It all starts with a visit. Sunshine Coast CANADA. Coastal by NATURE. Traditional Territory of the Tla amin Nation. Photo by: Kelly Funk

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1 It all starts with a visit Photo by: Kelly Funk Traditional Territory of the Tla amin Nation Sunshine Coast CANADA Coastal by NATURE

2 Photo by: Kelly Funk DISCOVER Photo by: Tristan Bellmane Offering unspoiled wilderness beauty, endless ocean vistas and more than 36 lakes Here you will find friendly locals, unique neighbourhoods and a wide variety of events and art venues to keep you entertained. The Historic Townsite represents one of very few National Historic Districts in Western Canada, each home or business with stories to tell... Let Powell River tell its story while you visit... if you come to love it as much as we do, you might even find you want to move here. You ll be sure to be warmly welcomed to our area, whether as a visitor or as a new resident. Powell River has the coastal mountains in its backyard and the ocean on its doorstep. With friendly communities, world-famous hiking and biking trails, tranquil lakes, vibrant festivals and events, and the best in education, health care and infrastructure on offer. All these things and more have drawn many to Zunga noun. a rope tied to a tree branch or attached to the roof in some indoor swimming pools. Commonly known as a rope swing, people swing on it and either just jump off into the water or do tricks or flips off it. The word Zunga originated in a little town called Powell River in BC, Canada. Powell River s shores to vacation and others to build a new life in a safe and comfortable environment that offers the best of British Columbia and Canada. Geography Geography on the pristine Malaspina Peninsula is stunning and offers a multitude of quintessential West Coast activities: multi-lake canoe circuits, long distance hiking trails, mountain biking, rock climbing, lush temperate rainforests, mountain vistas, ocean fjords, beaches, marine parks, kayaking, sailing, diving, fishing you name it. Population The City of Powell River has experienced a relatively constant population base for the past 20 years. Population estimates project continued growth over the next decade. The most recent estimate, in 2013, notes that the regional population has grown to 20,493 residents. From the Historic Townsite to the charming communities of Cranberry and Wildwood, there are many distinct neighbourhoods in this region that make up the community of Powell River. Great Lakes Powell River backcountry consists of lakes and lots of them! From the 50-km-long Powell Lake to the 8 lakes that make up the popular canoe route to the local favourite Inland Lake complete with 13 km accessible trail, there is plenty of freshwater playground to explore - 36 named lakes and counting! 2

3 Photo by: Emma Levez Larocque What s in a Name? Powell River was named after Dr. Israel Wood Powell, a close associate of Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald and played a instrumental role in bringing BC into Confederation. Feeling Festive Powell River is an active community year round - you could say we re very good at entertaining ourselves! Join us at these annual events: May Shellfish Festival June PRISMA, BC Bike Race July Sea Fair, Texada Sandcastle Weekend, Diversity Festival August Arts Alive in the Park, Blackberry Festival September Aurora Festival, Sunshine Music Festival October Sunshine Coast Art Crawl For a full calendar of events go to Photos by: Brian K. Smith 3

4 CLOSE TO NATURE The Powell River area is a dream destination for people looking for year-round unforgettable experiences. With friendly communities, cultural experiences, world-famous hiking and biking trails, tranquil lakes, vibrant festivals and events, and more beaches than you can imagine, the endless possibilities are yours to explore. Sunshine Coast Trail Photos by: Jeremy Williams 4

