Located 460 kilometers northwest of Edmonton in the heart of Peace River County is the City of Grande Prairie Alberta, a thoroughly modern city with retail and cultural amenities that rival larger cities.
Servicing more than 200,000 people within a 200 kilometer radius, the City of Grande Prairie is considered the shopping capital of the North and has become the regional business centre for Northern Alberta, Northern British Columbia, the Yukon and part of the Northwest Territories.
Incorporated in January of 1958, the population of the City of Grande Prairie is currently 50,000+ making it the largest city in Northwest Alberta (although some cite the city’s population at 65,000 if you include the neighbouring communities of Wembley, Beaverlodge, Hythe and Sexsmith).
What Makes the City of Grande Prairie So Unique?
The City of Grande Prairie is unique among Canadian cities:
- The city has an average growth rate of 5.33% making it one of the fastest growing cities in Canada and the fastest growing city in Alberta
- The City of Grande Prairie is ranked the second best place to invest in Alberta
- Out of 108 Canadian communities rated by MoneySense Magazine, the City of Grande Prairie ranked 4th overall as the best place to live in Canada
- The city also ranked higher than any other Alberta community for “quality of life”
- The city has one of the most modern, state of the art hospital complexes; the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital is slated for completion in 2009
At 6 degrees north of the 49th parallel, the City of Grande Prairie also enjoys longer than average frost free periods. Combined with rich soils and plenty of rain, this area is one of North America’s most productive agricultural areas (Peace River County produces more grain than the entire province of Manitoba!)
Things to Do In the City of Grande Prairie
As a major metropolitan centre, the City of Grande Prairie offers plenty to see and experience including live theatre, art galleries and a new cultural centre, which opened in 2008 housing new library facilities and a museum.
Winding through the city is Muskoseepi Park consisting of nearly 25 kilometers of scenic trails used year-round for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing.
The surrounding area also includes seven world-class CPGA golf courses plus year-round opportunities for outdoor activities including camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, boating, snowmobiling and skiing.
Grande Prairie Jobs & Employment Opportunities
The availability of jobs in Grande Prairie has been quite excellent over the past decade and is expected to continue its growth pattern over the next 20 years. Grande Prairie jobs combined with a solid economy, a high quality of life, higher than average household incomes, lower taxes and the abundance of renewable and non-renewable resources in the area, are all responsible for attracting skilled workers as well as younger families to the City of Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie Weather
The City of Grande Prairie enjoys some of the most enviable weather in all of Alberta, ideal for nature enthusiasts who enjoy year-round outdoor activities like camping, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. The annual average for sunlight is 2109 hours (almost 8 hrs per day on average). Summer temperatures can reach as high as 30o Celsius while the winter temperature average is around -12o Celsius thanks to the influence of the warm “Chinook” winds that blow in over the area.
Accommodations in the City of Grande Prairie
By the fall of 2008, the ten-year average for the vacancy rate in the City of Grand Prairie was only 2.6%, below the 3% vacancy rate of a balanced market.
If you are currently looking for accommodations in the City of Grand Prairie, do take a look at our Rent Grande Prairie rentals at Aurora Estates. These centrally located Grande Prairie apartment rentals include many modern features plus heated underground parking. Check out our Grande Prairie Apartment Floor Plans.
Aurora Estates offers affordable one and two bedroom apartments for rent in Grande Prairie and is conveniently located near a shopping centre and most major amenities.
Contact Rent Grande Prairie - Apartments
To learn more about the City of Grande Prairie, Alberta or to inquire about Grande Prairie Apartment Availability at Aurora Estates please Contact Rent Grande Prairie or call the rental office at 1.780.532.8331.
Ask us about our Rent to Own option.