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BC
AIRPORTS Abbotsford |
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Port
Alberni, the Valley and Pacific Rim National
Park Alberni
Valley Airport was literally hacked out of the
forest, thanks to a creative blend of financial
savvy, research and community spirit. The airport
complex is situated midway between Sproat and Great
Central Lakes and because of low surrounding hills
and prevailing winds, it is less affected by low
cloud and ground fog that other area sites. At the
blueprint stage is a seaplane base featuring a
man-made trench running parallel to the
airport. Opportunity
Knocks for Packaged Tours Scuba
diving is a big draw with phenomenal reefs, drawing
a lot of diving enthusiasts from overseas. Two
fishing lodges were sold recently, one to German
interests who are focusing entirely on the
Adventure market. Adventure Tourism is the way of
the future, rivaling traditional fishing-based
vacations. What
were Port Alberni's previous connections to the
outside? You could charter a seaplane to Vancouver
at no small cost, take a 90 -minute drive to the
nearest airport at Cassidy; or drive to Nanaimo and
spend close to 2 hours aboard a BC Ferry to
Horseshoe Bay. What is now a scenic half hour
flight to or from Vancouver was once a 3 I/2 hour
journey. It took a good piece of the day just to
get here and back, leaving little time to do
business or enjoy our area's
attractions. The
area has a strong business base, which according to
Bill Ellwyn, is beginning to diversify. "One thing
we do very well here is grow trees:, says Ellwyn.
"Since forestry is a huge part of our economy,
we're focusing on value-added business, more
finished products manufactured locally." Outside
investment has been attracted thanks to good
property values and the lifestyle benefits of a
smaller community. The retirement market has
spurred the housing industry, commercial fishing
and our large retail sector are key contributors;
but tourism is a top priority. Mid
Island Paradise: From Port Alberni the highway
winds west to Pacific Rim National Park with its 3
distinctive facets: the white sands of Long Beach,
Barkley Sound's Broken Islands Group, and the West
Coast Trail. Known as 'graveyard of the Pacific'
this stretch of coast has claimed 50 vessels in the
last century. Visitors,
be they whale watches, bathers at Hot Spring Cove,
ocean kayakers, divers, trail hikers, surfers who
brave the roaring waves- each group feels they've
discovered a personal best kept secret. Other area
attractions include the M.V. Lady Rose, Della
Falls, Robertson Creek Fish Hatchery, Mount
Arrowsmith and the Alberni by road, visit Macmillan
Provincial Park, Cathedral Grove, Cameron Lake and
Little Quallicum Falls, joining the north-south
highway near Parksville. Coming events include Port
Alberni's Salmon Festival and Derby in August and
the fall fair-Logger Sports in SEPTEMBER.
This
area has a great deal to offer. For more details
contact: Alberni-Clayoquot Economic Development
Commission, 47757 Tebo Ave., Port Alberni, BC V9Y
8A 9. (604) 723-2188 Fax (604)723-1688. |
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Like
a giant arm reaching over halfway into Vancouver
Island, Alberni Inlet is the channel from where BC
forest products reach the open sea, bound for
destinations near and far. Perched at the inlet's
base is Port Alberni (pop. 28,000), linked to North
American and world centres thanks to the Alberni
Valley Airport." Our first scheduled air service
has been a long time coming", says Bill Ellwyn,
Director of the Alberni-Clayoquot Economic
Development Commission. "People who haven't been
able to reach us in the past will be able to buy to
buy a ticket in Frankfurt, Tokyo or wherever, right
through to Port Alberni. That's going to have a
positive effect."
With
Open Skies the timing couldn't be better for
Alberni-Clayoquot, a tourism centre embracing
Barkley, Bedwell and Clayoquot Sounds, the Broken
Islands Group, Long Beach and the famous West Coast
Trail. Its quaint villages of Uclulet, Bamfield and
Tofino are compared to California's Monterey
Peninsula in earlier days when life was kinder,
gentler and slower-pacer. Local restaurants serve a
bountiful array of fresh and saltwater fish, crabs,
mussels, oysters and shrimp.