Cap-Pelé, New Brunswick, is a charming community that was once a village in Westmorland County, Canada. Although it lost its village status in 2023 and became part of the town of Cap-Acadie, Cap-Pelé continues to thrive. The community is centered around the intersection of Route 945 and Route 133, extending to Route 950. It also shares a special bond with its sister city, Broussard, Louisiana, in the United States.
Cap-Pelé is nestled on the Northumberland Strait, approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Moncton. The community is predominantly Francophone, with about 88% of its residents speaking French.
Founded by Acadians in 1780, Cap-Pelé was incorporated as a municipality in 1969. The village has a strong fishing industry, housing several smoked herring processing plants, locally known as boucannières. As many as 30 smokehouses are scattered across Cap-Pelé and its surrounding areas. These smokehouses often offer guided tours during the summer season, providing a glimpse into the local industry.
In 1949, the post office's name was changed from Cape Bald to Cap-Pelé following a petition by local residents. The new name was officially approved on March 2, 1950. On January 1, 2023, Cap-Pelé amalgamated with the incorporated rural community of Beaubassin East to form the new town of Cap-Acadie. Despite the amalgamation, the community's name remains in official use.
Cap-Pelé is home to the renowned Aboiteau Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand extending approximately 2.5 kilometers (1½ miles) within Aboiteau Park. The beachside complex offers a range of services, including a licensed restaurant serving seafood and providing bar service, a gift shop, and a patio overlooking the strait.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Cap-Pelé had a population of 2,441 living in 1,011 of its 1,144 total private dwellings. This represented a slight increase of 0.7% from its 2016 population of 2,425. With a land area of 22.96 km2 (8.86 sq mi), Cap-Pelé had a population density of 106.3/km2 (275.4/sq mi) in 2021.
