Powell River Business and Access Guide

Accessible Activities

Whether using wheelchairs, white canes, Seeing Eye dogs or hearing aids, the Powell River Region offers a wide variety of activities that are

accessible to people with limited mobility and other types of disabilities. While the list of accessible activities and locations below may serve as a rough guide, it is expected that it is not exhaustive, nor complete. The Powell River Model Community Project (MCP) urges readers to further provide activities or locations that are accessible to a range of people with disabilities. Please contact us through our website at: www.modelcommunityproject.ca or phone 604-485-2688 with your suggestions.

Inland Lake Provincial Park is tucked into the hillside behind Powell River. The park’s wide, award-winning cycle/wheelchair 13 km (8 mi) pathway encircles gorgeous Loon Lake, and is ringed with cottonwoods, making it an enchanting place to picnic and enjoy the bright yellow foliage in the fall. Note that Inland Lake Provincial Park is undergoing an extensive facelift to further increase its accessibility to wheelchair users and others. For general online information and conditions at Inland Lake Park, visit: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/inlandlk.html

You’ll also find picnicking and swimming at Haywire Bay Regional Park on Powell Lake near Inland Lake Park. The turn-off to Haywire Bay Regional Park is from Inland Lake Road south of Inland Lake Provincial Park.

Wildlife Attractions: Come Fall, many of the streams that feed into Malaspina Strait teem with spawning salmon. Depending on the year and the spawning cycle, the wheelchair-accessible Lang Creek Hatchery and Spawning Channels, south of the Municipality of Powell River, will be thick with returning salmon. While eagles, sea lions, blue herons, and a wide range of other wildlife are present throughout the year, the best salmon-viewing is right next to the well marked pullout on Hwy 101.

Tour The Historic Townsite, British Columbia’s only National Historic District consisting of 30 commercial structures and 400 homes, built from 1910–1930 as part of the mill’s company town. The Townsite Heritage Society offers guided walking tours in the summer months. Be sure to tour the Patricia Theatre as well, BC’s oldest, continuously operating movie house.

For more information on Historic Townsite please call 604-483-3901 or visit www.powellrivertownsite.com . And for the wheelchair-accessible Patricia Theatre: www.patriciatheatre.com or call 604-483-9345 to see what’s playing at the Patricia.

Interesting spots for visitors to check out are the Powell River Historic Museum. The Museum building is wheelchair accessible on the ground floor only. The Centennial building (north of the main building) is wheelchair accessible on the upper floor with wheelchair access to the bathrooms, while the lower floor is not wheelchair accessible.

The Open-Air Market offers fresh fruit and vegetables, music, crafts and snacks in the Paradise Valley area just south-east of the Powell River Airport. They have parking spots for people with disabilities close to market stalls, wheelchair access for washroom, wide doors, disabled cubicles, but no fully proper handrails. The grounds are rough with only irregular pathways adequate for outdoor wheelchairs only. Seating is rustic and limited. Dates are: Weekends and special event days from the last Saturday in April to the first Saturday in October. The immensely popular two-day Fall Fair event closes the market in October.

The Powell River Seniors’ Association Branch 49 offers accessible bridge, bowling, cribbage, bingo, choir, crafts, poker, Whist, special events and more, all within a level and accessible building at 6792 Cranberry Street, phone 604-414-9456. Visit their informative website at: www.powellriverseniors.ca

The Sliammon Fish Hatchery is a short 9 km (6 mi) drive north of Powell River along Highway 101. Sliammon is the site of an ancient First Nation fishing village that has been in continuous habitation for the past two millennia. Information on the Tla’Amin (Sliammon or ‘Kla ah men’) First Nation Coast Salish people: www.sliammonfirstnation.com . The villagers’ principal business today is the Sliammon Fish Hatchery located alongside Sliammon Creek, producing 1-1.5 million salmon annually. The hatchery is open to the public and offers cross-cultural awareness programs for school children. The best viewing time is during October and November. Fish hatchery tours can be arranged by contacting 604-483-4111.

