Grimshaw is a town in northern Alberta located west of the Town of Peace River

Peace River, Alberta

Peace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...

 at the junction of Highway 35

Mackenzie Highway

The Mackenzie Highway is a Canadian highway in northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It begins as Alberta Highway 2 at Mile Zero in Grimshaw, Alberta...

, Highway 2, and bypass Highway 2A, and the Mackenzie Northern Railway

Mackenzie Northern Railway

The Mackenzie Northern Railway was a Canadian railway operating in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It is the northernmost trackage of the contiguous North American railway network.-History:...

. By virtue of being the original starting point of Highway 35

Mackenzie Highway

The Mackenzie Highway is a Canadian highway in northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It begins as Alberta Highway 2 at Mile Zero in Grimshaw, Alberta...

, which leads to the Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...

, Grimshaw is referred to as Mile Zero on the Mackenzie Highway.

Having developed first as a community centre for a rich mixed farming district, Grimshaw's economy has transformed to become a distribution centre for northern Alberta.

History

The name of the town, Grimshaw was derived from Dr. M.E. Grimshaw, a pioneer doctor in the then village of Peace River Crossing in 1914 originally from Kingston, Ontario. He practiced in the area for many years and also served at different capacities in the municipal governments until 1922.

Timeline

• 1917: Grimshaw's location was chosen by the Central Canada Railway.
• 1921: Originally surveyed by Alfred Driscoll.
• 1930: The hamlet was incorporated as the "Village of Grimshaw".
• 1953: Grimshaw was incorporated as a town.

Demographics

According to the 2006 census:

• population of 2,537 living in 1,047 dwellings
  House
  A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
  
  , a 4.2% increase from 2001.
• land area of 7.21 km² (2.8 sq mi)
• a population density
  Population density
  Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
  
   of 352.1 /km2.

Education

Public schools in Grimshaw include Kennedy Elementary School [K-6] and Grimshaw Junior/Senior High School [Grades 7-12]. Separate schools include Holy Family Elementary School (Grades K to 9) with
senior high school students being bussed to Glenmary School [Grades 7-12] in Peace River.

Post-secondary education is available at Northern Lakes College

Northern Lakes College

Northern Lakes College is a publicly-funded comprehensive community college in north-central Alberta, Canada.Administrative offices are located in Slave Lake and Grouard, Alberta, with a staff of more than 275 working in more than 30 campuses...

 in the Peace River Campus.

Health care

The Grimshaw Berwyn & District Community Health Centre provides the health needs of residents for Grimshaw, Berwyn and nearby communities. Other hospitals in the area include the Peace River Community Health Centre in Peace River, and the Manning Community Health Centre in Manning.

The medical clinic is located in the Town's downtown core. Dental services are also available in Grimshaw.

Amenities and parks

The Town of Grimshaw has numerous indoor and outdoor recreational facilities within its borders including an outdoor swimming pool, an arena, a curling rink, a family fitness centre, 6 Ball Diamonds, SK8 "N" Bike Park, an R.V. Park and a Seniors Drop In Centre.

The Historic Mile 0 Mackenzie Park and the Tom Baldwin Memorial Arboretum located at the corner of Highway 2 and Highway 2A are fully landscaped passive recreational interpretive park reflecting local and regional history. The history of the communities along the Mackenzie Highway is reflected by interpretive signs situated along the walking path. The Tom Baldwin Memorial Arboretum provides an educational component to visitors and the local schools to learn about the different species of trees in the area forests.
Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park

Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park

Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park is a provincial park in Alberta, Canada, located north-west of Grimshaw in northern Alberta, west of the junction of Highway 2 and Mackenzie Highway....

 and Lac Cardinal Recreation Area

Lac Cardinal Recreation Area

Lac Cardinal Recreation Area is a municipally owned recreation area located adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park on the eastern shore of Lac Cardinal. It is northwest of the Town of Grimshaw on Township Road 833A off Highway 35...

 on the shores of Lac Cardinal

Cardinal Lake

Cardinal Lake is a lake in north-western Alberta, Canada. It is located at the southern end of Mackenzie Highway, near Grimshaw.Cardinal Lake has a total area of 50 km². Its waters are drained through the Whitemud River into the Peace River....

 are less than 10 kilometres to the northwest of Grimshaw. Wilderness Park

Peace River Wilderness Park

Wilderness Park is a municipally owned park with a set of two man made lakes stocked with rainbow trout and interconnected trails. It is located on a quarter section 10 kilometers west of the Town of Peace River, south of Highway 2 on Range Road 233....

 is less than 5 kilometres to the northeast of Grimshaw.

Museums

• Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum
  Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum
  The Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum was developed by the Lac Cardinal Pioneer Museum Society which was founded in 1988. It is located within the Lac Cardinal Recreation Area and features four homes, a hall, municipal office, school, barn, pole sheds, church, blacksmith shop, railway station,...
  
  , which features buildings from a pioneer town site is located within Lac Cardinal Recreation Area, a few minutes from town.
• Mile 0 Antique Truck Museum displays trucks used in northern cartage in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The museum specializes in International Trucks, and has many that are fully restored to show room condition. The museum has been nominated for numerous awards.

Events

Some annual festivals and events in the Grimshaw area include the following:

• Family Day Celebration in February at Lac Cardinal
• Alberta Pond Hockey tournament in February at Lac Cardinal
• Senior Citizens Week Celebration in June
• Annual Country Fair in June
• Pioneer Days at Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum in August
• North Peace Stampede in August at Lac Cardinal Recreation Area
• Annual Terry Fox Run in September
• Old Fashioned Family Christmas Event at Lac Cardinal Pioneer Museum in December

External links

• Town of Grimshaw - official website
• Discover the Peace Country. Grimshaw History and Attractions
• Alberta First. Grimshaw Statistics