Looking for things to do in the Peace River region this winter?  Get outdoors at the Nitehawk Recreation Area!  Nitehawk offers a ski and snowboard hill, Terrain Park, luge area, and Snow School ski and snowboard instruction.  The area has great rates for both day and seasons passes, and has equipment rentals on-site.  With elevations as high as 695 meters, and runs as long as 2,200 meters, Nitehawk is sure to be your choice for winter recreation in Grande Prairie!

If downhill skiing isn’t for you, head to the Wapati Nordic Ski Club for cross country skiing adventure.  Open 7 days a week, the club houses a rental facility, canteen, ski wax centre, washrooms, and a fireplace for warming up after a day on the trails.  With lessons available for both kids and adults, it’s a great place to head for skiing in Grande Prairie!

It has been said that the more you know about your community, the more you will appreciate it. Grande Prairie offers many opportunities for you to discover and appreciate our area.  You may be surprised at the unique ways we have come up with to assure that you enjoy your forays into the past and present at Grande Prairie.

For example, our friendly Grand Prairie Visitor Centre at 11330 106 Street wants you to “taste the region” every Wednesday from June through August.  They set up free bison barbeques with all the fixings.  Just be ready to eat between 4 and 6 PM. Where else does that happen?!

The Visitor Centre is also the starting point of a 1.5 hour, free bus tour of the city and county sponsored by the Grand Prairie Rotary Club.  Bring your cameras and questions, and board the bus any Monday, Tuesday or Thursday evening June through August.  Tours start at 7 PM.

Having examined what Grande Prairie looks like today, you will want to delve into its past.  Fortunately, the Heritage Village on the Grande Prairie Museum grounds, located at the entrance to Muskoseepi Park at 102 Street and 102 Avenue, want you to bring the whole family to Heritage Fun Days, Tuesday and Thursday, 130 pm - 330 pm, July 12 -August 18, 2011. Those lucky enough to be in Grande Prairie on Monday, August 1, will also be able to celebrate Heritage Day by participating in or watching demonstrations such as threshing, horse and cart rides, butter making, weaving, wool carding and spinning.  Come and Join the Fun! 

Many other opportunities to learn and have fun in our community can be found through the museum’s contact number, 780-532-5482 or email info@grandeprairiemuseum.org.   

The Stanford Grande Prairie Hotel, one of the north’s largest full-service hotels and Grande Prairie’s premiere special events hotel, lends its support to various events and activities in the area.   The friendly staff is always ready to direct its visitors to events they are sure to enjoy.  Contact us at  780-539-5678 or email us to reserve a room today at reservations@stanfordhospitality.com

Now in its 33^rd year, the annual Grand Prairie Stompede takes place this week, May 24-29 and features everything you’d expect from a good ol’ fashioned rodeo celebration. There’s tons of live music, a raucous beer gardens, a sensational miss Stompede pageant, an ultra-fun midway, and some rip-roarin’ chuckwagon racing. And, of course, there’s the main attraction: pro rodeo events from bull riding to steer wrestling.

The event takes place at Grand Prairie’s evergreen parkand is expected to draw over 30,000 eager Stompede spectators. So be sure to book your Stanford Grand Prairie Hotel accommodations soon, before they fill up. Contact us to find our about our special Stompede rates.

For more information about Stompede, visit their website or call the Stompede hotline at 780-532-4646.

The Herald-Tribune has been receiving reports all week about the return of crows, geese, gulls and, of course, the famous trumpeter swan for which the city garners its nickname. Here's the evidence as this one flies over the St. Joe's field on the city's south side.