June 2018

144 145 PORT ALBERNI, BRITISH COLUMBIA BRITISH COLUMBIA SOLUTIONS FOR GROWTH M ajestically located on a deepwater ocean inlet in the south-central heart of Van- couver Island, Port Alberni is a friendly and affordable lumber and fishing town with a bright future as an outdoor adventure loca- tion. It is the largest city and commercial hub of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, with a current population just over 18,000. The total regional popu- lation is more than 31,000. Mayor Mike Ruttan is a hometown Port Alberni boy, intent on forging creative solutions for growth, sustainability, and development of this active, re- source-based community. “I grew up and went to school here, went off to University bent on making my fortune somewhere else, and swore never to return,” Ruttan recalls. “Eighteen years later, I came back with my wife and four kids. I certainly never thought I’d go into education and be principal of the very high school I graduated from and have the plea- sure of being involved in designing and establishing a replacement for that school. I’ve been Mayor since Dec. 1, 2014 and that’s my one and only shot at municipal politics to this point. It’s long days, but I love it.” The city is ambitiously working on six sectors of the economy, simultaneously: aerospace, education, AT A GLANCE PORT ALBERNI, BRITISH COLUMBIA WHAT: A city of 18,000 WHERE: South central Vancouver Island, B.C. WEBSITE: www.portalberni.ca