ucluelet

Gord John stands during question period in Ottawa in Sept. 2020. (PHOTO COURTESY CHRISTIAN DIOTTE, HOUSE OF COMMONS PHOTO SERVICES)

2020: A Year in Review with Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns

NDP MP wants to ‘build back better’ in 2021

 

Stand-up paddleboarder Christie Jamieson kneels as a pod of transient orcas put on a dramatic show on Jan. 19 in the Ucluelet Harbour. (Nora O’Malley photo)

UPDATED: Vancouver Island paddle boarder’s orca encounter brings joy and outrage

Woman’s ‘best day’ criticized for disturbing the whales

 

Stand up paddleboarder Christie Jamieson kneels as a pod of transient orcas put on a dramatic show on Jan. 19 in the Ucluelet Harbour. (Nora O’Malley photo)

UPDATED: Vancouver Island paddle boarder’s orca encounter brings joy and outrage

Woman’s ‘best day’ criticized for disturbing the whales

 

The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is reminding visitors that all dogs must be leashed at all times. (Westerly file photo)

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve urges dog owners to show respect by leashing their pets

“As Coastal Stewards, we appreciate seeing you with your pets on leashes.”

The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is reminding visitors that all dogs must be leashed at all times. (Westerly file photo)
A Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation guardian took this photo of dozens of vehicles parked along a forest service road in the Kennedy watershed. (Submitted photo)

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District looks at enforcement of illegal camping

ACRD currently does not have an existing bylaw service to tackle the issue

A Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation guardian took this photo of dozens of vehicles parked along a forest service road in the Kennedy watershed. (Submitted photo)
From left: Olivia Rhodes with a gold medal around her neck smiles beside USS teammate Caitlyn Midlane who proudly wore her silver at the Western Canada Age Class (Mike Rhodes photo), Maaqtusiis senior boys basketball team come together for a cheer during the Vancouver Island Championships in February (Curt McLeod photo), Sophie L’Homme and Cameron Dennison roar with excitement as they get set to broadcast ‘the best singing show the West Coast has ever heard’ on Tuff City Radio (Sophie L’Homme photo), and Canadian surf legend Peter Devries celebrates winning November’s Rip Curl Hometown Showdown (Bryanna Bradley photo).

Tofino and Ucluelet’s Top 10 sports and arts stories of 2020

Here is the Westerly’s ‘Year in Review’ for best sports and arts…

From left: Olivia Rhodes with a gold medal around her neck smiles beside USS teammate Caitlyn Midlane who proudly wore her silver at the Western Canada Age Class (Mike Rhodes photo), Maaqtusiis senior boys basketball team come together for a cheer during the Vancouver Island Championships in February (Curt McLeod photo), Sophie L’Homme and Cameron Dennison roar with excitement as they get set to broadcast ‘the best singing show the West Coast has ever heard’ on Tuff City Radio (Sophie L’Homme photo), and Canadian surf legend Peter Devries celebrates winning November’s Rip Curl Hometown Showdown (Bryanna Bradley photo).
Terry Fong embraces his best friend Princeton at Incinerator Rock, which became the travelling companions’ favourite spot during five years of exploring. (Cam Shaw photo)

Tofino played key role in inspirational dog’s journey

Terry Fong explains his recently published book, ‘Princeton - A Love Story’

Terry Fong embraces his best friend Princeton at Incinerator Rock, which became the travelling companions’ favourite spot during five years of exploring. (Cam Shaw photo)
Clockwise from top right: Four-legged pal Itska made headlines last year after being taken from her Tofino owner, a rock blasting mishap caused Highway 4 to be shut down for three days, back in March Tofino and Ucluelet resorts and restaurants closed to help “flatten the curve” and stop the transmission of COVID-19, a jet-ski operator revved concerns after playing in the surf at Chesterman Beach.

Looking back on the West Coast’s top 10 news stories of the year

Tofino and Ucluelet’s top headlines of 2020.

  • Jan 6, 2021
Clockwise from top right: Four-legged pal Itska made headlines last year after being taken from her Tofino owner, a rock blasting mishap caused Highway 4 to be shut down for three days, back in March Tofino and Ucluelet resorts and restaurants closed to help “flatten the curve” and stop the transmission of COVID-19, a jet-ski operator revved concerns after playing in the surf at Chesterman Beach.
Ucluelet RCMP are investigating a holiday vessel parade that took place on Dec. 22, 2020. (Westerly file photo)

RCMP investigating spontaneous Dec. 22 Sail Past event in Ucluelet

A complaint was filed for possibly breaking Provincial Health Orders

Ucluelet RCMP are investigating a holiday vessel parade that took place on Dec. 22, 2020. (Westerly file photo)
Ucluelet’s Amphitrite Point is a popular spot to storm watch, but goers are reminded to enjoy the extreme weather safely by staying off the rocks and being <a href="https://coastsmart.ca/" target="_blank">CoastSmart</a>. (Westerly file photo)

Storm expected to blast through Tofino-Ucluelet on Tuesday

Winds up to 100 km/h are expected.

