Grande Prairie 2026 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 - 2026
Jan 2026: The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie has closed their doors until October 2026, for some repairs considered esention for operation of the building over the next 25 years. The building was built in 1929 and was a school for many students in the area, known as The Grande Prairie High School (also known as Montrose School). It is located at 10209-99 Street, Grande Prairie.
Jan 2026: As of January 1st, there has been some changes to Grande Prairie’s Radio Stations. Vista Radio now also owns Reach 96.3 and has changed its music format from Christian format to a Number One Hit Music Station also changing their name to 96.3 SUN FM. 104.7 2Day FM has changed their name to the GOAT and plays everything that rocks.
Feb 2026: The Love Boutique is closing their doors on February 21st, 2026 after 25 years in business. It is located just west of Walmart. It wasn't that long ago (last summer) that the After Hours Boutique closed their doors. That location was downtown near the 214 place, Grande Prairie.
Feb 2026: Natural Resources Canada confirmed that a 4.3 magnitude earthquake took place in Swan Hills east of Grande Prairie on February 1st at 10:41am. A number of people in Grande Prairie said they felt it and tremors were felt as far as Fort MacMurray.
Feb 2026: Wing Snob has opened in Grande Prairie a few weeks ago. They have 9 locations in Edmonton,1 in Leduc and 1 in Calgary. Now in Grande Prairie just west of London Drugs in the Michael’s Parking area, approximately 104 Avenue and 109 Street.
March 2026: GoHealth, the local health food store is closing their doors at the end of March. The owner is retiring after serving customers for many years in Grande Prairie and before that in Sexsmith. They are located just east of Costco at 9815-115 Street. The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy which was located around 120 Avenue in the Northridge area, also closed its doors a while ago. UPDATE: GoHealth has been sold and new local owners will keep it open.
March 2026: Grande Prairie DownTown Awards were handed out. Al's News received the Art Ouellette Memorial Award who celebrated their 65th anniversay in downtown, while the 2025 Downtowner of the Year Award went to the Grande Prairie Legion #54.
March 2026: The Peace Country Clasic Agri-Show took place March 12-14, 2026.Ken Connors of DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com was there to capture some of the interesting events. Watch the VIDEO Play>
March 2026: Ember Steakhouse will be opening up a restuarant in Grande Prairie in April, located at 10119-121 Avenue, west of Prairie Haven Motel. This is not a chain restaurant as they have another location in Hinton, AB. The Grande Prairie location will be operated by Jess and Sri.
Jan 2026: The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie has closed their doors until October 2026, for some repairs considered esention for operation of the building over the next 25 years. The building was built in 1929 and was a school for many students in the area, known as The Grande Prairie High School (also known as Montrose School). It is located at 10209-99 Street, Grande Prairie.
Jan 2026: As of January 1st, there has been some changes to Grande Prairie’s Radio Stations. Vista Radio now also owns Reach 96.3 and has changed its music format from Christian format to a Number One Hit Music Station also changing their name to 96.3 SUN FM. 104.7 2Day FM has changed their name to the GOAT and plays everything that rocks.
Feb 2026: The Love Boutique is closing their doors on February 21st, 2026 after 25 years in business. It is located just west of Walmart. It wasn't that long ago (last summer) that the After Hours Boutique closed their doors. That location was downtown near the 214 place, Grande Prairie.
Feb 2026: Natural Resources Canada confirmed that a 4.3 magnitude earthquake took place in Swan Hills east of Grande Prairie on February 1st at 10:41am. A number of people in Grande Prairie said they felt it and tremors were felt as far as Fort MacMurray.
Feb 2026: Wing Snob has opened in Grande Prairie a few weeks ago. They have 9 locations in Edmonton,1 in Leduc and 1 in Calgary. Now in Grande Prairie just west of London Drugs in the Michael’s Parking area, approximately 104 Avenue and 109 Street.
March 2026: GoHealth, the local health food store is closing their doors at the end of March. The owner is retiring after serving customers for many years in Grande Prairie and before that in Sexsmith. They are located just east of Costco at 9815-115 Street. The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy which was located around 120 Avenue in the Northridge area, also closed its doors a while ago. UPDATE: GoHealth has been sold and new local owners will keep it open.
March 2026: Grande Prairie DownTown Awards were handed out. Al's News received the Art Ouellette Memorial Award who celebrated their 65th anniversay in downtown, while the 2025 Downtowner of the Year Award went to the Grande Prairie Legion #54.
March 2026: The Peace Country Clasic Agri-Show took place March 12-14, 2026.Ken Connors of DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com was there to capture some of the interesting events. Watch the VIDEO Play>
March 2026: Ember Steakhouse will be opening up a restuarant in Grande Prairie in April, located at 10119-121 Avenue, west of Prairie Haven Motel. This is not a chain restaurant as they have another location in Hinton, AB. The Grande Prairie location will be operated by Jess and Sri.
