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Eat/Play/Live: Pacific Rim whale festival march 15-23 calendar of events

EDITOR'S NOTE: You really need your Official Guide! For related entry fees for non-Button events, see the Westerly News official Pacific Rim Whale Festival Guide. Pick one up at the Westerly News (102-1801 Bay Street., Ucluelet) or at one of the Visitors Centres. Buttons can be purchased at Button events, noted here with a BB.

All details on the Calendar of Events are as accurate as possible at the time of publication and are subject to change. Visit www.pacificrimwhalefestival.com for any updates & further details.

SATURDAY, MAR. 15

8-10 am -Fire Brigade Community Breakfast-The Schooner Restaurant Patio, 331 Campbell St, Tofino 10 a.m. -Parade of Whales and Wonders BB The Wickaninnish Elementary School, Tofino 11 am -Fire-Fighter Spoutball Challenge BB Tofino Community Tennis Courts on Campbell St, Tofino 12-3 pm -A guided tour of Tla-o-quiaht Whale Hunting Village sight on Echachist-1st St. Dock, Tofino 1pm-Discovering the Grey Whale BB -Ecolodge Classroom -1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, TBG 2-4 pm -Go Whaling Watching with Jamie! -Jamie's Whaling Station, 606 Campbell St, Tofino 4:30 pm -First Nation Forest Walk with Tla-o-qui-aht member Gisele Martin BB Schooner Cove Park Lot 7pm - Midnight -West Coast Photo Showdown BB -Black Rock Resort, 596 Marine Dr. Ucluelet

SUNDAY, MAR.16

9-9:45 am -Be-Bop Fitness & Wild Pacific Trail Discover Walk with Oyster Jim Martin Ucluelet Community Centre Parking Lot, 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet 10 am -How do sea otters transform near shore ecosystems? BB Ucluelet Aquarium, Ucluelet, with Russell Markel of Outer Shores Expeditions 10:30 am -Boat to the Big Tree Trail & hike with local interpretation /Tlao-qui-aht member, Gisele Martin & Ocean Outfitters 368 Main, Tofino 11:30 am -2pm -18th Annual Chowder Chowdown Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Dr, Ucluelet with THE POOR PISTOLS 3-6 pm -Poster Artist Kelly Carter invites you to: Dragons, Whales & Fairy Tales BB 2475 Pacific Rim Hwy (6 km outside of Ucluelet). FREE shuttle will depart and pick up from the Ucluelet Community Centre and Coop Gas station from 2:45 to 6:15 pm.

7-9 pm -Jamie's Whaling Station & Adventure Centre tours presents Marine impacts and issues BB Sea Change Panel Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Dr, Ucluelet 9 pm Jamie's Whaling Station & Adventure Centre tours presents Mix and Mingle -Sea Change Panel Reception with Jazz Trio: Piano, Bass, & Drums BB Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Dr, Ucluelet

MONDAY, MARCH 17

9 a.m. -8th Annual Blessing of the Boats BB Whiskey Dock, 1st St, Tofino 11 am -"For the love of Tla-o-qui-aht canoes" w/Tsimka Martin, T'ashii Paddle School BB 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino -Tofino Botanical Gardens, Darwin's Café 1:30 pm -'Wet & Wild' Marine Research on the West Coast BB Remote Passages Marine Excursions, 51 Wharf St, Tofino 12 PM - 6.5 to 7 Hour Tour Whales and Hot Springs Presented by: Remote Passages Marine Excursions 51 Wharf St, Tofino 2 pm -Ocean Awareness through Creative Education w/Cascadian Crusaders BB 1084 Pacific Rim Hwy, TBG, Darwin's Café 3 pm -Cedar Weaving with Yuu-tluthaht member Rose Wilson Tofino Community Hall, Tofino 5:30 pm -Button Winners -Artist Appreciation Ceremony BB Wickaninnish Inn in the Sala Room, 500 Osprey Lane, Tofino 7 pm Spouting Tales: An evening of Storytelling with Cindy Shantz & Rachel Muller, of Around Town Tellers, Nanaimo and local guest storytellers 1441 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino -Long Beach Lodge

TUESDAY, MAR. 18

9:15 - 9:45 am -Be-Bop Fitness & Wild Pacific Trail Discover Walk with Oyster Jim BB Brown's Beach Parking Lot on Marine Dr, Ucluelet 10 a.m. - 12 pm -Marine Mammal Research Day with Wendy Szaniszlo -Subtidal Adventures, 1950 Peninsula Rd, Ucluelet 10:30 am -Reading of 'The great plastic round up' w/the Cascadian Crusaders BB 243 Main St. Blackberry Cove Marketplace, Ucluelet 12 pm -Restoring Big Beach: Remove invasive species/live planting BB Meet at the Big Beach trailhead, across from the Ucluelet Community Centre, 500 Matterson Drive 12:30 - 4 pm Scenic Flat-water Paddleboard Adventure with Dan Harrison and Catherine Bruhwiler! Tin Wis Resort 1-3 pm -Artist in Action with Mark Hobson BB 596 Marine Dr, Ucluelet -Black Rock Oceanfront Resort 2 pm -Eelgrass meadows and creatures that call it home w/Jen Yakimishyn, PRNPR BB Kwistis Center Centre, PRNPR 7-10 pm Sweet Indulgence Ucluelet Community Centre, with Ucluelet Smalltown Empire, door prizes and draws! cake walk event too!

