The Incomplete List of Powell River Terminology

Original photo via Justin Jensen, Flickr

– # –

101 Knights – motorcycle gang that used to ride Highway 101 regularly.

2-6er – a 26oz bottle of alcohol (“a 2-6er of rum”)

– A –

Atrevida – an ocean reef north of Sliammon, but south of Lund, with a road named after it.

A-frame – an A-shaped cabin (e.g. the A-frame between the Shinglemill and Mowat Bay)

– B –

Barney’s Bar – Just past Myrtle Point Golf Course heading south on Highway 101. Named after the Barnes family, who had a hamburger stand there.

Bean – slang term for a marijuana cigarette. (e.g. “Let’s go smoke a bean.”)

Blackberry – A fruit that is grown wild in Powell River, and is an ingredient in just about everything you will eat or drink in late summer (pie, upside-down cake, margaritas, beer–you name it, it has blackberry in it).

Black Point – area south of town off Highway 101. There is a small grocery store there of the same name.

Bliss Landing – formerly Bishops Landing, a cannery town on the south coast of BC. Bliss Landing is thought to have been named after an early settler, Joe Blissto. It’s located on the upper Sunshine Coast, north of Lund.

Boxing Day Bash/Boxing Day Brawl – Every Boxing Day, the Regals Hockey Team would put on their Boxing Day Dance fundraiser at the Dwight Hall. Every year without fail, a fight would break out at closing time.

Branch – A logging road. Usually short for Branch 41, a common camping spot south of town.

The Bunsters – Bunster Hills mountain range, located off Southview Road, on the way to Lund, BC.

– C –

Case – a 12-pack of beer. People from Ontario might argue that a case is a 24-pack of beer, but in BC–more importantly Powell River–a case is 12 beers.

CC – Canadian Club whiskey (e.g. “I’ll have a CC and G.”)

Cellar – The name of the bar that used to be in the mall on Ash Avenue in the Townsite.

Chantrelles – a popular type of fungus or mushroom, grown in the forests around Powell River.

Choppy – rough seas. (e.g. “It’s choppy out on the chuck today.”)

Chuck – Short for salt chuck. It means: the ocean. Fishermen often refer to being “out on the chuck”.

Churchman’s Corner – Named after Charlie Churchman, who lived on the corner on your right hand side on the way to Grief Point. He had a greenhouse on the property across the road. It was literally, his corner.

Cranbar – A bar in Cranberry, at the Cranberry Motor Inn. It used to be known for the ladies that danced on stage late in the evening.

The Cut – The name of the road between Willingdon Beach and Brooks School. (It’s also the name of a local hair salon.)

– D –

Dump hill / old dump hill – The hill just north of Willingdon Beach, on your way to the Townsite. The dump is not located here anymore, but it’s still referred to as the old Dump Hill.

– E –

End of the road – refers to Lund, BC, which is situated at the northern end of Highway 101.

Errr – an expression used when something is lame. (Not sure if anyone says this anymore!)

– F –

Flat – a 24-pack of beer. 24 packs of beer were sold in a flat cardboard box, before they ever came in a cube.

Freda – can either mean Freda Lake or Mt. Freda.

– H –

Hawaii of the north – nickname for Savary Island, because of its white, sandy beaches.

Head into town – People who live south of town often say this, even though it may only be a 10-15 minute drive into the centre of town.

The Hulks – a floating breakwater made of WWI war ships that can be seen out in front of the paper mill in the historic Townsite district of Powell River.

– L –

Lasquetian – the name for a person from Lasqueti Island.

Lundies – what we call people from Lund, BC.

Lund runners – another name for gumboots (that you would wear to run around Lund, of course).

– M –

Main drag – Marine Avenue, the main road through the middle of town.

Munsonville – the area out near Myrtle Point Golf Course and the Oceanside RV Park. After further investigation, it is probably named after George Munson in 1953, who brought in 6 houses from North Vancouver by barge, for the employees of his logging company.

– P –

Pecker’s Point – It is out by Munsonville (see above). Back in the day, people used to “park” their cars there.

Pinner – adjective used to describe something that is small, and/or of poor quality. (e.g. “That fish is pinner!”)

