Grande Prairie 2020 News - ARCHIVED
DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com features some of the news that changed Grande Prairie during the year 2020. This was the first year we all had to deal with Covid-19 and was the year one of Grande Prairie's ailing landmark was finally demolished. The Park Hotel along 100th Avenue was torn down in April of 2020.
MORE: Grande Prairie NEWS - 2001 To Present VIEW
GRANDE PRAIRIE NEWS - 2020
Jan 2020: Traveland RV has now taken over the ownership of HappyTrails RV, (January 2nd, 2020) located at 15211-100 Street, Grande Prairie. Read more
Jan 2020: It was first announced in 2015 that GAP was closing 175 stores but the Grande Prairie location would not be affected. In November 2019, the GAP CEO stepped down because of its continued sales slump and now GAP has now closed its Grande Prairie location at 11521 West-gate Drive.
Jan 2020: 4 Mile Corner Plaza is now under construction just south of the UFA along 156 Avenue and Highway 43 (just west of Happy Trails RV) Once complete the Plaza will have a number of businesses. Read More
Jan 2020: Gordey Homes closes their doors at 11039-101 Street after many years of constructing new homes in Grande Prairie. The Gordey family started building homes in the 1960's when Paul Gordey operated the business. Read More.
Jan 2020: PrimeCare Clinic has closed in Grande Prairie, Calgary and Carstairs. It was reported that the Grande Prairie location closed because of decline in patients and loss of Doctors and Specialists. The Grande Prairie clinic was located at 9625-97 Street and was owned by Dr Adekey, who is a Physician in Beaverlodge and Spirit River and also owns the Clinics in Calgary and Carstairs.
Jan 2020: Grande Prairie Volkswagen moves to a new location 11425-104 Avenue, Grande Prairie (west of the Brick Store) Read More
Jan 2020: Doug Marshall Motor City (Doug Marshall GM) is constructing a new building on the far west side of Grande Prairie. (south of the new Canadian Tire or just west of the Service Canada Centre). Doug Marshall has been located along 100 Street and 110 Avenue for many years.
Jan 2020: Also under construction just west of the new Doug Marshall GM location on the far west side of Grande Prairie is the new Hansen Ford building. Currently Hansen Ford is located at 10101-112 Street near the Home Depot.
Feb 2020: Hugh Impey dies at the age of 86 years. He was partners with HIW Surveys company for many years. He served as Alderman from 1971 to 1979 and became Mayor of Grande Prairie from 1980-1983.
Feb 2020: GBS Bingo Hall operated by the Grande Bingo Society will close its doors on Feb 15, 2020. It operated out of the ANAVETS Hall (east end of town) for a short time before moving to the Community Village since 2016, 10112-102 Ave Grande Prairie.
Feb 2020: Premier Jason Kenney, Cabinet Ministers and MLAs from the Government of Alberta were in Grande Prairie February 10th at the Royal Canadian Legion for a Quick Connect. This event was the first time Caucus has met outside of Edmonton or Calgary. It was disclosed that construction on the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital is 85% complete and should be ready by the end of 2020.
Feb 2020: Pier 1 Imports has filed for bankruptcy and will closing all its stores in Canada and the United States which will also affect the Grande Prairie location on the west side of the City. 15 employees will soon be out of a job in Grande Prairie with the location to officially close on or before March 29th.
Feb 2020: The UCP Government announced that 19 km of Highway 40 south of Grande Prairie will begin in the summer of 2020. It is a cost sharing agreement with the MD of Greenview and County of Grande Prairie.
March 2020: The Corona-virus outbreak started in China in early January and has spread around the world. It has now has arrived in the Peace Country. (Friday March 20) There were now 2 confirmed cases in Grande Prairie, 4 in High Prairie and 3 in the Slave Lake area. There has been much panic buying in the Peace Country for the past few weeks and store shelves were often bare of canned products, and often shortages of milk and meat. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper were also were also in short supply. Many stores have started to close and an empty parking lot at the Prairie Mall was a sight not seen before. Schools have closed as well.
April 2020: After months of construction, a new Chevron gas station opened up on the west side of Grande Prairie. Corner of 104 Ave and 11 St, just east of Canadian Tire.
