Grande Prairie 2025 News - ARCHIVED
DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com features some of the news that changed Grande Prairie during the year 2025.
MORE: Grande Prairie NEWS - 2001 To Present VIEW
GRANDE PRAIRIE NEWS - 2025
Jan 2025: It w announced early January that Freson Bros is closing their location on the north side (across the street from Safeway) after more than 50 years. Customers lined up at the tills over a number of days to get merchandise that was 50% off. Buy-Low Foods will replace the Freson Bros in the spring who have 17 retail locations throughout BC and Alberta, owned by the Jim Pattison Group, the company that also owns Save-On-Foods.
Jan 2025: Ricki's and Cleo Stores are closing across Canada and includes the Ricki's store in the Prairie Mall, Grande Prairie. Conmark Holdings Inc, the Vancouver based company of Bootlegger, Leo Fashions and Ricki's have filed for creditor protection. The company operates 221 stores across Canada and employs more than 2,000 people. The company is hoping to salvage some locations of Bootlegger by downsizing.
Jan 2025: Boston Pizza is under new local ownership that includes the Westgate and Northside locations in Grande Prairie. The new owners are Jen and Chriss. Jen is part of the Dodd family who have owned the McDonald's Restaurants for many years.
Jan 2025: The Grande Prairie and District Golden Age Centre celebrated its 50th Anniversary of serving seniors and fostering community connections. Due to the membership continuing to rise a new addition of 3,200 square feet is in the planning stage with the anticipated cost of 2.3 million dollars.
Jan 2025: Peavey Mart announced it was closing all locations across Canada. The Peavey Mart in Grande Prairie began construction of their new building on the west side of the city in 2011 and made their move in September of 2011. Other Peace Country Peavey Marts closing include Peace River, High Prairie and Dawson Creek. More Photos of inside
Feb 2025: The City of Grande Prairie now has a population of 70,385. The survey was conducted from May 1st to July 31st, 2024. This equates to a growth rate of 2.8% since 2000. Grande Prairie's average age is 35.2 years old which is almost 4 years younger than Alberta's average. 80% of the population has been living here for 2 or more years and two-thirds of residents own the home they live in.
Feb 2025: The Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce announces that Wendy Thomas (Bosch) will be assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer for the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce. She leaves her position as the Executive Director of the Grande Prairie Downtown Association and member of City Council.
Feb 2025: Uncle Wiener Wholesale has moved to the old Windsor Motors location along 100 Street and 137 Avenue, Grande Prairie. The store had been open in Clairmont for some time but the new location will allow more space for their selection of items.
March 2025: Buy-Low Foods will be having their Grand Opening Thursday March 27th at 8am at 11417-99 Street, Grande Prairie. It was announced last January, the Freson Bros was closing their location on the north side (across from Safeway) after more than 50 years and now Buy-Low Foods is opening at that location. They have 17 retail locations throughout BC and Alberta, owned by the Jim Pattison Group, the company that also owns Save-On-Foods.
April 2025: Alberta Health Services announce it is adding a new 19 bed impatient transition unit at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Ambulatory Care Centre (the old hospital). It will be used as a temporary care setting for patients who no longer require acute care or are waiting for a continuing care home space.
April 28, 2025: The Liberals have won the Canadian Federal Election with 168 seats while the Conservatives came in second with a total of 144 seats. (unofficial results) The Block Quebecois now have 22 while the New Democrats have only 5. The Green Party has 1. Pierre Pollievre leader of the PC’s lost his riding that he held for 20 years as well Jagmeet Singh leader of the NDP also lost his BC seat and has resigned as leader of that party. Locally, Chris Warkentin of the Conservatives easily won his Grande Prairie Riding with over 47,000 votes while Liberal Maureen McLeod came in second with almost 7,000 votes. (photos from each parties website)
May 4th, 2025: A wildfire started on the southern outskirts of the City of Grande Prairie in the area of Deer Run and Deer Ridge Estates Subdivision. Residents in the area were evacuated as the fire travelled eastward flamed by strong winds. No homes were lost but it came very close to some (photo). It took a few days before it was under control. Just the day before another wildfire was reported east of Webster in the Morgan's Mountain area with three homes evacuated.
