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Powell River Rod and Gun Club opens up to the public

Club president hopes to revamp image of the rifle range
Tanya Hill

Powell River Rod and Gun Club currently has around 400 members who use its facilities to practice shooting and hunting skills.

The range resides just outside city limits on Rifle Range Road in Electoral Area B of qathet Regional District (qRD). Since the 1950s, the range has hosted trap, skeet and rifle target practice for members and in the past, competitions. The club allows members to test new equipment before they go out hunting, for example, and practice their target skills.

The club also has indoor and outdoor pistol ranges and a newly opened archery range.

On Saturday, June 3, from noon to 5 pm, the club grounds will be open to the public, but in order to keep the day feeling safe for everyone, the outdoor shooting ranges will be closed. This will be the first year the rod and gun club will be a part of National Range Day, which takes place across the country. 

“This year there is a national initiative taking place, where rod and gun clubs, fish and game clubs are promoting what our services and activities are,” said club president Mark Gisborne, who reluctantly became president last year but quickly embraced the new role.

Gisborne was seen as being a fresh addition to the rod and gun community and a person who wasn’t bogged down by past history or politics of the club. He is a farmer in Paradise Valley and serves as qRD’s Electoral Area B director.

“Our range is the only authorized firearms range in the entire qathet region,” said Gisborne. “The RCMP, the Canadian Rangers and anyone who is a legal handgun owner can come and practice.”

The rod and gun club wants to educate the public about how strict Canadian gun laws are and emphasize that its mandate is to “promote safety, cooperation and good will among those who hunt, and take part in shooting sports.”

On Saturday, the public can find out how to become a member, what types of shooting they might like to pursue, and learn about rules and regulations around firearm ownership. Visitors are also free to walk the grounds and check out the clubhouse. Hot dogs will be provided.

Powell River Rod and Gun Club is located at 3300 Rifle Range Road, a gravel road tucked in off Highway 101, south of the city.