The District of Ucluelet won the coveted Bone of Contention trophy at the annual Tug-O-Whale during the 22nd annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival in 2008. The District of Tofino did not "beach" a team that year, but the Westerly News reported on its front page of March 20, 2008 that "there was still lots of tugging action among municipal staff, volunteers and other attendees."
The opening ceremonies and official welcome to the whale festival featured singing councillors, a dancing whale and cake that 2008 Pacific Rim Whale Festival Society chair Abby Fortune passed out to festival goers.