Ucluelet’s Amphitrite Point is a popular spot to storm watch, but goers are reminded to enjoy the extreme weather safely by staying off the rocks and being <a href="https://coastsmart.ca/" target="_blank">CoastSmart</a>. (Westerly file photo)
New Year’s Fireworks for 2020 as seen from the Penticton Lakeside Resort. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

POLL QUESTION: Do you make New Year’s resolutions?

What are you hoping to achieve in 2021?

  • Jan 3, 2021
New Year’s Fireworks for 2020 as seen from the Penticton Lakeside Resort. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Gracie Dawson, Auley Feaver and Lisa Evans proudly carried their creations through the Tofino Botanical Gardens during the 18th annual Tofino Lantern Festival in 2018. (Photo - Andrew Bailey)

Hundreds of lanterns rehomed as Tofino Lantern Festival in flux

A museum of West Coast creativity has been disassembled.

Gracie Dawson, Auley Feaver and Lisa Evans proudly carried their creations through the Tofino Botanical Gardens during the 18th annual Tofino Lantern Festival in 2018. (Photo - Andrew Bailey)
Ucluelet fire chief Rick Geddes and deputy chief Mark Fortune present veteran firefighter Dave Ennis with a special plaque to commemorate his many years of service to the volunteer brigade. (Mark Boysen photo)

Community heroes retire in Ucluelet

Firefighters Dave Ennis and Alan Anderson retire

Ucluelet fire chief Rick Geddes and deputy chief Mark Fortune present veteran firefighter Dave Ennis with a special plaque to commemorate his many years of service to the volunteer brigade. (Mark Boysen photo)
Longtime commercial salmon fisher Doug Kimoto says Trudeau should revamp DFO and move towards a regional management. He says the fisheries department is not working and it hasn’t for decades. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Lifelong Ucluelet fisherman Doug Kimoto shares his thoughts on restoring fisheries

“The government needs to revamp DFO and move towards a regional management program.”

Longtime commercial salmon fisher Doug Kimoto says Trudeau should revamp DFO and move towards a regional management. He says the fisheries department is not working and it hasn’t for decades. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Excited Patrick Leslie, 3, visits with Santa Claus during a special socially distanced photo event organized by the Ucluelet Children’s Centre. Far West provided yummy hot chocolate and all the kids went home with a craft bag. (Jen McLeod photo)

Tofino-Ucluelet leaders share Letters to Santa

Elected officials lay out their wishlists.

  • Dec 24, 2020
Excited Patrick Leslie, 3, visits with Santa Claus during a special socially distanced photo event organized by the Ucluelet Children’s Centre. Far West provided yummy hot chocolate and all the kids went home with a craft bag. (Jen McLeod photo)
Tyson Touchie, with wife Anita Charleson-Touchie, throws a shaka in the face of having to close his surf shop located at the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Disheartening closeout for Indigenous owned surf shop

Found at the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction, Wya Point Surf Shop was cruising towards its 10th anniversary

Tyson Touchie, with wife Anita Charleson-Touchie, throws a shaka in the face of having to close his surf shop located at the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction. (Nora O’Malley photo)
An electronic sign at the Tofino-Ucluelet junction notifies travellers that closure windows are in effect. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Province announces changes to Tofino-Ucluelet highway closures

The closures are due to a $38 million Kennedy Hill Safety Improvements Project.

An electronic sign at the Tofino-Ucluelet junction notifies travellers that closure windows are in effect. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce board president Laurie Gehrke, left, and Chamber ED Laurie Filgiano accept a grant of $9,230 from Coastal Community Credit Union’s Marc Salewski and Cindi Levine on Dec. 1. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Virtual marketplace for Ucluelet and Tofino artisans in the works

“It’s like an Etsy for the Coast.”

Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce board president Laurie Gehrke, left, and Chamber ED Laurie Filgiano accept a grant of $9,230 from Coastal Community Credit Union’s Marc Salewski and Cindi Levine on Dec. 1. (Nora O’Malley photo)
A sign at the West Coast junction notifies commuters that closures are ahead. (Westerly file photo)

POLL QUESTION: Would you like to see a change in the Hwy. 4 construction closure schedule?

Would you like to see a change in the Hwy. 4 construction…

  • Dec 10, 2020
A sign at the West Coast junction notifies commuters that closures are ahead. (Westerly file photo)
District of Ucluelet recently received over $760,000 in provincial / federal funds to help with reopening and operating costs, emergency response costs, lost revenues and other COVID-19-related impacts. (Westerly file photo)

COVID-19: Ucluelet receives Safe Restart Grant

“For the times we have closed the UCC, we had no fees coming in for programs and space rentals.

District of Ucluelet recently received over $760,000 in provincial / federal funds to help with reopening and operating costs, emergency response costs, lost revenues and other COVID-19-related impacts. (Westerly file photo)