	339	23.49%
Farms - 560 to 759 acres	141	9.77%
Farms - 760 to 1,119 acres	154	10.67%
Farms - 1,120 to 1,599 acres	124	8.59%
Farms - 1,600 to 2,239 acres	99	6.86%
Farms - 2,240 acres and over	102	7.07%
Total number of farms reporting	1,443	100.00%
Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census of Agriculture(numbers may not add up due to rounding)

# of Farms by Total Farm Area

Farms by Total Gross Farm Receipts - 2001	# of Farms	% of total
Farms gross farm receipts - under $9,999	382	26.47%
Farms gross farm receipts - $10,000 to $49,999	527	36.52%
Farms gross farm receipts - $50,000 to $99,999	222	15.38%
Farms gross farm receipts - $100,000 to $249,999	215	14.90%
Farms gross farm receipts - $250,000 to $499,999	77	5.34%
Farms gross farm receipts - $500,000 and over	20	1.39%
Total number of farms reporting	1,443	100.00%
Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census of Agriculture(numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Total Gross Farm Receipts

Farming, Continued

Characteristics of Farm Operators	#	%
Age - Under 35 years	215	10.57%
Age - 35 to 54 years	1,140	56.02%
Age - 55 years and over	675	33.17%
Average age of operators	49
Number of operators - Female	590	28.99%
Number of operators - Male	1,440	70.76%
Total number of operators reporting	2,035	100.00%
Source: Statistics Canada 2001 Census of Agriculture(numbers may not add up due to rounding)

Age of Farm Operators

Projects

Summary of Projects in Grande Prairie No. 1, County of as of April 2009

Project Sector	Number of Projects	Project Cost
Infrastructure	2	$42,900,000
Tourism/Recreation	1	$37,200,000
Oil, Gas & Oilsands	1	$30,000,000
Institutional	2	$25,800,000
Agriculture & Related	1	$24,000,000
Power	1	$9,000,000
Total	8	$168,900,000
This inventory lists projects in Alberta that have recently been completed, are under construction, or are proposed to start construction. Not all projects are listed due to reasons of confidentiality and/or due to information not being available at the time of printing. Project data is obtained from public information sources, where possible, this data has been verified with the project proponent/developer, users of the Inventory may wish to confirm project data with the proponent/developer. The inventory does not breakdown project expenditures by any given year. The cost of a project is the value of expenditures expected over all phases of project construction, which may span over two or more years. Cost of projects listed in the Inventory are estimated values only. Source: Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry.

Value of Projects by Sector (as of April 2009)

Project Status	Number of Projects	Project Cost
Announced	3	$45,000,000
Completed	2	$28,700,000
Proposed	3	$95,200,000
Total	8	$168,900,000
This inventory lists projects in Alberta that have recently been completed, are under construction, or are proposed to start construction. Not all projects are listed due to reasons of confidentiality and/or due to information not being available at the time of printing. Project data is obtained from public information sources, where possible, this data has been verified with the project proponent/developer, users of the Inventory may wish to confirm project data with the proponent/developer. The inventory does not breakdown project expenditures by any given year. The cost of a project is the value of expenditures expected over all phases of project construction, which may span over two or more years. Cost of projects listed in the Inventory are estimated values only. Source: Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry.

Largest Projects in Grande Prairie No. 1, County of as of April 2009

Company Name	Project  Description	Project  Location	Project  Cost	Construction  Schedule	Status
Pipestone Creek Dinosaur Bed Project Committee	River of Death and Discovery Dinosaur Centre	County of Grande Prairie	$37,200,000	-	Proposed
Halliburton	NEW SERVICE FACILITY	County of Grande Prairie (Clairmont)	$30,000,000	-	Proposed
Alberta Transportation / City of Grande Prairie / County of Grande Prairie	Highway 43 Bypass around Grande Prairie	County of Grande Prairie	$28,000,000	-	Proposed
Viterra Inc.	High Throughput Grain Terminal	County of Grande Prairie (near Sexsmith)	$24,000,000	2009-2010	Announced
County of Grande Prairie	Joint Use (Multi - Department) Facility	County of Grande Prairie (W of Clairmont)	$14,900,000	2008-2009	Completed
Alberta Infrastructure*	Addition / Modernization (K to Grade 9)	County of Grande Prairie (Hythe)	$13,800,000	2008-2009	Completed
Alberta Infrastructure*	REPLACEMENT SCHOOL (K to Grade 12)	Sexsmith	$12,000,000	2009-2010	Announced
ATCO Electric	Transmission Lines (144kV) Goodfare to Updike	County of Grande Prairie (near Hythe)	$9,000,000	2009-2009	Announced