Pneumonia Flats – nickname for the area by Grief Point (Hernando Avenue), where all the nice houses are along the beachfront. It could be a derisive term because of the barrenness of the landscape before the houses went up – but it’s probably because people were jealous of the ocean view and gave it a derogatary nickname.

Pole Line – Roads & trails that follow the power lines in Powell River.

Powell Riviera – a nickname for Powell River, copied from the French or Italian Riviera, because Powell River is also located on the water.

Powell Rumour – refers to the Powell River rumour mill. In small towns, particularly Powell River, word travels quickly.

Powtown – a nickname for Powell River. Also the name of a beer at Townsite Brewing Company (Powtown Porter), and a very popular Powell River website.

– R –

Ragged Islands – a nickname for the Copeland Islands.

Rip a nut – the act of doing a doughnut in your car.

The Riv – a nickname for Powell River.

River City – often used as a nickname for Powell River. Some businesses have adopted this nickname, too. (e.g. River City Coffee).

The Rock – what the locals call Texada Island.

– S –

Salt chuck – see “chuck” above. Actual definition: the sea, or an inlet of the sea that flows into a lake or river. Apparently, it comes from the Chinook.

Skookum – Actual definition: (Of a person or animal) strong, brave, or impressive. When using this term, one usually just means someone or something is big and strong, or is built very well; is solid.

Slund – the area between Sliammon and Lund that doesn’t really have a formal name.

The sticks – South of town.

Stick boys – anyone who lived south of town. Was also the name of a local men’s baseball team (made up of guys who lived south of town).

Stillwater Stomp – apparently there used to be wild, fun parties at the hall in Stillwater back in the 70’s. The hall is no longer there.

Southies – another name for people who live south of town.

– T –

Tak – Derived from the word tachometer. To rev ones engine to the red line and beyond. Tak tak.

Texada Gold – a type of marijuana unique to Texada Island, just off of Powell River.

Texada Timewarp – a type of marijuana unique to Texada Island, just off of Powell River.

Texadian – the name for a person from Texada Island.

Three Stooges – A service garage that is now named ‘Vanderkemp Sales and Service’, but many locals still call it by this former name.

Toba Pits – an open dirt pit, surrounded by forest at the top of Toba street. The area is used mostly by dirt bikes and ATVs as an access point to trails, or just to use the jumps that are around the pit.

Townsite – The historic area of town built for the workers of the Powell River pulp and paper mill in 1910.

– U –

Ugly Butt-Log – slang term a piece of of firewood that can’t be split with an axe.

Up the Coast – refers to traveling by boat up the Georgia Strait, toward Desolation Sound and beyond. Also a book title by Wayne J. Lutz.

Up the Dukes! – A rally cry of members (and cadets) of the British Columbia Regiment of the military, short for DUKE OF CONNAUGHT’S OWN.

Up the Lake – refers to being at, or on, Powell Lake. Our assumption is that the word “up” is used because the boat launch is at the south end of the lake, and you have to travel north to reach any of the float cabins on the lake. Also a book title by Wayne J. Lutz. Here is a teaser of what it’s like to go “up the lake”.

Up the Main – refers to off-roading on the trails throughout Powell River and around its lakes, usually by ATV/quad or motorcycle. And a book title by Wayne J. Lutz.

– V –

The Valley – There’s only one in Powell River: Paradise Valley. The area of town just above the airport and heading south to Highway 101.

– W –

Wailin’ – doing something fast or with impressive effort. (e.g.: “What a fight. He’s wailin’ on him!!” “Man, you’re wailin’ up this hill.”)

Way out in the dingleberries – to live in the sticks, south of town. Actual definition of dingleberries: a particle of fecal matter attached to the anal hair of an animal.

Wild blackberries – Not the same as the organic blackberries that grow everywhere in Powell River. Wild blackberries are harder to find.

– Y –

Yota – short for Toyota.

– Z –

Zoo – Nickname for the Westview Hotel pub. The name over the door used to say “Shooter’s Pub” for years. They finally caved in and put up a sign that says “The Zoo.”

Zunga – a rope swing, or Tarzan swing, normally found at the edge of a body of water. (Here are a few examples.)