When he isn’t living his passion for trail building in Powell River’s backcountry, at any given moment, and he fills those moments to the maximum, Wayne Brewer can be found building pathways for new residents to the region and forging stronger connections within the community.
Brewer, who arrived in Powell River in 1988, said he is fervent about attracting new people to the area, which he sees as a vibrant community.
“It’s not a dying town,” said Brewer, who sits on the board of several corporations, agencies and non-profit societies. “We have to make it come alive in a different way.”
Brewer said Powell River’s resident-attraction program fits exactly with his dream to make the region the kind of place young people want to visit, play and live.
The sense that young people wanted to move here was almost immediately evident when he became course director for stage two of the BC Bike Race in 2010, the year Powell River was added to the seven-stage race, said Brewer.
“That’s about when I started hearing young people who came back for a visit and said, ‘Wow, the vibe is different; I can feel it’s more the kind of place I could see living here again,’” said Brewer. “I’m hearing that. You never used to hear that in the ’90s.”
It is on the trails that he is happiest, he said. He founded the Chain Gang, a trail-building group within Powell River Cycling Association. Over the past several years, Brewer said he has logged 700 hours annually.
Trail building is his vitamin O, his “vitamin outside,” he said, and the forest is his cathedral, his church.
“It’s very therapeutic. I love being out there,” said Brewer. “If I’m feeling cranky, it’s because I haven’t had a good bike ride, or I haven’t done any trail work in a while. Going out into the bush gives you great perspective. I can deal with anything.”
A retired lawyer, Brewer spends his time volunteering at a long list of organizations that have benefited from his involvement. He is a past board member of Tourism Powell River, Powell River Parks and Wildnerness Society and Outdoor Recreation Users Group. He said his current active involvement in eight various community organizations represents his commitment to the common good.
Brewer said he does not rule out running for political office, like his son, City of Powell River councillor Russell Brewer, but the boards he sits on are already somewhat political. He said he does have goals and visions for the community.
“You shouldn’t be doing it for selfish reasons,” he said. “I’m giving back. That’s what I’m doing. I’m very serious about that. It means a lot to me. I’m healthy. I’m not starving. I have all the basics that I need. I’ve never been motivated by money. The time I spend on the trails, I’m rich because I can do that. I can go out to the trails every day and ride them or build more and take care of them.
According to his friend, first nations artist Ivan Rosypskye, Brewer finds joy on the trails.
“So much joy,” said Rosypskye, “and every day. It’s like he’s addicted to cleaning trails and making trails.”
Brewer said he is one of Rosypskye’s students, learning to carve, with the artist sharing his knowledge about the trees.
Rosypskye said his friend is very humble, but once he gets his mind set there is no stopping him.
Brewer doesn’t show signs of stopping anytime soon.
“I want the way I’m living my life to mirror what I think society should be,” said Brewer. “I want to be part of the solution.”
