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History
(The following information is provided by the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce website. Contact information is provided at the bottom of this page.)
Ucluelet is a Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation word meaning 'safe harbour' or 'safe landing place'. The local First Nations have always been influenced by their environment. The land and the sea gave them food and influenced their lifestyle and culture. From the sea they took salmon, cod, halibut, shellfish, sea lions, seals, and whales. From the forest they took plant and animal food as well as cedar which was the material they used for most everything from wood for building homes and canoes to bark strips for weaving clothing. Nothing was wasted. One of the Nuu-chah-nulth's primary teachings is 'Hishuk ish is'awalk' or 'Everything is one'.
European explorers first set foot in the Ucluelet area in the late 1770s, returning as traders to pursue maritime fur-trading, sealing, and whaling. Settlement didn't start until the late 1800s. Among the first documented white settlers in Ucluelet were William and James Sutton in the late 1880s, who operated a saw mill and general store.
The discovery of gold around 1900 at nearby Wreck Bay (also called Florencia Bay) brought more settlers to the area. But pursuing the gold commercially eventually proved impractical. Mining again figured prominently in Ucluelet's economy in the early 1960s when iron concentrates were shipped to Japan and Ucluelet became the largest shipper of iron concentrates in British Columbia.
The turn of the 20th century also brought development of a fishing industry and with it more people settled in Ucluelet. The predominant species were salmon, halibut, cod, and herring. As a result of the increasing catch, canneries, fish buying stations, reduction plants, and processing facilities were added to the area's infrastructure. Fishing really started to realize its potential after World War I. Japanese fishermen from Steveston settled in Ucluelet around 1920. The introduction of their salmon trolling method also helped the fishing industry grow. Historically, and still today, commercial fishing in Ucluelet has its high and low cycles.
Forestry figures prominently in much of Ucluelet's history and lifestyle, but logging really started to dominate in the 1950s. Logs have generally always been sent to mills and destinations away from the coast. For close to 40 years forestry provided families in Ucluelet with a reliable and relatively prosperous income. Like fishing, however, forestry has its ups and downs; dependent on market conditions and dependent on environmental concerns. Today, tree farm license tenure holders in the Ucluelet area are adapting operations to meet the expectations of the 21st century.
The gradual establishment of road access to and from the Ucluelet area greatly influenced the community's history. During World War II a road was built connecting Ucluelet and its sea plane base with Tofino (approximately 40 kilometres to the northwest). The road was built, principally to provide access to the military airport at the mid-way point at Long Beach. In 1959 the road to Port Alberni finally opened (Port Alberni is 100 kilometres to the east). Although the road opened in 1959, it was not paved until 1972; 13 years later.
With the road open, the influence of tourism started to impact Ucluelet, and tourism shows no sign of letting up. Close to one million people visit the West Coast each year. One of the main attractions is Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park (dedicated in 1971) where 20 kilometres of sandy beach and pounding surf await. Sport fishing, whale watching , nature cruises, hiking, kayaking, beach combing, and eco-tourism opportunities abound in Ucluelet with a variety of accommodations, eating establishments, and stores for every need.
Ucluelet was incorporated as a village February 26, 1952 and officially became a district in 1997. The last census indicated the poulation in 2001 at 1753.
Location
Ucluelet can be reached via Highway 4 (Pacific Rim Highway) that starts in Parksville and winds across the spine of the Vancouver Island Mountains to Port Alberni and the open ocean at Ucluelet and Tofino. This is the route to the Pacific Rim National Park.
You can also board the MV Frances Barkley in Port Alberni and sail down the Alberni Inlet to Ucluelet. The route of the MV Lady Rose and her sister ship the MV Frances Barkley, both based in Port Alberni, lead through the Broken Group Island in Barkley Sound to the fishing ports of Bamfield and Ucluelet. In the course of a day's trip the sturdy wooden packet freighters drop mail, groceries, supplies, and the occasional passenger along the way at float homes and the Sechart Whaling Station.
Places to See
- Pacific Rim Visitors Centre
Located at the end of the Pacific Rim Highway - take a break after the windy drive to the West Coast and stop in to the Pacific Rim Visitors Centre. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm, October to March. Open from March to June 9am to 5pm and July through to Labour Day from 9am to 7pm.
- Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre
The Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre is perched on the shore of the Pacific at the end of Wick Road, 3.5 kilometres from Highway 4. This information centre, interpretive facility, and gift shop focuses on the natural and cultural heritage of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Visitors can enhance their national park experience through exhibits, displays, films, and other events. An all-terrain wheelchair is available for visitor use. The Wickaninnish Centre is open mid March to mid October, and also houses the Wickaninnish Restaurant.
- Whale Centre Maritime Museum
The Whale Centre Maritime Museum offers a display of artifacts collected and donated by Tofino locals over the past twenty five years. On exhibit is an assortment of traditional native jewelry, cedar baskets, paddles, sea life, local artifacts - from traditional whaling equipment to original navigation charts of the area, and a complete 40' gray whale skeleton.
- Pacific Rim National Park
The magnificent Pacific Rim National Park is the only national park on Vancouver Island, providing protection for substantial rain forests and an amazing marine environment on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The full force of the mighty Pacific Ocean mercilessly pounds the constantly changing shores of this rugged coastline. The territory now occupied by the park has a significant history, having been inhabited by the Nuu-chah-nulth people for thousands of years. A rich natural heritage evolved as Vancouver Island became isolated from the mainland, retaining a great diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish species. This unique park encompasses a total area of 49,962 hectares of land and ocean in three separate geographic units - Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands and the West Coast Trail. Features of the park include long sandy beaches, an island archipelago, old-growth coastal temperate rainforest and significant Nuu-chah-nulth archaeological sites.
- Thornton Creek Hatchery
The small Thornton Creek Hatchery is open daily from March to mid-June, raising chinook, coho, and chum salmon. The most exciting time to visit the Creek is mid-October to mid-November, when adult spring and coho salmon return to the hatchery waters after three to four years at sea.
- Amphitrite Point
Enjoy the splendour of summer sunsets at Amphitrite Point - the Lighthouse (built in 1905) commands a stunning view over Barkley Sound and the open Pacific. In March-April there are excellent views of migrating grey whales and in winter, a perfect spot for storm watching. The new Wild Pacific Trail leads along the coastline from Amphitrite Point.
Things to Do
- Fishing
Fish Barkley Sound for salmon, cod, and halibut. Ucluelet has one of the largest fleets of guided charter vessels on the West Coast.
- Kayaking / Canoeing / Boating
Experienced boaters, canoeists, and kayakers enjoy the beautiful waters and coastlines of Barkley Sound and the Broken Group Islands. For the novice, take a half-day trip by kayak or canoe and discover the wild side of the inner harbour.
- Diving
Dive into the waters of Barkley Sound and around the Broken Group Islands for an underwater adventure among the numerous reefs and shipwrecks.
- Shopping
Shop for supplies and browse for unique gifts and the works of local artisans in the galleries.
- Storm Watching
During the winter months, see nature at its wildest during storm watching season. Eight-meter waves, thundering surf, and ocean spray whipped into a foaming frenzy provide nature's ultimate theatrics. Watch the storms from safe, designated viewpoints outdoors or from the comfort of an ocean view inn.
Events
- Edge to Edge Marathon
The Edge to Edge marathon is an annual event that brings runners from all over the world to the beautiful West Coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. It is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the tranquility and unique character that Tofino and Ucluelet share; surrounded by subtle yet rich cultural heritage and pristine natural beauty.
- Pacific Rim Whale Festival
Each spring the entire North American population of Pacific Grey Whales migrate along the west coast of Vancouver Island. An estimated 22,000 grey whales make the 16,000 kilometre journey between their mating and calfing lagoons on the Mexican Baja Peninsula and their summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas near the Arctic.
Along the west coast of Vancouver Island, whales travel close to the shoreline, providing excellent viewing opportunities from the rocky headlands along the outer coast of the waters. During the Pacific Rim Whale Festival, free public viewing stations will be set up at Amphitrite Point Lighthouse & Wickaninnish Centre in the Park. Get even closer to these animals when you venture out onto the open pacific aboard local charter boats or floatplanes offering whale-watching excursions from either Ucluelet or Tofino.
The hosting villages of Tofino and Ucluelet, along with Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, offer a wide range of events providing entertaining and educational activities for all.
Contact Information
Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce
Box 428
100 Main Street
Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
Phone: (250) 726-4641
Fax: (250) 726-4611
E-mail: marny@uclueletinfo.com
Website: www.uclueletinfo.com
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