Goodfare, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Goodfare is a hamlet
in northern Alberta
, Canada
within the County of Grande Prairie No. 1
. It is located on Highway 671, approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) west of Highway 43 and 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) northwest of Grande Prairie
.
Established as a post office in April 1919, after the residents petitioned for postal service, the name Goodfair was chosen, being descriptive of the area, the name was changed to the current spelling since there was already a Goodfair post office in Saskatchewan. John Third was the first postmaster. The area was originally known as Kempton.
The community of Goodfare is a vibrant farming community, as well as home to entrepreneurs, tree planters and artists. The community centre - Goodfare Hall - is a popular venue for wedding receptions, Christmas parties, baby and bridal showers, and other community activities. A ball diamond is found behind the Hall, and a small outdoor skating rink next to it. The rink is iced yearly by a community volunteer, depending on weather. There is also a small changing room for families to lace up skates and put on hockey equipment. Every Tuesday in the summer you will find locals playing horseshoes
behind the hall.
Across the highway, is the former Goodfare store and Goodfare postal boxes. The former store is now closed and under renovations by a German couple, who bought the run down property in 2007. The store was more useful to Goodfare residents when getting to the nearest town (Beaverlodge) was more difficult in the old days, but now the new paved highway makes it more accessible.
Goodfare originally ran a one-room school near the hall. Currently, families in Goodfare send their children to elementary school (grade 1-6) in Beaverlodge. For junior high and senior high, students go to Hythe
and Beaverlodge respectively.
Residents of this rural area refer to themselves as "Goodfarians" with a grain of humour.
Goodfare meats can be bought at the Edmonton Farmer's market from First Nature Farms.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in northern Alberta
Northern Alberta
Northern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Its primary industry is oil and gas, with large heavy oil reserves being exploited at the Athabasca Oil Sands and Wabasca Area in the east of the region...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
within the County of Grande Prairie No. 1
Grande Prairie County No. 1, Alberta
The County of Grande Prairie No. 1 is a municipal district in northwestern Alberta, Canada in Census Division No. 19.It is bounded on the south by the Wapiti River, on the east by the Smoky River and on the west by the province of British Columbia....
. It is located on Highway 671, approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) west of Highway 43 and 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) northwest of Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie is a city in the northwestern part of the province of Alberta in Western Canada. It is located on the southern edge of the Peace River Country . The city is surrounded by the County of Grande Prairie No...
.
Established as a post office in April 1919, after the residents petitioned for postal service, the name Goodfair was chosen, being descriptive of the area, the name was changed to the current spelling since there was already a Goodfair post office in Saskatchewan. John Third was the first postmaster. The area was originally known as Kempton.
The community of Goodfare is a vibrant farming community, as well as home to entrepreneurs, tree planters and artists. The community centre - Goodfare Hall - is a popular venue for wedding receptions, Christmas parties, baby and bridal showers, and other community activities. A ball diamond is found behind the Hall, and a small outdoor skating rink next to it. The rink is iced yearly by a community volunteer, depending on weather. There is also a small changing room for families to lace up skates and put on hockey equipment. Every Tuesday in the summer you will find locals playing horseshoes
Horseshoes
Horseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people using four horseshoes and two throwing targets set in a sandbox area. The game is played by the players alternating turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40 feet apart...
behind the hall.
Across the highway, is the former Goodfare store and Goodfare postal boxes. The former store is now closed and under renovations by a German couple, who bought the run down property in 2007. The store was more useful to Goodfare residents when getting to the nearest town (Beaverlodge) was more difficult in the old days, but now the new paved highway makes it more accessible.
Goodfare originally ran a one-room school near the hall. Currently, families in Goodfare send their children to elementary school (grade 1-6) in Beaverlodge. For junior high and senior high, students go to Hythe
Hythe, Alberta
Hythe is a village in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately 54 km west of Grande Prairie, the nearest major urban centre, on Highway 43. It is located in the centre of the Peace River Country, and supports a rural agricultural economy. It has an elementary school and a junior high...
and Beaverlodge respectively.
Residents of this rural area refer to themselves as "Goodfarians" with a grain of humour.
Goodfare meats can be bought at the Edmonton Farmer's market from First Nature Farms.