Federal Building

Due to the ever-growing significance of the Powell River Company, the Federal Government decided to erect a building compatible with the extraordinary structures existing in the town of Powell River. With a progressive architect and an open chequebook, the result was indeed worthy of the high standards to which the residents of the town were becoming accustomed.

The Federal Building design was in a 1930’s style known as Streamline Moderne. (A fine example of this style can be found in the Marine Building in Vancouver, B.C.)

The architecture is characterized by elaborate brickwork, sloping in a manner to give the illusion of a building much smaller than its actual mass. The building also introduced Powell River to skylights for the first time. The completed building housed the Post and Customs Offices as well as offices for Federal agents responsible to Ottawa.

Within the Historic Townsite of Powell River, our mission is to promote heritage education, heritage conservation and revitalization of the traditional downtown core.