Grande Prairie is a city located in Northern Alberta which in only six years has doubled in population. Due to this rise the city has seen great amounts of expansion in a short period of time, both in the residential and industrial areas. The question is should you follow the crowds of people and move here yourself? Before you make a decision first find out what this growing city entails, it might turn out to be a dream come true or your worst nightmare.

One of the highlights that come with this city is the dog park located in South Bear Creek which provides a large fenced area for your furry friend to run around in. There is so much more for your dog to do here, it is like a puppy heaven. This dog park also includes trees to play in, water to swim in, friends to socialize with and even a decorative fire hydrant for them to ... well you know. Your hound will love you for taking him there and you will enjoy watching him have hours of fun and getting loads of exercise all for free.

The Grande Prairie Farmers Market is a one stop shop for all your needs. It is easy to find as it is located in the downtown area and is open every Friday afternoon and Saturdays until 2 PM. Here vendors from all over the Peace County come together to provide you with everything from freshly picked veggies, fresh meat from the local farms, hand made quilts, beautiful candles you will not find anywhere else and so much more. You can even buy truly unique gifts for every occasion here, why not pick up a hand made toque, designer diaper wallet and a beautiful handmade diaper bag, for an upcoming baby shower. Everything here is cheap and the service is great. While your here make sure you stop by and pick up one of Miss Penny's Pies (I highly recommend the apple carmel crumble).

Grande Prairie is mainly known for its jobs in the oil and forestry industry so if you are a mechanic, welder, driller, consultant or specialized in any other areas of these industry you may have much success in Grande Prairie. There is plenty of other opportunity in this city so if you are looking for a place to open a new business here is the place to do it. Grande Prairie is a known for being a working town and if you look at a map it almost seems as if the industrial areas are the focus and the residential areas were an after thought.

Though Grande Prairie has recently took a step forward to make itself more family friendly by building a new aquatic centre and trying to organize a few more family events throughout the year, it still at the moment remains mainly a working town. Sure the Backyardigans grace the stage of the Crystal Centre a few times a year, but other then that there is not a whole lot to do. With no zoo or wildlife parks in site and most of the local lakes seen as unswimable, summers can be kind of a drag for young children. Living so far north you would think you would be graced by a winter wonderland each year. One that would provide endless hours of fun building snowman and forts, sledding and snowball fights. Not so much here as the better part of the winter is spent at the low temperatures of -40, far to cold for young ones to be out in.



In a few years Grande Prairie may be more of a family friendly area but as of right now I would not recommend it as the ideal family neighbourhood. If you are looking for a place to come make money and party however then Grande Prairie is the place to be.