Roche Percée (2016 population: 110) is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within the Rural Municipality of Coalfields No. 4 and Census Division No. 1. The village is situated near the Canada–United States border just off of Highway 39. Roche Percée is 20 km (12 mi) east of Estevan in the valley of the Souris River.

Roche Percée
Village
Roche Percée Location of Roche Percée Show map of Saskatchewan Roche Percée Roche Percée (Canada) Show map of Canada
Coordinates: 49°02′27″N 102°28′50″W
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
Region	Saskatchewan
Rural Municipality	Coalfields No. 4
Post Office Established	1890 August 01
Population  (2006)
• Total	149
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
Area code	306
[1]

History

In 1872 the Boundary Commission travelled through this area while surveying the border between Canada and the United States. During the 1874 March West trek of the North-West Mounted Police, the force established its first camp (called Short Creek Camp) at this location. The community began being served by the Soo Line in 1893, permitting the coal mines in the region to become operational. Roche Percée incorporated as a village on January 12, 1909.[2]

In 2010, the provincial government signed an agreement with Southeast Tour & Trails Inc. to restore Roche Percée Park after being closed for over a decade.[3]

In 2011, flooding on the Souris River inundated the village, forcing its residents to evacuate.[4][5] Of the 64 homes in Roche Percée, 28 were damaged beyond repair, and had to be demolished.[6]

Historical properties

Roche Percée Provincial Historic Site[7] is located nearby. Referred to by local residents as "the Rocks", it has large sandstone deposits in which some caves have formed. The name of the village comes from the Métis French name of the rock formations,[8] which means "pierced rock" in French. Another similar formation Rocher Percé is located in Quebec.

Roche Percée Gallery

• 
  Plaque at Roche Percée
• 
  Boundary Commission Trail plaque near Roche Percée
• 
  Entry at Roche Percée
• 
  Cave at Roche Percée
• 
  View from the top at Roche Percée

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Roche Percée had a population of 75 living in 36 of its 48 total private dwellings, a change of -31.8% from its 2016 population of 110. With a land area of 2.87 km² (1.11 sq mi), it had a population density of 26.1/km² (67.7/sq mi) in 2021.[11]

In the 2016 Census of Population, the Village of Roche Percée recorded a population of 110 living in 45 of its 50 total private dwellings, a -39.1% change from its 2011 population of 153. With a land area of 2.83 km² (1.09 sq mi), it had a population density of 38.9/km² (100.7/sq mi) in 2016.[12]

References