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Port Alberni Port Authority opens doors to public

Have you ever been curious about the ships that come in and out of the Alberni Harbour? This Saturday, May 28, is your chance to find out.
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Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society president Kenn Whiteman

Have you ever been curious about the ships that come in and out of the Alberni Harbour? Or what goes on in all of the Port Alberni Port Authority’s buildings? Or who the people doing Zumba on Centennial Pier or kiteboarding around the Inlet are?

You’re in luck—the Port Alberni Port Authority is hosting a Port Day celebration from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 28 and they’re opening their doors to the curious.

“Port Day is an opportunity for the residents of Port Alberni to gather down at the harbour and take a look at the many amenities and opportunities to be involved in recreation at the water,” said Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society president Kenn Whiteman.

The port authority’s director of public relations and business development Dave McCormick agreed.

“It’s an effort to have something that appeals to everybody in the community, to come down to see the dynamic mixes that we have here currently and that we’ve had for a long time,” said McCormick, citing industry, commercial fishing, leisure and recreation activities that go on daily at the harbour.

Port Days will feature both PAPA operations and demonstrations from various waterfront user groups.

“We’ll have activities ranging from Zumba classes on Centennial Pier, tours of Canadian Alberni Engineering’s operations, and Cantimber Biotech will also be offering tours,” said McCormick.

Port Day will also feature the unveiling of the port authority’s new Somass boardwalk./p>

“We’re trying to have some activities on the [boardwalk] itself,” he said, adding that those could include a motorcycle show’n’shine.

“We’ll have the Harbour Chieftain available for tours of the harbour because not everyone has access from the water,” McCormick said.

Port Day activities will stretch from Centennial Pier to the port authority office on Harbour Road and on to Canal Beach. The Industrial Heritage Society will have speeders ready to whisk people from place to place as far as the PAPA office.

At Canal Beach, attendees will have the opportunity to try standup paddleboarding courtesy of Three Dogs Snack’n’Surf and traditional First Nations canoeing.

Port Day runs from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 28 all along Port Alberni’s waterfront.

From 12-2 p.m. on May 28, admission to the new West Coast Aquatic aquarium will be half-price.

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