784065 RR 255

Rural Birch Hills County Rural Birch Hills County T0H 1H0

Grimshaw Alberta Information

Grimshaw is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is approximately 25 km (16 mi) west of the Town of Peace River at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 2A and along Mackenzie Northern Railway. By virtue of being the original starting point of Highway 35, which leads to the Northwest Territories, Grimshaw is referred to as Mile Zero of the Mackenzie Highway. _x000D_ The town was named after Dr. M.E. Grimshaw, a pioneer doctor from Kingston, Ontario who settled in Peace River (then known as Peace River Crossing) in 1914. He practiced in the area for many years and also served at different capacities in the local government at the county and the village levels until 1922, retiring from politics as the mayor of Peace River. In 1929 he moved his family to Fairview, where he died in November of that year. Dr. Grimshaw would later be the posthumous father-in-law of actor John Carradine, who was married to Grimshaw’s daughter, Doris Grimshaw (Doris Erving, Doris Rich), from 1957 until her death in 1971. _x000D_ In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Grimshaw had a population of 2,601 living in 1,080 of its 1,232 total private dwellings, a change of -4.3% from its 2016 population of 2,718. With a land area of 7.08 km2 (2.73 sq mi), it had a population density of 367.4/km2 (951.5/sq mi) in 2021. _x000D_ In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Town of Grimshaw recorded a population of 2,718 living in 1,061 of its 1,194 total private dwellings, a change of 8.1% from its 2011 population of 2,515. With a land area of 7.09 km2 (2.74 sq mi), it had a population density of 383.4/km2 (992.9/sq mi) in 2016. _x000D_ 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. _x000D_ Some annual festivals and events in the Grimshaw area include the following: _x000D_ 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. _x000D_ 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 and Lac Cardinal Recreation Area on the shores of Lac Cardinal are less than 10 kilometres to the northwest of Grimshaw. Wilderness Park is less than 5 kilometres to the northeast of Grimshaw. _x000D_ Museums include the Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum and the Mile 0 Antique Museum, which closed in 2014. Located within Lac Cardinal Recreation Area, the Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum features buildings from a pioneer townsite. The Mile 0 Antique Truck Museum displayed trucks used in northern cartage in the 1930s through 1950s. The museum specialized in International Trucks, and had many that were fully restored to show room condition. The museum was nominated for numerous awards before its closure. _x000D_ 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. _x000D_ The medical clinic is located in the town’s downtown core. Dental services are also available in Grimshaw. _x000D_ Public schools in Grimshaw include the Grimshaw Public School (Grades K to 12). Separate schools include Holy Family Elementary School (Grades K to 9) with senior high school students being bussed to Glenmary School in Peace River. _x000D_ Post-secondary education is available at Northern Lakes College in the Peace River Campus. _x000D_ Grimshaw is served weekly by the Mile Zero News and bi-weekly by alternative newspaper The Vault Magazine. _x000D_ Grimshaw is in the Peace River federal electoral district, served by Chris Warkentin. In the next federal election, Grimshaw will become part of the newly formed riding of Peace River—Westlock. _x000D_ _x000D_ Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimshaw,_Alberta