Ucluelet’s Black Rock Resort has a new captain at the helm.
Adele Larkin has served as the resort’s general manager for the past six years but she is headed to Sechelt and handed the resort’s keys over to Brian Johnson earlier this month.
Larkin told the Westerly she “thoroughly enjoyed” her time in Ucluelet and at the resort.
“It has been a great six years that I wouldn’t trade for anything,” she said.
“I am definitely sad to leave but excited to join my family in Sechelt.”
Larkin’s husband Peter has been working in Sechelt’s RCMP detachment since August.
Larkin suggested Johnson’s love for Ucluelet will ensure the resort won’t skip a beat and she is excited to see him take the wheel.
“He has enjoyed Ucluelet as a guest for many years and is so pleased to now call it home,” she said.
Johnson has spent the past seven years working for Sandman Hotels in Victoria.
He told the Westerly he’s been visiting Ucluelet about three times a year for the past decade and chose the community as the backdrop for his wedding two years ago.
“It’s definitely one of my favourite places,” he said.
“It was always on my eye for the last couple of years so when the opportunity arose it was something I definitely had to reach out for and here I am.”
An avid traveler, Johnson has visited 63 countries and said his experiences as a tourist have earned him a solid perspective on what travelers are looking for.
“It’s a different scenario from backpacking to working in a five-star resort but, having worked for different levels in the hotel industry, I’ve seen it all so it definitely gives me a perspective of what people are looking for,” he said.
“It’s a stunning area, the West Coast and Ucluelet; having been around the world and seen so much it’s definitely one of the best places I can recommend to people…I’m looking forward to calling Ucluelet home for sure.”
Johnson officially started his new position on Dec. 7 and he’s been stoked on what he’s seen so far.
“I’m super excited to join the team at Black Rock and continue the success of this spectacular property and I look forward to being part of the community and getting involved in anyway I can,” he said.
“Adele has done a fantastic job with the team here and I look forward to carrying on that vision and the success of Black Rock.”
He acknowledged replacing Larkin, a finalist in Ucluelet’s 2015 citizen of the year voting, will be no easy task.
“I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” he said. “She’s an excellent person who’s been heavily involved in the community.”
The resort, which Johnson said employs roughly 133 employees during Ucluelet’s peak season, is coming off a big 2015.
“It was a stellar year for Black Rock and I know next year’s looking pretty much the same and we look forward to where we can grow,” Johnson said.
“We’ll look at what we can change to make the property even better.”
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca