Latest news with #Ucluelet
National Post
17-06-2025
- General
- National Post
128-year-old shipwreck on Vancouver Island charred by fire
A shipwreck that has been part of Vancouver Island's history for more than a century is a charred skeleton after a fire this month. Article content Photographer Geoff Johnson said he went to look after hearing of the fire at the wreck that has been sitting on Big Beach in Ucluelet for almost 130 years. Article content 'It was really dramatic,' recalled Johnson in an interview, adding that the wooden wreckage seemed to be 'more corpse-like now than it was before.' Article content Article content Ucluelet fire chief Rick Geddes said crews attended the fire in the early morning of June 10, and that the cause of the blaze is being investigated. Article content Article content The shipwreck suffered 'significant damage' from the fire, although it's still very much intact, Geddes said. Article content 'It's not uncommon for us to get called to beach fires that have been abandoned overnight,' said Geddes, 'But it was somewhat uncommon for us to attend and have an issue with actual wreckage of this ship that's been on the beach for 100 plus years.' Article content The history of the vessel, where it sailed from, and how it was stranded, has been lost. Article content An information plaque set up next to the wreck says it's believe the ship was swept ashore by storms in 1896. Article content The plaque says the ship was probably built somewhere on the northwest coast of the Americas in the mid- to late 1800s, based on its Douglas fir timber, wooden pegs and iron 'drift-pin' fastenings. Article content There's no name, no destination and no hint if it was intentionally grounded and disassembled to build houses, or if it was a victim of a storm, Johnson said about the history of the vessel, which is just a block from his home. Article content Article content 'So, that's part of the interesting story, is that anybody you know can make up what they think the story that shipwreck was about, and it makes it a little bit more of a romantic thing to sit there and look at and think about.' Article content Article content Johnson said he's grown to love the beachside artifact and it was 'gut-wrenching' to see in burned. Article content He would use it as a seat to take sunset photos, and sitting there felt like hanging out with a 'friend who had just been in a bad accident,' he said.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
128-year-old shipwreck on Vancouver Island charred by fire
The charred remains of a shipwreck, that has been part of Vancouver Island's history for more than a century, are shown in a June 10, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Geoff Johnson, *MANDATORY CREDIT* A shipwreck that has been part of Vancouver Island's history for more than a century is a charred skeleton after a fire earlier this month. Photographer Geoff Johnson said he went to look after hearing of the fire at the wreck that has been sitting on Big Beach in Ucluelet for almost 130 years. 'It was really dramatic,' recalled Johnson in an interview, adding that the wooden wreckage seemed to be 'more corpse-like now than it was before.' Ucluelet fire Chief Rick Geddes said crews attended the fire in the early morning of June 10 and the cause of the blaze is being investigated. The shipwreck suffered 'significant damage' from the fire, although it's still very much intact, Geddes said. 'It's not uncommon for us to get called to beach fires that have been abandoned overnight,' said Geddes, 'But it was somewhat uncommon for us to attend and have an issue with actual wreckage of this ship that's been on the beach for 100 plus years.' The history of the vessel, where it sailed from, and how it was stranded, has been lost. An information plaque set up next to the wreck says it's believe the ship was swept ashore by storms in 1896. The plaque says the ship was probably built somewhere on the northwest coast of the Americas in the mid- to late 1800s, based on its Douglas fir timber, wooden pegs and iron 'drift-pin' fastenings. There's no name, no destination and no hint if it was intentionally grounded and disassembled to build houses, or if it was a victim of a storm, Johnson said about the history of the vessel, which is just a block from his home. 