2014 grande prairie economic profile

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ECONOMIC PROFILE RESOURCEFUL SPIRIT, GROWING OPPORTUNITY GRANDE PRAIRIE 2013/2014

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Page 1: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

ECONOMIC PROFILE

RESOURCEFUL SPIRIT, GROWING OPPORTUNITY

GRANDE PRAIRIE2013/2014

Page 2: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

___________________________________________Prepared by Chelsea Lewis and Brian Glavin, this profile provides relevant information for businesses and industries

interested in investing in Grande Prairie.

In our efforts to direct and assist in the overall economic growth of the region, the City of Grande Prairie would be

pleased to provide you with guidance and information tailored to meet your needs.

Brian Glavin ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Any questions regarding this publication can be directed to:

City of Grande Prairie, Economic Development Department PHONE 780.538.0475 | EMAIL [email protected] | WWW.CITYOFGP.COM/ECDEV

Bag 4000 – 10205-98 Street, City Hall, Grande Prairie, AB, Canada T8V 6V3

__________________________________________The information in this publication has been compiled from sources deemed reliable. While every attempt has

been made to ensure the accuracy of this guide, some information is subject to change without notice. This

guide is intended as an information source and does not imply endorsement of any service, association or

organizations. The City of Grande Prairie will not be responsible for any loss, damage or claim arising from or

related to an interpretation, use or reliance on the information contained in this publication.

Page 3: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

03

04 Profile Highlights

06 Location & Distance to Markets

08 Demographics

10 Education

12 Labour Force

13 Innovation & Opportunity

14 The Grande Prairie Business Advantage

16 Business Costs

17 Taxation

18 Development

19 Incentives

20 Housing

22 Transportation

23 Environmental Initiatives

24 Utilities

26 Downtown

28 Parks & Recreation

30 Arts & Culture

32 Health Care

33 Sector Profile: Agriculture

34 Sector Profile: Forestry

35 Sector Profile: Oil & Gas

36 Sector Profile: Retail

39 Sector Profile: Tourism

CONTENTS______________________________________________________

Page 4: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

04

PROFILE HIGHLIGHTS

AERIAL VIEW OF GRANDE PRAIRIE

Page 5: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

05

Demographics Grande Prairie is the youngest city in Canada with a median age of

30.3 and one of the fastest growing communities in North America.

The 2011 federal census recorded 55,032 residents and our popula-

tion continues to grow at more than 4% per year.

Business Advantages• No sales taxes

• A Regional trading area population of over 260,000 people

• Most businesses are exempt from business licenses

• Ranked as Most Entrepreneurial City in Canada for three years in

a row

Labour Force & Major Industry A young and educated population offers a valuable and highly

skilled workforce to the region’s major economic sectors.

The region boasts extraordinary crop quality with13.6% (or 3.3 mil-

lion hectares) of Alberta’s cropland, making agriculture an important

component of the region’s diverse economy.

Forestry contributes significantly to the region’s economy as north-

western Alberta produces a substantial amount of the province’s

pulp, oriented strand board and dimensional lumber.

Oil and gas provide tremendous opportunities for companies in-

volved in the extraction and processing of energy resources as well

as for supporting companies in transportation, business manage-

ment, engineering, consulting, information technology, communica-

tions, and manufacturing.

As a strategic regional hub for retail and industrial trade and com-

merce, Grande Prairie is a lucrative market for local and multi-nation-

al retailers. Retail spending in the city represents $3.5 billion, spread

over a retail inventory of 3.88 million square feet. A recent Retail

Market Analysis shows the market has a residual demand for 740,000

square feet of new stores.

A growing sport tourism industry is developing Grande Prairie into

a community of choice for high calibre sport, recreation and cultural

events. The city will host the 2015 Alberta Special Olympics and the

2015 Tour of Alberta cycling event.

Investment & Amenities Significant recent investments in infrastructure, arts and culture,

sport and recreation, and health care facilities include:

• $621 million regional hospital and cancer centre opening 2017

• $10 million renovation of the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie

• $109 million world-class aquatics and wellness facility

• Further expansion to Muskoseepi Park, Grande Prairie’s central

green space

• Renovation and redevelopment of Revolution Place, Grande

Prairie’s largest events and entertainment complex

RELOCATION GUIDE A great resource for newcomers to

Grande Prairie or those who are con-

sidering making the move. This annual

publication is produced for businesses,

families and individuals to learn more

about why Grande Prairie is an excel-

lent place to live, work, and play. www.cityofgp.com/livehere

MEETING SPACE FACILITIES GUIDE You’ll want to refer to this publication

when are planning your next event,

meeting or conference. Find room

dimensions, photos, facility amenities,

and accommodation information for

every space in Grande Prairie. www.cityofgp.com/livehere

SPORTS FACILITIES GUIDE When you’re planning to host a sport-

ing event, competition or tourna-

ment, this is your one-stop guide for

information on all Grande Prairie and

surrounding area sport facilities, their

amenities, map locations, and photos. www.cityofgp.com/livehere

Complementary Publications

RESOURCEFUL SPIRIT, GROWING OPPORTUNITY

2014

WWW.CITYOFGP.COM

Page 6: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

062013 ECONOMIC PROFILE

LOCATION & DISTANCE TO MARKETS

SUMMER BALLOONS LEAVING MUSKOSEEPI PARK | LLOYD DYKSTRA

Page 7: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

07

Location AdvantageGrande Prairie is located 456 kilometres northwest of Edmonton and

is the largest city between Edmonton and Anchorage, Alaska. The

city is well positioned to access markets across Canada and beyond.

Highways 40 and 43 and CN rail connect Grande Prairie to major mar-

kets and ports across North America.

The city services a trading area of over 260,000 people spanning

northwestern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, and the

Northwest Territories. As a strategic regional hub for trade and com-

merce, Grande Prairie proves to be a lucrative market for both local

and multi-national retailers with names like Costco, Bed Bath &

Beyond, and Target.

Air travel continues to expand rapidly, with 13 scheduled daily

flights to Calgary and Edmonton.

