The New Town of Grande Cache was incorporated on September 1, 1966.[1] The purpose of creating a new town was to open the area for the development of coal mines. New town status allowed the town to use the Government of Alberta as a guarantor for debt.
Construction of Grande Cache began in 1969. By 1971 a hospital, schools, stores, and the first homes were built.
Grande Cache received town status on September 1, 1983.[1]
The community suffered a boom-bust cycle due to the dependence on a single employer that depended on a single commodity: coal. In an attempt to diversify the economy additional industries were encouraged to develop in the area. This included a wood chip plant and a federal prison operated by the Correctional Service of Canada. In recent years, wilderness tourism is an increasing industry.
In September 2018, Grande Cache's Town Council determined that, due to a reduction in population and the subsequent loss in tax revenue, the town was no longer financially sustainable.[6] On September 25, 2018, town residents voted to dissolve the town into a hamlet under the jurisdiction of the Municipal District (MD) of Greenview No. 16.[7] Out of 1,100 ballots cast in the vote, 1,065 were votes in favour of dissolution, 32 were in favour of remaining a town, and 3 ballots were rejected.[7] The dissolution came into effect on January 1, 2019, rendering Grande Cache a hamlet in the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16.[2]
Geography
Grande Cache Lake
The hamlet is built on a plateau that is just below the subalpine level of the Rocky Mountains. The town site is surrounded by three valleys: to the north is the Smoky River; to the west is the Sulphur River; to the south is Victor Lake and Grande Cache Lake. To the east of town is Grande Mountain.
Climate
Grande Cache experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classificationDfc). Summertime is usually very mild, but can also be very cool or warm depending on the movement of different airmasses in the area. Wintertime is very cold and snowy, lasting from November into March, and sometimes even later.
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Grande Cache had a population of 3,276 living in 1,238 of its 1,533 total private dwellings, a change of -8.3% from its 2016 population of 3,571. With a land area of 35.21 km2 (13.59 sq mi), it had a population density of 93.0/km2 (241.0/sq mi) in 2021.[3]
As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Grande Cache had a population of 3,571 living in 1,296 of its 1,759 total private dwellings, a -17.3% change from its 2011 population of 4,319. With a land area of 34.97 km2 (13.50 sq mi), it had a population density of 102.1/km2 (264.5/sq mi) in 2016.[15]
Grande Cache is connected to Grande Prairie and Hinton via Highway 40. There was a community bus service once a week to Grande Prairie and Hinton. As of November 6, 2020, bus service has been cancelled until further notice.[16]Grande Cache Airport is 24 km (15 mi) outside of town. There are no scheduled flights into Grande Cache Airport. The airport closed as of January 2017.
Education
Local schools in Grande Cache include:
Sheldon Coates Elementary School (K-3);
Summitview School (grades 4-8);
SonRise Christian School (K-6) (Closed in 22/23 year);
^"Table 3: Population for census divisions and subdivisions, 1971 and 1976". 1976 Census of Canada. Census Divisions and Subdivisions, Western Provinces and the Territories. Vol. Population: Geographic Distributions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1977.
^"Table 2: Census Subdivisions in Alphabetical Order, Showing Population Rank, Canada, 1981". 1981 Census of Canada. Vol. Census subdivisions in decreasing population order. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1982. ISBN0-660-51563-6.
^"Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data". 91 Census. Vol. Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. 1992. pp. 100–108. ISBN0-660-57115-3.