May 2025: Vista Radio, the parent company of 2Day FM radio in Grande Prairie, has entered into an agreement with Golden West Broadcasting to purchase Reach FM in Grande Prairie, pending approval of CRTC. Reach FM has been known as a Christian Radio Station but it is also known that it previously applied to the CRTC to change their music format to a more popular music format stating that the Christian format had a small audience and was not profitable. That request was approved by the CRTC in January 2024 and is now unclear what the format will be under the new owners.
May 2025: The Cool Aid Society of Grande Prairie announced it will be closing on June 25th 2025 because the Alberta Government has cut its funding. Cool Aid Society is a local non-profit Youth Centre servicing Grande Prairie and area since 1979 offering after school programs, pre-teen, and teen programs. (was serving over 300 registered families with a daily drop-in attendance from 25-70 children).
May 9th, 2025: ANAVETS has moved to a new location at 10203-106 Avenue, in Grande Prairie. Many people attended the ribbon cutting along with a performance by the Grande Prairie and District Pipes and Drum band. ANAVETS is comprised of the Army Navy and Air Force Veterans of Canada.
May 2025: Mighty Peace Harley-Davidson had its Grand Opening of their new location at 13116-100 Street Grande Prairie. It included a pancake break fast as well as live music. It is now part of the same building as Grande Prairie Motorsports.
June 2025: The Grande Prairie Fire Department responded in early June to an overnight structure fire at Margaret Edgson Manor, east of the Great Northern Casino. It has forced dozens of people including several with mobility issues out of their homes. This unit provides affordable housing with sixteen units that are fully wheelchair accessible.
Jan 2025: It w announced early January that Freson Bros is closing their location on the north side (across the street from Safeway) after more than 50 years. Customers lined up at the tills over a number of days to get merchandise that was 50% off. Buy-Low Foods will replace the Freson Bros in the spring who have 17 retail locations throughout BC and Alberta, owned by the Jim Pattison Group, the company that also owns Save-On-Foods.
Jan 2025: Ricki's and Cleo Stores are closing across Canada and includes the Ricki's store in the Prairie Mall, Grande Prairie. Conmark Holdings Inc, the Vancouver based company of Bootlegger, Leo Fashions and Ricki's have filed for creditor protection. The company operates 221 stores across Canada and employs more than 2,000 people. The company is hoping to salvage some locations of Bootlegger by downsizing.
Jan 2025: Boston Pizza is under new local ownership that includes the Westgate and Northside locations in Grande Prairie. The new owners are Jen and Chriss. Jen is part of the Dodd family who have owned the McDonald's Restaurants for many years.
Jan 2025: The Grande Prairie and District Golden Age Centre celebrated its 50th Anniversary of serving seniors and fostering community connections. Due to the membership continuing to rise a new addition of 3,200 square feet is in the planning stage with the anticipated cost of 2.3 million dollars.
Jan 2025: Peavey Mart announced it was closing all locations across Canada. The Peavey Mart in Grande Prairie began construction of their new building on the west side of the city in 2011 and made their move in September of 2011. Other Peace Country Peavey Marts closing include Peace River, High Prairie and Dawson Creek. More Photos of inside
Feb 2025: The City of Grande Prairie now has a population of 70,385. The survey was conducted from May 1st to July 31st, 2024. This equates to a growth rate of 2.8% since 2000. Grande Prairie's average age is 35.2 years old which is almost 4 years younger than Alberta's average. 80% of the population has been living here for 2 or more years and two-thirds of residents own the home they live in.
Feb 2025: The Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce announces that Wendy Thomas (Bosch) will be assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer for the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce. She leaves her position as the Executive Director of the Grande Prairie Downtown Association and member of City Council.
Feb 2025: Uncle Wiener Wholesale has moved to the old Windsor Motors location along 100 Street and 137 Avenue, Grande Prairie. The store had been open in Clairmont for some time but the new location will allow more space for their selection of items.
March 2025: Buy-Low Foods will be having their Grand Opening Thursday March 27th at 8am at 11417-99 Street, Grande Prairie. It was announced last January, the Freson Bros was closing their location on the north side (across from Safeway) after more than 50 years and now Buy-Low Foods is opening at that location. They have 17 retail locations throughout BC and Alberta, owned by the Jim Pattison Group, the company that also owns Save-On-Foods.
April 2025: Alberta Health Services announce it is adding a new 19 bed impatient transition unit at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Ambulatory Care Centre (the old hospital). It will be used as a temporary care setting for patients who no longer require acute care or are waiting for a continuing care home space.
