Hines Creek
Welcome
On behalf of Council and the residents of Hines Creek, I am pleased to provide you with the Village's Community Profile. We are proud of our community, its history and what it has to offer. We invite you to join us here in the Village of Hines Creek to enjoy a quality of life which stresses the importance of family and friends.
This profile provides you with information on the Village including its economic base, community services, recreation opportunities and other significant benefits.
We hope that you will find this information beneficial whether you are looking for a new location for a business or just looking for a new place to live. Come be a part of the Village of Hines Creek; be a part of The End of Steel!
M. Joan Smith
Former Mayor of Hines Creek
Area Overview
Settlement in the Hines Creek area began in the mid-1800's at a time when the fur trade was still active in Western Canada. The Peace River served the region as a transport medium for those involved in the fur trade. A Northwest Company fur-trading post was established on the banks of the Peace River at Dunvegan, making the area a focal point for the fur-trade and the development of agriculture. The Village, taking its name from the nearby water channel of Hines Creek, grew from its early beginnings as an area suited towards the pursuits of trappers, ranchers as the early settlers of Hines Creek.
Today, the Village of Hines Creek is a well-rounded and diverse community of population 437, situated in the heart of the most productive agricultural, forestry and oil and gas region of the Province. The Village maintains the agricultural tradition it was founded by being an agricultural service centre, but is also boasts many small businesses, is the END OF STEEL for the Canadian National Railway, is the setting for the Canadian Forest Product's and Zavisha sawmills and has oil and gas production in close proximity. The Village is also located by some potential mineral resource sites. The many recreational, arts and cultural amenities are part of the Village's commitment to an excellent community quality of life.
Location
The Village of Hines Creek is located in northwestern Alberta in the southern portion of the surrounding Municipal District of Clear Hills No. 21. The Village is situated at the junction of Highway 64 and Secondary Highway 685. It is west of Grimshaw and Mile Zero of the Mackenzie Highway 35 and just north of Fairview and Highway 2. This allows for easy access to Grande Prairie, Peace River, Fort St. John, British Columbia and the major routes to the Territories.
Hines Creek is located just over an hour's drive north of the City of Grande Prairie, approximately five and a half hours northwest of Edmonton and eight and a half hours north of Calgary.
Economic Base
The area surrounding Hines Creek has good soils and favourable climate conditions for growing most crops resulting in the Village's role as a service centre for the agricultural industry. Livestock production in the area is and will continue to be an important part of the agricultural industry due to fluctuating grain prices and the availability of large grazing areas.
Forestry is an important industry for the area surrounding Hines Creek as both the Zavisha and Canadian Forest Products sawmills along with other forestry opportunities in northern Alberta employ many Hines Creek residents on a full time or seasonal basis. Oil and gas producing wells, two petroleum pipelines, a natural gas pipeline, a gas plant and related structures can be found in close proximity to Hines Creek.
Economic Facts
The agricultural industry includes two grain elevators, fertilizer plant, chemical dealer and a number of other farm supply and service businesses. There is potential for further farm development in the area.
Lignite coal and iron ore deposits near Hines Creek also hold future development and economic potential for the Village and there is further potential development of natural gas in the area.
Major Businesses Products/Services
- United Grain Growers Grain Elevator
- Cargill Fertilizer Blending Plant
- Canadian Forest Products Limited Forestry
- Zavisha Sawmill Forestry
Financial Institutions
Utilities
Electrical Power
Atco Electric, Ltd.
Box 2429
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 4M7
Tel: 1-800-668-2248
Natural Gas
Atco Gas, Ltd.
10035-105 St.
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 2V6
Tel: 1-888-511-7550
Telephone
Telus Communications
Box 2422
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 2S7
Tel: 780-310-2255
Water Supply
The residential water, sewage and garbage flat rate is $75.00 billed bimonthly.
The Village is served with an up-to-date water and sewer system providing excellent quality and quantity. Water obtained from Jack Creek is treated in a municipal reservoir. The water is subject to filtration, chlorination, coagulation and is distributed by a piped system. The reservoir capacity, measured in treated substance is 682 cubic metres, and the design capacity is 490 cubic metres.
Waste Management
Sewage treatment is provided by a series of lagoons.
Taxation
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Municipal Tax Rate |
16.9870 |
25.9870 |
| Education - Alberta School Foundation Fund Tax Rate |
5.1700 |
7.5900 |
| Allowance for Non-Collection of Requisitioned Taxes |
.2730 |
.2730 |
| Seniors Lodge Accommodation Tax Rate |
.2580 |
.2580 |
Transportation
Air Services
To accommodate air service, a grass landing strip is located just 3 km west of Hines Creek and a helicopter landing pad is located within the Village. The nearest all-weather airport facility is located just west of Fairview [20 km southeast of Hines Creek] which accommodates local and charter flights. The airport includes a 912 m paved runway with plans for adding a grass landing strip perpendicular to the existing runway.
