Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Introducing Powell River, BC

I would like to introduce where my husband Wayne and I live, Powell River, British Columbia, Canada.

Where is that, you ask? Just go up the coast about 145 kilometers (90 miles) from Vancouver to the "Sunshine Coast" and you'll discover the city of Powell River. Part of the charm (and sometimes frustration) is that it takes two ferry rides to get there. While technically Powell River is not on an island, it feels like island living because of the ferries.

Powell River is a small town, with about 13,000 people living within the city boundaries and a total of 22,000 if you count the surrounding region. The people are welcoming, friendly and helpful. Even if you are a new arrival, it feels like coming home.

The Powell River and nearby Powell Lake were named in honour of Israel Wood Powell, the superintendent of Indian Affairs for BC in the 1880s. The town of Powell River was started in 1910 as a papermill company town. Originally the mill was built and owned by the Powell River Company. It has gone through many hands and is now owned by Catalyst Paper. Once the largest paper mill in the world, it has downsized considerably in recent years.

Powell River is no longer a company town. Homes are now privately owned and the Historic Townsite was designated a National Historic District by Parks and Monuments Canada in 1995. The Townsite is now one of four distinct communities (Cranberry, Westview, Townsite and Wildwood) that unified into the Corporation and District of Powell River in 1955. In 2005, the municipality became the City of Powell River.

Wayne and I have fallen in love with the people and places in and around Powell River. Want to know more? Check the menu of topics in the side bar. Also, come back each week to discover a little bit more about Powell River.


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Thanks for visiting my home town. I hope you have a chance to come in real life as well. -- Margy

17 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:00 AM

    Hi Margy, I love this post and your pictures. Some day I will be able to see Powell River. You always make it sound like paradise.

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  2. Beautiful post.. very well done and quite informative! A wonderful tour of this part of BC. Perhaps one day we will be able to travel that part!!

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  3. Anonymous9:30 PM

    I love all the photos. I always love living in a small town because most of the people are friendly and sometimes I like the idea of everybody knows everybody. Welcome to My World Tuesday and I hope you enjoy travelling the world as much as I do.
    Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Anonymous9:49 PM

    Nice blog with great info and pics. Will have to add Powell River to my list of must visit places!

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  5. What a nice first post you have done, i like your information and photos, i will come back and find out more.
    And thank you for stopping by

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  6. Anonymous12:11 AM

    It looks like you live in a beautiful and warmhearted place. Small towns are nice to live in, there is something so simple about it.
    Thank you for visiting my blog. I look forward to seeing more pictures of your world.

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  7. Anonymous1:03 AM

    I always love seeing a Rainbow. Thank You.

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  8. Margy: What a really neat look at your part of the world. Welcome to My World and I look forward to seeing more of your great town in BC.
    FG/ My World Team

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  9. My husband I drove up the Sunshine Coast from Vancouver about 15 years ago. LOVELY countryside! We didn't take the ferries to Powell River, though so I'll have to go there via your posts.

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  10. Hi Margy,

    What a great entry on Powell River - very informative and well laid out.

    Thanks for your visit to my blog. The corn is still on some fields for one of two reasons, depending on who you talk with.
    1. The moisture level of the corn is too high to harvest it yet. 2. The commodity price for corn is too low to harvest it yet. I've seen years where some corn stayed on the fields all winter as it was too wet to take it off.

    I'm from two paper mill towns - born in Corner Brook, NL and grew up in Grand Falls, NL. I believe some Newfoundlanders work in the Powell River mill.

    Have a great day! Elaine

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  11. welcome to my world ... i loved your post and photographs...your town has a most interesting history.

    have a great week.

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  12. Anonymous9:30 AM

    Beautiful scenes and interesting history!

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  13. Thank you for the intro to your town. It is very beautiful there! NIce pictures. Thanks for stopping by mine! glad that I could walk you down memory lane with my oil wells.

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  14. Hi, Thanks for your comment on My World. Sorry I am late getting back to you.
    I havent been to Powell River, one of these days we plan to do a tour of our coast. The furthest up the coast I have been is Tofino on the Island. I have been to your blog before , quite a while ago. Nice to be cack. Great informative post. Ill see you next Tuesday!

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  15. Anonymous9:01 PM

    Lovely pics.---love Powell River--met my husband there 45 yrs ago---still love to visit.co

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  16. Thanks for stopping by Anonymous. My husband and I discovered Powell River together and can't imagine living anywhere else. Hope you get to visit us again soon. - Margy

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  17. People like different things about holidays in Canada, such as its beautiful cities and people. I am so glad i read this blog.


    Thank you
    Hiking in glacier international peace park

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We welcome your comments and questions. - Wayne and Margy