Cap-Pelé ([kap pəle]) is a former village in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada. It held village status prior to 2023 and is now part of the town of Cap-Acadie. The community centres on the intersection of Route 945 and Route 133 but extends to Route 950. Its sister city is Broussard, Louisiana, United States.

Geography

It is located on the Northumberland Strait approximately 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Moncton. Approximately 88% of its residents are Francophone.

History

The village was founded by Acadians in 1780 and incorporated as a municipality in 1969. Fishing is the dominant industry, and the town is home to several smoked herring processing plants known locally as boucannières. As many as 30 smokehouses are found in Cap-Pelé and its surrounding areas. Work in the smokehouses tends to be seasonal, and during the summertime certain smokehouses offer guided tours. The post office's name was changed from Cape Bald to Cap-Pelé by petition of local residents in 1949. The name was approved on March 2, 1950. On 1 January 2023, Cap-Pelé amalgamated with the incorporated rural community of Beaubassin East to form the new town of Cap-Acadie. The community's name remains in official use.

Aboiteau Beach

Cap-Pelé is home to the well known Aboiteau Beach that stretches out for approximately 2.5 kilometres (1½ miles), located inside Aboiteau Park. The beachside complex offers many services including a licensed restaurant with seafood and bar service, a gift shop and a patio overlooking the strait.

Demographics

In 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, a change of NaN% from its 2016 population of 2,425. With a land area of 22.96 km2, it had a population density of in 2021. Income (2016) Mother tongue (2016)

Notable people