12 WEDNESDAY

Tuff City Idol karoke contest, Jack's Pub, Marina West, Tofino.

Improv Workshop-6 p.m. Clayoquot Community Theatre. Free.

Arthritis Information Session 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Coastal Family Place Presented by: Carley Grigg, TGH, Physio Therapist. FREE. Recycling Day in Ucluelet Preschool Play Group, 10am-noon, Tofino Community Hall.

Seniors Social Afternoons, 1:30-4pm, Tofino Legion. Free admission & refreshments. Dominos, crib, board games, pool, snooker & darts. Strong Start, Ucluelet Elementary

School, 8:35-11:35. Holy Family Church, 9:30am, 1664 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet. Ucluelet library, open 1-6pm 13

THURSDAY

Healthy Babies Program/Family Ties, 10:30am. Drop-in for expectant, new parents, Coastal Family Place, Tofino.

Strong Start, Ucluelet Elementary School, 11:45-2:45 Wickaninnish Community School's StrongStart program. Monday and Fridays 8:45-11:45 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:30-1:30 Free community lunch, noon-2pm, Coastal Community Services Hub, Ucluelet. Info 250-726-2343.

The Edge Youth Room, 3-6pm, Ucluelet Community Centre & Youth Nite at the Edge (cooking, movies, art projects & more), 6-8pm, $2. Tofino library, 331 Main St., 3-7pm.

14 FRIDAY

Big Beach Cinema, UCC -double feature. 6 p.m. Wajdja, award-winner, first featurelength film by a female Saudi director.

Gravity, 8 p.m. Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris.Engineer and asstronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them stranded in space.

Strong Start, Ucluelet Elementary School, CLOSED Tofino Library Storytime 11:30 a.m.-12 noon. 331 Main St. Preschool The Edge Youth Room, 2-6pm, Ucluelet Community Centre 15 SATURDAY.

Big Beach Cinema, UCC -double feature. 1 p.m. Wajdja. 3 p.m. Big Beach Cinema, UCC, Gravity. Ucluelet library, Ucluelet Community Centre, open 10am-2pm.

Tofino library, 331 Main St., open 10am-noon & 1-5pm.

St. Francis of Assisi Church, mass 5:30pm, 441 Main St. Tofino. AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis Church, 441 Main, Tofino.

16 SUNDAY

Christ Community Church, 10:30am, 1419 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet. Grace Bible Church, 10:30am, Ucluelet Community Ctr., 500 Matterson Dr. Holy Family Church, 9:30am, 1664 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet. St. Columba Church, 10:30am, 110 Second St. Tofino.

Tofino Bible Fellowship meets at the Tofino Legion Hall, 331 Main Street at 10:30 17 MONDAY St. Patrick's Day Monday Night Movies, Tofino, 8 pm Clayoquot Community Theatre, The Ghosts in our Machine (Doc, Can, 2013, 92 min, Not rated) Director: Liz Marshall Property or sentient being?Film illuminates the lives of individual animals living within and rescued from the machine of our modern world. The film follows acclaimed photographer Jo-Anne McArthur over a year.

Ucluelet and Wickaninnish Strong-Starts closed for Spring Break March 17th re-opening Monday March 24th.

Floor hockey, 7-9pm, Ucluelet Seaplane Base Rec Hall. $2 drop-in. Indoor Soccer, 8-10pm, USS gym, $2 Competitive & drop-in darts, doors 7pm, play 8pm, Tofino Legio 18 TUESDAY Every Tuesday, 11:30 to 1:00 the Fish and Loaves free Community Lunch at the Tofino Community hall.

Healthy Babies Program/Family Ties, 10:30am.

Ucluelet library, Ucluelet Community Centre, open 1-6pm.

The Edge Youth Room, 3-6pm, Ucluelet Community Centre Youth night, 7-9pm, Tofino Legion.

Free admission, snacks & drinks.

Pool, snooker, foosball, hockey table, darts & board games. Supervision provided, parents welcome. St. Francis of Assisi Church, mass 5pm, 441 Main St. Tofino. Food Bank on the Edge, pick up 1-3pm, Seaplane Base Rd. AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis Church, 441 Main, Tofino.

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