CITY DISTANCE (KM) DISTANCE (MILES)

Edmonton, AB 456 284

Calgary, AB 750 466

Fort McMurray, AB 756 470

Red Deer, AB 608 378

Dawson Creek, BC 131 81

Vancouver, BC 1,192 741

Prince Rupert, BC 1,251 777

Toronto, ON 3,830 2,380

Seattle, WA 1,304 810

Portland, OR 1,583 983

Distance to Markets

Grande

16

43

44

49

35

34

43

40

2

22

Prairie

Peace RiverFairview

Valleyview

Hythe

Beaverlodge

WhitecourtGrande Cache

Hinton

Wembley

Edmonton

Sexsmith

Page 8: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

08

DEMOGRAPHICS

ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL STREET PERFORMERS FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN | WILLIAM VAVREK

Page 9: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

09

Grande Prairie is the youngest city in Canada and one of the fastest growing in North America.

Population55,032

Population increase2006 2011 16.8%Population growth2000 2013 >4.0%Unemployment rate2013 3.4%

The city has more residents under the age of 5 than over 65

The median age of the community is a youthful 30.3

Continuing trend of young families and increasing births

AGE RANGE CITY OF GP COUNTY OF GP

< 5 4,840 1,465

5 to 9 3,600 1,525

10 to 14 3,225 1,505

15 to 19 3,675 1,610

20 to 24 5,255 1,005

25 to 29 6,545 1,200

30 to 34 5,225 1,295

35 to 39 4,265 1,485

40 to 44 3,585 1,415

45 to 49 3,760 1,810

50 to 54 3,390 1,825

55 to 59 2,565 1,530

60 to 64 1,680 1,015

65 to 69 1,035 645

70 to 74 790 460

75 to 79 610 300

80 to 84 490 160

85 + 495 85

TOTAL 55,032 20,335

Several smaller communities bring the total primary trading area population

to 150,000 people.67.1% City of Grande Prairie

24.8% County of Grande Prairie #1

2.9% Beaverlodge

2.6% Sexsmith

1.7% Wembley

1.1% Hythe

Population division by area

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

0

1,000

Population Distribution by Age

Popu

latio

n

Age Range

<5

5-9

10-1

4

15-1

9

20-2

4

25-2

9

30-3

4

35-3

9

40-4

4

45-4

9

50-5

4

55-5

9

60-6

4

65-6

9

70-7

4

75-7

9

80-8

4

85+

City of Grande Prairie

County of Grande Prairie #1

Page 10: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

10

EDUCATION

GRANDE PRAIRIE REGIONAL COLLEGE DURING WINTER | JANICE KRETZER-PRYSUNKA

Page 11: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

11

Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC)Educational, athletic, and cultural opportunities are all part of the con-

tribution GPRC makes to Grande Prairie and the Peace River region.

In response to regional, community, and industry demand, GPRC

provides a range of customized non-credit pre-employment program-

ming, skills development, safety training, and community interest

courses. The College responds to community and industry demand for

specific training through the provision of customized programming.

GPRC offers 11 Red Seal trade programs through its campuses for

Electricians, Millwrights, Automotive Services, Carpenters, Heavy

Equipment Technicians, Instrument Technicians, Motorcycle

Mechanics, Parts Technicians, Plumbers, Steamfitter/Pipefitters,

and Welders.

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population

High School certificate or equivalent 29.7%

College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma 19.8%

Apprenticeship or trades certificateor diploma 14.0%

University certificate, diploma or degree 11.5%

University certificate or diploma below the bachelor level 2.8%

MAJOR FIELD OF STUDY Population

Engineering & Related 6,400

Business 4,230

Health & Related 3,090

Education 1,630

Transportation 1,480

Social Sciences & Law 1,290

Agriculture & Resources 640

Humanities 630

Arts & Communications 410

Science & Technology 375

Math & Computer Science 330

National Household Survey, 2011

Academic upgrading is provided on campus to help students achieve

college prerequisites, high school preparation, or competency in

English as a Second Language. Instruction is available for foreign stu-

dents preparing for post-secondary study in Canada.

Workforce Development provides hundreds of non-credit career

training or personal interest courses annually as well as several cer-

tificate programs to enhance the skills of working professionals.

These courses are constantly evolving in response to the needs of

the community and the job market.

www.gprc.ab.ca

Programs: • Diploma and certificate programs for full or part-time study

• University transfer, diploma and certificate programs

• Students may complete some degrees on campus through

agreements with other institutions

• Apprenticeship and pre-employment trades training

• Adult high school equivalency completion;

• Credit programs in the areas of Liberal Arts, Science, Education,

Physical Education, Nursing, Human Services, Fine Arts, Business,

Technology, Academic Upgrading, Trades and Technical training,

Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

• Baccalaureate degrees and master degrees in collaboration

with universities

GPRC WOLVES VOLLEYBALL | JKP IMAGES

Page 12: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

12

Grande Prairie’s young, educated population offers a valuable and

highly skilled workforce to the region's major economic sectors,

including agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, retail services, and tourism.

ALBERTA1 GRANDE PRAIRIE2

Working Age Population 3,069,900 65,500

Employment 2,149,600 51,800

Unemployment Rate 4.6% 3.2%

Participation Rate 73.4% 81.8%

GRANDE PRAIRIE

Average Household Income $126,877

Per Capita $45,906

Average Discretionary Household Income $38,466

INDUSTRYAVERAGE WAGE

IN ALBERTA

Agriculture $17.38/hr

Forestry $24.37/hr

Oil & Gas $31.19/hr

Mining $31.67/hr

Utilities $30.95/hr

Construction $27.21/hr

Manufacturing $30.92/hr

Wholesale Trade $24.38/hr

Retail Trade $18.67/hr

Transportation & Warehousing $29.70/hr

Culture & Recreation $17.16/hr

Real Estate & Finance $22.65/hr

Professional & Technical $28.58/hr

Business Servicing $20.38/hr

Education $27.68/hr

Health Care $29.28/hr

Accommodation & Food $12.28/hr

Other Services $20.32/hr

Public Administration $31.67/hr

1 2013 Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey 2 Alberta Labour Market Outlook 2013, Alberta Enterprise and Education, March 2013

FP Markets - Canadian Demographics 2012

2012 Annual Alberta Regional Labour Market Review. Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education.

LABOUR FORCE

Page 13: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

13

The Centre for Research & Innovation (CRI) Grande Prairie is a community that recognizes innovation as an

important driver of economic development. Opportunity is a word

readily used to describe the city, powered by innovative individuals

and businesses who contribute to the region’s growth and prosperity.

Grande Prairie and area files more patents per capita than any other

region in Canada.

