Moving to Peace River

The town, located 486 km northwest of Edmonton and 195 km northeast of Grande Prairie, is the second largest center in northwestern Alberta and functions as a thriving regional service and trade center.

The Peace, Smoky, and Heart Rivers converge at the town and from surrounding outlook areas such as Sagitawa Lookout and Twelve Foot Davis Gravesite, we are treated to an outstanding view of the river valley below. 

The beauty of the natural valley and hills offers the ideal setting for photographers and outdoor enthusiasts, and a wide range of businesses, shopping, dining and lounges are featured throughout the community. Hiking, cycling, and walking trails wind throughout town and campers enjoy an abundance of outdoor facilities, with others just a few minutes’ drive from town, as well as picnic areas, interpretative trails, 9 and 18 hole golf courses, secluded fishing spots and much more!

Visitors and residents alike enjoy our many parks and playgrounds for local events, gatherings, and picnicking, with lots of room for the kids to play.

In winter you can ski the slopes of Misery Mountain, located on the west side of town, go cross-country skiing along one of the many trails in the valley, or tobogganing at one of our local hills.

The Mighty Peace River is 1300 kilometres in length, and flows through two provinces. The Peace River has undeniably shaped and influenced all who have lived here. From the beginning, the community of Peace River has had a deep connection to the resource rich environment that runs along this mighty river. The Peace River was historically an important source of sustenance and transportation for the early Beaver Nation, the Cree Nation and early Europeans.  As a river of commerce, it became a vital backdrop to the Canadian fur trade industry until the late 1800s.  Early in the town’s development, ferry crossings, steamboat operations, and later float plane and bush plane companies set up their headquarters in the town and provided access to more remote areas in the Peace Country. Today, the river is an important part of community identity, providing for a number of activities including fishing, recreation, travel, transport, industrial, and environmental uses.

• École Springfield Elementary School
  Grades: Kindergarten to Grade 4; Public School (PRSD); Offers English and French Immersion programs. 
• Good Shepherd School
  Grades: Pre-K to Grade 6; Catholic School (HFCRD); Offers English and French Immersion programs.
• Glenmary School
  Grades: 7-12; Catholic School (HFCRD); Offers English and French Immersion programs. 
• T.A. Norris Middle School
  Grades: 5-8; Public School (PRSD); Offers English and French Immersion programs; offers Industrial Arts, Home Economics and Art/Drama at all grade levels as well as a Hockey Academy and Dance/Gymnastics Academy.
• Peace River High School
  Grades: 9-12; Public School (PRSD); Offers a full range of academic core, non-academic, and options/complementary courses
• École des Quatre-Vents
  Grades: preschool to Grade 12;  (CSNO); Francophone school
• Peace Regional Outreach Campus
  Grades: 10-12; Public School (PRSD); an alternate learning environment for students for whom the mainstream school setting has not been effective

School Divisions:

• Peace River School Division  (PRSD)
• Holy Family Catholic Regional Division (HFCRD)
• Conseil scolaire du Nord-Ouest (CSNO)

Adult Learning:

• Vision Learning Centre 
• Northern Lakes College

We know that many people find libraries to be the heart of a community. The Town of Peace River is fortunate to have the Peace River Municipal Library & Art Gallery. Please check out their website to see what exciting programs and exhibits they have upcoming. 

• Peace River Community Health Centre
  This facility provides a range of healthcare services including a 24/7 emergency department. Services include addictions and mental health, diabetes management, laboratory services, mammography, general radiography (x-ray), etc. Please visit their website to view the full list of services provided. 
• There are also private businesses that provide services such as dental, vision, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and chiropractor. Please visit our Business Directory for more information. 

The following internet services providers are available in Peace River:

• Eastlink
• Telus (including Telus fibre optic)
• Xplore
• Mighty Peace Wireless
• Starlink

*this list is not an endorsement by the Town of any internet provider/service, nor does the Town guarantee this is a complete list of internet providers for the area. 

The Town of Peace River provides water, wastewater, and solid waste services. However, gas and electricity are provided by third party retailers/distributors. 

The Government of Alberta has developed a Retailers & Distributers list to help you find which service providers are available in your local area and which one is right for you. 

North Peace Housing Foundation

The North Peace Housing Foundation is a housing management body established by Ministerial Order under the Alberta Housing Act. They provide a variety of housing options for seniors and low-income households in need throughout the North Peace Region. Seniors’ Lodges, Seniors’ Self-Contained Apartments, Family Housing, Affordable Housing, and rent supplement.

Metis Urban Housing Corp.

Métis Urban Housing Corporation (MUHC) is a Métis Nation of Alberta-owned company that was incorporated in 1982 to provide affordable, adequate and appropriate rental housing for low and moderate-income Métis (and other Aboriginal) families within the urban centers of Alberta.

• Business Directory - this is a list of businesses operating within Town. It can be sorted by type so you can narrow your search down to restaurants, spas, gyms, appliance repair, hairdressers, childcare, etc. 
• Community Directory - the heart of your community! Whether you’re looking for help through local resources and supports, engaging clubs, or other valuable community connections.
• Community Events Calendar - this is a spot where non-profit organizations, agencies, clubs, and other community groups can share details about their upcoming events! The Town also shares many of our community events here. 

Here we have complied a list of links to other areas on our website to help you get set up and settled into your new home. From questions about setting up a utility account to whether or not you can raise hens in town to staying connected with us!

• Utilities - how to set up an account, pay your bill, frequently asked questions
• Property taxes - important dates, monthly payment plans, frequently asked questions 
• Waste Management - find your curbside garbage and recycle collections schedules, information on our seasonal curbside clean up programs, report if we missed picking up your garbage, where to dispose of yard waste
• Applications & Permits - looking to build a house, add on a garage or deck, or do some renovations to your newly purchased home? Make sure to check out the applications & permits page to see if you need a building or development permit. 
• Pets - pet licensing fees, owner responsibilities, or raising backyard hens in Town
• Bylaws & Policies - get familiar with all our local bylaws and policies
• Your Town Council - find contact information for the Mayor and Town Councillors, council meeting agendas and minutes, or where and when to attend a council meeting 
• Social media platforms - Here you will find links to all our social media platforms so you can stay up to date on what's going on
• Voyent Alert! - is a free app that provides you with immediate notice regarding community-wide information, such as fire bans and river advisories, location-specific garbage & recycling delays, road closures, water outages, and other information to keep you safe and informed.
• Emergency Preparedness - the Town of Peace River knows the value of emergency preparedness and have resources online to help you prepare in the event of an emergency (have a family plan, build an emergency preparedness kit)

This list has been compiled for ease of reference, but please explore our full website to see all that the Town of Peace River has to offer!