April 2020: The Park Hotel in Grande Prairie is finally demolished. more info
View Video> PLAY
May 2020: Construction continues on the new Grande Prairie Composite High School along 108 Street. more info
May 2020: The Government of Alberta has reduced its COVID-19 restrictions and many business started to re-open after the 2 month lock-down. Many people had become unemployed with others were working from home. At this point there were 22 active Corona-virus cases in the northern Alberta portion of the Peace Country, and a total of 14 deaths. Canada had over 75,000 cases with 5758 deaths, while the United States had 1,456,029 cases and 88,211 deaths.
June 2020: Long time resident of Grande Prairie Bob Pomeroy has died at the age of 72. He built a hotel empire through-out the BC and Alberta Peace Regions as well as Alaska and Kananaski. Also, Stelious loannis Vasileiou has died at the age of 71 years. He had opened and operated Acropolis Greek Restaurant & Pub in Grande Prairie in 1993, and retired in 2015.
Jan 2020: Traveland RV has now taken over the ownership of HappyTrails RV, (January 2nd, 2020) located at 15211-100 Street, Grande Prairie. Read more
Jan 2020: It was first announced in 2015 that GAP was closing 175 stores but the Grande Prairie location would not be affected. In November 2019, the GAP CEO stepped down because of its continued sales slump and now GAP has now closed its Grande Prairie location at 11521 West-gate Drive.
Jan 2020: 4 Mile Corner Plaza is now under construction just south of the UFA along 156 Avenue and Highway 43 (just west of Happy Trails RV) Once complete the Plaza will have a number of businesses. Read More
Jan 2020: Gordey Homes closes their doors at 11039-101 Street after many years of constructing new homes in Grande Prairie. The Gordey family started building homes in the 1960's when Paul Gordey operated the business. Read More.
Jan 2020: PrimeCare Clinic has closed in Grande Prairie, Calgary and Carstairs. It was reported that the Grande Prairie location closed because of decline in patients and loss of Doctors and Specialists. The Grande Prairie clinic was located at 9625-97 Street and was owned by Dr Adekey, who is a Physician in Beaverlodge and Spirit River and also owns the Clinics in Calgary and Carstairs.
Jan 2020: Grande Prairie Volkswagen moves to a new location 11425-104 Avenue, Grande Prairie (west of the Brick Store) Read More
Jan 2020: Doug Marshall Motor City (Doug Marshall GM) is constructing a new building on the far west side of Grande Prairie. (south of the new Canadian Tire or just west of the Service Canada Centre). Doug Marshall has been located along 100 Street and 110 Avenue for many years.
Jan 2020: Also under construction just west of the new Doug Marshall GM location on the far west side of Grande Prairie is the new Hansen Ford building. Currently Hansen Ford is located at 10101-112 Street near the Home Depot.
Feb 2020: Hugh Impey dies at the age of 86 years. He was partners with HIW Surveys company for many years. He served as Alderman from 1971 to 1979 and became Mayor of Grande Prairie from 1980-1983.
Feb 2020: GBS Bingo Hall operated by the Grande Bingo Society will close its doors on Feb 15, 2020. It operated out of the ANAVETS Hall (east end of town) for a short time before moving to the Community Village since 2016, 10112-102 Ave Grande Prairie.
Feb 2020: Premier Jason Kenney, Cabinet Ministers and MLAs from the Government of Alberta were in Grande Prairie February 10th at the Royal Canadian Legion for a Quick Connect. This event was the first time Caucus has met outside of Edmonton or Calgary. It was disclosed that construction on the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital is 85% complete and should be ready by the end of 2020.
Feb 2020: Pier 1 Imports has filed for bankruptcy and will closing all its stores in Canada and the United States which will also affect the Grande Prairie location on the west side of the City. 15 employees will soon be out of a job in Grande Prairie with the location to officially close on or before March 29th.
Feb 2020: The UCP Government announced that 19 km of Highway 40 south of Grande Prairie will begin in the summer of 2020. It is a cost sharing agreement with the MD of Greenview and County of Grande Prairie.
March 2020: The Corona-virus outbreak started in China in early January and has spread around the world. It has now has arrived in the Peace Country. (Friday March 20) There were now 2 confirmed cases in Grande Prairie, 4 in High Prairie and 3 in the Slave Lake area. There has been much panic buying in the Peace Country for the past few weeks and store shelves were often bare of canned products, and often shortages of milk and meat. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper were also were also in short supply. Many stores have started to close and an empty parking lot at the Prairie Mall was a sight not seen before. Schools have closed as well.
April 2020: After months of construction, a new Chevron gas station opened up on the west side of Grande Prairie. Corner of 104 Ave and 11 St, just east of Canadian Tire.