The CRI leads the development of applied research and innovation

as part of the Grande Prairie Regional College and for the region.

Funded by the College and Alberta Innovates Technology Futures,

the CRI provides accessible innovation and technology commer-

cialization services for businesses throughout northwest Alberta.

The CRI provides a robust suite of innovation and applied research

services for inventors and researchers through provincial, regional,

and community partnerships. The agency helps inventors take

their ideas from the drawing board to the real world, by connecting

innovators to scientists, researchers, investors, and mentors.

Individuals, businesses, not-for-profits and communities can

approach the CRI for assistance with concept and product

development, initial patent search and advice, venture assessment,

technical valuation, financial viability, and project valuation.

The CRI also manages the development of two major applied

research initiatives for the College and region: the Pollutants to

Products (P2P) Initiative and the National Bee Diagnostic Centre.

www.thecri.ca

INNOVATION & OPPORTUNITY

MARY DAHR

Page 14: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

14THE GRANDE PRAIRIE & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS LOCATED WITHIN CENTRE 2000 | JANICE KRETZER-PRYSUNKA

BUSINESS ADVANTAGE

Page 15: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

15

A City of EntrepreneursGrande Prairie remains one of the top places to find employment,

build a business, and integrate into a growing, thriving commun-

ity. Strong economic conditions and an entrepreneurial business

culture offers abundant opportunity.

From 2010 to 2012, the Canadian Federation of Independent

Business recognized Grande Prairie as Canada’s Most Entrepreneur-

ial City. Boasting the most small businesses per capita in Canada,

Grande Prairie’s entrepreneurs are a vital component to maintaining

the strong, vibrant business environment that has a proven ability to

withstand even the toughest economic climates.

As well as being a hotbed for entrepreneurs, Grande Prairie is home

to many large retailers not often seen in similar sized municipalities.

The city attracts national retailers such as:• Bed Bath & Beyond • Best Buy

• Costco • HomeSense

• Old Navy • PetSmart

• Pier 1 Imports • Target

• The Gap • Wal-Mart

• Winners • Wholesale Sports

Supporting business in Grande Prairie is the Grande Prairie & District

Chamber of Commerce. Comprised of over 1,100 members, repre-

senting more than 19,000 employees, the Grande Prairie Chamber is

the second largest in Alberta. The Chamber is dedicated to con-

necting business by creating opportunities for networking, business

promotion, advocacy, and policy development.

www.grandeprairiechamber.com

ORGANIZATION WEB ADDRESS PHONE

Aboriginal Business Canada www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/eng/1100100033404 780.495.2954

BizPal www.bizpal.ca

Centre for Research & Innovation www.thecri.ca 780.539.2807

Community Futures www.cfofgp.com 780.814.5340

Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce www.grandeprairiechamber.com 780.532.5340

Peace Region Economic Development Alliance www.peacecountrycanada.com 780.666.1968

Northwest Corridor Development Corporation www.nwcorridor.com 780.527.6232

214 PLACE DOWNTOWN

Page 16: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

16

Employee Compensation Minimum WageIn Alberta the minimum wage for general employees is $9.95, with

the exception of liquor servers who earn $9.05.

OvertimeEmployees are paid 1.5 times their regular wage after eight hours a

day or 44 hours per week. www.qp.alberta.ca

Mandatory FringeBenefits Paid by Employer Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Employers contribute 4.95% of an employee's wage to a maximum

annual contribution of $2,425.50 (2014). www.cra-arc.gc.ca

Employer Contribution Employment Insurance (EI) Employers deduct EI premiums from insurable earnings paid to

employees. Employers pay 1.4 times the amount of the employee’s

premiums and stop deducting premiums when the employee’s

maximum insurable earnings ($48,600 for 2014) or the maximum

employee premium for the year ($913.68 for 2014) is reached.

www.cra-arc.gc.ca

Workplace CompensationWCB-Alberta collects premiums from businesses to cover the costs

of work-related injuries. Employers pay premiums on the insurable

earnings of all workers based on a maximum annual amount per

worker plus any personal coverage you purchase. Premiums are

not paid on earnings exceeding the Maximum Insurable Earnings

amount per worker ($92,300 for 2014).

www.wbcb.ab.ca/employers/2014_rates.asp

Vacation PayAfter one year of employment, employees are entitled to two weeks

of vacation pay, or 4% of employee’s wages. After five years, employ-

ees are entitled to three weeks of vacation with pay, or 6% of the

employee’s wages for the year.

www.qp.alberta.ca > Employment Standards Code, Section 55

General Paid Holidays (9 days) • New Year’s Day • Alberta Family Day

• Good Friday • Victoria Day

• Canada Day • Labour Day

• Thanksgiving Day • Remembrance Day

• Christmas Day

Group Insurance • Life • Health

• Sickness • Dental

• Vision • Physical/Mental Fitness

BUSINESS COSTS

Page 17: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

17

Low Tax, High Benefits Grande Prairie is an attractive place to build and expand your busi-

ness. Alberta’s distinct advantage over other provinces in Canada is

the absence of a provincial sales tax and low cost tax regime.

CITY PROPERTY MILL RATES2014 TAX

RATETAX + EDUCATION &

SPIRIT FOUNDATION TAX

Low-density residential 9.5496 11.9345

High-density residential 9.5492 11.9345

Industrial/commercial 15.3448 18.8483

Farm 9.5496 13.0531

ALBERTA CORPORATE TAX RATE2013 TAX

RATE

General 10%

Manufacturing & Processing 10%

Small business 3%

TAX RATES2013 TAX

RATE

General Sales Tax (GST) 5%

Provincial Sales Tax (PST) 0%

TAXATION

City of Grande Prairie, Property Tax Bylaw

THE WESTGATE CENTRE'S FIRST PHASE INCLUDES BED BATH & BEYOND, HOMESENSE, PIER 1 IMPORTS, BOUCLAIR, DOLLAR TREE, PARTY CITY, CARTER'S, AND THE SOURCE

Page 18: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

18

DEVELOPMENT

RENDERING OF THE PHILIP J. CURRIE DINOSAUR MUSEUM

RENDERING OF THE NEW CHARLES SPENCER HIGH SCHOOL

A Growing CityGrande Prairie’s vibrant economy has developed with years of

steady growth. The City is in an enviable economic position with

several large projects in the works, including a new hospital,

museum, and transportation hub.

