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Photo by Curtis Galbraith.
By Curtis Galbraith
Community

Grand opening at new ANAVETS facility taking place Friday

May 9, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie’s Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit 389 is hosting a grand opening of its new location on 102 Street today.

The celebration starts at 3 p.m. with a ribbon cutting set for 5 p.m.

President Lorne Scobie says ANAVETS sponsors all the cadet programs, Special Olympics, Scouts, Girl Guides, and the Salvation Army. He adds they “do a lot in the community.”

“Even before we sold our old building, people didn’t even know we were there.”

“Now that we’re down on 102nd, we’re getting more interest and we’re getting a lot more new members there now, too.”

The new location first opened to the public on December 10, 2024.

Scobie says since then, membership has gone from 27 to close to 60.

The new location is a former convenience store on 102 Street and 106 Avenue.

Scobie says converting the former store was “quite an experience.”

“We had to gut it and then get designs and do it all.”

“I acted as general contractor on it and I did most of the take out and getting hold of all the contractors that we used.”

Scobie says the contractors would do things like not charge for all their hours.

“All the people that we had working on the building were great. No complaints. They donated time. They donated product too and they charged us a bare minimum.”

The celebration starts at 3 p.m. with a ribbon cutting set for 5 p.m. Mayor Jackie Clayton, members of city council and Chris Warkentin are expected to be among those attending.

There will also be a presentation of a King Charles III Coronation Medal.

The Grande Prairie & District Pipes & Drum Band will perform starting at 6 p.m.

by Curtis Galbraith