| Town of Grande Cache | |||
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| — Town — | |||
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  Town of Grande Cache
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| Coordinates: 53°52′29″N 119°07′21″W / 53.87472°N 119.1225°W | |||
| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  Alberta |
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| Region | Northern Alberta | ||
| Census division | 18 | ||
| Municipal District | Greenview | ||
| Founded | 1969 | ||
| Government [1] | |||
| - Mayor | Louise Krewusik | ||
| - Governing body | Grande Cache Town Council | ||
| - MP | Rob Merrifield (Cons - Yellowhead) | ||
| - MLAs | Robin Campbell (PC - West Yellowhead) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 35.48 km2 (13.7 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1,280 m (4,199 ft) | ||
| Population (2006)[2] | |||
| - Total | 3,783 | ||
| - Density | 106.6/km2 (276.1/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) | ||
| Postal code | T0E 0Y0 | ||
| Area code(s) | +1-780 | ||
| Website | Town of Grande Cache | ||
Grande Cache is a town in west-central Alberta, Canada, located 145 kilometres (90 mi) northwest of Hinton and 435 kilometres (270 mi) west of Edmonton. It is located in the Municipal District of Greenview, between Highway 40 and the Smoky River, at the northern border of Alberta's Rockies. The town is the gateway to the Willmore Wilderness Park .
It is the birthplace of hockey player Dean McAmmond and home of the Canadian Death Race.
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Contents
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History
The New Town of Grande Cache was created by the Order in Council 1605/66 of the Alberta Government 1966-09-01. The purpose of creating a new town was to open the area for the development of coal mines. New Town status allowed the town to use the Alberta Government as a guarantor for debt.
Construction of the town began in 1969. By 1971 a hospital, schools, stores, and the first homes were built.
Grande Cache received Town status by the Order in Council 749/83 on September 1, 1983.
The town suffered a boom-bust cycle due to the dependence on a single employer that depended on a single commodity: coal. In an attempt to diversify the economy additional industries were encouraged to develop in the area. This included a wood chip plant and a Corrections Canada facility. In recent years, wilderness tourism is an increasing industry.
Demographics
According to Canada 2006 Census[3]:
- Population: 3,783 (4,441 in 1996)
- Land area: 35.48 km2 (13.70 sq mi)
- Growth rate (2001-2006): -1.2%
- Median family income: $79,923
- Average value of private dwelling: $224,231
Infrastructure
- Highways
Grande Cache is connected to Grande Prairie and Hinton via Highway 40.
- Power station
According to a WWF report, HR Milner Generating Station, is the dirtiest power station in Canada and is fourth in the world on the List of least carbon efficient power stations (based on CO2 per megawatt hour sent out).[4]
Geography
The town is built on a plateau that is just below the subalpine level of the Rocky Mountains. The town site is surrounded by three valleys: to the north is the Smoky River; to the west is the Sulphur River; to the south is Victor Lake and Grande Cache Lake. To the east of town is Grande Mountain.
Climate
| Weather data for Grande Cache | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14 (57) |
16 (61) |
18 (64) |
25 (77) |
29.5 (85) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
24 (75) |
18 (64) |
16 (61) |
32 (90) |
| Average high °C (°F) | -2.2 (28) |
-1 (30) |
2.6 (37) |
8.5 (47) |
13.3 (56) |
17.1 (63) |
19.6 (67) |
19 (66) |
14.7 (58) |
9 (48) |
0.6 (33) |
-2.5 (28) |
8.2 (47) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -12.1 (10) |
-11.9 (11) |
-8.4 (17) |
-3.2 (26) |
1.4 (35) |
5 (41) |
7 (45) |
6.4 (44) |
3.1 (38) |
-1.1 (30) |
-8.9 (16) |
-12.5 (10) |
-2.9 (27) |
| Record low °C (°F) | -39 (-38) |
-41 (-42) |
-37.8 (-36) |
-22 (-8) |
-12 (10) |
-3.9 (25) |
0.5 (33) |
-5 (23) |
-10 (14) |
-30 (-22) |
-43 (-45) |
-41 (-42) |
-43 (-45) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 24.9 (0.98) |
26.6 (1.05) |
30.5 (1.2) |
25.6 (1.01) |
57.8 (2.28) |
69 (2.72) |
83.2 (3.28) |
70.1 (2.76) |
52.5 (2.07) |
34.3 (1.35) |
33.6 (1.32) |
31.5 (1.24) |
539.6 (21.24) |
| Source: Environment Canada[5] 2009-07-24 | |||||||||||||
Media
Grande Cache has one weekly paper, the Grande Cache Mountaineer.
Recreation
- Akasaka Recreation Centre
- Canadian Death Race
- Grande Cache Golf and Country Club
- Willmore Wilderness Park
The Canadian Death Race takes place in Grande Cache in August.[6]
Education
Local Schools:
- SonRise Christian School (K-8)
- Sheldon Coates Elementary School (K-3)
- Summitview School (Junior High)
- Grande Cache Community High School
References
- ^ Town of Grande Cache. "Town Staff". http://www.grandecache.ca/community/townserv/staff/default.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
- ^ Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Grande Cache - Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4818005&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Grande%20Cache&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4818005. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Hazelwood tops international list of dirty power stations
- ^ Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 24 July 2009
- ^ Canadian Death Race
External links
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Tumbler Ridge | Grande Prairie | Debolt | |
| Prince George |  |
Fox Creek | ||
 Grande Cache  |
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| McBride | Jasper | Hinton |
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