Prince Rupert Port Authority Invests $29,500 Into Prince Rupert Rod & Gun Club Revitalization Project

December 10, 2019

The Prince Rupert Port Authority has announced a $29,500 investment into improvements at the Prince Rupert Rod & Gun Club, its latest through the Community Investment Fund. The announcement was made December 8, 2019 at the annual Prince Rupert Rod & Gun Club (PRRGC) Family Fun Day event.

With $29,500 from the Fund, the PRRGC has revitalized the Club’s facilities and expanded its rifle range to 150 metres. Two additional shooting stations were also added to the rifle range, increasing user capacity from three to five people.

Founded in the 1940s, the PRRGC has primarily operated on volunteer labour and funding, from membership fees, user group fees, fundraising efforts, and public use. The PRRGC membership has grown to just under 200 active members. PRRGC is open to the public and in addition to the active members, over 700 non-members use the facility on a regular basis. The primary function of the PRRGC is to provide education to foster conservation, outdoor recreation, angling skills, as well as the safe use and care of firearms, bows and other tools that are used in outdoor pursuits. 

Constructed in 1952, the building required some much-needed upgrades to both the exterior and interior. The PRRGC Revitalization Project has now transformed it into an energy efficient space. With updated lighting, wall and ceiling insulation, windows and a new high efficiency pellet stove, the Clubhouse has seen a major reduction in monthly utility costs. A new roof and some exterior siding were also included in the revitalization project.

The required improvements to the 100-metre range included expanding the footprint to accommodate another 50 metres of shooting length and the addition of two range stations. Completion of this project now enables increased usage from the main user groups like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Royal Canadian Rangers. The PRRGC facility is a significant benefit to CBSA because it allows officers to train locally, reducing the cost and time required to complete their annual qualifications.

“We are happy to invest in improvements at the Prince Rupert Rod & Gun Club, as the upgrades to the facility serve a broad group of community members, from outdoor recreation enthusiasts to various organizations who have specific requirements for training,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority. “We are proud to support local organizations in their work to enhance recreational opportunities for residents of the North Coast through our Community Investment Fund.”

“As time goes by, age starts to show and it was time to do a major renovation. With the generosity of the Prince Rupert Port Authority, we were able to renew the shine of the Clubhouse and bring it up to a standard that we can be proud of,” said Bob Bauer, President of PRRGC. “With the help of the Community Investment Fund we now have a safer, more sustainable operation.”