Town of Powerview-Pine Falls. Designed by famed town planner J. A series of streets โ all named for tree species โ radiated out from this central gathering space. It was an idyllic community, supported and sustained for over three quarters of a century by the Abitibi Power and Paper Company and its successor firms.
Although the paper mill closed for good in and its massive complex on the northwest edge of town is no more, the amalgamated town of Powerview-Pine Falls remains home to over 1, people. It is well-known for outdoor recreation amenities, and tourists continue to flock to the community to go boating, fishing, and golfing. Some once-familiar buildings have vanished from its streets; others have been heavily modified to accommodate new businesses and uses.
This walking tour takes visitors for a leisurely stroll through the shady streets of Pine Falls, past some of its most intriguing architectural jewels, and into the heart of a community that has always managed to reinvent itself despite the loss of its founding industry. We'd like to thank the residents of Powerview-Pine Falls for their stories and input, and we'd especially like to thank Heather Chevrefils, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer of Powerview-Pine Falls, who shepherded the project from inception to completion and made major contributions to the content.
There is something strikingly different about the Pine Falls fire hall. Unlike other Canadian towns, in which the fire hall might be a stately brick building constructed around the turn of the twentieth century, that in this community was emblematic of utilitarian pragmatism.
This building once served as Pine Falls' Catholic Church, and in this photo we see six young girls dressed for a special occasion standing on the front steps.
