Want to get lost in Powell River? Ask a Powell Riverite for directions.
“Turn right at the old hospital.” The Powell River Hospital was once located in the Townsite, but was torn down years ago. Photo from powellrivermuseum.ca
When you find yourself in this lovely city, familiarizing yourself with the area can be accomplished with the assistance of welcoming locals.
Once you know how their assistance works. Oh, and in the words of Neil Diamond, if you think “used to be’s don’t count anymore,” you have never lived in Powtown.
Let me share some examples of my own experiences circumnavigating Powell River.
When we moved here, we were fortunate to obtain a family doctor. The office address was on Alberni Street, and upon making an appointment I was directed by telephone, from yes, a long time local.
The Shell Station that used to be called Circle K, in front of where Mr. Mike’s “used to be”
Coming from Grief Point, I was instructed to go along Marine until I reached where Chai Gardens “used to be,” then turn right and continue up past the Circle K and through the light. It was timely that I was seeking medication, as, after discovering there was no sign of any existence of a Chai Gardens, or a Circle K, and being accompanied by toddlers in a hot van, I was rewarded with a coping mechanism, a slurpee from Villa Esso, which could be found across from the old Super Valu. Sure.
Where Villa Esso and Super Valu used to be. It’s still known to locals as the “Super Valu” parking lot.
Shortly thereafter, we began to outfit our home. Apparently, according to those friendly locals again, Valley Building Supplies is up past the old Racquetball club, and then about a city block from the former Frontier Pub site.
Purchasing electronics, we were advised to visit Sound Attraction, you know, they said, where the Royal Bank “used to be.” The vault is still there, they said with a smile. It’s in the little mall on Glacier, right by the old Mr. Mikes location.
Powell River Academy of Music – located in the old J.C. Hill School. Photo from powellriveracademy.org
It can be an adventure, when you are new to the area, to enroll and deliver your children to various groups and activities. To join a choir, the locals told us, go to the Academy of Music, the old J.C. Hill School. A mini soccer game was to be held at the field where Gordon Park Elementary “used to be”, and a preschoolers picnic was at Willingdon Beach, adjacent to the old arena. Yeah okay. Got that.
The old arena, that used to stand at Willingdon Beach – photo from powellrivermuseum.ca
When visiting, locals advise, stop by Paperworks, a great little gift shop that is on the corner where the old Penny Profit “used to be.” Pop into Breakwater Books; it’s on the same block as Madame Loucke’s was, just a stone’s throw from the old Police station. Take a drive to Lund, 15 minutes past the old Klahanie store. When departing to the ferry, you can be assured if you are driving south where the Coke plant “used to be,” you should make the ferry within 15 minutes.
There are so many more, and as I am a relative newcomer, I have merely touched on these landmarks and “used to be’s.” In fact, we are now a city, and yet most, still call it a town.
Gradually, you will begin to see that Powell River is a town of sites, not just “sights.” It is a town of memories, not intersections or civic addresses. It is a town of generations of families who created and contributed to the local economy. It is a town where, when asking directions, there will be little pointing, few traffic lights as reference points. There will be no scribbles on paper and no need for GPS.
We are a town of stories, a landscape of history, and all are lovingly narrated and remembered by its locals.
Who wouldn’t want to live here?
Nancy Dietrich
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