POWELL RIVER

Everyone, at some point in his or her life, dreams of “getting away.”  They dream of buying a little house out in the country.  They dream of the smaller town without a lot of traffic but with an abundance of natural resources and a love of nature itself.  Powell River is one of those places.  It used to be a logging community and has grown to be home to a number of popular industries.  The people who live there love their home and they talk of what a great place it is to live.  It’s also a great place to explore for retirement.  Within a day’s drive of Powell River are a number of great places to explore.  Whether you are looking for a place close to the beach or a place in the mountains, Powell River has what you are looking for. 

LOCAL INFORMATION

Powell River was founded in 1881 by Doctor Israel Wood Powell.  Doctor Powell declared that Powell River was the second shortest river in the world.  It quickly became the largest lumber producer on the West Coast of Canada.  Powell River is the home of the first pulp and paper mill in Western Canada.  It was the largest pulp and paper mill in the world. 

 

The original Powell River is now called “Townsite.”  It’s been declared a National Historic District.  It has four major communities—Westview, Heritage Townsite, Cranberry Lake and Wildwood.  It is known as the Corporation of the District of Powell River.  Location-wise, Powell River is on the upper Sunshine Coast of British Columbia in Canada.  It’s on the mainland and is directly across from Courtenay of Vancouver Island. 

Powell River has a population of thirteen thousand people and its major industries are tourism, forestry, mining and fishing.  Secondary industries that contribute to the local economy include arts, culture, health care, education and mariculture. 

People say that Powell River is a great place to live and is a known popular tourism spot.

Popular tourism spots near Powell River include:

Savary Island:  popular since the early 1900s, the beaches of Savary Island are white sand and feature the warmest water north of Mexico on the West Coast of North America.  Killer whales migrate there and the island is the homeland of the Silammon People. 

The Silammon First Nation:  the location of the people of Silammon First Nation is about ten kilometers north of Powell River.  Remnants of the first dwellings are still visible and can be recognized by the layers of shells and earth that have built up. 

Texada Island:  Texada Island is 80 kilometers north of Vancouver in Canada and has an abundance of archaeological sites that show how the First Nations People lived.  It has the only Opera House that is north of San Francisco, California and features still working limestone quarries. 

REAL ESTATE

Powell River has been marketed as a great place for people to find either a first home  or a retirement home.  Price wise, Powell River is comparable to the region if not more affordable.  You can get a larger home in Powell River than you can get in most urban areas. 

Located on the west coast of Canada in gorgeous British Columbia, the Powell River region is known for its scenic ruralism.  People go there to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and what has resulted in a great, close knit community that can offer everything from a trip to the beach, a hike in the mountains or even a trip to the Opera (if you don’t mind driving for an hour or so).  It’s been billed as a great place to start out (for new home buyers and family starters) and to retire (for people looking for somewhere to settle).