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Port Alberni is a city located in the province of British Columbia in Canada. It is the seat of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. The city has a total population of 19,531.
Port Alberni lies within the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet, on Vancouver Island. The other end of the inlet is located on Barkley Sound, Clayoquot Sound. Port Alberni has been dubbed the "Salmon Capital of the World", a distinction also claimed by nearby Campbell River.
Port Alberni is sister-city to Abashiri in northern Japan.
History
Port Alberni was named for Captain Don Pedro de Alberni, a Spanish officer, who commanded the fort at Nootka on Vancouver Island's west coast from 1790 to 1792.
The first European settlers in the area were with the Anderson Company (a sawmilling company) from London, England in 1860. The original mill failed but several others were established in the 1880s. Port Alberni was incorporated in 1912. Port Alberni's main industries were once mining and logging, but today the town is also reinventing itself as a major tourist destination for those who enjoy outdoor recreation.
In 1964, Port Alberni was hit by two tsunamis during the Good Friday Earthquake. About 375 homes were damaged and 55 were washed away.
In 1967 the twin cities of Alberni (to the north) and Port Alberni (to the south) amalgamated to form the town of Port Alberni.
Geography
Located at the head of the Alberni Inlet, Port Alberni lies adjacent to this natural harbour as well as the Somass River. Sproat Lake is located 10km West of the city, and the valley is guarded by the snow covered peaks of Mount Arrowsmith and Mount Klitsa.
The city itself owes its unique layout to its former "twin city" status, as well as the numerous creeks and ravines which bisect the townsite. The former city of Alberni is now dubbed "North Port", and is centered at Highway 4 and Gertrude Street. Visitors continuing onward to the West Coast will pass this intersection, marked by the historic Alberni Post Office on the Southeast corner. Much of Port Alberni's recent development has occurred in the North Port area, especially "up the hill", east of the North Port downtown.
The former City of Port Alberni (now referred to as "South Port" or "Uptown") can be found about 3km South on Gertrude Street/3rd Avenue. This business district has struggled over the past decade as it is quite removed from the highway. However, rejeuvenation efforts are being made to attract people to this historic neighborhood. In 2004, the Capitol Theatre, a local landmark in South Port, underwent extensive renovations and emerged as a stately yet modern relic of past times. This theatre now often hosts live performances. South Port is anchored by the Harbour Quay, a waterfront collection of shops and parks. The Port Alberni Railway station, as well as the Maritime Discovery Center can be found here.
The city's West End is an eclectic mix of new suburban style homes, large acreages, and two First Nations Reserves. Much of the residential growth over the past decade has occurred in the city's West End, where the Westporte neighborhood has taken shape.
The creeks and ravines which cut through the city create natural barriers; Kitsuksis Creek, Cherry Creek, Roger Creek and Dry Creek each flow through the city, separating Port Alberni into several distinct areas.
Demographics
The total population of Port Alberni and surrounding suburbs consisting of both Cherry and Beaver Creek districts is 26,569 (as of the 2004 census conducted by Statistics Canada.)
Economy
The chief source of employment in Port Alberni is the forest industry. A large paper mill sits on the edge of the Alberni Inlet. There is also a lumber mill, Alberni Pacific Division, that also sits on the inlet. Several smaller sawmills exist throughout the valley. Some farming is also practiced on the Alberni Valley's red clay soils.
Port Alberni also serves as a hub for those travelling to the West Coast of Vancouver Island, including Ucluelet, Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park. As commodities tend to be much pricier in these remote areas, campers and travellers often do their shopping in Port Alberni before continuing their journey. This has resulted in rampant development along the Johnston Road (Highway 4) corridor, including several new big box retailers, grocery stores and strip mall developments. In the past five years, several eco-tourism companies have set up shop in the Alberni Valley, taking advantage of the city's location on the fringe of wilderness yet proximate location to Vancouver and Victoria.
Attractions
Port Alberni is lauded for its natural beauty, sitting beneath Mount Arrowsmith and almost completely surrounded by mountains. It is a 1.5 hour drive from Pacific Rim National Park. The city is also known for its fishing. Its waters contain five different species of salmon and yearly runs of steelhead. Halibut can also be found in the salt water inlets near the city.
Port Alberni is home to the McLean Saw Mill, a national historical site incorporating a steam railway from the downtown harbour to the saw mill up the valley. *. The world's largest airborne firefighting equipment, the Martin Mars water bombers, make their home on nearby Sproat Lake, also a popular summer destination for local residents and cottagers from surrounding areas.
Port Alberni is home to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, a Junior A hockey team in the BCHL.
Port Alberni has some of the best hiking on Vancouver Island. There are over 100 trails in and around the Alberni Valley, including mountain bike trails for all abilities. There is easy quick access to the alpine areas, including Mount Arrowsmith.
Famous Persons
The first and only female Prime Minister of Canada, Kim Campbell, was born in Port Alberni.
Wheelchair athlete and humanitarian Rick Hansen was born in Port Alberni.
Paul Cyr was born in Port Alberni and was drafted into the NHL by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round (9th overall) in 1982.
"Port Alberni, British Columbia"