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Pouce
Coupe
The Village of Pouce Coupe is located 10 km (6 miles) south-east
of Dawson Creek on Hwy 2 approximately
35 km (22 miles) north-west of the Alberta border and 122 km (76
miles) to Grand Prairie.
Peace
River Regional District
Pouce Coupe is situated very close to the Peace River and is included
in the Peace River Regional District. Other communities in the Peace
River Regional District include: Dawson Creek, Chetwynd,
Tumbler Ridge, Taylor,
Fort St. John and Hudson's
Hope, plus numerous unincorporated villages.
'Pioneer
Capital of the Peace Region'
Considered the 'The Pioneer Capital of the Peace Region' Pouce Coupe
first made its mark in early 1900's as being the first municipality
in the Peace Region, incorporated in 1932. During this time Pouce
Coupe had a small store and post office assisting travellers and
settlers from the rest of Canada and the world.
Railroad
Expansion
With the expansion of people and development in the Peace Region,
much speculation was the fact that Pouce Coupe would be the selection
for a railway station for Northern Alberta Railways (NAR). Unfortunately,
Dawson Creek was chosen as the next NAR location with the first
trains coming through Pouce Coupe in 1931 from Hythe, Alberta.
Industry
around Pouce Coupe
Pouce Coupe has not grown as large as its neighbour Dawson Creek
to the north-west but instead has maintained a very low-key, laid-back,
friendly atmosphere that you want to experience in a small town.
The community's main source of income is agricultural plus the oil
and gas industries where you'll find plenty of examples throughout
the Peace Region.
Pouce
Coupe Museum
The Pouce Coupe Museum is housed in the previous headquarters of
the Northern Alberta Railway Station. The building which was built
in 1931 will give you an idea of how this part of the Peace Region
was established by previous settlers.
The
Pouce Coupe River
Walking around you'll find that Pouce Coupe tends to slope south-eastward
towards where the Bissette Creek, which flows along its southern
border, converges with the Pouce Coupe River. The Pouce Coupe River
flows northward along its eastern border towards Alberta.
Wooden
Train Trestle
If you're a fan of railway bridges there is a wooden trestle located
just south-west of town that Northern Alberta Railways built. Very
similar to the construction found at the Kinsol Trestle at Shawnigan
Lake, the trestle is located by going south-west on Elevator
Road or from 51 Avenue off Hwy 2.
Pouce
Coupe Park
There is a small park offering overnight camping downstream from
the village on the banks of Bissette Creek and the Pouce Coupe River
called Pouce Coupe Park. The park is downstream on Bissette Creek
by about 1.5 km (1 mile) from the NCR trestle. Unfortunately, there
are no trail systems along the creek that link up from the wooden
trestle and the park.
Winter
Activities
With the longer winter season in the Peace Region, you'll find a
very great selection of outdoor activities. Recreational activities
around Pouce Coupe include snow shoeing, cross- country skiing,
ice-fishing, snowmobiling, skating and lots of hockey.
Bear
Mountain Nordic Ski Association
A good place for you to get started in the winter fun is at Bear
Mountain, which is located towards Dawson Creek. The Bear Mountain
Nordic Ski Association has set up a number of Nordic ski runs totalling
23 km (14.5 miles) plus a small downhill run for you to enjoy.
Kiskatinaw
River
For exploring there is the Kiskatinaw River Provincial Park located
only 40 km (25 miles) from Pouce Coupe just north of Dawson Creek
off Hwy 97 on the original Alaska Highway. At the Kiskatinaw River
Provincial Park there is a campground that features fishing, swimming
plus some hiking opportunities where you can find beautiful views
of the valley and the historic Kiskatinaw River Bridge a curved
wooden trestle still in use built in 1942-43.
Parks
in the Area
Swan Lake Provincial Park is located about 20 km south-east of Pouce
Coupe very near to the Alberta Border. Sudeten Heritage Park located
4 km west of Swan lake Provincial Park at Tomslake offers a non-reserve
campground. For information, telephone (250) 786-5348.
Sudeten
Heritage Park
While at Tomslake, make a stop at the Tomslake Sudeten Museum which
commemorates the immigration of the Sudeten Germans from a disputed
area of Czechoslovakia called Sudetenland. There is a collection
of artifacts donated by a group of refugees that escaped from Nazi
Germany to Canada in 1939. The museum is located by the cemetery
in the north part of Tomslake.
Dawson
Creek Airport
Pouce Coupe does not have an airport but you can get service nearby
at the Dawson Creek Airport. The airport is situated on Hwy 2 north-west
of Pouce Coupe towards Dawson Creek.
Accommodation
For accommodation in Pouce Coupe you can try staying at the Hart
Hotel which was built in 1928. The Hart Hotel has a pub, restaurant
and a liquor store for all your needs. Telephone: (250) 786-5223.
There is also the Pouce Coupe Pioneer Inn which features kitchen
units, telephone (250) 786-5241.
Information
on Pouce Coupe
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