Beauval

The Beaver River Valley, Beauval. The community sits upon the west bank of the river (homes are situated immediately behind where the photographer was standing) and the name Beauval is French, meaning “beautiful valley.” Photograph taken September 21, 2003.

David McLennan

Northern village, pop 843, located SE of Ile-à-la-Crosse on Hwy 165. The community is situated in a beautiful setting overlooking the Beaver River Valley. Beauval’s origins date to the beginning of the 20th century, and are associated with the founding of a Roman Catholic mission and a residential school. The area has a history of trapping, freighting, commercial fishing, and forestry. For many years area roads were simply wagon trails, but eventually a paved highway was constructed from Meadow Lake. In 1969, local residents were given the power to govern their community through an elected council which had the authority to collect taxes, provide services, and oversee bylaws under the Northern Administrative District Act. Beauval was incorporated as a northern village in 1983. The predominantly Métis community has grown rapidly over the past two decades, with an average age of just over 21 years. Valley View School provides K–12 Education to close to 400 students. Economic opportunities include tourism, commercial fishing, trapping, and work in mines, local businesses and the school.

David McLennan