5 Photo by: Darren Robinson Photo by: Tracey Ellis Photo by: Tristan Bellmane Trails, Trails, Trails Trails in the Powell River area are numerous and varied, from a walk in the park to a walk up the side of a mountain to take in a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the lakes and sea. Powell River s forested backcountry is home to some of the best trails in the world. Built and maintained by dedicated groups of local volunteers, there is something for everybody to enjoy. From hiking to biking to ATV and horse-friendly trails, as well as wheelchair accessible - Powell River has it all. Sunshine Coast Trail The 180 km Sunshine Coast Trail is Powell River s crown jewel, offering the longest hut-to-hut hiking experience in Canada. The SC Trail can be explored in smaller sections for shorter day hikes, or via one extraordinary multi-day hiking vacation! 13 shelters (free to all visitors, no reservations required) now dot the trail at stunning locations showcasing incredible vistas of fresh water lakes and the Salish Sea. Inland Lake Inland Lake, established as a Provincial Park in 1997, has a 13 km multi-use trail which incorporates a series of boardwalks, bridges, and a crushed limestone path that loops around the entire lake and is fully wheelchair-accessible. There are drive-in and walk-in campsites available at this park, as well as opportunities for swimming, cycling, fishing, canoeing and boating. Duck Lake Trails The Duck Lake Protected area is home to a vast network of well-maintained, multi-use trails popular with hikers, bikers and horse riders. The area boasts incredible wood bridges and boardwalks, waterfalls and lakes. Powell River also hosts one of the stages of the world-famous BC Bike Race offering the ultimate single-track mountain biking experience. Photo by: Darren Robinson Willingdon Beach Trail This well-maintained beachfront trail right in the heart of the city offers a relaxing level walk through a forested park setting. Along the trail there are interesting flora and fauna finds as well as turnof-the-century logging equipment with interpretive signage of the area s industrial history. Photo by: Kelly Funk Rock Climbing Powell River challenges climbers with dozens of diverse rock faces that cover the entire spectrum of disciplines in the remote, but accessible, Eldred Valley not to mention, great alpine rock and ice routes. One of the hidden gems south of the City of Powell River, Stillwater Bluffs is just a short walk through a grove of second-growth forest that opens up to a dramatic and scenic stretch of rocky coastline. 5

6 WATER WONDERFUL Cast Off Pristine waters, countless islands, private coves and harbours, abundant wildlife; what more could a boater want in a destination? With several of the world s most stunning Marine Parks in the immediate area, including Desolation Sound, Harmony Islands, Copeland Islands, and Teakerne Arm, your boating adventure on the Sunshine Coast might just change your whole outlook on life. Dive In Jacques Cousteau reportedly rated Powell River s diving as second only to the Red Sea in terms of abundant, colourful marine life. Giant octopus, wolf eels, rockfish, shipwrecks, even a sunken bronze mermaid - divers from around the globe return to Powell River s waters time and again. If fresh water recreation is more your style, 50-km-long Powell Lake is a boater s dream come true, complete with endless opportunities for exploration and discovery. Photo by:tristan Bellmane Photo by: Kelly Funk Paddles Up For ocean kayakers, Powell River is a world-class experience. Some of the premiere spots include Desolation Sound, the Copeland Islands, Mitlenatch Island, Savary Island and Texada Island. Not only does the natural setting feature rugged mountains and glittering ocean waters, but it s also well-sheltered from the elements thanks to the bulk of Vancouver Island and nearby Texada Island. Ever wanted to touch the side of a WWII ship? Kayak to the Hulks, 10 ferro-concrete ships that now comprise the world s largest floating breakwater. Powell River presents easy access to more than 30 lakes including the world-famous Powell Forest Canoe Route - a semi-circle of eight major lakes and portages. The best time of year to go is between June and October. Photo by:tristan Bellmane Hooked on Fishing Welcome to the cutthroat trout capital of Canada! From fly-fishing our countless freshwater lakes and rivers or angling in saltwater, fishing is a year-round pastime here on the upper Sunshine Coast. Coho Point and Blubber Bay on Texada Island and the waters around Harwood Island are some of the best spots for salmon. Or, hire a charter and fish the pristine waters while you take in the sights of world-famous Desolation Sound Marine Park. Bottom fish for lingcod, snapper or chicken halibut around Powell River, or drop a trap for prawns or crabs. Hit the beaches for clamming or pick oysters! 6