New civic investments since 2009 total $1 billion.

Several projects are under development, including: • $621.4 million, Grande Prairie Regional Hospital

• $41.6 million, Charles Spencer High School

• $27 million, Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum

• $17 million, Community Knowledge Campus Sports

• $58 million, Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades,

• $38.9 million, Hospital Parkade

• $5 million, Downtown Transit Terminal

CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW HOSPITAL | WILLIAM VAVREK

Page 19: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

19

Municipal Incentives Business Revitalization Zones (BRZ) exist to allow businesses in a

specific area to raise and administer funds to improve and promote

their businesses. The City of Grande Prairie collects tax dollars on

their behalf to improve, beautify, and maintain municipally owned

lands, buildings, and structures in the area, in addition to any

improvements, beautification, or maintenance that is provided at

the expense of the municipality. There is one BRZ in Grande Prairie,

operated by the DownTown Association.

The City of Grande Prairie is committed to working with its partners to

offer a competitive advantage with respect to infrastructure, service

levels and costs to commercial and industrial development.

Grande Prairie's Industrial Attraction Strategy is in place to ensure

adequate water, sanitary and transportation capacity in priority

expansion areas and the availability for commercial and industrial

lands for development.

Key priorities include:

• Water and wastewater infrastructure

• enhancing policy and procedures to ensure competitive

standards and costs

INCENTIVES

DOWNTOWN GRANDE PRAIRIE BEAUTIFICATION

Page 20: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

20

HOUSING

Page 21: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

21

Local MarketGrande Prairie’s local real estate market remains affordable. Home

prices have risen more than 5% over the last year, but remain low

relative to the average household income. The overall cost of living

remains relatively low in comparison to similar cities as well as major

urban centres.

In 2013, a total of 4,938 permits were issued for new buildings. The

value of construction projects in 2013 increased by 10% from 2012.

2013 HOUSING STATISTICS

Number of Approved Permits 4,938

Value of Construction $280,406,894

Average Residential Home Price $288,7383

Average rent 2 bedroom suite $1,1244

Apartment vacancy rate 1.3%4

TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Value of residential permits $71,375,061 $71,092,577 $77,487,196 $136,292,548 $117,795,000

Value of commercial permits $206,688,893 $26,087,910 $53,763,891 $49,042,817 $51,769,025

Value of industrial permits $5,215,000 $2,364,976 $59,375,165 $8,775,535 $8,538,763

Value of gov’t & institutional permits $5,484,562 $28,936,620 $6,266,692 $61,956,945 $102,304,256

Total permit value $288,763,515 $128,482,082 $196,891,944 $256,067,945 $280,407,044

Number of single family dwellings starts 268 270 328 491 393

Number of dwellings starts 314 278 461 611 596

Total number of permits 1,105 1,010 1,056 1,405 1,119

2.0%

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6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

0.0%

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120,000

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80,000

60,000

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3 Canadian Real Estate Association Statistics creastats.crea.ca/area/4 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rental Market Statistics, Spring October 2013, www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Page 22: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

22

Highways

Three major highways link Grande Prairie to the rest of Alberta,

Canada, and the world. This highway infrastructure makes the city

the service, retail, and business hub of northwestern Alberta and

northeastern British Columbia; linking Grande Prairie to Edmonton

and British Columbia via Highway 43, the Northwest Territories via

Highway 2 and the Rocky Mountains via Highway 40.

The City is located on the CANAMEX trade route, linking Canada with

the United States and Mexico. By the end of 2014, the Alberta portion

of the trade route will be completely twinned from Grande Prairie to

the border crossing at Coutts, Alberta, allowing for the use of Turnpike

Doubles that will reduce shipping costs to and from the region.

The City’s main commercial and industrial areas are all situated

along the region’s major highways, allowing trucks to be at highway

speeds within minutes.

Rail The Grande Prairie region is served by Canadian National Railway.

Tracks connect the community with the CN main line at Hinton,

linking us to the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, and the rest of

North America.

This vital transportation system is the most cost effective way of

shipping bulk goods out of the region and onto export markets.

Commodities such as grain, coal, oil, and wood products are com-

monly shipped by rail.

Strengthening regional import and export capacity, a new 107 acre

Multi-Modal Logistics Park will provide rail-to-truck and truck-to-rail

services. Construction is slated to begin in 2014. This new develop-

ment increases options for shippers, reduces costs, and improves

market access for regional producers.

Grande Prairie Regional Airport Grande Prairie Regional Airport connects the region to the Calgary

and Edmonton international airports with 13 daily scheduled flights,

provided by Air Canada and WestJet.

The airport continues to see rapid passenger growth with an increase

of 10.6% in 2011 and 7.7% in 2012, ringing in 415,634 passengers.

www.grandeprairieairport.com

Transit The City of Grande Prairie provides scheduled transit service using a

fleet of modern buses. Prospective riders can use Google Transit to

plan their route to and from any location in the city.

www.cityofgp.com/transit

The Disabled Transportation Society provides door-to-door transpor-

tation year-round for persons with limited mobility who are unable

to use other forms of public transportation safely and with dignity.

www.gpdts.ca

TRANSPORTATION

HIGHWAY 43

Page 23: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

23

Several annual initiatives take place to keep Grande Prairie clean and green:

• Annual Tree Planting: Each year community groups partner

with the City of Grande Prairie to plant trees in urban parks

throughout the city, planting 2,000 trees in a single day.

• City Scrub: The annual program has over 5,000 participants from

schools, businesses, residents and community groups

volunteer 20 minutes of their time to pick up garbage in and

around the city, helping to make Grande Prairie a cleaner place.

• Rotary Green-a-thon: For the past 40 years, the city’s Rotary

Clubs organize a clean-up. Over 100 volunteers and 350 Grade

4-6 students go out to clean the City’s boulevards, ditches, and

green areas.

