Grande Cache

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Grande Cache | official_name = | other_name = | native_name =  | nickname = | settlement_type = Hamlet | motto = | image_skyline = Grande Cache mainstret.JPG | imagesize = | image_caption = Highway 40 through Grande Cache | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | city_logo = | citylogo_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_map = CAN AB Greenview#Canada Alberta#Canada#North America | pushpin_label_position =  | pushpin_map_caption = Location in M.D. of Greenview##Location in Alberta | pushpin_mapsize = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Canada | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Alberta | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Northern Alberta | subdivision_type3 = Planning region | subdivision_name3 = Upper Peace | subdivision_type4 = Municipal district | subdivision_name4 = Greenview | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = Governing body | leader_name1 = Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 Council | leader_title2 = MP | leader_name2 = William Stevenson (Cons - Yellowhead) | leader_title3 = MLAs | leader_name3 = Martin Long (UCP - West Yellowhead) | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title = Founded | established_date = | established_title1 = Incorporated<ref name=AMATownProfiles>{{cite web | url=http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cfml/MunicipalProfiles/basicReport/TOWN.PDF | publisher=Alberta Municipal Affairs | title=Location and History Profile: Town of Grande Cache | page=274 | date=October 7, 2016 | access-date=October 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name=dissolution>{{cite web | url=http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/orders/Orders_in_Council/2018/1118/2018_361.html | title=Order in Council (O.C.) 361/2018 | publisher=Government of Alberta | date=November 27, 2018 | access-date=January 13, 2019}}</ref> | established_date1 =   | established_title2 =  • New town | established_date2 = September 1, 1966 | established_title3 =  • Town | established_date3 = September 1, 1983 | established_title4 = Dissolved (Hamlet) | established_date4 = January 1, 2019 | area_footnotes =  (2021)<ref name=2021census/> | area_land_km2 = 35.21 | area_urban_km2 = | population_as_of = 2021 | population_footnotes = <ref name=2021census/> | population_note = | population_total = 3276  | population_density_km2 = 93 | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_blank1_title = | population_blank1 = | timezone = MST | utc_offset = −7 | timezone_DST = MDT | utc_offset_DST = −6 | coordinates = {{coord|53|53|19|N|119|07|06|W|region:CA-AB|display=inline,title}} | elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.safetycodes.ab.ca/Public/Documents/PSSSOP_Handbook_Version_12_Online_Feb_21_2012b.pdf | title=Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town) | publisher=Safety Codes Council | type=PDF | pages=212–215 (PDF pages 226–229) | date=January 2012 | access-date=October 8, 2013 | archive-date=October 16, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016085027/http://www.safetycodes.ab.ca/Public/Documents/PSSSOP_Handbook_Version_12_Online_Feb_21_2012b.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> | elevation_m = 1220 | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = Postal code  | postal_code = T0E 0Y0 | area_code = +1-780 | blank_name = | blank_info = | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = {{official website|mdgreenview.ab.ca}} | footnotes = }}

'''Grande Cache''' is a hamlet in West-Central Alberta, Canada within and administered by the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16.<ref>{{AltaML}}</ref> It is located on Highway 40 approximately {{convert|145|km|mi}} northwest of Hinton and {{convert|435|km|mi}} west of Edmonton. Grande Cache overlooks the Smoky River, is at the northern edge of Alberta's Rockies, and serves as a gateway to the Willmore Wilderness Park. The hamlet held town status prior to 2019.

== History == The New Town of Grande Cache was incorporated on September 1, 1966.<ref name=AMATownProfiles/> 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.<ref name=AMATownProfiles/>

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.

Coal has been pivotal to Grande Cache's history. The British Coal Board established a large mine in 1966 to produce metallurgical coal which was used in Japanese coke ovens to provide the carbon input for steel production. Grande Cache's coal typically was not intended for power generation due to its low volatiles content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CST Coal No.8 Mine (Grande Cache) Mine |url=https://miningdataonline.com/property/691/CST-Coal-No.8-Mine-Grande-Cache-Mine.aspx#:~:text=Fault%20throw%20is%20up%20to,varies%20between%200.30%20and%200.70%25. |website=MDO Mining Intelligence and News}}</ref> According to the NY Times in 1971: "Japanese steel makers, or their customers, are paying the relocation costs of miners who have come to Grande Cache from Nova Scotia's fading Cape Breton coal mines, from the dying wheat hamlets of Saskatchewan, from Utah and Montana mines and from South Korea, Japan, West Germany, the Netherlands and Britain."<ref>{{Cite news |date=1971 |title=Boom Town Is Built on Coal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/01/25/archives/boom-town-is-built-on-coal.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

