Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

The Westerly News is a subscription-based weekly newspaper that focuses on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. It caters to the local areas of Tofino, Long Beach, and Ucluelet.

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BC Ferries adding over 1,000 round trips for busy summer season

1 day ago | westerlynews.ca | Harry Corro

With the Victoria Day long weekend just around the corner, BC Ferries says they are “summer ready.” The company anticipates carrying over 9 million passengers and nearly 4 million vehicles over the summer season, building upon last year's record-breaking numbers between May 15 and Sept. 2, 2024. “We’re operating in a more complex environment – aging ships, increased demand, and busy terminals all put pressure on the system,” said Stephen Jones, vice-president of engineering.
Young grey whale washes ashore on Long Beach near Tofino

1 week ago | westerlynews.ca | Andrew Bailey

The West Coast’s ocean has carried a tragic but fascinating site to Long Beach near Tofino. The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is urging visitors to keep their distance from a grey whale that washed up on the popular beach on May 7. The carcass had been spotted floating offshore the day prior and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Parks Canada are working together to sort out what steps to take now that the animal has been beached.
Highly invasive, toxic plant spreading its roots through B.C. neighbourhoods

1 week ago | westerlynews.ca | Olivier Laurin

Four years ago, Saanich resident Terry Smollett picked up a copy of the Saanich News and sat down to read. Turning through the pages, he made a perplexing discovery when he came across a photo of a plant all too familiar – one that was sprawling across his own backyard. The article revealed that the lush broad-leafed plant, producing bright orange-red, berry-laden cobs, was actually a non-native weed considered to be both toxic and “highly” invasive.
Legacy of workplace safety flaws carried by new generation of Island workers

1 week ago | westerlynews.ca | Susie Peterson Quinn

Dozens of workers gathered at the Steelworkers Hall in Port Alberni on April 28 to pay tribute to those killed or injured on the job. National Day of Mourning ceremonies took place across Canada to honour fallen workers. In Port Alberni, speaker after speaker talked about the need for safety, advocacy and safer work conditions. "Six of the 146 who died last year were young workers.
Mussel-sniffing dogs trained to detect invasive species at B.C. lakes

1 week ago | westerlynews.ca | Jenna Hauck

A German shepherd named Major excitedly walks around the outside of a boat at Cultus Lake, as handler Sgt. Denny Chrétien points at various spots along the way. Soon Major stops and sits and receives an enthusiastic "good boy!" from Chrétien. The canine successfully found an invasive species of freshwater mussel that was hidden on the boat.
School's out for Port Alberni students after small fire at high school

1 week ago | westerlynews.ca | Susie Peterson Quinn

High school students in Port Alberni have an unexpected day off after an early-morning fire set off the sprinklers in the automotive department. Fire departments from Port Alberni, Cherry Creek, Beaver Creek and Sproat Lake responded to a 911 call just before 7 a.m. that there was a fire at the school, Deputy Fire Chief Travis Cross said. "Our duty crew met with staff on site, who directed them to where the smoke was coming from.
Ucluelet writers turn scripts into successful dinner theatre

2 weeks ago | westerlynews.ca | Susie Peterson Quinn

Two women from Ucluelet have turned a mutual passion for musical theatre into a successful dinner theatre series. Courtney Johnson and Jaqueline Holliday met several years ago when Johnson taught Holliday's son in a musical theatre class. "We became friends. Both of us love performing," said Johnson. They used to perform together at a local pub, but have since created a successful dinner theatre at the Ucluelet Community Centre. "We really wanted to do something different.
CANADA VOTES: It's election day in the Courtenay-Alberni riding

2 weeks ago | westerlynews.ca | Susie Peterson Quinn

A new federal government is expected to be named Monday night (April 28, 2025), as Canada’s 2025 snap election gets underway. The main parties vying for the 343 seats in the House of Commons are Mark Carney’s Liberals, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, Jagmeet Singh’s New Democrats, Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault’s Greens, Yves-François Blanchet’s Bloc Quebecois and Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada. Polls are open in British Columbia from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. PST.
Tofino's Box Parade is back for 20th anniversary

3 weeks ago | westerlynews.ca | Susie Peterson Quinn

It all began with a birthday. Twenty years ago someone asked Jules McCue what she wanted for her birthday, which falls on April 28. "Jules said I want people to dress up in cardboard boxes," said Tia Traviss, who helped organize the upcoming 2025 event. Jules's husband, Chris McCue, answered the initial call: that first year they had between seven and 10 people show up in cardboard costumes. Over the years the Box Parade has grown, he said, with a record high 235 people turning out one year.
Easter was egg-cellent at Big Beach in Ucluelet

3 weeks ago | westerlynews.ca | Andrew Bailey

Home Community Sunny morning and a promise of Easter surprises drew dozens of families to the event Ucluelet’s Big Beach was filled with cheers, excitement and delightful chaos on Sunday, April 20, 2025 as the community celebrated Easter with a massive hunt for treats and prizes. The Easter Bunny put meticulous and maximum effort into hiding treasures throughout the sand with help from event host Black Rock Oceanfront Resort. See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip?