Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Situated between Jervis Inlet and Desolation Sound along the edge of Malaspina Strait,
Powell River (pop. 17,000) is almost surrounded by water. The town is actually a municip-
ality made up of four communities.
Townsite,
the original “Powell River,” is dominated by
what was once the world's largest pulp mill, which started operation in 1910. A few kilo-
meters south is
Westview,
Powell River's main service center, home to the ferry terminal
and information center as well as most accommodations and restaurants. The other two of-
ficial communities are
Wildwood,
north of Townsite, and
Cranberry,
east of Townsite.
Sights
Start your exploration by visiting the excellent
Powell River Historical Museum
(4798
Marine Ave., 604/485-2222, 9am-4:30pm daily in summer, Mon.-Fri. only the rest of the
year, adult $2, child $1), across the road from Willingdon Beach, which is like wander-
ing back in time. Peruse the vast collection of photographs (the province's third-largest
archives) and other displays to find out about this seashore community and to see what the
area was like before the town was established. Also see well-preserved artifacts, First Na-
tions carvings and baskets, the shanty home of a hermit who once lived along Powell Lake,
and even a collection of sand from around the world.
North through the main built-up area is the original town site, built around a bay that still
holds a working pulp and paper mill complex operated by
Catalyst Paper,
which produces
100,000 tons of paper annually. The
Heritage Walk
brochure (available at the information
center) will guide you around the interesting array of buildings that date from 1910 to the
1930s, such as the grand Hotel Rodmay, which has reopened after being boarded up for
decades. Drive along Sycamore Street and you'll see many Craftsman-style homes in vary-
ing states of disrepair.
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