7 Photo by: Kelly Funk FOOD FOR THOUGHT Dine among friends Local restaurants present cuisine from all nations and culinary desires. Pair your meal with a local craft beer or see what s on tap at the local brewery. Powell River chefs take pride in supplying fresh, local ingredients prepared with flair. Or pick up your rod and reel and catch your own dinner. From salmon and trout to harvesting oysters and clams; all you need is a license and patience - Remember, it s called fishing, not catching! Cook your own catch on the barbecue at a local beach and watch the sunsets Powell River is famous for. Our food and fields are very much a part of our everyday culture here on the Sunshine Coast. Powell River s Open Air Market is an old-fashioned, country-style market selling fresh, locally grown farm and garden produce, home baking, honey, soap, woodcrafts, jewellery, and a variety of original items hand-crafted by local artisans. Photo by:tristan Bellmane Shellfish Festival Lund is the place to be for one special weekend every May as we throw a party for sea-foodies. Oysters and prawns top the list of culinary favourites at this party where fresh-cooked seafood takes centre stage. Listen to local musical talents, take a tour, watch a cooking demonstration and buy live shellfish or shop at local craft booths. The fun begins with the Chowder Challenge competition where local restaurants vie to be named best in the land! Photo by: Impact Digital Photography 7

8 Sleep On It Accommodations range from a campsite to pitch a tent to a chalet in the woods. A cabin by the sea, or in the forest - it s your choice to make, or select from any number of hospitable B&Bs. Hop on and off the Sunshine Coast Trail and stay in one of our hotels or even our hostel guesthouse to freshen up. From heritage accommodations in the Historic Townsite to family-friendly beachside hotel/motel - Powell River offers it all. Photo by: Kelly Funk STAY AND PLAY Photo by: Emma Levez Larocque 8 Night skies filled with stars and the sighing of the breeze through the trees and the hiss of the surf on the shore sum up your good night s sleep in Powell River

9 MAKE THE MOVE Build a life you don t need to take a vacation from Once you ve had the Powell River experience, you may want to call it home! Whether it s heritage, modern, waterfront or farm, Powell River offers a wide range of housing options at a very affordable price. With an average selling price of a single-family home at approximately $260,000 the price is right. But be aware it may be hard to find a home without at least a partial view of the ocean, so be ready to take in those stunning sunsets from your deck! Education The youth of Powell River are treated to an extensive array of options when it comes to education. There are six elementary schools (grades K-7), one secondary school (grades 8-12), as well as various alternate schools and distributed learning programs to support home school initiatives. Powell River has also established itself as a leader with innovative approaches to learning. Through partnerships with private-sector companies, Powell River offers unique and innovative programs for students, which helps to solidify long-term employment in the region. Local ongoing education institutions are dedicated to excellence while providing access to a wide range of university and college programs designed for regional, national and international students. We actually fell in love with the community and then we fell in love with this house, and it became less about recreational property and a lot more about actually moving up here and becoming part of the community. The people drew us here. Chris & Uli 9

10 Community Profile Powell River extends a warm welcome to all who come for a visit and to those who decide to move to our community. From Saltery Bay to Lund and Texada to Savary Island, Powell River residents are proud to call the area home. Photo by: Brian K. Smith MAKE IT WORK Entrepreneurs bring new business Neatly tucked into BC s coastline and mere hours from Vancouver by car or minutes by plane, Powell River is an attractive option for those seeking to capitalize on a growing community with constantly expanding opportunities. A Community Profile is available and is intended to provide new business investors with an overview of the state of the economy and quality of life in the City of Powell River. Additional market studies, reports and documents are also available. Get your copy online at powellriver.info. Photo by: Brian K. Smith OPEN FOR BUSINESS We are supported by our community in terms of our restaurants and we re able to support other small business owners with their businesses - it s awesome. Sarah & Mike Costa del Sol & Coastal Cookery We re seeing a greater demand for specialty items for all sorts of things Margot & Nathan 32 Lakes Coffee Roasters 10

