The Penticton Shooting Sports Association has been operating in the hills near Penticton city limits for the past 42 years.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK / Penticton Shooting Sports Association
August 29, 2025 - 7:00 PM
Add recently-elected Penticton councillor Jason Reynen amongst local politicians who are voicing their support to keep the longstanding Penticton Shooting Sports Association gun range open.
Near the end of Tuesday’s regular meeting of council, Reynen, a local Penticton business owner, tabled a notice of motion supporting the gun club, which has been operating in the hills near Penticton city limits for the past 42 years.
Reynen’s notice of motion read: “Council direct staff to send a letter of support to the federal government to retain the Penticton Shooting Sports Club in its current location.”
The notice of motion will be discussed at the next regular meeting of council in early September.
On Aug. 13, MP Helena Konanz and Alberta Parkland riding MP Dane Lloyd sponsored a Town Hall meeting at the shooting sport association’s clubhouse that attracted 50 members who are all opposed to the potential closing of the longstanding club.
The club is facing possible closure at the end of 2025 after the federal Liberal government sent a letter expressing their intent to terminate the land lease by year’s end.
Konanz and Lloyd pledged to oppose the closure vigorously in the House of Commons in the coming weeks. They promised to push the Liberal government to sign a long-term lease to ensure the shooting club’s viability for future generations.
Near the conclusion of the hour-long town hall, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre joined the meeting via speakerphone after Lloyd placed a call to him.
Speaking directly to those gathered, Poilievre said, “People right across Canada are demanding the right to continue lawfully enjoying their property for both sport shooting and hunting. You have many allies. In every province, people are standing up against the Liberal gun grab, and we’re going to keep fighting it.”
He added, “When I become prime minister, we will fully reverse the entire Liberal gun grab, let you keep your property, enjoy it in peace, and we’ll go after the real criminals instead.”
Konanz reiterated her commitment, saying she would do everything possible “to save this club” and keep it operational after 42 years of success.
Club president Christian Scott explained that the club’s preferred outcome is securing a long-term lease with the federal government. The shooting club has operated on a year-to-year renewable lease for more than 30 years, after initially signing two five-year leases in the early 1980s.
The property includes an indoor range, three trap ranges, and a large clubhouse -- all built by club members over decades of volunteer work.
He added that the government’s cost to remediate the 12-acre property, if the club is closed, would run into tens of millions of dollars.
The club boasts a steady membership of about 400 people annually and is well known for being a good neighbour, having received very few complaints during its 42-year history.
The most frustrating part, Scott noted, is that the land would likely remain unused after closure due to the cleanup costs.
Konanz said learning about the club’s long history only strengthened her determination to help.
“The blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into this land inspire me even more to work for you and make sure you keep this very special place,” she said.
Scott said it’s hard to believe the government would actually shut the club down.
“I literally can’t comprehend that’s what they expect,” he said.
He reiterated that securing a long-term lease is the best solution.
“From my perspective, if we could get a 99-year lease -- a proper federal lease -- I don’t see the need for us to own the land,” he said.
The club has explored selling the property to a land trust organization, but the government’s proposed lease termination timeline is tight.
— This article was originally published by the Penticton Herald
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