April 2020: The Park Hotel in Grande Prairie is finally demolished. more info
View Video> PLAY
May 2020: Construction continues on the new Grande Prairie Composite High School along 108 Street. more info
May 2020: The Government of Alberta has reduced its COVID-19 restrictions and many business started to re-open after the 2 month lock-down. Many people had become unemployed with others were working from home. At this point there were 22 active Corona-virus cases in the northern Alberta portion of the Peace Country, and a total of 14 deaths. Canada had over 75,000 cases with 5758 deaths, while the United States had 1,456,029 cases and 88,211 deaths.
June 2020: Long time resident of Grande Prairie Bob Pomeroy has died at the age of 72. He built a hotel empire through-out the BC and Alberta Peace Regions as well as Alaska and Kananaski. Also, Stelious loannis Vasileiou has died at the age of 71 years. He had opened and operated Acropolis Greek Restaurant & Pub in Grande Prairie in 1993, and retired in 2015.
GRANDE PRAIRIE NEWS - 2020
June 2020: A new restaurant is opening in Grande Prairie. SOHO Carvery and Bar was putting up their signs on Wednesday (June 10th) at the old Mama Panda's location along 100 Street, near Super Store. (12309-100 Street). JP Outpost, located by the Shell Gas Station in Clairmont, closed that location but is still operating out of the Grande Prairie location (Jackpot Grill) offering pick up or delivery.
June 2020: Construction of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital began in 2011 and is finally to be completed by the end of June. It will still be many months of cleaning, installing and testing the equipment before it can open. That could still be six to nine months or longer before it will officially open. The new hospital will feature two radiation chambers and audiology and more services that were only available in Edmonton.
July 2020: Recently Nationwide Furniture Mattress Outlet has opened in the Towne Centre Furniture location at 9845-99 Avenue Grande Prairie (Towne Centre Mall). The person running the operation is the former store’s son (Bilal) who has started his own operation which is part of a franchise. Popeye's Chicken has opened in Grande Prairie in Trader Ridge (far north part of the City, 132 ave and 100 St). When it first opened there were overwhelming line-ups at the drive-thru. Also EDO Japan has opened another location in Trader Ridge.
August 2020: 7-Eleven Convenience store was at this location for a number of years until it closed. Now getting ready to open is Winks on the corner of 100 Street and 97 Avenue, Downtown Grande Prairie.
August 2020: After 6 months of kids not going to school because of COVID-19, schools will be re-opening September 1st, with wearing masks being mandatory for grades 4-12 as well as all staff. In early August the City of Grande Prairie had a total of 38 cases since the pandemic started, with 10 active cases and 28 recovered, while the County of Grande Prairie had a total of 23 cases with 4 active and 19 recovered. In Alberta (Aug 3, 2020) there were 11,146 cases so far with 1,191 active cases and a total of 9,754 recovered.
August 2020: Grande Prairie’s Tenille Townes is the Academy of Country Music Award "New Female Artist of the Year". 26 year old Tenille will also be playing at the Academy of Country Music Awards to be held September 16th, 2020.
August 2020: Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard has been appointed the new Minister of Municipal Affairs by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in a recent shuffle of the the cabinet. The Alberta Government describes that departments responsibilities as “The ministry helps municipalities provide well-managed, collaborative, and accountable local government to Albertans.”
August 2020: The City of Grande Prairie has put up their new Welcome Signs. This one is along 100 Street and 132 Avenue. (near Grande Prairie Honda). About a year ago, residents were asked for their input on designing a new sign for the north and west entrances of the City, and this one was favoured the most.
September 2020: Tenille Townes from Grande Prairie was the big winner at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. She won the Female Artist of the Year as well as Single of the Year for her song "Somebody's Daughter". She also won the New Female Artist of the year earlier in the month at the American Country Music Awards.
October 2020: Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given announced that he will not seek re-election in the 2021 Fall Municipal Election. He spent 9 years as a councilor and now 11 years as mayor, Given feels it is the right time to transition away from elected office.
October 2020: Mitsubishi Motors has moved to a newly constructed building on the west side of Grande Prairie along 116 Street, a few blocks north of Costco. It is owned and operated by Landsperg Auto Group. it was about a month ago that Wapiti Auto Sales closed its doors located on 99 Street and 113 Avenue, Grande Prairie. (near the north Safeway location) They were in business for many years.
