The Pas

THE PAS OPASKWAYAK CREE NATION
RM OF KELSEY WANLESS

The Town of The Pas is one of the oldest (dating back to when Henry Kelsey visited the area) surviving communities in Western Canada, sitting between the thick northern forests and the fertile southern farmlands, the community is proud of its heritage. Native people lived in the area for thousands of years before the first permanent settlement was constructed in 1741. The Town of The Pas was incorporated in 1912 and is governed by a Mayor and Council.

Today, the Town of The Pas is a modern community of 5,795 (Statistics Canada, 2001 Census). The Pas is located on the south shore of the Saskatchewan River 630 kilometers north of the City of Winnipeg and 144 kilometers south of the City of Flin Flon on PTH# 10.

Known as the “Gateway to the North”, the Town of The Pas serves as a major center for agriculture, forestry, transportation, tourism, government services and other services. The Pas is also referred to as both a geographically and economically integrated region that is comprised of three district communities – the Town of The Pas, the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) and the Rural Municipality of Kelsey.

The Pas is also considered home to a growing number of “Lake Residents” who reside year round at Rocky Lake and in Clearwater Provincial Park.

The Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) a community of 2,197, (Statistics Canada, 2001 Census) is located on the north shore of the Saskatchewan River, adjacent to the Town of The Pas. OCN is known as one of the most progressive First Nations in Canada and has long been recognized as a model for self-government. One of the seven members of the Swampy Cree Tribal Council, Opaskwayak was the first band in Canada to be recognized as a municipality. The Opaskwayak Cree Nation encompasses a total area of approximately 14,700 acres with 17 geographically separate sites.

The Bignel Bridge spans the Saskatchewan River and provides the link between the Town of The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation, as well as linking communities on the south shore of the river with other northern destinations.

Every two years, band elections are held to choose a Chief and 12 Councillors. This governing body then serves to establish policy and provide direction to a full-time staff that administers the day-to-day commercial, social and community operations of the band.

The Rural Municipality (RM) of Kelsey is located just outside the surrounding area of the Town of The Pas. Governed by Reeve and Council, the RM of Kelsey covers a large geographical area, which stretches in distance approximately 120 kilometers from just south of the Town of The Pas to Cranberry Portage in the north. The RM of Kelsey consists of five different areas. These areas include Carrot River Valley (Pasquia Settlement), Batchelor sub-division; Young’s Point, Big Eddy and Umperville settlements; Ralls Island, Wanless and the Local Urban District of Cranberry Portage. Each of these areas are individually to small to form an effective government, but combined form an effective, well-managed jurisdiction.

Carrot Valley (Pasquia Settlement) was developed in the 1950s, and is the most northern agricultural area in Canada with a population of 1,722 (Statistics Canada, 2001 Census). The Valley consists of 178,040 acres of prime land that is used for grain and other specialty crops, and to support cattle farms that are located in the Valley.

Young’s Point, Big Eddy and Umpherville are small Metis communities with a total population of approximately 300 people.

Rall’s Island, which is located east of The Pas, and Batchelor sub-division, situated just south of The Pas, are used mainly for rural residential living and some hobby farming.

Wanless is a small village of 183 people (Statistics Canada, 2001 Census), that is located approximately 50 kilometers north of the Town of The Pas. Situated on the shore of Rocky Lake the community is home to both year round homes and summer cottages of people who appreciate the great outdoors.