Willingdon Beach and Campsite is in the heart of downtown seaside Powell River at 4845 Marine Avenue. An accessible, level seaside woodchip path runs along the Willingdon Beach Trail. This route was originally a railway bed but has now been converted into a simple network for walking and wheeling. The trail begins in the Powell Riv

er Municipal Park beside Willington Beach, just north of the central harbour. The Willingdon Beach Campsite is a 5-minute drive to the Vancouver Island ferry, to the Powell River Recreation Complex, and to the accessible Town Centre Mall (7100 Alberni Street, 604-485-4681). The park has an accessible flush toilet/shower, picnic tables and fire pits, a children’s playground, with a new picnic and performance area very close by. It also offers seniors’ discounts. Reserve camping spots very early! Phone 1-604-485-2242 Website: www.willingdonbeach.ca

One good, accessible vantage point to view Powell Lake and its gorgeous cliffs, is Mowat Bay Park. Accessible washrooms are available, but due to limited paved pathways, avoid navigating the steep park grounds during wet weather. This is a popular swimming spot, especially for children. From Hwy 101 in downtown Powell River, follow Duncan Street east to Manson Avenue, then turn north and follow Manson to its junction with Cranberry Street. Turn east on Cranberry, then north on Mowat and follow this to the beach.

The International Choral Kathaumixw (pronounced Ka-thou-mew) is one of the world’s largest, biannual choral festivals. Kathaumixw is a Coast Salish word meaning “a gathering of different peoples.” This global gathering of choirs and conductors features international concerts, choral and vocal solo competitions, common song singing, conductors’ round-tables, concert tours, social events, workshops, and seminars. The festival is held every even-numbered year during the first week of July. Website: www.Kathaumixw.org or phone 1-604-485-9633.

In July, grab your bucket and spade and head to Gillies Bay on Texada Island – it’s Texada Sandcastle Day. Texada Island is best accessed by vehicles and foot passengers using the BC Ferry service departing from Powell River on the Sunshine Coast to the BC Ferry terminal at Blubber Bay on Texada Island.

During the middle weekend of August, Powell River celebrates the long summer days with the Blackberry Festival. This festival concludes with Marine Avenue being closed to traffic and absolutely flooded with merry Powell Riverites and visitors. Participants can enjoy live music, games, and—of course—blackberry treats of all kinds. If blackberry-picking is of interest, it is recommended that you aim for the beginning of August, and wear lots of protective clothing and gloves.

Myrtle Point Golf Club on the shores of Malaspina Strait, is five minutes south of the Municipality of Powell River, and is one of Les Furber’s best design efforts. With a challenging course and spectacular views, the Par 72 layout can be stretched to over 6,900 yards. Myrtle Point Golf Club is accessible to wheelchair users. Location: C-5 McCausland Rd, Phone 604-487-4653

Westview Bowling and Billiards As a participating member of the 2007 BC Disability Games, Westview Bowling and Billiards has adaptive equipment, such as the inflatable gutter bumpers and a wheelchair ball ramp. 4478 Marine Avenue. Phone 604-485-2033.

Powell River Lawn Bowling Club is wheelchair accessible and can accommodate different disabilities. Located in The Townsite at 5714 Marine Avenue. Phone 604-483-9296.

Powell River is very proud of its large Powell River Recreation Complex. The Complex has a swimming pool with waterproof wheelchairs and a pool lift. In the winter, it can be enjoyable for an able bodied person and a person in a wheelchair to go skating at the recreation complex. As a Powell Riverite suggests: “The trick though is to put the brakes on, on the wheelchair and that will give it that gliding on ice feeling.” The Recreation Complex’s weight room also features accessible equipment. Of course, on game nights, you can enjoy a hockey game featuring the Powell River Kings on one of the Complex’s two ice rinks. The Complex has hot tub and sauna facilities, as well as a full-featured accessible family change room with adjustable tables. 5001 Joyce Avenue. Phone 604 485-2891 www.powellriver.ca