Regularly scheduled passenger air and freight service is provided via the Peace River Airport [88 km east of Hines Creek] and Grande Prairie Airport [130 km south of Hines Creek].
Rail Services
Freight service in the region is provided by the Canadian National Railway, secondary main line. From its terminus in Hines Creek, the railway extends southeast to Fairview and east to Peace River where it connects with lines running north to High Level or south to Edmonton. Within the Village, spur trackage is available.
Highways
Hines Creek is located at the intersection of Primary Highway 64 and Secondary Highway 685. To the south of the Village, Highway 64 joins with Highway 2 which runs east to the Town of Peace River and south to the City of Grande Prairie. To the north of Hines Creek, Highway 64, which is an alternate route to the Alaska Highway, runs west through Municipal District of Clear Hills No. 21 to the British Columbia/Alberta border. Highway 2A also connects Hines Creek to the Town of Fairview. These roads are paved and are in excellent condition.
Secondary Highway 685 runs east to the Town of Grimshaw and west to the Peace River valley. The road to Grimshaw has been recently paved.
Trucking Firms
Hines Creek has excellent trucking services. Trucking services are provided through at least five local companies offering freight service. There are also warehouse and other storage facilities in the surrounding area.
Bus Services
Greyhound freight services are available in the Village while passenger service can be obtained in nearby Fairview.
Couriers and Taxis
Hines Creek has excellent courier services. There are a number of courier companies that help serve Hines Creek on a daily basis.
Community Lifestyle
Recreation
There are many recreational facilities in Hines Creek including an indoor arena, curling rink, gymnasium, auditorium, 2 tennis courts, baseball diamonds, playing fields, playgrounds, community parks and a golf course. Just 5 minutes south of the Village, George Lake provides boating and camping facilities as well as many other outdoor recreational activities.
Community Organizations
The Hines Creek area offers a number of service clubs and organizations which include a Recreation Board, Curling Club, Senior Citizen's Club, Figure Skating Club, Agricultural Society, Minor Hockey, Golf and Country Club, Museum Society and Business Association. Also available is the Royal Canadian Legion. The Svittonak Dancers are a local performing group.
Religious Services
Services are held at five community religious centers - two catholic, and one each of lutheran and united, as well as one gospel mission.
Special Annual Events/Attractions
The End of Steel Museum, located along Highway 64 has been developed around the themes of homesteader life and the coming of the railroad. The museum features pioneer homes, church, store, community hall, rail caboose, antique cars and historical artifacts.
Special annual events include Fairview College Numb-Bum Motor Cycle Marathon, Hines Creek Spring Craft Sale, Ukrainian Dancers Spring Concert, Carter Camp Log Race, Heritage Days, Fall Fair, George Lake Music Festival and the Christmas Craft Sale.
Hospitality
Accommodation
Hines Creek Hotel
Restaurants
Last Spike Cafe
Education
Hines Creek is part of the Peace River School Division #10, headquartered in Peace River [Tel: 780-624-3601].
Daycare/Nursery
N/A
Public
Schools in Hines Creek include Grace Shepherd Elementary School [K-6] and Hines Creek High School [7-12].
Separate
N/A
Private
N/A
Post Secondary
Fairview is the home of a dynamic post-secondary educational institution, Fairview College.Post-secondary courses by correspondence can also be obtained through Athabasca University and the University of Alberta.Grande Prairie Regional College offers students university transfer and degree programs.
Health Care
The nearest hospital is located in Fairview, approximately 20 minutes away.The Town of Fairview has a hospital with 125 beds, 3 medical clinics and a health unit. There is a 31 bed seniors' home, the Homesteader Lodge, in the Village as well there is a visiting doctor and public health nurse from the Peace River Health Unit.
Emergency Services
Fire Protection
The Village operates a volunteer fire department from the municipal complex [Tel: 780-494-3811]. The fire department includes approximately 15 volunteers, 2 fire fighting vehicles and 1 emergency response vehicle.
Police Services
Police protection and service is provided by Fairview detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police [RCMP] [Tel: 780-835-2211]. The detachment encompasses the Hines Creek/Fairview region and has 11 personnel.
Ambulance Services
Ground and air ambulance service is provided through the Fairview General Hospital [Tel: 780-835-5911].
Community Services
Municipal
Village of Hines Creek
P.O. Box 421
Hines Creek, Alberta
T0H 2A0
Tel: 780-494-3690
Fax: 780-494-3605
Municipal Library
Provincial
N/A
Federal
Canada Post Office
Google Map
Hines Creek, Alberta, Canada