Port Alberni

The city of Port Alberni is situated within the Alberni Valley, that sits at the head of the Alberni Inlet on Vancouver Island. This inlet is the largest inlet on the Island. Sadly, the salmon population has lessened considerably during the past couple of years. The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District runs it's headquarters from the city. The total population of the city of Port Alberni is estimated to be 17,743.

Currently, the forest business is the most vital source of employment in the city of Port Alberni. Within the rich forests which surround the city produce Hemlocks, Douglas Fir, Yellow Cedars, and Western Red Cedars. The majority of the existing logging comes from second growth forests because the majority of the old growth forests have already been logged. On the edge of the Alberni Inlet is Catalyst Paper, a prospering paper mill, and the Alberni Pacific Division, a lumber mill. A few other small sawmills are scattered throughout the valley. Alberni Valley likewise has red clay soils which are ideal for farming.

More recently, the forest trade has refused to sell the trees to local mills causing a considerable downturn of the forestry sector. A major recession in the city of Port Alberni has happened, causing city officials to attempt to shift the economy more towards future tourism. Due to the recession the population has started to decrease.

People traveling to the West Coast of Vancouver normally stop in Port Alberni. In locations like for instance Ucluelet, Tofino, and Pacific Rim National Park the average price of commodities skyrockets. Campers and travelers normally stop in the city of Port Alberni so as to shop before continuing on to their final destination. Some huge retailers, grocery stores, and strip malls have developed along the Johnston Road corridor in order to take full advantage of the increased traffic. Due to its ideal location on the fringe of wilderness but within proximity to Vancouver and Victoria, several eco-tourism businesses have chosen to establish their shops in the Alberni Valley.

Over the last two years Port Alberni's Sockeye salmon returns have topped more than 1.4 million. Great Central and Sproat are the two major spawning pools and, between the two of them, saw over 800,000 Sockeye return. Anglers can enjoy great salmon fishing, such as Chinook and Coho, starting from early June through the month of September in the saltchuck. The lake and river systems provide year round fishing. It is thought that the improved high seas conditions are the cause of the record returns. This can likewise be partly due to removal of the last pulp mill 20 years ago. Two new hatchery's, the Coho hatchery located in the McLean Hill National Historic Site and the Robertson Creek Hatchery, have recently been established by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and a team of salmon enhancement volunteers. During 2010, the city of Port Alberni was chosen as the "Ultimate Fishing Town" by the World Fishing Network.