Grande Prairie

Grande Prairie is a pretty big place.

I say this because I had pictured in my mind a much smaller town. I think I thought it was Peace River: River, Prairie.. same/different. So I was surprised when I called Travis when I first arrived.

“You’re where?”

“At the Shoppers Drug Mart by Tim Horton’s”

“Mom! There are about ten of those!

There is also a Costco, Walmart, Future Shop and about ten Starbucks! Theyhave two wedding shops and five baby specialty stores: one of them exclusively selling second hand stuff. There are day spas everywhere, usually located beside a Curves or other fitness center.

If you’re just starting a family, like Trav and Steph, this is a really nice place to do it. It feels like a young, happening town: full of opportunity.

Grande Prairie right now is busy! After watching places close in Cairns, it is interesting to watch them opening here. I see houses going up everywhere: huge subdivisions like inCalgary. There are great new schools and a lovely college. I could probably even get work here!

The kids tell me the medical system is also much better than in B.C. and are a little disappointed they didn’t endow Abby with an Alberta Birth Certificate: the government would have actually paid them $1000.

It’s the oil and gas industry that make Alberta. I think they do a good job of it too, a clean job. They are heavily regulated, which helps keep them in line, yet they still manage to make a buck.

I hate to think of what the human race is doing to the environment, but when I come to places like this I can’t help but have hope. The infrastructure is well developed and the whole country so clean. I saw two bears, an elk, some sheep and a whole heap of deer on my way up here. I drove by clean lakes, flooding rivers and snow covered mountains. It is just such a rich country!

Just like in Australia, the north holds a lot more opportunity than elsewhere, and we are definitely north here.

It stayed light until about eleven last night, and the sun was up again at 4:30! Gardens have just gone in, but will be taking advantage of the long hours and grow much more rapidly than down south: Like my granddaughter. I have only been here a few days but already I have seen changes in her.

Ya.. Grande Prairie is ok.