Powell River, Canada

Powell River is a city on the northern Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Most of its population lives near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait, which is part of the larger Georgia Strait between Vancouver Island and the Mainland. With two intervening long, steep-sided fjords inhibiting the construction of a contiguous road connection with Vancouver to the south, geographical surroundings explain Powell River's remoteness as a community, despite relative proximity to Vancouver and other populous areas of the BC Coast. The city is the location of the head office of the qathet Regional District.

The Powell River was named for Israel Wood Powell, Powell was B.C.'s first superintendent for Indian Affairs and a chief architect of colonial policies including residential schools and the banning of the Potlatch. He was traveling up the coast of BC in the 1880s and the river and lake were named after him. Powell River is named after Israel Wood Powell despite him never stepping foot in the town. Powell was a supporter of B.C. being part of the union with Canada and brought the first Canadian flag to BC on June 17, 1871.