Powell River, BC, City, pop 12 957 (2006c), 12 983 (2001c), inc 2005. Powell River is located on the east side of the Strait of GEORGIA, 133 km northwest of Vancouver. It is bounded on the east by the Smith Mountain Range, Powell Lake and Haslam Lake, and enjoys a mild climate year-round, moderated by the warm current of the strait. It takes its name from the river draining Powell Lake, which was named for Israel Wood Powell, British Columbia Indian superintendent in the 1880s. The original settlement was a pulp and paper milling centre established as a COMPANY TOWN in 1912. The old townsite was declared a national historic district in 1995 and many former company houses are being restored. Incorporated as a district municipality in 1995, it was granted city status in 2005.

The region's economy is still primarily based on forest industries, in particular the pulp and paper mill. Commercial fishing and mining, based on nearby TEXADA ISLAND, are also economically important. The climate and scenery make Powell River and its hinterland an attractive summer resort area. Saltwater and freshwater fishing and boating are major forms of recreation. Inauguration in 1965 of an automobile ferry from COMOX, on VANCOUVER ISLAND, has boosted tourism.