Grimshaw, Alberta

Grimshaw is a town in northern Alberta located 25km west of the town of Peace River at the junction of Highway 35, Highway 2, and bypass Highway 2A, and the Mackenzie Northern Railway. By virtue of being the original starting point of Highway 35, which leads to the Northwest Territories, Grimshaw is referred to as Mile Zero of the Mackenzie Highway.HistoryThe 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 practiced in the area for many years and also served at different capacities in the local government at the county and the village levels until 1922, retiring from politics as the mayor of Peace River. In 1929 he moved his family to Fairview, where he died in November of that year. Dr. Grimshaw would later be the posthumous father-in-law of actor John Carradine, who was married to Grimshaw's daughter, Doris Grimshaw (Doris Erving, Doris Rich), from 1957 until her death in 1971.Timeline 1917: Grimshaw's location was chosen by the Central Canada Railway. 1921: Originally surveyed by Alfred Driscoll. 1930: The hamlet was incorporated as the "Village of Grimshaw". 1953: Grimshaw was incorporated as a town.