• Community Garden: A pilot community garden is located at the

corner of 101 Avenue and 98 Street, supported by the Grande

Prairie Garden Club and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

• Yard Makeover Contest: With a goal of increasing awareness of

alternative landscaping methods, promoting unconventional

ground covers, decreasing the dependence on grass as a single or

primary landscape cover, and lowering water consumption. One

lucky resident receives a complete overhaul on their yard

each year.

www.cityofgp.com/environment

ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES

ANNUAL TREE PLANTING

COMMUNITY GARDEN

MUSKOSEEPI PARK | JANICE KRETZER-PRYSUNKA

Page 24: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

24

UTILITIES

Page 25: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

25

Electricity & Natural GasAlberta’s electricity and natural gas

systems are owned and operated by a

mix of investor and municipally owned

companies. The price paid by consumers

is determined by supply and demand with

prices fluctuating monthly. Consumers also

have the option to enter into contracts to

ensure price certainty.

Alberta residential consumers paid

approximately 30% less before rebates

for their natural gas than the average Can-

adian in other provinces in 2007.

Water & Sanitary Services Aquatera is the regional provider of water

and wastewater treatment, garbage

collection, and recycling services. Grande

Prairie’s landfill site is also owned and oper-

ated by Aquatera. It manages the garbage

collection process, recycling, and the Eco

Centre. Aquatera’s solid waste services

are some of the most comprehensive in

Alberta. At the curb you can recycle blue

bag materials, yard waste, pumpkins, and

Christmas trees in addition to garbage

cart service.5 www.aquatera.ca

Telecommunications Grande Prairie is served by numerous wire-

less and wire line providers. Most service

providers include high-speed digital net-

work internet speeds of up to 150Mbps

along with competitive local telephone

services to ensure businesses have access

to the communication services they need.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION CONTACT

Aquatera Local provider of water, wastewater, solid waste and recycling services780.538.0348

www.aquatera.ca

ATCO Electric Provides electricity to northern and east-central AlbertaGeneral enquiries: 1.800.668.224824 hr. emergency: 1.800.688.5506

ATCO Gas Provides natural gas to northern and east-central AlbertaGeneral enquiries: 1.800.310.567824 hr. emergency: 1.800.511.3447Line alter & install: 780.539.2400

SOLID WASTE SERVICES RATE SCHEDULE (CHARGES FOR ONE MONTH PERIOD)

Single Family Dwelling Residential Garbage Collection $18.49 flat rate monthly

Residential Solid Waste Franchise Recovery Fee* (new) $1.38 flat rate monthly

Recycling Program - Multi/Single Family Residential $9.66 flat rate monthly

Recycling Program - Non-Residential $13.66 flat rate monthly

Cardboard Recycling Program - Non-Residential $14.25 flat rate monthly

WATER RATES, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014

Water Consumption Based Charge $1.366/cubic metre* Wastewater usage Based Charge $1.838/cubic metre

Meter Size Flow Rate Rate Charge/Month Rate Charge/Month

5/8” meter = 1 x $10.07 $10.07/month $7.70 $7.70/month

¾” meter = 1.5 x $10.07 $15.11/month $7.70 $11.55/month

1” meter = 2.5 x $10.07 $25.18/month $7.70 $19.25/month

1 ½” meter = 5 x $10.07 $50.35/month $7.70 $38.50/month

2” meter = 8 x $10.07 $80.56/month $7.70 $61.60/month

3” meter = 17.5 x $10.07 $176.23/month $7.70 $134.75/month

4” meter = 31.5 x $10.07 $317.21/month $7.70 $242.55/month

6” meter = 70 x $10.07 $704.90/month $7.70 $539.00/month

8” meter = 140 x $10.07 $1,409.80/month $7.70 $1,078.00/month

5 www.aquatera.ca/my-account/rates* Meter readings are in cubic metres. There are 220 gallons in one cubic metre.

Page 26: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

26DOWNTOWN GRANDE PRAIRIE IN THE WINTER | ANGIE PATTERSON

DOWNTOWN

Page 27: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

27

City CentreAs the geographic centre of the City, downtown is a clean, busy,

and an attractive place to do business. Unique shops, businesses,

and Grande Prairie's largest office buildings attract a diverse group

of patrons. Banks, furniture stores, clothing, and jewellery boutiques,

as well as a great selection of hand crafted and locally grown

products at the year-round farmers' market make for a

self-sustaining downtown.

Investment

The City of Grande Prairie has invested heavily in the downtown in

recent years. Investments have included:

• Community Village $500,000

• Centre for Creative Arts $1,000,000

• Grande Prairie Curling Club $1,000,000

• Grande Prairie Live Theatre $1,000,000

• Protective Services Building $1,500,000

• Art Gallery of Grande Prairie $10,000,000

• CAIRN on the Boulevard $14,000,000

• Montrose Cultural Centre $26,000,000

The downtown has also witnessed a substantial amount of private

investment. Assessed values have increased from $95 million in

2001, to over $205 million in 2011. Downtown vacancy is 2.16%.

Revolution Place At the very centre of the downtown is Revolution Place, comprised

of the Bowes Family Gardens and the Revolution Arena. It has over

18,000 square feet of flexible banquet and meeting space, making it

an ideal venue to host major fundraisers, gala events, banquets,

and balls.

The Revolution Arena is a 3,228 seat multi-purpose arena, home to

the Grande Prairie Storm and concert venue attracting perform-

ances such as Keith Urban, Rihanna, Backstreet Boys, Elton John,

and more.

www.cityofgp.com/crystalcentre

Montrose Cultural Centre The Montrose Cultural Centre houses the Grande Prairie Public

Library, the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie, and the Teresa Sargent Hall,

one of the largest event spaces in the City.

This modern building is a welcome and recent addition to the com-

munity, integrating art, culture, and learning under one roof.

www.cityofgp.com/montrose

The DownTown Business Association Dedicated to unifying, marketing, promoting, lobbying and liais-

ing on behalf of its members, the DownTown Business Association

is a volunteer leadership group that operates as a Business

Revitalization Zone and is governed by a board of directors.

www.gpdowntown.com

MONTROSE CULTURAL CENTRE | TEEPLE ARCHITECTS, SHAI GIL PHOTOGRAPHY

ANNUAL GRANDE PRAIRIE INTERNATIONAL STREET PERFORMERS FESTIVAL

Page 28: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

28POOL AT EASTLINK CENTRE | SUZANNE SAGMEISTER

PARKS & RECREATION

Page 29: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

29

Activities for the Entire FamilyWhether it’s surfing at our state-of-the-art Eastlink Centre, walking

the trails of Muskoseepi Park, or planning a camping trip into the

great outdoors, Grande Prairie is abundant in recreational opportun-

ities. The city boasts numerous accessible parks, golf courses, and

spectacular green spaces, while the foothills south of Grande Prairie

provide year-round activity for hikers, bikers, campers, snowmobil-

ers, skiers, and outdoor recreationalists.