April 28, 2025: The Liberals have won the Canadian Federal Election with 168 seats while the Conservatives came in second with a total of 144 seats. (unofficial results) The Block Quebecois now have 22 while the New Democrats have only 5. The Green Party has 1. Pierre Pollievre leader of the PC’s lost his riding that he held for 20 years as well Jagmeet Singh leader of the NDP also lost his BC seat and has resigned as leader of that party. Locally, Chris Warkentin of the Conservatives easily won his Grande Prairie Riding with over 47,000 votes while Liberal Maureen McLeod came in second with almost 7,000 votes. (photos from each parties website)
May 4th, 2025: A wildfire started on the southern outskirts of the City of Grande Prairie in the area of Deer Run and Deer Ridge Estates Subdivision. Residents in the area were evacuated as the fire travelled eastward flamed by strong winds. No homes were lost but it came very close to some (photo). It took a few days before it was under control. Just the day before another wildfire was reported east of Webster in the Morgan's Mountain area with three homes evacuated.
May 2025: Vista Radio, the parent company of 2Day FM radio in Grande Prairie, has entered into an agreement with Golden West Broadcasting to purchase Reach FM in Grande Prairie, pending approval of CRTC. Reach FM has been known as a Christian Radio Station but it is also known that it previously applied to the CRTC to change their music format to a more popular music format stating that the Christian format had a small audience and was not profitable. That request was approved by the CRTC in January 2024 and is now unclear what the format will be under the new owners.
May 2025: The Cool Aid Society of Grande Prairie announced it will be closing on June 25th 2025 because the Alberta Government has cut its funding. Cool Aid Society is a local non-profit Youth Centre servicing Grande Prairie and area since 1979 offering after school programs, pre-teen, and teen programs. (was serving over 300 registered families with a daily drop-in attendance from 25-70 children).
May 9th, 2025: ANAVETS has moved to a new location at 10203-106 Avenue, in Grande Prairie. Many people attended the ribbon cutting along with a performance by the Grande Prairie and District Pipes and Drum band. ANAVETS is comprised of the Army Navy and Air Force Veterans of Canada.
May 2025: Mighty Peace Harley-Davidson had its Grand Opening of their new location at 13116-100 Street Grande Prairie. It included a pancake break fast as well as live music. It is now part of the same building as Grande Prairie Motorsports.
June 2025: The Grande Prairie Fire Department responded in early June to an overnight structure fire at Margaret Edgson Manor, east of the Great Northern Casino. It has forced dozens of people including several with mobility issues out of their homes. This unit provides affordable housing with sixteen units that are fully wheelchair accessible.
GRANDE PRAIRIE NEWS - 2025
June 2025: The Ground Breaking Event of the Maskwa Center took place in May and in June (photo) heavy equipment were on site doing the prep work. The new facility will be located next to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital and once complete will be 100,000 square feet. On the first floor will be the Academic Teaching Clinic (Reduce Hospital and ER visits, 20 Family Physicians, 10 Graduates per year). On the second floor will be Retail Floor (Pharmacy, medical supply business, daycare, restaurant etc). On the Third Floor will be the Maskwa Medical Specialist Center (provide treatment plan in 10 days from referrals).
June 2025: After Hours Boutique that has been located along 100th avenue (near 214 place) and has been part of the city for many years. It is closing their doors.
June 2025: Fairweather has opened a store in the Grande Prairie Mall across from Moxies in the southeast wing. The Canadian women's fashion retailer has over 100 stores across Canada.
July 2025: OK Tire is opening up a second location in the old Norlan Chrysler Building that has been sitting vacant for a number of years. 12501-100 Street Grande Prairie.
July 2025: DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com captured the 2025 Grande Prairie Canada Day Parade. View Video>
July 2025: Grande Prairie hosted the Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games July 11-13th at five outdoor locations including the Bonnetts Energy Centre. Grande Prairie welcomed over 1,000 athletes along with families, coaches and supporters from across the province.
July 2025: The signs were going up for a new Dollarama, located on the far west side of Grande Prairie and just south of Best Buy.
Aug 2025: TOYZ Game Emporium closed their doors at the end of day August 30, 2025.Their location, 11012-100 Street was just south of Giant Tiger in Grande Prairie. Jason and Tina Lauzon were grateful for everyone's patronage and support over the past 30 years.
