Grande Cache facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grande Cache
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Hamlet
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Highway 40 through Grande Cache
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 Grande Cache
Location in M.D. of Greenview
Grande Cache
Location in Alberta
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Region | Northern Alberta |
| Planning region | Upper Peace |
| Municipal district | Greenview |
| Incorporated | |
| • New town | September 1, 1966 |
| • Town | September 1, 1983 |
| Dissolved (Hamlet) | January 1, 2019 |
| Area
(2021)
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| • Land | 35.21 km2 (13.59 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,220 m (4,000 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 3,276 |
| • Density | 93/km2 (240/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Postal code |
T0E 0Y0
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| Area code(s) | +1-780 |
Grande Cache is a small community in west-central Alberta, Canada. It is located on Highway 40, about 145 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of Hinton. Grande Cache overlooks the Smoky River. It is also at the northern edge of Alberta's Rockies. The community serves as a gateway to the Willmore Wilderness Park. Grande Cache used to be a town but became a hamlet in 2019.
Contents
Discovering Grande Cache's Past
Grande Cache was officially created as a "New Town" on September 1, 1966. A "New Town" meant the government helped pay for its development. The main reason for creating Grande Cache was to open up the area for coal mining.
Building the Community
Construction in Grande Cache started in 1969. By 1971, the community had a hospital, schools, stores, and its first homes. This helped the new town grow quickly.
From New Town to Town Status
Grande Cache officially became a full town on September 1, 1983. This showed that the community was growing and becoming more established.
The Rise and Fall of Coal Mining
The community's economy depended a lot on coal mining. This led to a "boom-bust" cycle. This means the economy was great when coal prices were high, but struggled when prices dropped. To make the economy stronger, other businesses were encouraged to come. These included a wood chip plant and a federal prison. In recent years, tourism, especially for wilderness adventures, has become more important.
Coal was very important to Grande Cache's history. A large mine was set up in 1966 to produce a special type of coal. This coal was used in Japan to make steel. Miners came from many places, including other parts of Canada and even other countries, to work in Grande Cache.
Becoming a Hamlet Again
In September 2018, the town council decided that Grande Cache could no longer afford to be a town. This was because the population had gone down, which meant less tax money. On September 25, 2018, residents voted on whether to become a hamlet. Most people voted to change Grande Cache into a hamlet. This change officially happened on January 1, 2019. As a hamlet, Grande Cache is now managed by the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16.
Exploring Grande Cache's Geography
Grande Cache is built on a high flat area called a plateau. This plateau is just below the subalpine level of the Rocky Mountains. The community is surrounded by three valleys. To the north is the Smoky River. To the west is the Sulphur River. To the south are Victor Lake and Grande Cache Lake. Grande Mountain is located to the east of the community.
Grande Cache's Climate
Grande Cache has a subarctic climate. This means it has very cold and snowy winters. Winters usually last from November to March, and sometimes even longer. Summers are generally mild. However, summer temperatures can change a lot, being cool or warm depending on the weather patterns.
| Climate data for Grande Cache | |||||||||||||
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| 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) |
34.5 (94.1) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
24 (75) |
18 (64) |
16 (61) |
34.5 (94.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.2 (28.0) |
−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 (52.0) |
13.3 (55.9) |
12.7 (54.9) |
8.9 (48.0) |
4 (39) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
2.7 (36.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °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 (30.0) |
−8.9 (16.0) |
−12.5 (9.5) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −39 (−38) |
−41 (−42) |
−37.8 (−36.0) |
−22 (−8) |
−12 (10) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
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 (1.05) |
30.5 (1.20) |
25.6 (1.01) |
57.8 (2.28) |
69 (2.7) |
83.2 (3.28) |
70.1 (2.76) |
52.5 (2.07) |
34.3 (1.35) |
33.6 (1.32) |
31.5 (1.24) |
539.6 (21.24) |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Understanding Grande Cache's Population
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In the 2021 Canadian census, 3,276 people lived in Grande Cache. This was a decrease from its population of 3,571 in 2016. The community covers a land area of about 35.21 square kilometers. This means there were about 93 people living in each square kilometer in 2021.
Fun Things to Do in Grande Cache
- 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
Sports and Events
Grande Cache is famous for hosting the Canadian Death Race. This is a challenging race that attracts athletes from many places.
Grande Cache's Infrastructure
Grande Cache is home to the Grande Cache Institution, which is a medium-security prison.
Getting Around Grande Cache
Grande Cache is connected to Grande Prairie and Hinton by Highway 40. There is a community bus that offers rides to Grande Prairie and Hinton every week. This bus also helps people get to local businesses. The Grande Cache Airport is 24 kilometers (15 miles) outside of town. However, there are no regular flights into this airport, and it closed in January 2017.
Learning in Grande Cache
Local schools in Grande Cache include:
- Sheldon Coates Elementary School (Kindergarten to Grade 3)
- Summitview School (Grades 4-8)
- Grande Cache Community High School (Grades 9-12)
Famous People from Grande Cache
- Dean McAmmond, a professional hockey player
- Travis Roche, a professional hockey player
