Smithers Golf Course now a year round recreation area through PRPA Community Investment Funding

A project to expand on the use of the Smithers Golf Club as a year round recreation experience for residents has come to a close, with the work benefiting from an investment from the Prince Rupert Port Authority's community investment fund.

The project provided for a number of enhancements for the Smithers facility, making it a more enjoyable experience for residents who used the Golf Course as an active recreation space during the months when golf is not its primary focus.

In their outline today, the PRPA expanded on the work taken on in the Bulkley Valley community.

In partnership with the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund, the Smithers Golf and Country Club has completed work to enhance the cart paths and ensure the walkways are open and safe during the winter. 

The club also put up fencing and other barriers to ensure the rest of the golf course is protected during winter, and installed lighting enhancements for all 18 holes. 

The golf course trails are used daily by community members for walking, snowshoeing, and tobogganing, and these improvements will see a broader use locally, regionally, and for visitors alike.

“Smithers is a very outdoor-oriented community, for all seasons. With the addition of the trail maintenance equipment, the club is now able to properly maintain the trails and will expand them in the years to come. The equipment is also a key addition to enhance the quality of the course throughout the year.” -- Andrew L’Orsa, President of the Smithers Golf and Country Club.

The PRPA’S Community Investment Fund contributed $78,500 to the project. 

The financial assistance makes first time the Community Investment Fund has contributed to a project in the community of Smithers.

The Smithers funding is the first major announcement for the 2024 round of PRPA funding. 

The application period closed in January for those with projects for the Port to consider.

You can review some of the past investments through the Port's Community investment fund through our archive page.