() 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 is located at 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 is
Sister-city to
Abashiri in northern
Japan .
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.
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 .)
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. Some farming is also practiced on the Alberni Valley's red clay soils.
Port Alberni is located near
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.
{Link without Title} . The world's largest
Airborne Firefighting Equipment , the
Martin Mars water bombers, make their home on nearby
Sproat Lake .
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. There is easy quick access to the alpine areas.
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.
