From resource hub to AI ambition: Inside Grande Prairie’s transformation

Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton (center) during an interview at the city’s art gallery. – Photo by William Vavrek for Digital Journal

Most people don’t spend very much time thinking about how mid-sized cities grow — until one of them starts rewriting the playbook. Grande Prairie, tucked in Northwestern Alberta, is doing just that.

While major cities wrestle with reactive infrastructure and workforce strain, Grande Prairie is leaning into long-term planning, cross-sector alignment, and a strategy that prioritizes talent attraction.

It’s not a flashy turnaround story. But it is an important example of a city building momentum before a crisis forces it to.

Earlier today, Digital Journal attended Grande Prairie’s annual State of the City event, which also marked the release of its 2024 Annual Report. The presentations offered a clear snapshot of where the city is heading and how it’s preparing for what comes next.

At the center of the ongoing shift is a once-in-a-generation project.

Wonder Valley, a $70 billion AI-powered data centre development, is being positioned as one of the largest of its kind in the world. The project has moved beyond concept and into early execution, with provincial coordination underway, a master water licence application in progress, and community pre-engagement already taking place.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but these early phases lay the foundation for potentially profound change for the region, for Alberta, and for Canada more broadly if the project unfolds as envisioned.

Speaking to the broader transformation of the region, Mayor Jackie Clayton emphasized the complexity and resilience of Grande Prairie’s economy.

“Grande Prairie initially was known as an agricultural hub, and then in the early 2000s it really exploded as an energy hub,” said Clayton in an interview with Digital Journal after the event. “In between that it was known as the forest capital of Canada. There’s always been strong representation from all sectors, from all resources. The reality is, we’ve always been that hub.”

Grande Prairie may not be on the radar of all Canadians yet, but something is happening here that warrants attention.

At a time when many mid-sized cities are playing catch-up to infrastructure needs and economic volatility, Grande Prairie is demonstrating what it looks like to plan ahead and build alignment across sectors.

This isn’t a story of overnight success. It’s a blueprint for how civic leadership, post-secondary institutions, and regional partnerships can work together to shape a city’s future before it’s forced to react.

From energy hub to economic engine

Grande Prairie’s identity has long been tied to natural resources.

First agriculture, then forestry, then energy. But today, the city operates as a regional service centre for more than 300,000 people. It’s a hub for health care, professional services, education, and increasingly, innovation.

That role is reflected in the city’s continued growth.

Population has surpassed 86,000, with a median age of 35, making it one of Canada’s youngest cities — though Clayton noted the demographic is gradually shifting.

“When I first was elected, the average age in the community was about 31 and now it’s about 35. I often say it’s attributed to adding pickleball courts and the seniors have no reason to leave,” Clayton joked. “But part of the reality of that is that we have such a young population as well, so grandparents are sticking around to spend more time with their children.”

In Grande Prairie last year, construction activity rose by 31%, reaching $123 million in value. Airport traffic also grew, with more than 280,000 passengers moving through the terminal, a 7% increase from the previous year.

“We mitigate some of the significant influxes that you see from specific industries,” Clayton said. “We continue to grow, we continue to provide new services, and our industry leaders continue to thrive.”

The Wonder Valley moment

Larry Gibson, economic development manager for the neighbouring Municipal District of Greenview, called it transformative — a project that could redefine the region’s role in global energy and technology infrastructure.

Wonder Valley is a multi-phase, AI-powered data centre industrial park backed by O’Leary Ventures and anchored in the Greenview Industrial Gateway.

“Once completed, it will be the largest development of its kind in the world, positioning our region as a leader in technology innovation and sustainable energy solutions,” said Gibson.

Phase one could represent a $12 billion investment to develop 1.4 gigawatts of power infrastructure. Once fully built out, the development is expected to exceed $70 billion, creating thousands of jobs and attracting global investment.

The region’s cold climate, fibre optic connectivity, natural gas reserves and skilled workforce are all factors in its appeal.

The project aligns with Alberta’s broader data centre strategy, and at today’s event, Gibson said weekly meetings are being held with the province’s concierge team to navigate regulatory processes and keep the project moving forward.

“It puts this region on international maps and in conversation of what’s possible,” Clayton added. “But it really builds hope and optimism, and it strengthens other organizations’ ability to make investments in the region.”

A new playbook for mid-sized cities

Grande Prairie isn’t improvising its growth strategy. Lessons from the city’s rapid expansion in the early 2010s have informed a much more proactive approach to planning.

The city now has 50 years of serviced residential land, as well as ready commercial and industrial zones.

In 2024, the city completed 31 kilometres of road rehabilitation, upgrades to stormwater systems, and key transit enhancements. Additional multi-family housing incentives and broadband infrastructure rebates have also been rolled out.

Transit ridership is growing, especially among young people. Free youth transit introduced in 2023 led to a 107% increase in ridership, adding more than 100,000 rides.

“We are ready. We have the infrastructure in place, and that’s how you become competitively advantaged,” Clayton said.

Talent isn’t an afterthought — it’s the strategy

With a population that skews young, Grande Prairie is investing heavily in keeping talent local. One of its key assets is Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP), which has taken a nimble, industry-aligned approach to programming.

Under President and CEO Dr. Vanessa Sheane’s leadership, NWP launched nearly 40 new programs last year. That includes expansions in computing science, trades, oil and gas, and agriculture.

“How we got there was really just the relationships and partnerships and looking at what programs we were offering and what programs we were not offering, and what’s in need — both from the student demand, but also industry, employer, community organization demand,” said Sheane. “There were some really low-hanging fruit in terms of things such as practical nursing and then there were other more exciting ones that were grassroots driven.”

New student housing is also in development, and a healthcare education corridor is emerging near the regional hospital. In fall 2025, the first cohort of University of Alberta medical students will begin training in Grande Prairie. This is a first for the region, and a marker of what integrated talent strategies can look like outside of major cities.

Despite its pace of growth, Grande Prairie has held on to its civic identity. More than 80% of residents have lived in the city for more than two years. According to the latest resident satisfaction survey, 91% say quality of life is good or very good, and 86% are proud to live in the city.

Projects like Cedar Point, a supportive housing facility operated by The Mustard Seed, and the forthcoming Maskwa Medical Centre, show how the city is leaning on local partnerships to expand services while addressing complex challenges like housing, mental health and workforce access.

The city’s collaboration with the County of Grande Prairie and MD of Greenview continues through Invest Northwest Alberta, a regional initiative to align economic development and talent attraction.

“Progress like ours doesn’t happen in isolation,” Clayton said. “It’s built through regional and local collaboration and engagement.”

Grande Prairie’s shared value advantage

Grande Prairie’s growth is not just a story of scale. It’s a story about intentional alignment.

Infrastructure is being planned with purpose. Education is responding to industry in real time. Public and private sector goals are overlapping in ways that benefit residents and future-proof the local economy.

But it’s also clear this work is ongoing. 

The city continues to advocate for support on electricity distribution costs and health care infrastructure. Affordable housing remains a challenge. And while the Wonder Valley project signals a leap forward, its long-term success depends on continued coordination across governments, postsecondary, and industry.

The result is not a perfect model, but a revealing one. 

Grande Prairie is showing what happens when a city chooses to act early rather than react late. It’s a case study in what shared value looks like on the ground — and a signal that small cities can still shape big futures.

This article was created with the assistance of AI. Learn more about our AI ethics policy here.