Powell River Climbing Co-operative (PRCC) has nearly reached its financial goal for an indoor community climbing wall in Townsite, thanks to a grant of $164,000. Funding from Powell River Community Forest (PRCF) was made official on April 28.
Three core PRCC members, Kevan Robitaille, Tracy Raftl and her husband Luke, have finalized their plans since coming up with the climbing wall idea last year.
“It hasn’t been that long, originally we were thinking of some plywood and some holes,” said Tracy. “We assumed we would not have as much money as we’re being offered through this grant.”
Plans for the climbing wall have been made for a location within the Warehouse, which is still under development in Townsite by investor Steven Brooks. When hearing news that the grant had been awarded, Brooks said the climbing wall was one of the attractions he wanted for the Warehouse.
“Having the climbing wall located in Townsite will play an important role in attracting people back to the area and help to provide tourists with interesting things to do while in our wonderful heritage district,” said Brooks.
PRCC does not know how the PRFC grant money will roll out because the City of Powell River must issue an occupancy permit in order for work to begin on the wall. The co-op hopes to start construction in July and have people climbing as early as fall, if everything goes according to plan.
“We’re hoping for October,” said Tracy. “With the PRCF, they did put a stipulation on it. [Brooks] needs to get an occupancy permit for the building first before we are actually allowed to get the money.”
According to Brooks, he doesn’t anticipate any issues with obtaining the occupancy permit from the city. The forest grant will cover about 90 per cent of capital expenses and construction costs; Tracy estimates another $15,000 will need to be raised for administrative costs.
Tracy and Robitaille both grew up in Powell River; he has been an avid climber since his teens and she started through Brooks Secondary Schools’ Coast Mountain Academy. Luke moved to the area five years ago from Australia.
Tracy thinks the indoor climbing wall will provide a big push to the popularity of climbing in the region, which continues to gradually grow in popularity. It is not an easy sport, she said, and the wall facility will introduce people to the holds and ropes indoors before transitioning to outdoor climbing.
“It’s going to be a top-notch facility,” said Tracy. “It will be the biggest climbing co-op in Canada in terms of square footage of climbing space.”
For more information, go to Powell River Climbing Co-op on Facebook.
