For 42 years, the Penticton Shooting Sports Association (PSSA) has been a vital training hub for police, firearms safety training, and youth education in the South Okanagan.
The land leased by the PSSA, located between Penticton and Summerland, has been declared “surplus” by the federal government and is currently in the final stages of the divestment process.
In May 2024, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada issued formal notice that the lease on PSSA’s land will expire on December 31, 2025.
According to PSSA President Christian Scott, this decision delivers a potentially fatal blow to the organization.
“If you look at the facility that we have, this is a giant concrete building. We have a beautiful indoor range. We have a clubhouse up top. We’ve got three trap ranges that are built. None of this is movable,” Scott explained.[i]
There are no funds to start over in a new location. The PSSA is a non-profit and uses every dollar it raises to maintain operations, upgrade equipment, pay for utilities, and keep the grounds safe and functional.
Starting over simply isn’t an option.
A Critical Public Safety Resource
The RCMP, Parks Canada, the Sheriff’s Department, and both the Army and Air Cadets regularly use the facility for firearms qualification and tactical training. Approximately 100 RCMP officers rely on the PSSA for their mandated annual training.
Staff Sergeant Bob Vatamaniuck of the Penticton RCMP Detachment has publicly backed the association, calling the facility “essential” for training that must be done in a secure, secluded environment.
“The PSSA not only has the exact specifications we require but its seclusion from the public allows us to train with enhanced law enforcement tactical principles,” he said.[ii]
Vatamaniuck emphasized that closure of the facility would significantly increase training costs and reduce effectiveness due to the loss of the site’s seclusion, a factor not available from most other ranges.
A Hub of Education and Outreach
Beyond its role in law enforcement support, the PSSA is a cornerstone of firearms education and family-friendly community engagement. With over 400 paid members and hundreds more guests each year, the range hosts popular events like the Exploding Pumpkin Bonanza and Range Days that invite everyone to learn about firearm safety in a secure, respectful environment.
The facility provides certified training in hunter education and firearms safety for youth, cadets, and new gun owners, which helps break down fear, promotes responsible firearm use, and create a safer community.
“A lot of people come here scared of firearms,” Scott shared. “By the time they leave, it’s a completely different story.”
No Viable Alternative
The decision to close the range would leave a massive void. Nearby ranges in Oliver and Summerland are not equipped to handle the influx of displaced members and law enforcement personnel. Nor can they offer the same infrastructure or level of seclusion.
The loss would affect recreational shooters, and it would compromise essential public safety infrastructure and youth development programs across the region.
Bizarrely, the PSSA has no legal right to purchase the land. Federal rules prioritize internal department use, then transfer opportunities to Indigenous groups. That process is already underway, with no options left for the range to remain.
MPs and Community Leaders Rally Support
Local Members of Parliament Dan Albas and Helena Konanz, along with MLA Amelia Boultbee, have all voiced strong support for the PSSA.
Albas is expected to present a formal petition to the House of Commons this fall, calling on the government to halt the divestment and renew the lease.
That petition—e-6572—has already gathered more than 6,770 signatures and remains open until September.
What You Can Do
This issue goes beyond politics. It’s about protecting public safety, preserving local heritage, and ensuring that community-driven, responsible firearm education and enforcement training can continue.
If you believe in preserving a facility that serves law enforcement, teaches youth responsibility, and fosters safe firearm practices, now is the time to act.
Sign the petition to the House of Commons today:
https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6572
Your voice matters.
Let’s ensure this vital community institution doesn’t become another casualty of bureaucratic decisions that fail to consider their real-world consequences.
[i] https://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton/556720/Penticton-shooting-range-fighting-to-keep-their-spot-on-federally-owned-land
[ii] https://www.saobserver.net/news/rcmp-mps-throw-weight-behind-penticton-shooting-range-in-feds-firing-line-8099505
1 Comment
Me
Should check who the buyer would be, who is greasing the wheels.