Ucluelet

District of Ucluelet
District
Surfing on the beaches of Ucluelet Surfing on the beaches of Ucluelet
Nickname:  Ukee
Location of Ucluelet in British Columbia
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Region	Vancouver Island
Regional district	Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District
Incorporated	1952
Government
• Governing body	Ucluelet Council
Area
• Total	6.55 km2 (2.53 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Population  (2006)
• Total	1,487
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
Postal code span	V0R 3A0
Area code	250
Highways	4
Waterways	Barkley Sound
Website	Ucluelet.BC.ca

Ucluelet (Template:Pron-en) is a district municipality (population about 2,000) on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Ucluelet means "the people with a good landing place for canoes" in the indigenous Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) language.

Geography

It is located at the northern edge of Barkley Sound, 288 kilometres northwest of the British Columbia provincial capital, Victoria, on the outer west coast of Vancouver Island.

The closest city is Port Alberni approximately 100km to the east. The District of Tofino is 40 km northwest of Ucluelet on Highway 4.

In between Tofino and Ucluelet is the Long Beach unit of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Ucluelet provides easy water access to Barklet Sound; a marine area that features the Broken Islands Group unit of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

History

Archaeological evidence indicated the presence of First Nations along the outer west coast of Vancouver Island for at least 4,300 years. British Columbia’s recorded history began with European explorers searching for the legendary Northwest Passage to the Orient.

It was on the west coast of Vancouver Island, at Nootka Sound, 100 km north of Ucluelet, that Captain James Cook of the British Navy first set foot, in 1778. Captain James Barkley followed in 1787, arriving near Ucluelet harbour in Barkley Sound in search of sea otter pelts.

In 1870, fur sealers settled in the area. Captain Francis, the owner of several sealing schooners, established a trading post in Ucluelet harbour. Ucluelet began to grow along with the sealing industry and became a bustling little town. In the 1890’s more settlers began arriving on the news of pending road access from Port Alberni. Fishing was excellent and gold was to be found on Florencia Bay. The stories of gold were correct, but it was so fine and in such little quantity that it could not be worked profitably.

The Presbyterian Church built a Mission House and school and a doctor was dispatched to the area in 1898. By 1900, more settlers had moved to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Development began bringing infrastructure and services of all kinds. The Canadian Pacific Railway operated a small freight boat sailing from Victoria three times a month. In 1903 a whaling station was established in Barkley Sound. In Ucluelet a lighthouse, a government telegraph office, and a lifeboat station were built. As the First World War began, the fishing industry had started.

When World War II began the Government of Canada took measures to protect Vancouver Island’s west coast from potential invasions. The military established a seaplane base in Ucluelet and a land base at Long Beach. The road to Tofino, which had been worked on for thirty years was finally completed.

Ucluelet continued to prosper after the war luring more residents hoping for prosperity to the beautiful region. In August 1959, the long awaited road to Port Alberni was finally opened.

On February 26th, 1952 Ucluelet became incorporated. Its status was changed to a District in 1997 to reflect, in part, the increasing population and increasing importance within the region.

Demographics

Very important in local society is the presence of the Yu-cluth-aht people ("people of the safe landing place" or "people of the safe harbour" in Nuu-chah-nulth), whose government is the Ucluelet First Nation. Their community is based at Ittatsoo (Ucluelet Indian Reserve), which is located 28 kilometres from the town of Ucluelet.

Both Ucluelet and nearby Tofino have become target sites for the construction of resorts, restaurants and adventure tourism centre’s. Although the local population has been historically fishing and logging-based, more and more seasonal residents pass through both communities to work in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Community

Situated on a peninsula and surrounded by water the environment of Ucluelet provides for living, working and recreating. Access to beaches, parks, waterfront promenades, working harbours, and art galleries can be found within the town limits. The motto of Ucluelet is “Living on the Edge” due in part to its location and the spirit of the community.

Tourism

Like its neighbour Tofino, Ucluelet is making the transition from a resource-based economy to a tourism-based economy. Ucluelet is developing into a world class tourism destination featuring stunning scenery, interesting events and activities and a rich cultural history.

