Powell River: Guinness World Records

Once a pulp and paper town, Powell River has made quite the transformation

and is now included in the Guinness World records for 2016!

Powell River, BC can now claim to be the “Least polluted City in the World”, according to the Guinness World Records 2016. Here is the entry, which explains the measurement of air quality:

We touched base with Paul Kamon, the Executive Director of Tourism Powell River who told us “Powell River was essentially built as a mill town. It had the largest Pulp and Paper mill in the world at one point, pumping out 1 in 20 newspapers around the globe. Obviously the mill has been in decline for quite a while now, and Powell River is esentially rewriting its story. Being called the “Least Polluted City,” as a former mill town, is pretty spectacular”. 

We asked him how they achieved such a status, to which he said “We’re in the process of diversifying our economy. We (also) happen to be on the ocean and have some incredible natural assets around us. As industry has been in decline, things are obviously starting to shift to a less polluting kind of industry”. 

“How long will we be the “Least Polluted City in the World”, who knows? We’re looking to be a more sustainable and environmentally friendly community. Everyone wants to move towards a clean and sustainable type of industry. So that’s what’s going on in Powell River”.

To that, we say: Way to go Powell River!!