Grande Cache
| Grande Cache | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Town of Grande Cache | |
Highway 40 through Grande Cache
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 Grande Cache
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| 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 |  Canada |
| Province |  Alberta |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Census division | 18 |
| Municipal district | Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Mayor | Herb Castle |
| • Governing body | Grande Cache Town Council |
| • MP | Jim Eglinski (Cons - Yellowhead) |
| • MLAs | Eric Rosendahl (NDP - West Yellowhead) |
| Area (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 35.48 km2 (13.70 sq mi) |
| Elevation[3] | 1,220 m (4,000 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 4,319 |
| • Density | 121.7/km2 (315/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC−7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC−6) |
| 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.
Contents
History[edit]
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.
Geography[edit]
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[edit]
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[4] | |||||||||||||
Demographics[edit]
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.[2]
According to Canada 2006 Census:[5]
- 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
Attractions[edit]
- Grande Cache Recreation Centre
- Grande Cache Golf and Country Club
- Willmore Wilderness Park
Sports[edit]
Grande Cache is the home of the Canadian Death Race.
Infrastructure[edit]
Grande Cache is the site of the Grande Cache Institution, a medium-security prison.
Transportation[edit]
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.[citation needed] Grande Cache Airport is 24 km (15 mi) outside of town. There are no scheduled flights into Grande Cache Airport.
Education[edit]
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[edit]
Grande Cache has one weekly paper, the Grande Cache Mountaineer.
Notable people[edit]
- Dean McAmmond, professional hockey player
- Travis Roche, professional hockey player
See also[edit]
 |
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Grande Cache. |
References[edit]
- ^ "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 24 July 2009
- ^ Statistics Canada. "Canada 2006 Census: Grande Cache - Community Profile". Retrieved 2007-06-11.
External links[edit]
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Tumbler Ridge | Grande Prairie | Little Smoky | |
| Prince George |  |
Fox Creek Muskeg River |
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| McBride | Jasper | Hinton |