Eastlink Centre After opening its doors in 2011, the Eastlink Centre has become

Northern Alberta’s destination for aquatics and recreation.

Offering over 280,000 square feet of fitness and fun, in two field

houses, one of Canada’s three Surfing FlowRiders, a 50 metre

Olympic-sized pool, 25 metre program pool, indoor splash park,

and 200 metre indoor running track. The fitness area boasts 16,000

square feet of elite training machines and free weights. To top off

a great day of activities you can go for a ride in the lazy river, or

enjoy the hot tub, steam room, and sauna room. The list of amen-

ities including retail, food, and beverage as well as services goes

on and on. Since opening, the facility continues to host over 2,000

visitors daily.

The Eastlink Centre is quickly becoming the hub for local, regional

and now national sporting events, such as the Junior National

Racquetball Championships in April 2014, a first for the Province.

www.cityofgp.com/eastlink

Muskoseepi Park Providing 20 kilometres of trails along the Bear Creek corridor,

Muskoseepi Park is Grande Prairie’s central green space. Running

through the heart of the city, the park features over 1,100

acres of parkland with six distinct areas offering their own

special opportunities.

The park includes a 10,000 square foot pavilion, the Grande Prairie

Museum, tennis courts, playground, spray park, lawn bowling, fish-

ing pond, skating in the winter, mini golf and amphitheatre.

www.cityofgp.com/muskoseepi

Ski and Bike Both the Nitehawk Recreation Area and the Wapiti Nordic Ski Club

are open year around. Skiers, snowboarders and downhill moun-

tain bikers delight in the recreational opportunities provided by the

Nitehawk recreation area. Offering nine exciting runs for all abilities

and two terrain parks, fully lit for night skiing, the hill is kept open

during the summer for lift-assisted downhill mountain biking.

www.gonitehawk.com www.wapitinordic.com

PAVILION AT MUSKOSEEPI PARK | RANDY VANDERVEEN

Page 30: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

30ART GALLERY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE | TEEPLE ARCHITECTS

ARTS & CULTURE

Page 31: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

31

Experience the Rich HistoryArt The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie maintains the largest public art col-

lection in the region. It is a gathering place for those interested in

arts and culture, and where new and unique experiences are found

in every direction.

As a category ‘A’ institution, the gallery is permitted to receive

donations of works of art of outstanding significance and national

importance. The permanent collection stands at approximately 600

works of art, almost exclusively created in Alberta in the mid to late

20th Century.

www.aggp.ca

The Centre for Creative Arts provides a variety of art programming

to the community and an environment where residents and visitors

can gather to experience, create, and celebrate art and culture.

www.creativecentre.ca

History

Situated in Muskoseepi Park, the Grande Prairie Museum develops

and hosts educational programs, tours and interactive displays, and

temporary exhibits to tell the story of the region’s heritage.

The Heritage Village features historical buildings from the area, pro-

viding visitors with a glimpse of the past. Buildings including the

McQueen Presbyterian Church, Grande Prairie Fire Hall, Pipestone

Creek Store, a blacksmith shop, Hudson Bay Outpost, and a display

of agricultural and industrial equipment.

www.cityofgp.com/gpmuseum

The history of the region from the ice age to the present day is

depicted with an array of interactive displays, information, and

knowledgeable staff at the Heritage Discovery Centre.

A new museum will serve as a hub for the paleontologists working

in the area and showcase a new dinosaur species discovered in the

region. Once built, the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum will be an

extraordinary educational tourism attraction, hosting a world-class

museum, research facility, and community space.

www.curriemuseum.ca

A facility of this calibre will create a steady flow of top-level scientific

minds into the region, increase tourism and provide residents and

visitors with plenty of education and recreation opportunities.

Theatre Several local theatres add to the thriving art community in Grande

Prairie. The Showcase Centre is operated by the Grande Prairie

Performing Arts Guild and is home to the Dinner Theatre and Guild

Gallery. This venue is a pillar of Grande Prairie’s art community.

www.showcasecentre.com

Grande Prairie Live Theatre operates the 167-seat Second Street

Theatre downtown and is one of Canada’s largest non-profit com-

munity theatres. It offers an exciting entertainment venue for date

night, family outings, and cultural enrichment. Most uniquely, it pro-

vides the rare opportunity to experience the talent of local as well as

visiting artists and award-winning Canadian and foreign films.

www.gplt.ab.ca

Each year, the theatre hosts the Reel Shorts Film Festival, celebrat-

ing short films and the Canadian, international and local filmmakers

who create these brilliant screen stories.

reelshorts.ca

Other productions are held in the Douglas J. Cardinal Performing

Arts Centre at the Grande Prairie Regional College.

www.gprc.ab.ca/theatre

BRIDGE TO GRANDE PRAIRIE MUSEUM | JANICE KRETZER-PRYSUNKA

Page 32: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

32

Medical AdvancementsA new regional hospital and cancer centre in Grande Prairie will

open its doors in 2017, helping northern patients receive specialized

and complex care, closer to home and with shorter wait times. The

$620 million regional hospital will function as a regional referral cen-

tre, providing health services to the region.

Services

• 200 inpatient beds: Including medical, surgical and

rehabilitation, intensive care, cardiac care, neonatal intensive care,

pediatric and mental health beds

• An emergency department: Designed as the primary

emergency facility for the Grande Prairie region, supplemented

by the urgent care services that will be provided at the existing

Queen Elizabeth II Hospital

• Nine operating rooms: With the ability to expand to 10 in

the future

• A cancer centre: Bringing radiation therapy services to

the community

• Obstetrics: Space for an anticipated 2,150 annual births in the

region by 2025

• Diagnostic imaging: Including an MRI and future

expansion capability

• Mental health, respiratory therapy, laboratory and

pharmacy services

• Approximately 4,000 square metres for the nursing and

medical career programs offered by the Grande Prairie

Regional College

The existing Queen Elizabeth II Hospital will continue as a health

care facility to be used to provide ambulatory, community, and other

health services. The redevelopment provides an opportunity to sup-

port integrated, accessible, and family-centred care.

