January: Alicia and Andrew Fairweather are the proud parents of Powell River’s first baby born in 2015. Arriving five days into the new year, baby Taurel Octavia weighs eight pounds, five ounces.
City of Powell River launches a successful resident-attraction campaign in cooperation with Tourism Powell River, known as Live and Invest Powell River on social media.
February
Powell River Food Security Project begins under coordinator Vanessa Sparrow. The project is a seven-month study on the community’s relationship with sustainable food.
City of Powell River council motion to pursue a liquid-waste treatment plant in Townsite, solely owned by the city.
March
Willingdon Creek Village opens its doors after an open house in late February. The extended-care facility cost an estimated $26 million to build.
Powell River Bike and Skate Park has its grand opening on March 7. Over 1,000 bikers, skateboarders and their families show up to the day-long event.
Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation breaks ground on its new government administration centre. During a ceremony on March 12, chief Clint Williams tells the crowd the building should be complete in one year’s time.
April
Our April Fool’s issue features a cover story on City of Powell River considering a foreign-investment proposal to build a multi-storey waterfront development on the old Willingdon Arena site. Confused phone calls flood the Peak office for weeks to come.
The Kennedy Sisters return to Powell River and play a well-attended concert at Max Cameron Theatre to finish up their CD release tour.
City of Powell River council unanimously agrees to provide financial and in-kind support for the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy, or PRISMA, for the next three years.
Powell River Villa are knocked out of the second round of the provincial cup by Alberni Valley Athletics, but look forward to playing in division two the following season after finishing first in regular-season standings.
May
Trees in Millennium Park are purchased from Island Timberlands by City of Powell River for nearly $1.2 million. The forestlands and its trees are now the exclusive property of the city and its residents.
Citizens concerned about logging on Lot 450 gather at the old Willingdon Arena site. About 100 people congregate to listen to a variety of guest speakers.
A delegation of City of Powell River and Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation representatives travels to Slovenia to present a specially carved totem pole to the winning choir of International Choral Kathaumixw.
A citizen-led blockade of Island Timberlands forestry equipment puts a hold on the company’s logging activity in Lot 450.
June
Brooks Secondary School senior girls’ Thunderbirds soccer team wins provincial title in double A league, their first ever BC championship.
Bailiffs seize a Malaspina Coach Lines bus en route to Powell River, causing an interruption for the Sunshine Coast to Vancouver service. Service is suspended again in late September.
A lavish opening ceremony for Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy, or PRISMA, takes place at Willingdon Beach in front of thousands of onlookers.
July
Mayor Dave Formosa and a Powell River delegation travel to China to get a firsthand look at the Chinese education system from Sino Bright Investments representatives.
Powell River’s fourth annual Pride Day is a success with a daytime family event at Willingdon Beach and nighttime drag show at Carlson Community Club.
Cyclists from all over the world descend on Powell River for the annual BC Bike Race.
A rash of BC wildfires, including a 20,000-hectare blaze in the Elaho Valley near Pemberton, causes smokey, orange skies and falling ash in the Powell River area. Two weeks later, local firefighters extinguish two small fires north and south of town.
August
Hippies of all generations gather in Lund for a reunion that includes a dinner, dance and beach day on Savary Island.
Townsite resident Alan Morgan builds a bocce course at the former golf course below Marine Avenue, owned by PRSC Land Development Ltd. The course is soon disassembled by Morgan when the land owner cites concerns.
September
City of Powell River signs deal with Crossroads Village ownership to purchase building facing Alberni Street for new library site.
Enrollment in Brooks Secondary School’s band program swells significantly. Over 60 students sign up for the program versus 22 the previous year.
Nearly 100 Powell River residents gather at Marine Avenue and Alberni Street in support of Syrian refugees.
Catalyst Paper Corporation sells just under 600 acres of land near Wildwood bluffs for $4.5 million to investors from China.
Minister of transportation and infrastructure Todd Stone announces the provincial government is preparing to hire a consulting firm to weigh the current ferry system against road access to Sunshine Coast.
October
First nation carver Ivan Rosypyske uses a brick from an Alert Bay residential school as a symbol of healing in a sculpture located in Townsite’s Sycamore Commons.
Powell River Community Foundation releases it first Vital Signs report since 2011, examining data and conducting surveys on different aspects of the community.
City of Powell River and Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation sign an international education partnership agreement with two Chinese cities.
Rachel Blaney, New Democratic Party candidate for the North Island-Powell River federal election riding, becomes a member of parliament with over 40 percent of the vote.
November
Mayor Dave Formosa proposes a self-run ferry service for Powell River in wake of cancelled sailings and connectivity issues with BC Ferries.
City councillor CaroleAnn Leishman and Housing Hope administrator Kathleen O’Neil announce they are working on affordable housing for single people in the former Olive Devaud Residence.
December
President of Powell River Sea Fair Society Jenny Garden reveals the popular summer festival is experiencing funding and volunteer-retention problems. Not being able to secure a midway for the July event is another issue Garden says could force cancellation of the 2016 fair.
Powell River Recreation Complex celebrates its 40th anniversary since its opening in December 1975.
After a public meeting to hear concerns from neighbours of a pilot housing project at Olive Devaud Residence, City of Powell River temporarily close the doors, citing safety issues with the building.