11 Photo by:darren Robinson Photo by:tristan Bellmane Photo by:tristan Bellmane A CULTURAL CAPITAL Welcome to the Traditional Territory of the Tla amin Nation The Tla amin people have used and occupied these lands since time immemorial and their rich culture is celebrated. Named a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2004, Powell River offers a wide and varied range of activities for arts and culture enthusiasts. Powell River s mill town roots are on display in the Historic Townsite. Check out landmark buildings as well as the nearby Catalyst paper mill and the floating breakwater of ships hulks. The wide and varied collection of historic items at the nearby Powell River Historical Museum is a highlight. Now Showing Powell River boasts Canada s oldest continuously operating movie house in the Patricia Theatre. Located in the heart of the Townsite Heritage District, the Theatre has been beautifully restored to its former glory, but boasts the best in audio/video technology. Vaudeville shows and weddings are hosted in this stunning venue. Art Scene With a flourishing local arts scene, connoisseurs can pick up watercolours, stunning wood art or handmade pottery and ceramics. Don t miss the stunning selection of choirs at International Choral Kathaumixw; PRISMA, which offers orchestra training complete with performances that appeal to a broad, worldwide audience; the Blackberry Festival with fireworks and foodie fun; or the Sunshine Music Festival with blues and worldbeat artists. Canadian Culture Here, like other parts of Canada, hockey is king and Powell River is home ice to the Powell River Kings, a Junior-A level British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and the Powell River Regals - Canadian senior hockey. Exercise your mind and body at the Powell River Recreation Complex. Indoor facilties present performance space along with conference facilities as well as two ice rinks, a 25m/82ft swimming pool and a world-class skateboard/bike park. 11

12 BUCKET LIST Explore new horizons along the Salish Sea and discover why we are Coastal by Nature Photo by:tristan Bellmane 12 Sunshine Coast Trail Saltery Bay Provincial Park Stillwater Bluffs Lang Bay Fish Hatchery Eldred Valley Emma Lake Powell Forest Canoe Route Duck Lake Protected Area Inland Lake Provincial Park Haywire Bay Regional Park & Campground Powell River Forestry Museum Powell River Historical Museum Shelter Point Campground Townsite National Historic District Hulks Breakwater Sliammon Fish Hatchery Savary Island Okeover Arm Provincial Park Lund Copeland Islands Provincial Marine Park Desolation Sound Texada Island

13 BEACH BUCKET LIST Shelter Point Regional Park Shelter Point Regional Park On Texada Island with mixed pebble and sand beaches. Beach-front picnic areas, campsites, boat launch, food concession, showers and nature trail with old-growth forest just up the hill from the park. Heisholt Lake Heisholt Lake aka the quarries are located on Texada Island. An abandoned mine just south of the Ferry terminal that offers emerald green, warm swimming waters with limited clay-based beach. A favourite swimming hole for locals. Photo by: Kelly Funk Beautiful beach vistas from Saltery Bay to Savary Island Photo by: Kelly Funk Myrtle Rocks Regional Park Located alongside Highway 101 across from Maris Road. Use beach access trail. Rocky beachcombers beach with some swimming opportunities with the right tide. Donkersley Beach Donkersley Beach Located 16 km south of Powell River just off Highway 101 on Donkersley Road. A lovely stretch of white, sandy beach with pebbles above the high-tide mark. A favourite for swimmers, beachcombers, families and dog walkers. Saltery Bay Mermaid Cove Provincial Park A provincial campground with a beautiful nature trail. A pathway leads to a small island ideal for swimmers at high tide and beachcombers at low tide. Also offers an excellent shore dive to a 9-foot bronze sculpture. Palm Beach Regional Park Located in Lang Bay, featuring a sand and pebble beach with large playing field, public washrooms, playground and covered picnic/barbecue area. Willingdon Beach City Park Located in the heart of Powell River, Willingdon Beach features sandy beach areas, a water park, playground, fishing pier, picnic areas and a fish bearing creek. Mowat Bay City Park Located on Powell Lake in the Cranberry neighbourhood. Sandy beach with freshwater swimming for families. Also with boat launch, playground, washroom facilities. Gibson s Beach Regional Park Located 2 km north of city centre down a 1 km gravel road. Grassy picnic area above a rocky/sandy beach overlooking Malaspina Strait and Harwood Island. Boat launch available. Savary Island Located a 20-minute water taxi ride from Lund. The island is all sandy beaches and summer fun with the warmest ocean swimming waters in the Pacific Northwest. Photo by: Kelly Funk Haywire Bay Located at the Haywire Bay campsite on Powell Lake. Take Haslam Street and follow the signage to get to this sandy lakeside beach. 13