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.<ref name=VoteProposed>{{cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4467218/grande-cache-deemed-not-viable-to-carry-on-as-a-town/ | title=Grande Cache deemed not viable to carry on as a town | publisher=Global News | date=September 19, 2018 | access-date=September 19, 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref name=DissolutionVotePassed>{{cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4488829/grande-cache-vote-dissolve-town/ | title=Residents of Grande Cache vote to dissolve town | publisher=Global News | date=September 26, 2018 | access-date=September 26, 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref name=DissolutionVotePassed/> The dissolution came into effect on January 1, 2019, rendering Grande Cache a hamlet in the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16.<ref name=dissolution/>

== Geography == left|thumb|250px|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 classification ''Dfc''). 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. <div style="width:75%">{{Weather box | metric first = yes | single line = yes | collapsed = yes | location = Grande Cache | Jan record high C = 14 | Feb record high C = 16 | Mar record high C = 18 | Apr record high C = 25 | May record high C = 29.5 | Jun record high C = 34.5 | Jul record high C = 31 | Aug record high C = 31 | Sep record high C = 32 | Oct record high C = 24 | Nov record high C = 18 | Dec record high C = 16 | year record high C = 34.5 | Jan high C = -2.2 | Feb high C = -1 | Mar high C = 2.6 | Apr high C = 8.5 | May high C = 13.3 | Jun high C = 17.1 | Jul high C = 19.6 | Aug high C = 19 | Sep high C = 14.7 | Oct high C = 9 | Nov high C = 0.6 | Dec high C = -2.5 | year high C = 8.2 | Jan mean C = -7.1 | Feb mean C = -6.5 | Mar mean C = -2.9 | Apr mean C = 2.7 | May mean C = 7.3 | Jun mean C = 11.1 | Jul mean C = 13.3 | Aug mean C = 12.7 | Sep mean C = 8.9 | Oct mean C = 4 | Nov mean C = -4.2 | Dec mean C = -7.5 | year mean C = 2.7 | Jan low C = -12.1 | Feb low C = -11.9 | Mar low C = -8.4 | Apr low C = -3.2 | May low C = 1.4 | Jun low C = 5 | Jul low C = 7 | Aug low C = 6.4 | Sep low C = 3.1 | Oct low C = -1.1 | Nov low C = -8.9 | Dec low C = -12.5 | year low C = -2.9 | Jan record low C = -39 | Feb record low C = -41 | Mar record low C = -37.8 | Apr record low C = -22 | May record low C = -12 | Jun record low C = -3.9 | Jul record low C = 0.5 | Aug record low C = -5 | Sep record low C = -10 | Oct record low C = -30 | Nov record low C = -43 | Dec record low C = -41 | year record low C = -43 | Jan precipitation mm = 24.9 | Feb precipitation mm = 26.6 | Mar precipitation mm = 30.5 | Apr precipitation mm = 25.6 | May precipitation mm = 57.8 | Jun precipitation mm = 69 | Jul precipitation mm = 83.2 | Aug precipitation mm = 70.1 | Sep precipitation mm = 52.5 | Oct precipitation mm = 34.3 | Nov precipitation mm = 33.6 | Dec precipitation mm = 31.5 | year precipitation mm = 539.6 | source 1 = Environment Canada<ref name= "climate">Environment Canada [http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?Province=ALL&StationName=Grande%20Cache&SearchType=BeginsWith&LocateBy=Province&Proximity=25&ProximityFrom=City&StationNumber=&IDType=MSC&CityName=&ParkName=&LatitudeDegrees=&LatitudeMinutes=&LongitudeDegrees=&LongitudeMinutes=&NormalsClass=A&SelNormals=&StnId=2716&&autofwd=1 Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000], accessed 24 July 2009</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Canada|first=Environment and Climate Change|date=2011-10-31|title=Almanac Averages and Extremes for June 27 - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada|url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/almanac_e.html?StationID=26870&month=6&day=27&Year=2021&timeframe=4&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2021&time=LST|access-date=2021-06-28|website=climate.weather.gc.ca|language=en}}</ref> | date = August 2010 | source = }}</div>

