It is interesting how seemingly unrelated events cross paths and whammo, a story begins. This is such a story.
A recent newspaper article heralded the news that the tiny town of Ucluelet, a small spot on the west coast of British Columbia's Vancouver Island has been nominated for a liveability award. This small community of about 20,000 souls has been nominated as one of the world's best places to live. A second Canadian town, the equally small St. Walburg in Saskatchewan, also was named as a mighty fine place to reside among eight finalists in the International Award for Liveable Communities competition.
The award is given on the basis of a number of factors: the town's quality of life as created by its environmental practices, its preservation of heritage, its community sustainability and its ability to plan for the future.
Ucluelet, which takes its name from the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations phrase, "Yu-clutl-ants" -meaning the people with a good place for fishermen, is on the list of eight. For years, Ucluelet was sustained by its fishing and forestry operations. Both were the staples that bound the community together; however, as fishing and logging dropped off, tourism has taken over as number one. Interestingly, salmon fishing is among the several attractions that abound in and around Ucluelet. Others are: hiking, cycling, surfing, kayaking, float-plane tours, whale watching, storm watching and eco-touring.
St. Walburg qualified because of its recreational facilities and its sound environmental planning practices.
Toward the end of the November 9-13 period, winners will be announced in Hangzhou, China. Each nominee at the ceremonies will have an opportunity to make a presentation.
That is the story as it appears in a big city daily. Now my story as it happened to my wife in early April 2006.
We had been to Ucluelet several times and in early April decided - somewhat on the spur of the moment - to motor to that somewhat remote town to visit a friend whom we had not seen for more than 20 years. We arrived and soon [remember, it is a small town] learned that our friend had sold his hostelry and moved away. With time on our hands, we decided to look around. The town's 'complexion' had changed since our last visit in the 1980s. In April, Ucluelet looked more alive than it had 25 years ago; the place had more colour and seemed to welcome visitors more and better than it had previously.
My wife and I decided to visit a bakery/deli and sup a cup. As we approached the facility, my wife tripped and fell heavily into a large, ceramic planter. She sustained injuries that required the immediate attention of a doctor and, subsequently, x-rays.
I inquired as to the owner of the small mall that housed the bakery/deli and was informed that ownership rested with the owner of the next door pizza shop.
I approached the pizza shop proprietor, advised him that my wife had fallen and suggested that he correct the problem that led to my wife's fall. His callous attitude did not impress me in the least. I suggested that at least he ought to paint the curb where my wife had tripped white or yellow to make it stand out. He was not responsive to my suggestion.
In the meantime, my wife was seen by a physician. When my wife walked into the clinic, two of the clinic's staff looked at her, saw her damaged face and said, almost in unison, that they knew where she had fallen. They advised my wife that two others had tripped over the same spot; a man broke a leg while a woman smashed her face rather badly. My wife knew immediately, that the 'tripping spot' ought to be corrected and that the mall proprietor ought to do so forthwith.
An interesting sidebar to this is that the only x-ray operation in the area was 20 miles away at the Tofino Hospital. Had the folks at the International Liveabilty competition known that, they might not have put Ucluelet on their finalists list.
The upshot of this is that Ucluelet is on the international list but not on our list.
Would I recommend Ucluelet as a spot to visit? Possibly, but not before the city - mayor and chamber of commerce - take a firm stand with the owner of the strip mall. His callous attitude did not impress us.
Bob Orrick is a retired private tutor of English grammar, literature, poetry and Canadian history to off-shore youngsters. His pupils hail from such places as Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Venezuela. He was previously in international marketing, was a ministerial assistant to a provincial cabinet minister, spent a few years as a reporter then editor of a community newspaper and enjoyed a career in the Royal Canadian Navy.
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