14 The City of Powell River lies along the shores of the Georgia Strait at the heart of the Malaspina Peninsula. A deep inlet separates the area from the rest of the British Columbia mainland, resulting in a rare unspoiled natural beauty. From Vancouver follow the Sunshine Coast route for 145km/90miles. Complete your journey with a 50-minute ferry ride between Saltery Bay and Earl s Cove. The road, which runs along the coast from Saltery Bay in the south to Lund in the north, is the northernmost portion of Highway 101, the world s longest highway, which begins 14,880 miles/24,000 km to Quellon at the south end in Chile. GETTING HERE By Ferry: BC Ferries offers sailings directly to Powell River from the Little River ferry terminal in Comox on Vancouver Island, and from Earl s Cove to Saltery Bay (south of Powell River city limits) on the Lower Sunshine Coast. Photo by: Emma Levez Larocque By Air: The Powell River Airport (YPW) is centrally located within city limits. Pacific Coastal Airlines offers daily flights to Powell River. By Bus: Malaspina Coach Lines offers daily transportation between the towns of the Sunshine Coast through to Vancouver and the Vancouver International Airport. By Car: Powell River is on Highway 101, about 4-5 hours north of Vancouver. Although the city is on the mainland and there are roads in the area, it is not connected to the Provincial Highway network and will require a couple of ferry rides from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay to Langdale and Earl s Cove to Saltery Bay note, you only have to pay once on the way up and once on the return) or a single ferry if coming from Courtenay/Comox to get there. Photo by:tristan Bellmane By Boat: For saltwater boaters, Powell River is the gateway to the spectacular Desolation Sound Marine Park, encompassing a paradise of oceanic playground from Texada Island at the south to Bute Inlet and the Discovery Islands to the North. Marinas, government wharves, ocean resorts and a number of marine parks create a delightful archipelago of stops for the leisure boater. Boat launches are numerous, both public and private, with many smaller launches for cartoppers. For more information 14

15 Coordinates N, W Powell River, British Columbia, Canada Lund Tla amin Nation COMOX Saltery Bay Earls Cove WHISTLER TEXADA ISLAND SECHELT Ajoomixw The land is the heart of our identity and the traditional source of our wealth and wellbeing. Our spirituality and our traditional economy and laws come from our relationship to these lands. We welcome you to our beautiful Territory and ask that you be respectful and mindful of the natural and archeological resources within and help us to protect them. VANCOUVER ISLAND Gibsons NANAIMO SALT SPRING ISLAND Langdale Horseshoe Bay VANCOUVER RICHMOND VICTORIA Map:Tristan Bellmane Photo by:darren Robinson Powell River Firsts Photo by:tristan Bellmane First dial telephones in B.C. First Sick Benefit Society in B.C. First wheelchair accessible lake w/ trail Inland Lake Oldest continuously operating movie theatre in B.C. Second shortest river in the world at 5/8ths of a mile First Credit Union in B.C. First Radio-Telephone in B.C. 15

16 Come for a visit stay for a lifetime Powell River is a four-season haven for visitors and residents. Coastal by NATURE Photo by: Kelly Funk Tourism Powell River Visitor Centre 4760 Joyce Avenue Powell River, BC V8A 3B6 Telephone: Toll Free: info@discoverpowellriver.com City of Powell River Economic Development 6910 Duncan Street Powell River, BC V8A 1V4 Phone: coastal@cdpr.bc.ca coastal by nature