GRANDE PRAIRIE NEWS - 2026
March 2026: The old Harry Balfour School Building in Grande Prairie will become the new home of the Grande Prairie Technical Institute in September 2026. It will be a brand-new Grade 7-12 Public Charter School with hands-on skills-based learning and industry-connected trades programming serving 275 students. Trades include Automotive Technology, Construction, Carpentry, Welding, Metal Fabrication, Culinary Arts and Commercial Kitchen Operations. The School is located on the corner of 108 Avenue and 104 Street.
March 2026: The Captain's Boil has had a soft opening a few days ago in Grande Prairie, located near Smittys and Great Northern Casino. They have a number of locations in Ontario as well as Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Richmond BC. As the name suggests, it has a lot of Seafood Choices from Lobster, Crab, Shrimp, Mussels, Clams etc.
March 2026: JUST BEACHY is closing their doors on Saturday March 28th. They are located downtown (9907-100 Avenue) south of Alberta Computers in Grande Prairie. Their stock included swimwear, travel and cruise-wear and men’s and women’s apparel.
March 2026: RUSTIC OVEN BAKERY will be opening its doors on Friday March 27, 2026 at 10031-113 Avenue, Grande Prairie. They will have fresh-baked breads, focaccia, hearty chilli, sourdough pizza and even cinnamon buns.
April 2026: It was announced that the Grande Prairie's Farmers Market will be moving from their temporary location in the Prairie Mall to the Old Wild Bills/Forward location along 100 Street and next to Home Hardware. They plan to spend a year here until the downtown location that was destroyed by fire can be rebuilt.
April 2026: Winners of the Grande Prairie Dream Home are Julie and Rex Brotherwood of Beaverlodge. The 50/50 draw for over $236,000 was won by Allan Middleton of Edmonton.
April 2026: Jersey Mike's Subs just had a soft opening at 11020-100 Avenue, just south of the Walmart Parking Lot. There are 25 Jersey Mike's Subs locations in Canada and over 3,500 locations in the USA.
April 2026: Construction continues on a new building just west of the Dairy Queen along 84th Avenue on the west side of the City. It will be home to another Tim Hortons and Royal Pizza. Currently at this location is the Dairy Queen, Fas Gas, a Car Wash and Liquor store on the corner of 84th Avenue and 116 Street, Grande Prairie.
May 2026: Warehouse One and Bootlegger in the Grande Prairie Mall will be closing their doors after filing for creditor protection and seeking court approval to liquidate all 128 stores across Canada. The liquidation process will start after May 15th with the stores targeted to close in June. For nearly 30 years, Bootlegger has been part of the Prairie Mall while warehouse One was in the mall for the past 6 years. Locations closing will also include Fort St John and Dawson Creek.
March 2026: The old Harry Balfour School Building in Grande Prairie will become the new home of the Grande Prairie Technical Institute in September 2026. It will be a brand-new Grade 7-12 Public Charter School with hands-on skills-based learning and industry-connected trades programming serving 275 students. Trades include Automotive Technology, Construction, Carpentry, Welding, Metal Fabrication, Culinary Arts and Commercial Kitchen Operations. The School is located on the corner of 108 Avenue and 104 Street.
March 2026: The Captain's Boil has had a soft opening a few days ago in Grande Prairie, located near Smittys and Great Northern Casino. They have a number of locations in Ontario as well as Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Richmond BC. As the name suggests, it has a lot of Seafood Choices from Lobster, Crab, Shrimp, Mussels, Clams etc.
March 2026: JUST BEACHY is closing their doors on Saturday March 28th. They are located downtown (9907-100 Avenue) south of Alberta Computers in Grande Prairie. Their stock included swimwear, travel and cruise-wear and men’s and women’s apparel.
March 2026: RUSTIC OVEN BAKERY will be opening its doors on Friday March 27, 2026 at 10031-113 Avenue, Grande Prairie. They will have fresh-baked breads, focaccia, hearty chilli, sourdough pizza and even cinnamon buns.
April 2026: It was announced that the Grande Prairie's Farmers Market will be moving from their temporary location in the Prairie Mall to the Old Wild Bills/Forward location along 100 Street and next to Home Hardware. They plan to spend a year here until the downtown location that was destroyed by fire can be rebuilt.
April 2026: Winners of the Grande Prairie Dream Home are Julie and Rex Brotherwood of Beaverlodge. The 50/50 draw for over $236,000 was won by Allan Middleton of Edmonton.
April 2026: Jersey Mike's Subs just had a soft opening at 11020-100 Avenue, just south of the Walmart Parking Lot. There are 25 Jersey Mike's Subs locations in Canada and over 3,500 locations in the USA.
April 2026: Construction continues on a new building just west of the Dairy Queen along 84th Avenue on the west side of the City. It will be home to another Tim Hortons and Royal Pizza. Currently at this location is the Dairy Queen, Fas Gas, a Car Wash and Liquor store on the corner of 84th Avenue and 116 Street, Grande Prairie.
May 2026: Warehouse One and Bootlegger in the Grande Prairie Mall will be closing their doors after filing for creditor protection and seeking court approval to liquidate all 128 stores across Canada. The liquidation process will start after May 15th with the stores targeted to close in June. For nearly 30 years, Bootlegger has been part of the Prairie Mall while warehouse One was in the mall for the past 6 years. Locations closing will also include Fort St John and Dawson Creek.