'So, that's part of the interesting story, is that anybody you know can make up what they think the story that shipwreck was about, and it makes it a little bit more of a romantic thing to sit there and look at and think about.' Johnson said he's grown to love the beachside artifact and it was 'gut-wrenching' to see in burned. He would use it as a seat to take sunset photos and sitting there felt like hanging out with a 'friend who had just been in a bad accident,' he said. The West Coast of Vancouver Island has been called the 'Graveyard of the Pacific' for its long history of storms bringing ships into the rocky shores. In 1906, the SS Valencia en route to Victoria from San Francisco, struck a reef off Vancouver Island, killing 136 people. It is one of the deadliest shipwrecks in B.C.'s history. Anya Zanko, events and development manager with Maritime Museum of BC, said the tragedy spurred public outrage, and led to the construction of a telegraph line and trial along Vancouver Island's coast. The Dominion Lifesaving Trail was taken over by the Pacific Rim Park Reserve in 1973 and was renamed the West Coast Trail, Zanko said. The trial is now a popular hiking destination. Geddes said they want people to enjoy the beauty of the beach, but it's important that people are also responsible and ensure their fires are out before leaving the beach. Johnson said the shipwreck is now more than a reminder of the treacherous storms in the region. 'And the idea that somebody might have started this fire, and it could easily spread a block to my home, is really the lesson.' The fire chief said it's unclear what caused the fire, although they aren't aware of any lightning strikes in the area around that time. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June, 17, 2025. Nono Shen, The Canadian Press
CBC
17-06-2025
- General
- CBC
New signage on Vancouver Island's Wild Pacific Trail honours Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ elders
New interpretive signs in Vancouver Island's Wild Pacific Trail aim to honour two Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ elders who made significant contributions to preserving language in the Ucluelet First Nation. Bob and Vi Mundy were known as active members of the community in Ucluelet, fostering many long-term friendships, said niece Jeneva Touchie. They both passed away last year. Touchie is the manager of language services with the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government, and had a part in making the new interpretive signs along the Ancient Cedars section of the popular trail. "They were really strong culturally, they were longtime residents of Ucluelet and pioneers in guiding the nation in sharing knowledge," Touchie told CBC's On The Island. Bob Mundy was one of the few fluent speakers of Nuučaan̓uɫ left in the community, while Vi helped develop the language's written form. The Mundys and Touchie worked together on road signs in Ucluelet, translating English to Nuučaan̓uɫ. Touchie said a plaque and audio box that features Nuučaan̓uɫ can be found on the trail, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Powered by a hand crank, the audio box plays different messages in the language. "Language is important because we have so few fluent speakers that remain, it's really great to have a town that embraces having language around," Touchie said. "Even though many don't understand, it still allows us to feel that we're at home, in our space." In a statement, Ucluelet Mayor Marilyn McEwen said the signs offer "a meaningful opportunity for both residents and visitors to connect more deeply with the land, its history, and the cultural knowledge that continues to shape it." The Mundy family is happy with the memorial, said Touchie.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
128-year-old mystery shipwreck scorched by fire on Vancouver Island
For at least 128 years, a mysterious shipwreck has sat on the southwest shore of Vancouver Island in Ucluelet, B.C., about 170 kilometres northwest of Victoria. And now officials are investigating another mystery: who or what is responsible for a recent fire that scorched the long-standing attraction? "A lot of people in town are really upset that a piece of our history has been destroyed," said Ucluelet fire chief Rick Geddes, who was out of town when the fire happened. Deputy fire chief Markus McRurie told CHEK News crews responded Tuesday morning at about 5 a.m. — to what was originally reported as a brush fire — when they found the landmark on fire. It took about an hour to put it out, he said. RCMP have said they are not investigating. Wreck part of the 'Graveyard of the Pacific' Ucluelet sits in a part of the Pacific Northwest known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific," a region stretching roughly from the Oregon Coast in the United States northward to the west coast of Vancouver Island. According to Oregon State Parks, approximately 2,000 vessels have sunk in the area since 1792 due to the treacherous terrain and difficult navigational obstacles, though just a handful are still visible. According to an informational plaque at the wreck site, the "Big Beach Mystery Shipwreck" was reported as early as 1896. Though its exact origins are lost to time, the plaque placed by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust and Ucluelet Wild Pacific Trail Society says researchers estimate the ship was built somewhere on the northwest coast of Americas in the mid-to-late 1800s and serves as an important piece of regional history. 