Infrastructure in Remote Communities

IslandLinkBus has cancelled their service from Tofino and Ucluelet to Port Alberni.

In a rather confusing string of emails, Islandlink says passengers riding between Tofino and Ucluelet must first go to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay Terminal, even though the bus stops in Port Alberni in front of the Casino en route to Nanaimo.

A one-way ticket from Ucluelet Junction (the pick-up spot is Ukee Poke) to Departure Bay is $75. The cost for a bus ticket from Tofino to Departure Bay is $85. It’s $45 for a ticket from Departure Bay to Port Alberni.

Last year’s provincial funding for Indigenous food security has benefited several Nuu-chah-nulth nations and individuals, allowing them to build on projects and businesses that support local communities. 

In a May 24, 2025 statement, MLA Josie Osborne said the funding, which comes from the province’s New Relationship Trust, helps to strengthen Indigenous food security in the Mid Island – Pacific Rim.

Representatives from a Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation were able to lend a helping hand to their neighbours who dealt with a recent crisis.

Officials from the remote British Columbia community of Bamfield discovered they had a leak within their water distribution system back on the evening of May 23. The leak was fixed about 36 hours later.

But a boil water advisory remained in effect until June 2. That would be 11 days after the issue first arose. 

A release from the Bamfield Water System on June 2 confirmed the water from taps was once again safe to use.

Thanks to $400,000 in provincial funding the Uchucklesaht Tribe is able to move forward on several climate-related projects.

The British Columbia government is providing the funds to the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation via its Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program. This funding will in part help create projects that will assist communities with their ability to mitigate climate-caused disasters.

Earlier this month government officials announced they would spend a total of about $41 million to fund 61 projects throughout the province.

Dog bites, animal overpopulation, disease – these are the ongoing problems remote First Nations continue to face when it comes to animal welfare and community safety. 

James Rodgers is executive director of the CARE (Coastal Animal Rescue and Education) Network, based in Tofino. He says any community would face these problems if they don’t have access to pet services found in larger cities.

Officials from Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation have some grandiose plans.

And thanks to some substantial funding from the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund, they are a step closer to one of their goals.

It was announced on March 21 that the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation was one of 12 in British Columbia that will receive provincial funding to help support clean-energy initiatives.

More holes have opened on the road to Nitinaht, renewing calls for adequate maintenance of the route as access in and out of the remote community is temporarily severed.

The village of Tahsis recently announced the construction of a new public marina as part of the Tahsis Marine Gateway project in partnership with the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET). 

“There’s so many reasons to have this dock," said Mayor Martin Davis, “it’s going to be really good for the community, the people, and for tourism, too.” 

Recent investments in the Barkley Sound village of Ethlateese are putting the remote community on track to cut down its reliance on diesel fuel by 90 per cent, according to the province.

Josie Osborne, B.C.’s newly appointed minister of Health, was in Port Alberni Dec. 19 to make an announcement about the newly expanded Travel Assistance Program (TAP), which helps residents in remote communities travelling for non-emergency medical specialist appointments.

Changes to improve the TAP include free ferry service for residents of rural, remote and First Nations communities travelling for non-emergency appointments.