Emergency Medical Services Alberta Health Services (AHS) provides Emergency Medical Services

(EMS) through a combination of AHS staff, contracts with municipal-

ities and contracts with private providers.

In addition, a comprehensive and responsive emergency medical sys-

tem comprised of flight crews, air medical crews, and communications

specialists work to ensure patients across Alberta receive the best care

available in the shortest time possible. STARS is a charitable non-profit

organization that provides 24 hour a day, seven day a week emergency

medical service from bases in Calgary, Edmonton, and Grande Prairie.

www.albertahealthservices.ca www.stars.ca

HOSPITALS AND FACILITIES

Hospitals 1

Medical Clinics 18

HEALTH CARE

QUEEN ELIZABETH II HOSPITAL DURING WINTER | WILLIAM VAVREK

Page 33: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

33

CANOLA FIELD

Farmland and GrowthGrande Prairie was built on a foundation of fertile farmland and

100 years later, agriculture remains an important component of the

region’s diverse economy. Despite our northern location, the region

boasts extraordinary crop quality.

Our region is Alberta’s number two crop producing region and

accounted for 5.3% of Alberta’s total value of on-farm livestock and

poultry with a total market value of $335 million in 2011.6

The cropland acreage totals 3.3 million acres, representing 13.6%

of Alberta’s cropland. Agriculture is predominantly concentrated in

canola, wheat, barley, and alfalfa.

SECTOR PROFILE: AGRICULTURE

WHEAT FIELD | LLOYD DYKSTRA

6 albertacanada.com/business/statistics/peace-country-agriculture.aspx

AGRICULTURE 2011 SHARE OF ALBERTA

Total Cropland (acres) 3,277,256 13.6%

Canola 1,040,997 17.1%

Wheat 878,239 13.1%

Barley 224,618 6.2%

Alfalfa 478,974 13.1%

Oats 173,172 19.4%

Dry Field Peas 128,453 18.2$

Value of Livestock/Poultry $225 million 5.3%

Cattle and Calves (number) 232,927 4.6%

Pigs (number) 6,049 1.7%

Hens and Chickens (number) 223,235 1.9%

Page 34: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

34

Economic EngineGrande Prairie’s forestry industry is one of the most import-

ant economic engines in the region, with three large operators:

Weyerhaeuser, Canfor, and Ainsworth. While it’s unusual to see such

a concentration of major operators in a city of Grande Prairie’s size,

these operations are among the most competitive in Canada and

the top industrial employers in the region.

Contributing significantly to the regional economy through

employment opportunities, northwestern Alberta produces 40% of

Alberta’s pulp, 64% of its panel board, and 50% of its timber.7 Aspen,

Tamarack, Lodgepole Pine, and Black Spruce make up the boreal

forest to the south and west of Grande Prairie, serving as a vast res-

ervoir for the local pulp and paper industry.

Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd. operates three integrated businesses,

including a pulp mill, lumber mill and timberlands division. Over 650

employees contribute to the production of 380,000 tonnes of north-

ern bleached softwood kraft pulp, 340 million board metres

of dimensional softwood lumber, and manage 1.1 million hectares

of timberland.

Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. operates an Oriented Strand Board

plant, producing a variety of panel dimensions and grades to suit

North American and Asian markets. Production capacity is 730,000

msf-3/8” basis per year. A $300 million expansion will increase the

manufacturing capacity to 1.3 billion square feet 3/8” basis per year.

Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor) Canfor harvests logs from

tenures located in the interior region of British Columbia and north-

ern Alberta to supply its lumber operations. In 2012, the Grande

Prairie sawmill contributed 245.9 MMfbm of lumber produced in

Alberta.8

SECTOR PROFILE: FORESTRY

FORESTRY MACHINERY

7 PREDA www.peacecountrycanada.com/forestry.aspx8 Canfor Corporation, Annual Information Formwww.canfor.com/docs/investor-relations/canfor-aif-2012.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Page 35: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

35

Energy ProvinceAlberta is Canada’s energy province. The industry provides tre-

mendous opportunity for companies involved in extraction and

processing of energy resources as well as for supporting companies

involved in business management, engineering, consulting, informa-

tion technology, communications and manufacturing.

Well known for oil and gas exploration and extraction, Grande Prairie

is home to many major oil and gas industry headquarters and oil-

field service companies. Multi-national companies such as Conoco

Philips, Canadian Natural Resources, Halliburton, Schlumberger, and

Trican, in addition to many local entrepreneurs, operate out of the

regional hub.

The region has approximately 9,000 wells, producing two million

cubic meters of oil per year and over 30 billion cubic meters of nat-

ural gas. With this significant supply, the region is a major supplier of

gas to North American markets.9 With a reserve estimate of over 706

million cubic feet, the McLennan oil sands deposit, located northeast

of the city, is slated for further development in the next few years.

Unprecedented demands and resource constraints on the energy

sector have resulted in companies seeking out new and innov-

ative processes, and an increased focus on research and

technology. The Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI) and the

Grande Prairie Regional College work to ensure opportunities for

innovation and ongoing training and skills development for those

working in the industry.

An Oil and Gas Certificate, a variety of safety courses as well as

Business Leadership certification are available at Grande Prairie

Regional College, offering skills development for those interested in

a career in the booming industry.

SECTOR PROFILE: OIL & GAS

GAS PLANT

9 PREDA www.peacecountrycanada.com/oil-and-gas.aspx

RIVAL TRUCKING

Page 36: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

36

Shopping in the CityAs a strategic regional hub for retail and industrial trade and com-

merce, Grande Prairie has established itself as a lucrative market for

local and multi-national retailers. The city is located at the centre of

an affluent region consisting of trading area of 260,000 people, fore-

casted to grow by 26,500 over the next decade.

Retail spending in the total trading area represents $3.5 billion, of

which an impressive $2.2 billion comes from the primary trading

area alone.

The highest spending is in Comparison Merchandise at 34%, fol-

lowed closely by Groceries and Convenience at 32%. A further 22%

is spend on Automotive/RV and Motorsport Parts and Sales and

the final 12% on Restaurants and Entertainment. High spending

on clothing, home furnishing and specialty retail signifies a strong

disposable income. As our population continues to grow, retail

spending and demand for new stores will continue to be supported

by the young, fast growing city.

The city has a current retail inventory of 3.88 million square feet,

including convenience retail, department stores, entertainment and

automotive parts and sales. Total demand for retail is estimated to be

4.63 million square feet, leaving a residual demand for new stores at

740,000 square feet.

