Cell 604-
Coastal British Columbia
Powell River, BC Canada The Pearl on the Sunshine Coast
Janet Alred
Life on the Coast
How can anyone sum up the experience of living in a small community, on the edge of the Pacific, with islands and snow-capped mountains on view one direction and thick lush forest and mountains in the other? It’s a place that you need to come to in order to experience and appreciate its beauty.
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Photo, taken by Richie Tait
Powell River is located 150 km and two ferry journeys north of Vancouver. It takes five hours to travel from the city to our town of 20,000. We are still on the mainland of BC's west coast, but due to the fjordland nature of the area we cannot be reached directly by road.
The Truly Great Outdoors
The area is ideal for anybody who loves the outdoors, yet with all the facilities needed to accommodate people of all ages. Wildlife is on our doorstep with frequent visits from mule deer and the occasional black bear. Roosevelt Elk are sometimes seen amongst the old second growth cedar, hemlock and fir, and shoreline birds keep even the occasional nature lover happy. Hiking is plentiful with the option of joining a local group twice a week. The Sunshine Coast Trail, all 180 km of it, runs along the back of our community and is a network of spectacular hiking trails that meander around lakes and over mountains.
We are a launching area for Desolation Sound and as such we have become world renowned for kayaking and sailing. We also have fantastic diving too, so there really is a lot to explore. Oysters and clams are farmed here and we are littered with salmon spawning streams.
A community for all ages and abilities
Powell River has been recognized as a leading community for access for people with disabilities. The Powell River Association for Community Living and the Model Community Project lead the way in helping individuals enjoy life here on the coast.
Industry
Powell River was built in the early 1900s to house workers at what is now Catalyst paper mill. An area of the town, called Townsite, is a heritage area of mill worker homes. Lavish oceanfront homes were built for the managers and owners of the mill, while small conservative buildings were set aside for the average mill employee. An indepth history of the area is available through the Townsite Heritage Society, whose office is across the street from the Patricia Theatre, the oldest theatre still in use in BC.
Tourism is now climbing as the number one industry in the area. People are discovering Powell River through word-of-mouth and it is not unusual to find visitors deciding to buy real estate here.
Logging and shellfish farming are also big industries, employing a large workforce. Locally crafted cabinets, log homes, pottery and a huge community of artists help to create a “buy locally” atmosphere.
Culture
In 2004 Powell River became a Cultural Capital of Canada. Part of the reason we stood out from the competition was the strong musical, theatrical and artistic influence of the area. We are home to the Academy of Music who host the international choral festival “Kathaumixw” with participants from all over the world, the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific, and also attracts top composers, teachers and musicians.
The peaceful way of life here on the coast appeals to artists. Creativity can be developed here, whether it be in hand-crafted jewelry, oil painting, writing of poetry or prose, dressmaking, or theatrical productions. We are proud of our community and that is clearly shown in the art that is created.
