Many intricate chainsaw carvings are displayed around town
CHETWYND C
HOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHAINSAW CARVING COMPETITION
hetwynd was originally known as Little Prairie by the Indigenous people who travelled and lived in this area for hundreds of years. Fur traders came to Little Prairie as early as 1778 following the water routes and pack trails of the day. By 1919 a log cabin opened as a small trading post. This attracted others to build around it, and so the community of Little Prairie grew. The Pacific Eastern Railway arrived in 1958. The railway station was built in 1959 and the name Little Prairie was officially changed to Chetwynd in honor of the Hon. Ralph Chetwynd, past Minister of Railways and staunch supporter of development in the Peace Region. Chetwynd has a population of about 3000 with a trading area of 7000. Major industries include forestry, mining, natural gas, bio and wind energy, railway transport, tourism and agriculture.
Visitor Info The Chetwynd Visitor Centre is at 5400 North Access Road. It is on your left as you enter Chetwynd heading North. Open year round. 250-788-1943. 10
Alaska Highway Access
Things to Do There is plenty of sport fishing, hiking, skiing, biking and ATVing. Nestled in the wilderness of the Canadian Rockies, Powder King ski area offers the best of the great outdoors with an incredible annual snowfall of 41 feet. Powder King is located 110km south of Chetwynd. The four seasons combined with forests, hills, mountains and lakes make Chetwynd a playground for any outdoor enthusiast. The Little Prairie Heritage Museum was originally a general store and post office in the downtown area. The museum grounds are open during the summer season. It provides a good sense of Chetwynd’s history and culture and is located just south of downtown at 5633 Westgate Road. Chainsaw Carving Tours Stop by the Chetwynd Visitor Centre and pick up a map for a self-guided tour of over 150 chainsaw carving sculptures around the town. Learn the history on this collection of interesting artwork and get a local perspective from the staff. The International Chainsaw Carving Championship takes place annually on the second weekend in June. Bell’s Travel Guides