Aug 18th, 2025: The City and County of Grande Prairie broke ground on a $16.4 million Recreation Centre located on the far north side of Grande Prairie, in the Trader Ridge area. Once completed, the 135,000 square feet facility will have a FIFA regulation size soccer field with flexibility for other sports, a running track and a number of change rooms. It is hoped to open in September of 2026.
Aug 2025: Global Cellulose Fibres, a division of International Paper, has announced it will be acquired by American Industrial Partners which includes the Global Cellulose Fibers in the County of Grande Prairie. (12km south of Grande Prairie on Resources Road, previously known as Weyerhaeuser). The transaction is expected to close by end of 2025.
Sept 2025: Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House has opened in Grande Prairie at 10210-11 Street just west of Walmart and next to the M&M Food Market. Also just a couple doors down from Beyond Breakfast.
Sept 2025: The Canadian Union of Postal Workers went on a strike at 4pm Thursday September 25th, 2025. Canada Post mail delivery has been suspended. The last strike began on November 15th, 2024 but on December 17th, the strike ended when the federal government intervened by legislating workers back to work.
Oct 2025: 15,000 teachers across the province of Alberta go on strike. Instead of the Province offering more to the teachers, they offered parents $30 a day for each student 12 and under to help with child care costs.
Oct 2025: Dollar Tree will be opening up soon in the old Sears Building just north of the Real Canadian Superstore. (around 124 avenue and 99 street, Grander Prairie). The Sears location has been empty since October 2017 when Sears Canada closed its doors in Grande Prairie. Since then, renovations have taken place splitting the building into smaller retail spaces, with the Dollar Tree, the first store to open here soon.
Oct 2025: The Grand Opening of a new store took place on Saturday (Oct 11th, 2025) at the Prairie Mall, Grande Prairie. Manitobah is a store that features women, men and kids Mukluks, moccasins and lifestyle footwear designed to honour and positively impact indigenous communities. Manitobah stores are also located in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon and Thunder Bay.
Oct 2025: STRIKES END. Canada Post workers went back to work on October 11th, 2025 but moved from a national strike to a system of rotating stricks which resulted in the mail moving again but with some delays. Also students went back to class after the teachers strike ended across Alberta. The strike lasted for three weeks from October 6th to October 29th. The Alberta Government used ther notwithstnding clause to force the teachers back to work.
Nov 2025: The Paddle Cub Multisport Facility, Restauant and Bar opened in the Prairie Mall, Grande Prairie. It can be accessed from the northeast wing of the mall or from the ouside door located on the northeast side of the builiding. It features 4 indoor pickleball courts, golf simulators, interactive darts as well as a restaurant and bar.
Nov 2025: A new VIDEO featuring the Grande Prairie Athletics Hockey Team as they were coming onto the ice in an NPHL (North Peace Hockey League) game. Play Video>
Dec 2025: Northwestern Polytechnic has acquired the former Hansen Lincoln building on 100 Avenue and 112 Street Grande Prairie with the intention of making it the new Skilled Trades Training Centre. It is expected to accept apprentices for the 2026 fall term.
Dec 2025: Grande Prairie has received a lot more snow than usual and snowplows were having a tough time keeping up. From Dec 1 to December 20th a total of 51.3 cm of snow fell. On December 14th alone, there was 10.6 cm of snow with broke a 91 year old record. Compared to 2024 when all of December there was 35.2cm. Fort St John recorded a total of 80.0 cm of snowfall from December 1st to December 18th.
June 2025: The Ground Breaking Event of the Maskwa Center took place in May and in June (photo) heavy equipment were on site doing the prep work. The new facility will be located next to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital and once complete will be 100,000 square feet. On the first floor will be the Academic Teaching Clinic (Reduce Hospital and ER visits, 20 Family Physicians, 10 Graduates per year). On the second floor will be Retail Floor (Pharmacy, medical supply business, daycare, restaurant etc). On the Third Floor will be the Maskwa Medical Specialist Center (provide treatment plan in 10 days from referrals).
June 2025: After Hours Boutique that has been located along 100th avenue (near 214 place) and has been part of the city for many years. It is closing their doors.
June 2025: Fairweather has opened a store in the Grande Prairie Mall across from Moxies in the southeast wing. The Canadian women's fashion retailer has over 100 stores across Canada.
