Welcome to the Powell River Climbing Co-op!
We are a member-owned, non-profit, co-operative climbing gym in the Townsite area of Powell River.
We aim to provide folks of all ages with a welcoming year-round place to have fun, get fit, and connect with your community. We also aim to grow the culture of rock climbing in Powell River.
Our gym features two types of indoor climbing (bouldering and top-roping) and key-card membership access 7 days a week from 5am to 11pm.
Click here to read the full history of the co-op and how it came to be.
Our facility is a member-owned climbing gym in the historic Townsite of Powell River.
Our Facility
Hours
PUBLIC HOURS:
- Friday: 3:30 to 9:30 pm
- Saturday: 12 to 6 pm
- Sunday: 12 to 6 pm
Please click here for what to expect on your first visit.
MEMBERSHIP HOURS (INCLUDES HOLIDAYS):
Unlimited access 7 days a week from 5 am to 11 pm
(note that some private bookings or community groups will use the gym outside of drop in hours, check the calendar)
As this is a facility run and maintained by volunteers, club members, and minimal paid staff, we only have limited drop-in times. We encourage becoming members of the gym in order to enjoy it to its full capacity!
Click here to learn more about membership.
The Gym Features
- 5 am to 11 pm daily access for membership holders
- 5 days a week drop-in times
- 2,100 sq feet of climbing (1400 sq ft bouldering, and 700 sq ft top roping)
- A climbing & fitness training area
- High quality route setting
- Climbing shoe, chalk & harness rental
- Lessons
- Choose your own tunes during membership hours
- Expert Staff
- Tons of fun and community
What is Bouldering?
Bouldering is a simple – and extremely fun – form of climbing in which the climber solves short “problems” on an unroped wall (13 feet high in our facility). Foot-thick gymnastic mats break falls.
It requires no special equipment (beyond climbing shoes and some chalk) or technical climbing know-how. It can be done without a partner.
It is also the most social style of climbing because it encourages people to gather around a boulder problem attempting to solve it and cheer each other on.
What is Top Roping?
Top roping is the typical roped climbing that you probably think of when you think of climbing gyms. Our facility contains a wall with 6 ropes.
In this form of climbing, you use ropes through an anchor, a harness, and a “belay” buddy to keep you safe as you climb up a larger span of wall (close to 27 feet in our gym)
Board of Directors & Meetings
Did you know? The gym is a not-for-profit co-op!
That means it is run by a board of directors and co-op members can attend board meetings and vote on important issues.
Interested in getting involved and/or running for the board? Get in touch. Our year end AGM happens shortly after February 28th every year. All directors and co-op members are encouraged to attend.
Our Board Members’ Bios:
Our board of directors consists of 7 incredible volunteers. Get to know them and their passions below:
KEVAN ROBITAILLE
Kevan grew up climbing outdoors in the Powell River area and an indoor gym for the community has been a long time dream of his. He is passionate about climbing and his community, and his major goal beyond completing his degree in social work is to make this gym a reality.
In addition to school, climbing, and putting up new bouldering routes, he has been a program coordinator at Powell River’s Outdoor Learning Centre, worked in the service centre of the head office of Mountain Equipment Co-op and BC Ferries, and as a bouldering instructor at Vancouver’s premiere bouldering gym, The Hive.
BRENT WILLIAMS
Brent is relatively new to Powell River, having been here for about two and a half years. He is also relatively new to climbing, signing up for the climbing gym late last year. In his free time, Brent tries to get out as much as possible to the lakes and woods that make our town so attractive.
As a Financial Planner, Brent is no stranger to raising funds, or hours of detail oriented paperwork filing. He believes that there is no better place in Powell River to get fit, meet incredible people, and, most importantly, learn the ins and outs of climbing than the PRCC!
LUKE RAFTL
Luke hails from Sydney, Australia, and met his wife Tracy while traveling in Europe back in 2008. Enchanted by the stories of life on the wild west coast, Luke followed Tracy back to Powell River and fell in love with the area and the community.
Luke has an academic background in law and journalism, as well as as extensive array of professional adventure tourism experience, most recently working as a lead kayak guide for Powell River Sea Kayak, and for Natural Habitat polar bear tours in Churchill, Manitoba.
ERICA CAWLEY
Erica is a born and raised Powell Riverite passionate about the outdoors. She has a deep love for big trees and also enjoys many modes of backcountry exploration including kayaking, hiking, biking, skiing, and, more recently, climbing.
After graduating from Simon Fraser University in 2018, Erica began working at the Co-op in January 2019. She has been fortunate enough to get to know the emerging climbing community through the daily routine of the Co-op and continues to enjoy being a part of the positive and uplifting energy that represents the PRCC.
JONATHAN VAN WILTENBURG
Jonathan sees what incredible value the climbing gym has in the community, his family, and personally. This gym has a feel that is slowly being lost in climbing, and he believes that if we work together we can keep this place a hub and a community for kids, new climbers beginning to learn, and crusty old climbers alike!
JORDAN MITCHELL
Profile and Picture to come!
HEATHER THRASHER
Profile and Picture to come!
PHILIP QUADE
Profile and Picture to come!
Board Meetings and AGMs
Here is where we plan to archive the minutes from all our board meetings and AGMs. We plan to upload all meeting minutes within one week of the meeting date.
The board of directors aim to meet approximately once per month to discuss and plan general co-op operations, while the Annual General Meeting should occur within 3 months of the financial end of year, typically in May each spring.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
- May 1st, 2018
- June 11th, 2019
- November 9th, 2020 (delayed due to COVID-19)
BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEETINGS
Want to stay current on what’s up at the co-op? Please follow us on Instagram (@prclimbingcoop) and join our Facebook group