Roche Percee | |
---|---|
Village | |
Location of Roche Percee | |
Coordinates: 49°02′27″N 102°28′50″W / 49.040731°N 102.480451°WCoordinates: 49°02′27″N 102°28′50″W / 49.040731°N 102.480451°W | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Saskatchewan |
Region | Saskatchewan |
Rural Municipality | Coalfields No. 4 |
Post Office Established | 1890 August 01 |
Population (2006) | |
• Total | 149 |
Time zone | CST |
Area code(s) | 306 |
Roche Percee is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The village is situated near the Canada–United States border just off of Highway 39. Roche Percee is 20 km (12 miles) east of Estevan in the valley of the Souris River.
Roche Percee Provincial Historic Site 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 name of the rock formations, which means "pierced rock" in French. Another similar formation Rocher Percé (Percé Rock) is located in Quebec.
During the 1874 westward trek of the North-West Mounted Police, the force established its first camp (called Short Creek Camp) at this location. The town began being served by the SOO Line in 1893, permitting the coal mines in the region to become operational.
In 2010, the provincial government signed an agreement with Southeast Tour & Trails Inc. to restore Roche Percee Park after being closed for over a decade.
In 2011, flooding on the Souris River inundated the village, forcing its residents to evacuate. Over half of the 64 homes in Roche Percee were damaged beyond repair, and will have to be demolished.