PRACL

For individuals with significant disabilities, Powell River Association for Community Living (PRACL) in the heart of the Municipality maintains a Snoezelen room that is operated by community volunteers. This is a multi-sensory environment that supports learning for all individuals, young and old. There is a booking schedule but it can be available on occasion, and could be a relaxing break for anyone who has a child with a significant developmental disability. For more information contact 604-485-6411 or visit the website at www.pracl.ca/pracl/clp.html#snoelin

The Powell River Academy of Music maintains a regular program of activities that can be accessed by most individuals with disabilities. Contact information: 7280 Kemano Street. Phone 604-485-9633. Visit their website at www.powellriveracademy.org

For the more audacious, a newer player in the Powell River Adventure Tourism arena is Terracentric Adventures. While the company’s suggestions are specific to the level of disability, Terracentric offers their Zodiac Tours to people with various disabilities. They are able to do lifts in and out of the Zodiac vessel for people with mobility challenges. They suggest their 3-hour Desolation Sound tour over their 6-7 hour tours, as on the longer tours they stop in places that are rocky or have no docks. They also have kayaking tours that may be suitable to people who have limited mobility in their legs, but with good swimming skills. Terracentric highly recommends contacting them for more information and possibilities: PO Box 146, Lund BC Canada V0N 2G0, Phone 604-483-7900. Email: fun@terracentricadventures.com or visit their website www.terracentricadventures.com

Putters Mini Golf at 4800 Marine Avenue. This is a seasonal activity that provides low-impact mini-golf with many rest areas. Phone 604-485-7166

Saltery Bay Campground – Scuba divers will find a 9 ft. Bronze mermaid at 10 fathoms in front of Mermaid Cove. There is also a change room and shower facilities. A disabled access ramp for scuba divers is best used during high tide. There is also a disabled change room, shower and toilet. A helpful local resident informs us that her 96 year-old mother, who uses a walker, likes to go there. Visit www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/saltery.html for more information and maps to the area.

Palm Beach Regional Park is located at Lang Bay. It features swimming, picnicking and is situated near the Stillwater Trail. While there is a gate to prevent vehicles from getting down into the park, an advance call to the caretaker can get the gate opened. The washrooms have accessible stalls and grab bars. This is the home of the Sunshine Music Festival held yearly on Labour Day weekend. For More information check www.sunshinemusicfest.com .

Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association provides therapeutic riding to children and adults with disabilities and can be reached at 4356 Myrtle Rd. Phone 604-485-0177 Email: prtra@shawbiz.ca Website: www.prtherapeuticriding.com

Shelter Point Regional Park, Texada Island – This is a safe, family-oriented camping area with sandy beaches, shallow water, spectacular sunsets, and star gazing. It has cool forest-sheltered campsites, creeks, hiking trails, protected swim area, shellfish picking, boat launch, playgrounds, beach volleyball, and food concession with shaded porch, flush toilets, hot showers & sani-station. The washrooms in the lower campground both have accessible stalls with grab bars. The concession has a ramp which may be properly graded for wheelchairs. Location: Shelter Pt Rd, Gillies Bay, Texada Island. Phone 604-486-7228

Lund, BC offers some accessible walkways around the board walk and wharf/harbour area with restaurants, an historic hotel, and impressive local art gallery Tug-guhm Phone 604-414 0474. See www.lundhotel.com

The Powell River Municipal Library (closed Sundays). Phone 604-485-4796. The Powell River Public Library has handicap-accessible computer for Internet use. See their website at www.powellriverlibrary.ca

Texada Island Library: Located at the old school at Gillies Bay, has high speed internet and limited hours. Phone 604-486-7511

Kayaking: Other lakes well worth paddling in this extensive network include Inland Lake (aka Loon Lake) and newly protected Confederation Lake, which, along with Haslam Lake, comprises a complete watershed with extensive recreation values. Confederation Lake lies north of Inland Lake and can be reached by following Inland Lake Forest Road.

Accessible Tourism

The Lay of the Land: The Geography of Powell River

Climate

The Region’s Population, Culture, and History

Society and the Arts

Accessible Activities in the Powell River Region

Getting Here, and Getting Around While You’re Here