History of the Monkman Pass

A man named Alex Monkman had a vision of a trade route that went from the Peace Country to the West Coast through a very low pass, south of what is now the town of Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

He believed that it was the quickest, most economic and efficient route for the Peace Country farmers to market their produce. He rallied the government to put a railway through the pass, however the government did not agree with him and eventually shelved the idea.

Alex Monkman refused to let his vision die and in 1936 formed the Monkman Pass Highway Association. They led a drive to push a highway through the pass and establish the trade route themselves. Over the next three years, many people put their heart and soul into the highway route.

Many of the people laboured for only three meals a day and to share in the adventure. With limited funds, a challenging trail, and the outbreak of the Second World War, sadly the highway project came to a halt. It was not before they managed to drive, push, pull, and claw a Model T truck through the Pass.

The sheer determination and courage is something that Western Canadians are famous for and is why the Peace Region is so successful today.