Grande Cache
| Grande Cache | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Town of Grande Cache | |
 Highway 40 through Grande Cache | |
  Grande Cache Location of Grande Cache in Alberta | |
| Coordinates: 53°52′29″N 119°07′21″W / 53.87472°N 119.12250°WCoordinates: 53°52′29″N 119°07′21″W / 53.87472°N 119.12250°W | |
| Country |
 |
| Province |
 |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Census division | 18 |
| Municipal district | Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 |
| Incorporated[1] | |
| • New town | September 1, 1966 |
| • Town | September 1, 1983 |
| Government[2] | |
| • Mayor | Herb Castle |
| • Governing body | Grande Cache Town Council |
| • MP | Jim Eglinski (Cons - Yellowhead) |
| • MLAs | Eric Rosendahl (NDP - West Yellowhead) |
| Area (2016)[3] | |
| • Land | 34.97 km2 (13.50 sq mi) |
| Elevation[4] | 1,220 m (4,000 ft) |
| Population (2016)[3] | |
| • Total | 3,571 |
| • Density | 102.1/km2 (264/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Postal code | T0E 0Y0 |
| Area code(s) | +1-780 |
| Website | Official website |
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 No. 16, 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. In late September 2018, the Grande Cache Town Council determined that, due to a reduction in population and the subsequent loss in tax revenue, the town is not financially sustainable.[5] The town is now in the process of being dissolved to a hamlet within the Municipal District of Greenview.[6]
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 federal prison operated by the Correctional Service of Canada. In recent years, wilderness tourism is an increasing industry.
On September 25, 2018, the residents of the town voted to dissolve the town into a hamlet within the Municipal District of Greenview after the town experienced a significant reduction in population and tax revenue that left it unsustainable.[5][6] Out of 1,100 ballots cast in the vote, 1,065 were votes in favour of dissolution, 32 were in favour of remaining a town, and 3 ballots were rejected.[6]
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
Grande Cache experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc).
| Climate 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 (85.1) |
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 (36.7) |
8.5 (47.3) |
13.3 (55.9) |
17.1 (62.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
19 (66) |
14.7 (58.5) |
9 (48) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
8.2 (46.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.1 (19.2) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
2.7 (36.9) |
7.3 (45.1) |
11.1 (52) |
13.3 (55.9) |
12.7 (54.9) |
8.9 (48) |
4 (39) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
2.7 (36.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −12.1 (10.2) |
−11.9 (10.6) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
1.4 (34.5) |
5 (41) |
7 (45) |
6.4 (43.5) |
3.1 (37.6) |
−1.1 (30) |
−8.9 (16) |
−12.5 (9.5) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −39 (−38) |
−41 (−42) |
−37.8 (−36) |
−22 (−8) |
−12 (10) |
−3.9 (25) |
0.5 (32.9) |
−5 (23) |
−10 (14) |
−30 (−22) |
−43 (−45) |
−41 (−42) |
−43 (−45) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 24.9 (0.98) |
26.6 (1.047) |
30.5 (1.201) |
25.6 (1.008) |
57.8 (2.276) |
69 (2.72) |
83.2 (3.276) |
70.1 (2.76) |
52.5 (2.067) |
34.3 (1.35) |
33.6 (1.323) |
31.5 (1.24) |
539.6 (21.244) |
| Source: Environment Canada[7] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Grande Cache recorded a population of 3,571 living in 1,296 of its 1,759 total private dwellings, a −17.3% change from its 2011 population of 4,319. With a land area of 34.97 km2 (13.50 sq mi), it had a population density of 102.1/km2 (264.5/sq mi) in 2016.[3]
In the 2011 Census, the Town of Grande Cache had a population of 4,319 living in 1,563 of its 1,752 total dwellings, a 14.2% change from its 2006 population of 3,783. With a land area of 35.48 km2 (13.70 sq mi), it had a population density of 121.7/km2 (315.3/sq mi) in 2011.[8]
Attractions
- Grande Cache Recreation Centre
- Grande Cache Golf and Country Club
- Willmore Wilderness Park
- Great Canadian Death Race
Sports
Grande Cache is the home of the Canadian Death Race.
Infrastructure
Grande Cache is the site of the Grande Cache Institution, a medium-security prison.
Transportation
Grande Cache is connected to Grande Prairie and Hinton via Highway 40. There is a community bus service to Grande Prairie once a week and to Hinton once a month. Grande Cache Airport is 24 km (15 mi) outside of town. There are no scheduled flights into Grande Cache Airport.
Education
Local schools in Grande Cache include:
- Sheldon Coates Elementary School (K-3);
- Summitview School (grades 4-8);
- SonRise Christian School (K-6); and
- Grande Cache Community High School (grades 9-12).
Media
Grande Cache has one weekly paper, the Grande Cache Mountaineer.
Notable people
- Dean McAmmond, professional hockey player
- Travis Roche, professional hockey player
See also
 |
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Grande Cache. |
References
- ↑ "Location and History Profile: Town of Grande Cache" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. October 7, 2016. p. 274. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2017-09-22. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
- 1 2 3 "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ↑ "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- 1 2 "Grande Cache deemed not viable to carry on as a town". Global News. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- 1 2 3 "Residents of Grande Cache vote to dissolve town". Global News. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ↑ Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 24 July 2009
- ↑ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
External links
Places adjacent to Grande Cache | |
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