A key highlight for tourists is the easily accessible Wild Pacific Trail, which has views of the Pacific Ocean and wildlife viewing opportunities. Recreational activities include surfing, fishing, whale watching, kayaking, camping, hiking, storm watching, biking, swimming, and beachcombing.

Transportation

Ucluelet has an airport, Tofino Ucluelet Airport, about twenty minutes drive from town. Long Beach Airport is accessible to small passenger planes and the harbour in Ucluelet, Ucluelet Water Aerodrome, is accessible to floatplanes. Coastal fog is a common morning phenomenon in the summer, complicating access by air until the weather clears.

Accessing Ucluelet by car from the North American mainland involves taking a ferry to Vancouver Island from Vancouver or Seattle or Port Angeles, then driving a little over 3 hours northwest across the island, along Highway 4. Ferry access from Vancouver to the island is provided by BC Ferries.

Tofino Bus also services Ucluelet from Victoria, Vancouver, Nanaimo and Port Alberni.

Festivals and Events

Every March, the Pacific Rim Whale Festival is a week of events hosted by Ucluelet, Tofino, and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.[2] With a strong focus on marine life protection education, the event is to celebrate the annual return of migrating Pacific grey whales from their breeding and calving grounds along the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. Community events within the festival include gala dinners, children’s activities, workshops and live entertainment.

Each year in mid-June Ucluelet hosts a leg of the Van Isle 360. It is a point to point race circumnavigating wild and rugged Vancouver Island. It’s sailed in 10 legs and while the participants are in Ucluelet the community hosts a special salmon bbq with live music and a send off event.

In mid-June there is the Annual Edge to Edge Marathon. Every year participants from within the community and beyond race from Tofino, through the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, to Ucluelet.

The start of July welcomes the Pacific Rim Summer Festival. It presents two weeks of chamber music and multi-cultural concerts featuring national and international performers. Nightly concerts are performed at venues in Ucluelet, Tofino, and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

The end of July or the last weekend are Ukee Days, a local celebration with several events such as a salmon barbecue on Friday, pancake breakfast and town parade on Saturday and a Ukee Days dance.

Activities

The Wild Pacific Trail, a popular wilderness trail built in phases, begins near the mouth of Ucluelet Inlet at Amphitrite Point Lighthouse and travels north along the open Pacific coastline through Big Beach Park to the bike path just outside of Ucluelet. The final section will extend the trail to Halfmoon Bay in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

The trail is accessible to all ages and abilities, even wheel chairs in certain areas. The well maintained gravel path and boardwalks visits ancient rainforest and rocky ocean vistas. No bikes, horses or motorized vehicles are permitted on the park’s beaches or trails. The hiking trails are designed to expose visitors to the miles of shoreline while preventing any damage to the fragile environment.

• 
  The Amphitrite Lighthouse near the beginning, and on the Lighthouse Loop, of the Wild Pacific Trail
• 
  View of the rugged coastline from the Wild Pacific Trail
• 
  An evening vista from the Wild Pacific Trail

Various marine tours including sea kayaking, whale and wildlife watching

There has been an on-going interest in sport fishing out of Ucluelet among tourists and locals alike. There are many chartered sports fishing options in town.

Surfing has become a popular activity among tourists and locals alike. In the summer months surfers of all experiences and abilities flock to the surf breaking along Florencia Bay, Wickaninnish Beach, and Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. In the winter months more remote, rocky, surf breaks are visited by Ucluelet locals in Barkley Sound. Avid surfers travel across the inlet down logging roads in search of swells near Salmon Beach, Mussel Beach, and along locally named “Vet’s Beach”.

Broadcasting

It is possible that in the near future that the town may become a centre for high power international broadcasting, because of its remoteness (an important issue considering the radio frequency interference produced by shortwave transmission sites) and easy access to a reasonably reliable power grid. Radio Canada International has proposed the construction of a relay station in Tofino-Ucluelet.

• RCI Proposal
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  Targeting Australasia
• 
  Targeting Indonesia
• 
  Targeting Latin America
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  CBC-SRC domestic SW proposal that could also be placed on this part of Vancouver Island