Grande Cache

History

The New Town of Grande Cache was incorporated on September 1, 1966. 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 Government of Alberta as a guarantor for debt.

Construction of Grande Cache began in 1969. By 1971 a hospital, schools, stores, and the first homes were built.

Grande Cache received town status on September 1, 1983.

The community 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.

Coal has been pivotal to Grande Cache's history. The British Coal Board established a large mine in 1966 to produce metallurgical coal which was used in Japanese coke ovens to provide the carbon input for steel production. It is important to note that Grande Cache's coal typically was not intended for power generation due to its low volatiles content. According to the NY Times in 1971: "Japanese steel makers, or their customers, are paying the relocation costs of miners who have come to Grande Cache from Nova Scotia's fading Cape Breton coal mines, from the dying wheat hamlets of Saskatchewan, from Utah and Montana mines and from South Korea, Japan, West Germany, the Netherlands and Britain."

In September 2018, Grande Cache's Town Council determined that, due to a reduction in population and the subsequent loss in tax revenue, the town was no longer financially sustainable. On September 25, 2018, town residents voted to dissolve the town into a hamlet under the jurisdiction of the Municipal District (MD) of Greenview No. 16. 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. The dissolution came into effect on January 1, 2019, rendering Grande Cache a hamlet in the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16.

Geography

The hamlet 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). Summertime is usually very mild, but can also be very cool or warm depending on the movement of different airmasses in the area. Wintertime is very cold and snowy, lasting from November into March, and sometimes even later. | Jan record high C = 14 | Feb record high C = 16 | Mar record high C = 18 | Apr record high C = 25 | May record high C = 29.5 | Jun record high C = 34.5 | Jul record high C = 31 | Aug record high C = 31 | Sep record high C = 32 | Oct record high C = 24 | Nov record high C = 18 | Dec record high C = 16 | year record high C = 34.5 | Jan record low C = -39 | Feb record low C = -41 | Mar record low C = -37.8 | Apr record low C = -22 | May record low C = -12 | Jun record low C = -3.9 | Jul record low C = 0.5 | Aug record low C = -5 | Sep record low C = -10 | Oct record low C = -30 | Nov record low C = -43 | Dec record low C = -41 | year record low C = -43 Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 24 July 2009

Demographics

population history

|1971|2525 |1976|4116 |1981|4523 |1986|3646 |1991|3842 |1996|4441 |2001|3828 |2006|3783 |2011|4319 |2016|3571 |2021|3276

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Grande Cache had a population of 3,276 living in 1,238 of its 1,533 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 3,571. With a land area of 35.21 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Grande Cache had a population of 3,571 living in 1,296 of its 1,759 total private dwellings, a change from its 2011 population of 4,319. With a land area of 34.97 km2, it had a population density of in 2016.

Attractions

• Grande Cache Recreation Centre
• Grande Cache Golf and Country Club
• Great Canadian Death Race
• Willmore Wilderness Park
• Grande Cache Tourism & Interpretive Centre
• Sulphur Gates Provincial Park
• Caw Ridge

Sports

Grande Cache is the home of the Canadian Death Race.

The Grande Cache Rockies are the local hockey team in Grande Cache.

Volleyball, basketball, and badminton are offered by local schools for grade 6-9 and 10-12.

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 that provides transportation to both Grande Prairie and Hinton weekly. Additionally, the Community Bus provides transportation to the Cooperatives and Enterprises and local community businesses weekly. Grande Cache Airport is 24 km outside of town. There are no scheduled flights into Grande Cache Airport. The airport closed as of January 2017.

Electrical

H.R. Milner harbours a 300 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine(Milner 2) near Grande Cache.

Grande Cache uses almost entirely underground electrical distribution. Power is supplied to the hamlet by ATCO. This is distributed to individual transformers at typically 14.4kV. Three phase electricity is distributed to some buildings.

Education

Local schools in Grande Cache include:

• Sheldon Coates Elementary School (K-3);
• Summitview School (grades 4-8);
• SonRise Christian School (K-6) (Closed in 22/23 year);
• Grande Cache Community High School (grades 9-12);

Notable people

• Dean McAmmond, professional hockey player
• Travis Roche, professional hockey player

References

References

1. (October 7, 2016). "Location and History Profile: Town of Grande Cache". [[Alberta Municipal Affairs]].
2. (November 27, 2018). "Order in Council (O.C.) 361/2018". Government of Alberta.
3. (January 2012). "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)". Safety Codes Council.
4. {{AltaML
5. "CST Coal No.8 Mine (Grande Cache) Mine".
6. (1971). "Boom Town Is Built on Coal". The New York Times.
7. (September 19, 2018). "Grande Cache deemed not viable to carry on as a town". Global News.
8. (September 26, 2018). "Residents of Grande Cache vote to dissolve town". Global News.
9. Canada, Environment and Climate Change. (2011-10-31). "Almanac Averages and Extremes for June 27 - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada".
10. (1977). "1976 Census of Canada". [[Statistics Canada]].
11. (1982). "1981 Census of Canada". [[Statistics Canada]].
12. (1992). "91 Census". [[Statistics Canada]].
13. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (Alberta)". [[Statistics Canada]].
14. (January 6, 2010). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". [[Statistics Canada]].
15. (February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places". [[Statistics Canada]].
16. (February 8, 2017). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". [[Statistics Canada]].
17. "Maxim Power Corp. - HR Milner Generating Station".