'A bit of a punch' For local resident Geoff Johnson, who posts photos and videos of the region under the name "Ukee Tube," the wreck has been a regular feature of his content on social media and seeing it scorched was difficult. "It is sort of a character," he told CBC On the Island host Gregor Craigie. "It's ended up in countless wedding photos and grad photos and things over the years. I even shot a little music video on it." Johnson said the wreck has not been completely destroyed and it was already being overtaken by time and vegetation, but it is clearly scorched from a fire that he suspects was either started directly below or inside of the boat. "It's definitely not as elegant as it once was, that's for sure," he said. "It's a bit of a punch." Geddes said it's not uncommon for people to have bonfires at the beach, which is allowed, but it's important people keep them under control and ensure they are put out once they leave. He's not sure that's what was responsible for the burn at the boat, but said it serves as a good reminder of why it's important to keep campfires under control. Johnson said with the high fire risk across B.C., and people losing their homes, the burned shipwreck may not be as important, but he hopes it makes people think about the risks human-caused fires can pose. "It's grounding me, for sure," he said.
CBC
15-06-2025
- General
- CBC
128-year-old mystery shipwreck scorched by fire on Vancouver Island
For at least 128 years, a mysterious shipwreck has sat on the southwest shore of Vancouver Island in Ucluelet, B.C., about 170 kilometres northwest of Victoria. And now officials are investigating another mystery: who or what is responsible for a recent fire that scorched the long-standing attraction? "A lot of people in town are really upset that a piece of our history has been destroyed," said Ucluelet fire chief Rick Geddes, who was out of town when the fire happened. Deputy fire chief Markus McRurie told CHEK News crews responded Tuesday morning at about 5 a.m. — to what was originally reported as a brush fire — when they found the landmark on fire. It took about an hour to put it out, he said. RCMP have said they are not investigating. Wreck part of the 'Graveyard of the Pacific' Ucluelet sits in a part of the Pacific Northwest known as the " Graveyard of the Pacific," a region stretching roughly from the Oregon Coast in the United States northward to the west coast of Vancouver Island. According to Oregon State Parks, approximately 2,000 vessels have sunk in the area since 1792 due to the treacherous terrain and difficult navigational obstacles, though just a handful are still visible. According to an informational plaque at the wreck site, the "Big Beach Mystery Shipwreck" was reported as early as 1896. Though its exact origins are lost to time, the plaque placed by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust and Ucluelet Wild Pacific Trail Society says researchers estimate the ship was built somewhere on the northwest coast of Americas in the mid-to-late 1800s and serves as an important piece of regional history. 'A bit of a punch' For local resident Geoff Johnson, who posts photos and videos of the region under the name "Ukee Tube," the wreck has been a regular feature of his content on social media and seeing it scorched was difficult. "It is sort of a character," he told CBC On the Island host Gregor Craigie. "It's ended up in countless wedding photos and grad photos and things over the years. I even shot a little music video on it." Johnson said the wreck has not been completely destroyed and it was already being overtaken by time and vegetation, but it is clearly scorched from a fire that he suspects was either started directly below or inside of the boat. "It's definitely not as elegant as it once was, that's for sure," he said. "It's a bit of a punch." Geddes said it's not uncommon for people to have bonfires at the beach, which is allowed, but it's important people keep them under control and ensure they are put out once they leave. He's not sure that's what was responsible for the burn at the boat, but said it serves as a good reminder of why it's important to keep campfires under control. Johnson said with the high fire risk across B.C., and people losing their homes, the burned shipwreck may not be as important, but he hopes it makes people think about the risks human-caused fires can pose. "It's grounding me, for sure," he said.
