Pouce Coupe is a small village located in Northeastern BC, in the heart of the Peace River Region. With approximately eight hundred residents, Pouce Coupe has created a balance between rural living and urban amenities, located a short distance from the City of Dawson Creek
Pouce Coupe residents enjoy a quiet rural setting, with a family feel. Often, during the summer months, you will see families and residents walking in local green spaces throughout the community. Residents and visitors may be seen playing in one of five local parks or participating in baseball games and community events at the McNabb Recreational Park, located west of the Pouce Coupe Elementary School. Beside the school is the well-used skate park and an outdoor ice rink which is enjoyed by skaters and ice hockey players when weather permits.
Pouce Park, located just outside of the boundaries of Pouce Coupe, is a day-use park for families and nature enthusiasts. In the summer, the park is the destination for weddings and family gatherings, and in the winter, it is enjoyed by cross-country skiers. There is a playground, a bandstand, picnic tables, outhouses, and garbage and recycling bins. The green space is approximately 20 acres of maintained grass, trees for shade, and the Pouce River running through the east boundary.
With approval by the Village of Pouce Coupe Council, members of the Dawson Creek Disc Golf Club set up a Disc Golf course in Pouce Park in 2018. The main 9-hole course is fun for all skill levels, while the Super 6 layout is more of a challenge for stronger arms and advanced players. The MVP portal baskets catch and sound great for users.
For more than 50 years the Village has been celebrating Canada Day in a BIG way and PoucePark was the host location for most of these celebrated events. Every year the community comes together and hosts the Canada Day parade and finishes off with a celebration. In recent years, due to logistics, the event has been held at McNabb Park. Canada Day in Pouce Coupe starts with a pancake breakfast at our local Royal Canadian Legion and finishes off with food, vendors, and live music at McNabb Park. This historic event is a family and a community favourite!
Pouce Coupe enjoys the support of the Village Service groups which include the Pouce Coupe Seniors Association, the Pouce Coupe Food Bank, the Royal Canadian Legion, Pouce Coupe Community Church, and South Peace Bible Missionary Church. These groups all reach out to the public and offer a variety of services and programs to, and for, area residents. Constructed in 1931, the Pouce Coupe Trestle Bridge has become a historic tourist stop to those travelling the Alaska Highway and is located just outside the boundaries of Pouce Coupe. It is a fascinating piece of history and a majestic view.
A main attraction of Pouce Coupe is the Museum which houses much of the history of the region in the Old Train Station, and many other magnificent historical structures. It is a must-see, open in the summer months and again for major events such as the Pouce Coupe Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration held on an annual basis on Main Street.
Another great aspect of Pouce Coupe is its affordability, making it a great community to raise a family or make this your community for retirement. In 2019, Pouce Coupe was recognized by BC Assessment as one of the top three most affordable communities in the Peace Region.
With affordability being a big focus in the community, we understand that families often come to stay, with many calling Pouce Coupe home for generations. With that in mind, the Village has been focusing on aging in place. We want our residents to know that as a community we care about them, and their families, well into retirement.
With all that Pouce Coupe has to offer, we are hoping to be able to offer more services to the community especially the Seniors who have been active and involved in forming the Village.
The Seniors Aging in Place Program (SAIP) helps seniors to stay in their own homes more comfortably with the assistance of services they may find difficult in their golden years. This program has been provided successfully in the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) and Dawson Creek. Throughout the past year, the Village of Pouce Coupe has been working closely with related agencies that cultivate the services for the Village of Pouce Coupe Seniors. From September to December 2023, the Village provided an extremely popular trial period of the Seniors Aging in Place Program for Pouce Coupe senior residents. Since then, we have been advocating for support to help make this program a permanent feature in Pouce Coupe.
The Seniors Aging in Place Program (SAIP) offers meals, housekeeping, snow clearing, and general yard maintenance for seniors in the community. By working with local and provincial partners, we are hoping to close the gap in our community when it comes to seniors care and aging one’s own home for as long as possible. The model that was used was also affordable for our seniors.
Over the past three years, the municipality has been working closely with North Winds WellnessCentre and Northern Health on the new proposed North Winds Wellness Centre in Pouce Coupe. This centre will bring hope to many individuals and families in the area who are struggling with addiction and recovery.
This centre will bring care to the forefront through the ARCH Programing Model (AddictionsRecovery Community Housing) which offers an opportunity for individuals in the community to stay engaged and receive local substance use disorder treatment, recovery support, and supportive housing. The ARCH project will provide a complete range of care, incorporating best practices and learnings that combine traditional Indigenous healing and Western medicine practices. The new facility will serve as a culturally safe living space for individuals who wish to address their substance use and create a future of wellness for themselves. We as a community have seen the challenges the North is facing around addictions and have taken steps to be part of the solution!
Pouce Coupe has continued to work with local area partners to meet the needs of its residents, and those in the surrounding area. With our local Post Office, Municipal Public Library, PouceCoupe Elementary School, Community Centre, and Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, PouceCoupe works to serve not only our community but also our rural neighbors as well. The post office serves residents of Pouce Coupe and the PRRD community. The Library and Elementary School have students from the Village and PRRD community, and the Community Centre set in the school is available for local events and rentals to all. The Pouce Coupe Fire Department administers Fire Protection to the Village of Pouce Coupe, and a Fire Protection area in the PRRD.
The Village has an industrial base located at the west entrance of town. There are businesses located on Highway 2 and many home-based businesses dotted throughout the Village. With wellness being such an important topic, there are businesses in the Village which offer people assistance with their health and well-being. The Pouce Coupe website has a list of all businesses that are registered within the Village.
If you’re in the area be sure to stop in and say hello! The community welcomes you!
