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| District of Ucluelet | |
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| — District — | |
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| Nickname(s): Ukee | |
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| Coordinates: 48°56′9″N 125°32′36″W / 48.93583°N 125.54333°W | |
| 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 (2.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 1,487 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| Postal code span | V0R 3A0 |
| Area code(s) | 250 |
| Highways | 4 |
| Waterways | Barkley Sound |
| Website | Ucluelet.BC.ca |
Coordinates: 48°56′6″N 125°32′31″W / 48.935°N 125.54194°W
Ucluelet (pronounced /ˌjuˈkluː.lət/) is a district municipality (population about 1,500) on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Ucluelet means "people of the safe harbour" in the indigenous Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) language.
Contents |
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. Barkley Sound lies southeast of Ucluelet and is a marine area that features the Broken Islands Group unit of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The fishing and scientific research community of Bamfield lies on its farther shore, and is the site of Kiix?in (Keeshan), a major archaeological site and National Historic Site of Canada protecting a Nuu-chah-nulth fortress.
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.
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 came to the area seeking ports for vessels working the Bering Sea sealing grounds. 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 region. In August 1959, the long awaited road to Port Alberni was finally opened. [1]
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.[2]
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. [3] 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 centres. Although the local population has historically been based on fishing and logging, increasing numbers of seasonal residents pass through both communities to work in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Tourism
Like its neighbour Tofino, Ucluelet is making the transition from a resource-based economy to a tourism-based economy.
Tourist 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 celebrates 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.[4]
Each year in mid-June, Ucluelet hosts a leg of the Van Isle 360. It is a point-to-point race circumnavigating Vancouver Island, sailed in 10 legs. While the participants are in Ucluelet, the community hosts a special salmon barbecue with live music and a send-off event.[5]
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. [6]
ThePacific Rim Summer Festival is held in early July with 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.[7]
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 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. [8] [9]
The trail is accessible to all ages and abilities, even wheel chairs in certain areas. No bikes, horses or motorized vehicles are permitted on the park’s beaches or trails. The hiking trails are designed to let visitors experience the shoreline while preventing damage to the fragile environment.
Various marine tours are available including sea kayaking, whale and wildlife watching
There has been an on-going interest in sport fishing out of Ucluelet and there are many chartered sports fishing options in town.[10]
Surfing has become a popular activity among tourists and locals alike. In the summer months, surfers of all levels of experience and ability flock to the surf breaking along Florencia Bay, Wickaninnish Beach and Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
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.[11]
 Targeting Australasia |
 Targeting Indonesia |
 Targeting Latin America |
 CBC-SRC domestic SW proposal that could also be placed on this part of Vancouver Island |
Gallery
 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 |
References
- ^ Tourism Ucluelet history page
- ^ Ucluelet in the BC Geographical Names Information System
- ^ "Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce". www.uclueletinfo.com. http://www.uclueletinfo.com/about_ucluelet/history.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ "Welcome to the 23rd Annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival". Pacific Rim Whale Festival. http://pacificrimwhalefestival.com. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ www.vanisle360.com
- ^ www.edgetoedgemarathon.com
- ^ www.pacificrimarts.ca
- ^ http://www.longbeachmaps.com/wildtrail.html
- ^ Wild Pacific Trail Website
- ^ Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans licensing information
- ^ "RCI Tofino-Ucluelet Relay Stations". cbc.am. http://cbc.am/rci-bc.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-09. See also: Radio Canada International Video - Vancouver Island Facilities Funding Proposal at YouTube (requires Adobe Flash); Radio Canada International Video - Vancouver Island Facilities Funding Proposal at YouTube (requires Adobe Flash); and RCI Video Series 2 - Vancouver Island Facilities Funding Proposal at YouTube (requires Adobe Flash)
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