Penticton Shooting Sports Association
Penticton Shooting Sports has been advised by the Federal Government of its plan for “divesting of land” which includes the property our club is situated on.
Initially we were led to believe, by Eric Maltais for the government agency, that this process would take up to a decade to complete. We have now been informed that we are now being “fast tracked.” On December 31 of this year (2025), we must cease and desist use on all ranges and look at removal of all structures on the land. Our structures include a large clubhouse with indoor range, concrete trap machine houses and indoor trap range clubhouse, outdoor rifle range with gallery and indoor clubhouse, outdoor pistol range with covered gallery, outdoor 22 rifle range, and a large mobile home for facility caretaker/security. The value of these assets built by volunteers easily exceeds a million dollars and cannot be moved. This represents unaffordable loss to our Club. Locating alternate land, likely impossible.
This Association has existed under several different names for many years. An early record of the club’s existence dates, before World War 1. It is known that annual shoots were held during this period in competition with clubs from Kelowna and Vernon. Around 1920 the club appeared under the name of the “Penticton Rod and Gun Club”. During this era, an attempt was made to reintroduce Elk in the district with limited success. The club also lent support to the creation of a bird sanctuary and later a game reserve at Vaseux Lake.
Later the club operated as the “Penticton Fish, Game and Forest Protective Association”. Under this name, small reserve areas were established as Fish and Game protected districts.
An amalgamation of the societies created the “Penticton Fish, Game & Rifle Club”. A tremendous amount of work went into the building of a clubhouse, indoor range, extensive rifle ranges, trap grounds and facilities for other outdoor pursuits on crown land on the West Bench near Penticton. It was 29 years at this site until the land lease was lost in a resettlement agreement to the Penticton Indian Band.
In 1983-84, the Club Executive, Directors, Members and Benefactors devoted time, energy, skill and labour as well as donating materials in the relocation effort. At the present time the clubhouse and facilities are on leased land to the South of the Agricultural Research Station, on Highway 97 near the Kickininee picnic area site. Although the total land area is much smaller than the former West Bench site, excellent new facilities have been created again thanks to the vigorous voluntary efforts of the membership of the newly named “Penticton Shooting Sports Association” The Association has for a further 42 years continued the traditions such as conservation of fish and game.
Our Club offers opportunities for indoor and outdoor handgun, sporting rifle, trap and black powder target shooting as well as new activities such as benchrest and silhouette shooting and archery. Instructing firearms safety has always been a priority of the club, along with historical and heritage education. Strong ties have been created with such groups as the Air Cadets, Scouts, C.O.R.E. and PAL training programs, and the R.C.M.P to promote the image and practice of sane, safe and sensible sporting use of all types of firearms.
Our ranges are utilized by the R.C.M.P. and Sheriffs. The club continues to be actively involved with ongoing conservation projects. It donates funds towards the yearly Penticton Creek cleanup. It makes routine financial contributions to the Air Cadets for equipment for on-site training.
In addition to its value as a recreational resource for its up to 400 members the club has hosted public fun family day events as well as a public “Halloween Pumpkin Shoot” and a “Zombie Shoot”.
The end of our club would represent the loss of a valued affordable community recreation pursuit enjoyed by members of our community. It offers a vital training facility for the public, for young Air Force Cadets, aspiring hunters and sport shooters, Archers, R.C.M.P. and Sheriffs who require range to practice.
We would greatly appreciate you taking the time to sign our petition in support of our efforts to preserve our club and its facilities:
https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6572
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