== Demographics == {{stack|{{Historical populations |title = Federal census<br/>population history |type = Canada |align = |width = |state = |shading = |percentages = |footnote = ''Source: Statistics Canada''<br /><ref name=1976census>{{cite book | title=1976 Census of Canada | volume=Population: Geographic Distributions | series=Census Divisions and Subdivisions, Western Provinces and the Territories | year=1977 | publisher=Statistics Canada | location=Ottawa | chapter=Table 3: Population for census divisions and subdivisions, 1971 and 1976}}</ref><ref name=1981census>{{cite book | title=1981 Census of Canada | volume=Census subdivisions in decreasing population order | year=1982 | publisher=Statistics Canada | location=Ottawa | chapter=Table 2: Census Subdivisions in Alphabetical Order, Showing Population Rank, Canada, 1981 | isbn=0-660-51563-6}}</ref><ref name=1991census>{{cite book | title=91 Census | volume=Population and Dwelling Counts – Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions | year=1992 | publisher=Statistics Canada | location=Ottawa | pages=100–108 | chapter=Table 2: Population and Dwelling Counts, for Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 1986 and 1991 – 100% Data | isbn=0-660-57115-3}}</ref><ref name=2001census>{{cite web | title=Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Divisions, 2001 and 1996 Censuses – 100% Data (Alberta) | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CSD-D.cfm?PR=48 | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref><ref name=2006census>{{cite web | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-550/Index.cfm?TPL=P1C&Page=RETR&LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=1&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=January 6, 2010 | access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref><ref name=2016censusABmunis/><ref name=2021census/> |1971|2525 |1976|4116 |1981|4523 |1986|3646 |1991|3842 |1996|4441 |2001|3828 |2006|3783 |2011|4319 |2016|3571 |2021|3276 }}}}

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 {{percentage|{{#expr:3276-3571}}|3571|1}} from its 2016 population of 3,571. With a land area of {{cvt|35.21|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|3276|35.21|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=2021census>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=9810001201 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=February 10, 2022}}</ref>

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 {{percentage|{{#expr:3571-4319}}|4319|1}} change from its 2011 population of 4,319. With a land area of {{convert|34.97|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|3571|34.97|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2016.<ref name=2016censusABmunis>{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref>

== Attractions == * 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 * Caw Ridge

== Sports == Grande Cache is the home of the Canadian Death Race.

The Grande Cache Rockies are the local hockey team in Grande Cache.

Volleyball, basketball, and badminton are offered by local schools for grade 6-9 and 10-12.

== Infrastructure == Grande Cache is the site of the Grande Cache Institution, a medium-security prison.

=== Transportation === Grande Cache is connected to Grande Prairie and Hinton via Highway 40. There is a Community Bus that provides transportation to both Grande Prairie and Hinton weekly. Additionally, the Community Bus provides transportation to the Cooperatives and Enterprises and local community businesses weekly. Grande Cache Airport is {{convert|24|km|mi|abbr=on}} outside of town. There are no scheduled flights into Grande Cache Airport. The airport closed as of January 2017.

=== Electrical === H.R. Milner harbours a 300 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine(Milner 2) near Grande Cache.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maxim Power Corp. - HR Milner Generating Station |url=https://maximpowercorp.com/hr-milner-generating-station/ |access-date=2025-03-25 |language=en}}</ref>

Grande Cache uses almost entirely underground electrical distribution. Power is supplied to the hamlet by ATCO. This is distributed to individual transformers at typically 14.4kV. Three phase electricity is distributed to some buildings.

== 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); *Grande Cache Community High School (grades 9-12);

== Notable people == *Dean McAmmond, professional hockey player *Travis Roche, professional hockey player

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *{{Official website}}

Category:1966 establishments in Alberta Category:2019 disestablishments in Alberta Category:Designated places in Alberta Category:Former towns in Alberta Category:Former new towns in Alberta Category:Hamlets in Alberta Category:Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 Category:Populated places disestablished in 2019