July 2025: OK Tire is opening up a second location in the old Norlan Chrysler Building that has been sitting vacant for a number of years. 12501-100 Street Grande Prairie.
July 2025: DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com captured the 2025 Grande Prairie Canada Day Parade. View Video>
July 2025: Grande Prairie hosted the Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games July 11-13th at five outdoor locations including the Bonnetts Energy Centre. Grande Prairie welcomed over 1,000 athletes along with families, coaches and supporters from across the province.
July 2025: The signs were going up for a new Dollarama, located on the far west side of Grande Prairie and just south of Best Buy.
Aug 2025: TOYZ Game Emporium closed their doors at the end of day August 30, 2025.Their location, 11012-100 Street was just south of Giant Tiger in Grande Prairie. Jason and Tina Lauzon were grateful for everyone's patronage and support over the past 30 years.
Aug 18th, 2025: The City and County of Grande Prairie broke ground on a $16.4 million Recreation Centre located on the far north side of Grande Prairie, in the Trader Ridge area. Once completed, the 135,000 square feet facility will have a FIFA regulation size soccer field with flexibility for other sports, a running track and a number of change rooms. It is hoped to open in September of 2026.
Aug 2025: Global Cellulose Fibres, a division of International Paper, has announced it will be acquired by American Industrial Partners which includes the Global Cellulose Fibers in the County of Grande Prairie. (12km south of Grande Prairie on Resources Road, previously known as Weyerhaeuser). The transaction is expected to close by end of 2025.
Sept 2025: Stacked Pancake and Breakfast House has opened in Grande Prairie at 10210-11 Street just west of Walmart and next to the M&M Food Market. Also just a couple doors down from Beyond Breakfast.
Sept 2025: The Canadian Union of Postal Workers went on a strike at 4pm Thursday September 25th, 2025. Canada Post mail delivery has been suspended. The last strike began on November 15th, 2024 but on December 17th, the strike ended when the federal government intervened by legislating workers back to work.
Oct 2025: 15,000 teachers across the province of Alberta go on strike. Instead of the Province offering more to the teachers, they offered parents $30 a day for each student 12 and under to help with child care costs.
Oct 2025: Dollar Tree will be opening up soon in the old Sears Building just north of the Real Canadian Superstore. (around 124 avenue and 99 street, Grander Prairie). The Sears location has been empty since October 2017 when Sears Canada closed its doors in Grande Prairie. Since then, renovations have taken place splitting the building into smaller retail spaces, with the Dollar Tree, the first store to open here soon.
Oct 2025: The Grand Opening of a new store took place on Saturday (Oct 11th, 2025) at the Prairie Mall, Grande Prairie. Manitobah is a store that features women, men and kids Mukluks, moccasins and lifestyle footwear designed to honour and positively impact indigenous communities. Manitobah stores are also located in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon and Thunder Bay.
Oct 2025: STRIKES END. Canada Post workers went back to work on October 11th, 2025 but moved from a national strike to a system of rotating stricks which resulted in the mail moving again but with some delays. Also students went back to class after the teachers strike ended across Alberta. The strike lasted for three weeks from October 6th to October 29th. The Alberta Government used ther notwithstnding clause to force the teachers back to work.
Nov 2025: The Paddle Cub Multisport Facility, Restauant and Bar opened in the Prairie Mall, Grande Prairie. It can be accessed from the northeast wing of the mall or from the ouside door located on the northeast side of the builiding. It features 4 indoor pickleball courts, golf simulators, interactive darts as well as a restaurant and bar.
Nov 2025: A new VIDEO featuring the Grande Prairie Athletics Hockey Team as they were coming onto the ice in an NPHL (North Peace Hockey League) game. Play Video>
Dec 2025: Northwestern Polytechnic has acquired the former Hansen Lincoln building on 100 Avenue and 112 Street Grande Prairie with the intention of making it the new Skilled Trades Training Centre. It is expected to accept apprentices for the 2026 fall term.
Dec 2025: Grande Prairie has received a lot more snow than usual and snowplows were having a tough time keeping up. From Dec 1 to December 20th a total of 51.3 cm of snow fell. On December 14th alone, there was 10.6 cm of snow with broke a 91 year old record. Compared to 2024 when all of December there was 35.2cm. Fort St John recorded a total of 80.0 cm of snowfall from December 1st to December 18th.