Grimshaw

Grimshaw developed as a community centre for a rich mixed farming district. Its economy has transformed to become a distribution centre for northern Alberta.
By virtue of being the original starting point of Highway 35, which leads to the Northwest Territories, Grimshaw is called Mile Zero of the Mackenzie Highway.

History

The name of the town was derived from Dr. M.E. Grimshaw, a pioneer doctor from Kingston, Ontario who settled in Peace River (then known as Peace River Crossing) in 1914. He practised in the area for many years and served in the local government at the county and the village levels until he retired from politics as the mayor of Peace River in 1922.

Grimshaw is northwest of Edmonton, northeast of Grande Prairie, and west of Peace River, along Highway 2. It is about five hours drive northwest of Edmonton and two hours northeast of Grande Prairie. Highway 35 comes in from Northwest Territories.
Grimshaw can be accessed via Highway 2 from Edmonton, or by travelling Highway 43 to Valleyview and then Highway 49 – the latter is a faster and shorter route.

• • Northern Express provides bus service from Grande Prairie and High Level.
  
  

Grimshaw has no public transit system.

• Historic Mile 0 Mackenzie Park

  address: 5020 55 Avenue
  Mile Zero monument of the Mackenzie Hwy; features a small park and visitor information centre.

• Lac Cardinal Regional Performing Arts Society

  address: 5007 47 Avenue
  Perform at the Elks Hall, productions for adults and for children.

• Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum

  phone: +1 780-332-2030
  This museum represents life in the 1920s and 1940s. Buildings include four furnished houses, bakery, municipal office, church, community hall, school, blacksmith, general store, fire hall, carpenter shop and a library. A replica train station serves as the office and gift shop. The museum’s farm site includes a barn, farm equipment display and road building equipment.

• Lac Cardinal Recreation AreaAlong the eastern shore of Lac Cardinal with fire pits, playground area, camp kitchen, outhouses, and campground.

• Mighty Peace Golf Club

  phone: +1 780-332-4653
  address: 833056 Range Rd 231

• Peace River Wilderness ParkDay-use area with picnic tables, fire pits, outhouses (wheelchair accessible) and several man-made ponds stocked with rainbow trout and grayling (no swimming or boats).

• Peace River Wildland Provincial Park

  phone: +1 780-624-6468
  Peace River Wildland Park protects forest and grassland habitats around the confluence of the Peace and Smoky rivers. Road access is limited although the Peace River Wildland Provincial Park features a number of trails for hiking, off-highway vehicle riding and snowmobiling. There are also viewing points around in the park. Random backcountry camping is permitted; however there are no developed camping facilities in the park.

• Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park

  phone: +1 780-624-6125
  Located on the shores of Lac Cardinal, this park protects diverse forest habitats and offers excellent recreation and wildlife viewing. Water-based activities include swimming, boating, water-skiing, sailing and windsurfing.

• Multi-use trail systemThere is an extensive multi-use trail system for pedestrians and bicycles throughout the town including the dykes within the river valley that form part of the northern leg of the Trans Canada Trail. The trail runs from Calgary and heads north through Edmonton to the Peace River area through Grouard. Between Grimshaw and the Town of Peace River is the 29-km-long Friendship Trail.

• A&W

  phone: +1 780-332-1870
  address: 4521 51 Street
  Fast food, burgers.

• KFC

  phone: +1 780-332-1300
  address: 5003 51 Street
  Fast food, chicken.

• Norm’s Pizzazz

  phone: +1 780-332-1121
  address: 5715 51 Street
  Pizza, comfort food, breakfast & brunch.

• RJ’S Diner & Pizzeria

  phone: +1 780-332-1577
  address: 5302 51 Street

Hotels & motels

• Mile Zero Motor Inn

  phone: +1 780-332-4606
  address: 5904 51 Street

• Pomeroy Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 780-332-2000
  address: 4311 51 Street

Camping

• Lac Cardinal Recreation Area16 camping sites (no reservations taken)

• Queen Elizabeth Campground

  phone: +1 780-624-6125
  56 campsites, 42 with power, tucked into the forest along the lake shore. A group campsite can be booked for large gatherings. Equipped with fire pits, picnic tables, potable water and washrooms.