'The word's out': Frequent whale sightings bring tourists to small Vancouver Island village
The tide may be changing on the reputation of a north Vancouver Island waterfront community.
Port Alice, B.C., was once known for its cellulose mill, but years after its closure sightings of one of the largest whale species on earth is becoming the talk of the town.
"Well I think they're a huge deal, it's just magic to see them coming through," said Port Alice resident Jacqueline Mackenzie.
Mackenzie is talking about a small number of humpback whales that live in the waters of the North Island village for a large part of the year.
"There's usually about the same five or six whales," said resident Natalie Stewart.
"It seems like we've got a lot because we're a bit of a captive audience here. Most people in town have a pretty good viewpoint so when they are here in the area they do get reported," she said.
The whales spend their time in the village's sheltered inlet and are highly visible right from the shoreline.
"The whole community gets excited," said Mackenzie. "You see people coming down to the marina, coming down along the sea walk and just checking it out – it's great."
Humpback whales are being seen in larger numbers throughout Vancouver Island waters, and began re-appearing in Port Alice back in 2019.
"It's not that there have been more humpbacks generally in Port Alice but that they have the same neighbours returning to feed there specifically, because that's how humpbacks work," said Jackie Hildering with the Marine Education Research Society.
Local photographers have been capturing plenty of images and relaying sightings to the Canadian Pacific Humpback Collaboration, which tracks the whales.
"Like any good fisherman or fisherwoman, you go back pretty specifically at the time, in the place, using a specific strategy," Hildering said of the whales.
The frequent appearances of the humpbacks is drawing locals as well as visitors to the area.
"It has actually brought tourists up here," said resident Marnie Chase. "The word's getting out."
"We’re getting a lot of European people here and we just have to figure out some accommodations for them other than the B&Bs, they fill up quick," he said.
Something of a 'humpback comeback' is forming in British Columbia, with a record-number of unique humpback whales sighted in B.C. last year.
The increase in humpback whales is leading to some issues, however, like a suspected increase in crashes between vessels and whales, and a rise in entanglements.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.