THE PRAIRIE MALL

SECTOR PROFILE: RETAIL

MAP LOCATION VENUE

1 Prudential Lands

2 Westgate Centre East

3 Westgate Centre West

4 Vision West Business Park

5 Centre West Business Park

6 South 40

7 Stone Ridge

8 Grande Banks

9 Mission Estates

10 Trader Ridge

11 Northridge Commercial Centre

12 Prairie Mall

13 Cobblestone Lane

14 Downtown Grande Prairie

15 Railtown and Tuscan Square

Other Retail Areas

Tenant Opportunity Locations on Map

Page 37: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

37

1

7 8

9

10

11

13

12

3

4 5

2

6

15

14100 Ave 100 Ave

108 Ave

116 Ave

132 Ave

116 Ave

99 AveR ichmond Ave

106 St

84 Ave

68 Ave 68 Ave

43

40

40

43

43

670

Rr 6

3

10

8 S

t

Reso

urces R

d

10

0 S

t1

00

St

Wa

piti R

oa

d

11

6 S

t

92

St

92

St

94

St

10

0 S

t

Page 38: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

38

Clairmont

Valleyview

Fox Creek

Grande Cache

WembleyTumbler Ridge

Lone Prairie

GroundbirchFellers Heights

LymburnBeaverlodge

Demmitt

HytheWebster

Pouce Coupe

DAWSON CREEK Rycroft

Wanham Belloy

Eaglesham

Scotswood Fairview

Brownvale

Hines CreekRoyceHighland Park

Cherry Point

Worsely

Clear Prairie Clearhills

RollaSunset PrairieMoberly Lake

Hudson’s Hope

Farrell CreekAttachie

Murdale Rose Prairie

MontneyCharlie Lake

FORT ST. JOHN

BaldonnelClayhurst

Doe River

LoosGoat River

McBride

BendPenny

Longworth

Sinclair MillsHutton

Aleza Lake

DunsterCroydon Station

Tete Jaune CacheValemount

AlbredaLempriere

Thunder River

Whitecourt

Fort Assiniboine

Swan Hills Flatbush Athabasca

FawcettJarvie

DappAbeePibroch

FreedomVimy

LegalGibbons

Calling Lake

ChisholmHondo

Smith

JasperMountain Park

Cadomino

Leyland FoothillsCoalspur

ErithEdson

Rosevear Peers

WildwoodBickerdike

Medicine LodgeHintonEntrance

PocahontasRed Pass Junction

LacombeHorburg Sylvan LakeBentley

Rimbey Ponoka

HobbemaHoadley

Ma-Me-O BeachGolden Days

SunnybrookDraytonValley

Millet

New SareptaCooking Lake

EDMONTON

NamaoSt Albert

Birch CoveCherhill

MayerthorpeGreen Court

Blue RidgeBarrhead

Lake

Wagner

WabascaAtikameg

Grouard MissionEnilda

KinusoHigh Prairie

KathleenMcLennanSpringburnFalher

Donnelly

Harmon Valley

Peace RiverRoma

Weberville

DixonvilleLone Star

DeadwoodManning

HotchkissNotikewin

Keg River

Sikanni

Fontas High Level

Fort Vermilion

Little Red RiverJohn D’or Prairie

Fox LakeVermillion Chutes

Cinema

Barkerville

Keithley CreekHydraulic

Black CreekWilliams LakeSpringhouse

PTASTAEast

STANorth

STAWest

Population Average Income Population Average Income Population Average Income

2013 Estimated 57,898 $107,026 150,298 $101,553 258,271 $98,894

2016 Projected 62,632 $121,450 156,122 $115,339 265,960 $112,105

2018 Projected 65,863 $128,932 160,030 $122,485 271,359 $118,916

2023 Projected 73,916 $150,149 170,574 $142,478 284,842 $137,703

CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIEPRIMARY TRADING AREA

(INCLUDING CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE)TOTAL TRADING AREA

Residents polled in a recent survey indicated a desire to have more

Clothing & Footwear, Full Service Restaurants, Sporting Goods &

Toys and Entertainment. Both spending patterns and importance

ratings of the respondents validated these sentiments.

Businesses in major retail nodes benefit from traffic counts in excess of

30,000 to 60,000 vehicles, allowing for high visibility and accessibility.

Top responses for full-restaurants: • Red Lobster • Olive Garden

• Montana's10 • Cactus Club

• Outback and Old Spagetti Factory

Top responses for limited-service restaurants: • Ethnic • Taco Bell

• Cafes (Tim Horton’s, Starbucks, Second Cup)

Top responses for comparison retailers: • Toys "Я" Us • IKEA

• Chapters • American Eagle

• Sport Chek

10 Location Opening in 2014

City of Grande Prairie Retail Trade Area

The Retail Market Analysis was prepared by Cushing Terrell Architecture Inc. for the City of Grande Prairie. To view the full report visit www.cityofgp.com/investhere

DOWNTOWN GRANDE PRAIRIE

Retail Market Analysis

Page 39: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

39

A Growing IndustryTourism is an important and growing industry in Alberta. As one

of the province's largest sectors, the industry employs 111,000

people and attracts millions of visitors each year.

The Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association operates the

year-round Visitor Information Centre to ensure visitors experi-

ence the region’s endless opportunities for adventure, discovery,

and northern hospitality.

www.gptourism.ca

With a growing sports tourism industry, Grande Prairie is work-

ing to build the capacity of sport organizations to support sport,

active living and the economy. Grande Prairie is a community

of choice to host international caliber sporting, recreation and

cultural events. Past successes include the 1995 Canada Winter

Games, 2009 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards and

the 2010 Arctic Winter Games. Grande Prairie was recently

selected to host the 2015 Alberta Special Olympics and a host

community for the 2015 Tour of Alberta.

With world class facilities, major airline service, more than 3,000

hotel rooms, dining, and shopping, Grande Prairie is a premier

destination for any event.

KLESKUN HILLS, NORTHEAST OF GRANDE PRAIRIE | LLOYD DYKSTRA

HYTHE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SECTOR PROFILE: TOURISM

TEEPEE CREEK STAMPEDE | STAR-K PHOTOGRAPHY

Page 40: 2014 Grande Prairie Economic Profile

WWW.CITYOFGP.COM