October 2020: Three new Grande Prairie VIDEOS have been added to DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com that feature the main streets. Grande Prairie Downtown: View Video> Grande Prairie 101 Ave: View Video> Muskoseepi Park: View Video>
October 2020: A number of hockey players with ties to Grande Prairie have been drafted to the NHL. Gavin Bjorklun who played with the Grande Prairie Storm Bantam AAA and who currently plays his junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL was selected by the Washington Capitals, 179th pic in the 2020 NHL Draft. Also drafted to the NHL was Kaiden Guile, 16th overall by Montreal Canadiens. He played minor hockey in Grande Prairie for many years when he was young. Ethan Edwards was also selected by the New Jersey Devils (120th overall in the fourth round). He was born in GP, and currently a defenceman for the Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL.
October 2020: A number of businesses have opened in Trader Ridge and more are on the way (corner of 100 Street and 132 Avenue, Grande Prairie). The Co-op was the first to open then Popeye’s Chicken and EDO Japan and more recently: Starbucks, iNails (Nail Salon), GP Acupuncture & Chiropractic Clinic, West Grande Prairie Dental, the Bone Biscuit.co (pet food), Prairie KEBAB (restaurant). Pannago Pizza will be opening soon.
October 2020: It was announced on October 26th Masks were now mandatory in Grande Prairie as the City and County of Grande Prairie COVID-19 active cases surpassed 100. It is now mandatory to wear a mask in the City at all indoor public areas and public vehicles and anyone not adhering to the by-law will result in a fine. There are a few exemptions.>
November 2020: O'Brien Lake West School is now under construction on the southwest part of Grande Prairie. (6201Tamarack Drive). It is projected to open for the 2022-2023 school year with around 900 Pre K to Grade 9 students attending. It is part of the Grande Prairie and District Catholic School District.
November 2020: Hansen Ford has moved to their new location just west of 116 Street and near 100 Avenue, Grande Prairie. (11721-101 Avenue). They were located near the Home Depot for a number of years.
November 2020: West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd is buying Norbord Inc worth $4 and the deal is expected to close early 2021. Norbord OSB plant is located south of Grande Prairie along Highway 40 just past the Wapiti River.
December 2020: New mandatory Province-wide health measures took effect December 12, 2020 for a minimum of 4 weeks, as the COVID-19 cases continued to surge. It would now mean no Christmas gatherings. The wearing of masks in indoor public places is mandatory, all indoor and outdoor social gatherings public or private is prohibited, Restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes closed to in-person service, Casinos, bingo halls, recreation facilities, personal and wellness services are also closed.. plus a number of other restrictions. The first doses of COVID-19 vaccine finally arrived December 15th with those Alberta health-care workers in Calgary and Edmonton getting it first and it is hoped 29 thousand people will be immunized by the end of December.
June 2020: A new restaurant is opening in Grande Prairie. SOHO Carvery and Bar was putting up their signs on Wednesday (June 10th) at the old Mama Panda's location along 100 Street, near Super Store. (12309-100 Street). JP Outpost, located by the Shell Gas Station in Clairmont, closed that location but is still operating out of the Grande Prairie location (Jackpot Grill) offering pick up or delivery.
June 2020: Construction of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital began in 2011 and is finally to be completed by the end of June. It will still be many months of cleaning, installing and testing the equipment before it can open. That could still be six to nine months or longer before it will officially open. The new hospital will feature two radiation chambers and audiology and more services that were only available in Edmonton.
July 2020: Recently Nationwide Furniture Mattress Outlet has opened in the Towne Centre Furniture location at 9845-99 Avenue Grande Prairie (Towne Centre Mall). The person running the operation is the former store’s son (Bilal) who has started his own operation which is part of a franchise. Popeye's Chicken has opened in Grande Prairie in Trader Ridge (far north part of the City, 132 ave and 100 St). When it first opened there were overwhelming line-ups at the drive-thru. Also EDO Japan has opened another location in Trader Ridge.
August 2020: 7-Eleven Convenience store was at this location for a number of years until it closed. Now getting ready to open is Winks on the corner of 100 Street and 97 Avenue, Downtown Grande Prairie.
August 2020: After 6 months of kids not going to school because of COVID-19, schools will be re-opening September 1st, with wearing masks being mandatory for grades 4-12 as well as all staff. In early August the City of Grande Prairie had a total of 38 cases since the pandemic started, with 10 active cases and 28 recovered, while the County of Grande Prairie had a total of 23 cases with 4 active and 19 recovered. In Alberta (Aug 3, 2020) there were 11,146 cases so far with 1,191 active cases and a total of 9,754 recovered.
August 2020: Grande Prairie’s Tenille Townes is the Academy of Country Music Award "New Female Artist of the Year". 26 year old Tenille will also be playing at the Academy of Country Music Awards to be held September 16th, 2020.
August 2020: Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard has been appointed the new Minister of Municipal Affairs by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in a recent shuffle of the the cabinet. The Alberta Government describes that departments responsibilities as “The ministry helps municipalities provide well-managed, collaborative, and accountable local government to Albertans.”
August 2020: The City of Grande Prairie has put up their new Welcome Signs. This one is along 100 Street and 132 Avenue. (near Grande Prairie Honda). About a year ago, residents were asked for their input on designing a new sign for the north and west entrances of the City, and this one was favoured the most.
September 2020: Tenille Townes from Grande Prairie was the big winner at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. She won the Female Artist of the Year as well as Single of the Year for her song "Somebody's Daughter". She also won the New Female Artist of the year earlier in the month at the American Country Music Awards.
October 2020: Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given announced that he will not seek re-election in the 2021 Fall Municipal Election. He spent 9 years as a councilor and now 11 years as mayor, Given feels it is the right time to transition away from elected office.
October 2020: Mitsubishi Motors has moved to a newly constructed building on the west side of Grande Prairie along 116 Street, a few blocks north of Costco. It is owned and operated by Landsperg Auto Group. it was about a month ago that Wapiti Auto Sales closed its doors located on 99 Street and 113 Avenue, Grande Prairie. (near the north Safeway location) They were in business for many years.
October 2020: Three new Grande Prairie VIDEOS have been added to DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com that feature the main streets. Grande Prairie Downtown: View Video> Grande Prairie 101 Ave: View Video> Muskoseepi Park: View Video>
October 2020: A number of hockey players with ties to Grande Prairie have been drafted to the NHL. Gavin Bjorklun who played with the Grande Prairie Storm Bantam AAA and who currently plays his junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL was selected by the Washington Capitals, 179th pic in the 2020 NHL Draft. Also drafted to the NHL was Kaiden Guile, 16th overall by Montreal Canadiens. He played minor hockey in Grande Prairie for many years when he was young. Ethan Edwards was also selected by the New Jersey Devils (120th overall in the fourth round). He was born in GP, and currently a defenceman for the Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL.
October 2020: A number of businesses have opened in Trader Ridge and more are on the way (corner of 100 Street and 132 Avenue, Grande Prairie). The Co-op was the first to open then Popeye’s Chicken and EDO Japan and more recently: Starbucks, iNails (Nail Salon), GP Acupuncture & Chiropractic Clinic, West Grande Prairie Dental, the Bone Biscuit.co (pet food), Prairie KEBAB (restaurant). Pannago Pizza will be opening soon.
October 2020: It was announced on October 26th Masks were now mandatory in Grande Prairie as the City and County of Grande Prairie COVID-19 active cases surpassed 100. It is now mandatory to wear a mask in the City at all indoor public areas and public vehicles and anyone not adhering to the by-law will result in a fine. There are a few exemptions.>
November 2020: O'Brien Lake West School is now under construction on the southwest part of Grande Prairie. (6201Tamarack Drive). It is projected to open for the 2022-2023 school year with around 900 Pre K to Grade 9 students attending. It is part of the Grande Prairie and District Catholic School District.
November 2020: Hansen Ford has moved to their new location just west of 116 Street and near 100 Avenue, Grande Prairie. (11721-101 Avenue). They were located near the Home Depot for a number of years.
November 2020: West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd is buying Norbord Inc worth $4 and the deal is expected to close early 2021. Norbord OSB plant is located south of Grande Prairie along Highway 40 just past the Wapiti River.
December 2020: New mandatory Province-wide health measures took effect December 12, 2020 for a minimum of 4 weeks, as the COVID-19 cases continued to surge. It would now mean no Christmas gatherings. The wearing of masks in indoor public places is mandatory, all indoor and outdoor social gatherings public or private is prohibited, Restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes closed to in-person service, Casinos, bingo halls, recreation facilities, personal and wellness services are also closed.. plus a number of other restrictions. The first doses of COVID-19 vaccine finally arrived December 15th with those Alberta health-care workers in Calgary and Edmonton getting it first and it is hoped 29 thousand people will be immunized by the end of December.