When classes resumed in Ucluelet for the first time in six months last week students had to adjust not only to rigorous new health and safety rules but to a campus transforming under their feet.

Long awaited seismic upgrades and renovations to Ucluelet secondary and adjoining Ucluelet elementary had not begun when COVID-19 forced the abrupt shutdown of school operations across the country in March. Demolition and construction work started in May, subject to strict pandemic work practices, progressing toward a spring 2022 completion.

As schools across the province of B.C. prepared to welcome students back for the new school year, administration staff scrambled to normalize their new social reality.

In the wake of COVID-19, schools in B.C. are required to divide their students into learning groups of 60 people, including staff. Children will be segregated from their friends, unable to interact with students from another cohort.

But in the small, coastal town of Kyuquot, this year will largely resemble years past.    

During each of Elizabeth Jack’s pregnancies, her husband talked to his unborn daughters from inside her womb.

Whether the couple was out hunting or fishing, Matthew would speak to his wife’s stomach as if it could talk back.

It wasn’t anything poetic. He approached those conversations practically, explaining where they were, what they were fishing for and which lure he was using.

Now, when you ask his eldest daughter, Norah, how long she has been hunting for, the 11-year-old proudly replies, “ever since I was in my mom’s belly.”

After countless motor vehicle accidents and many lives lost, the 90 kilometre logging road that leads to Bamfield will finally be paved.

The announcement came Sept. 11, 2020 in a teleconference with Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Huu-ay-aht Tyee Ha’wilth Derek Peters and Huu-ay-aht Elected Chief Robert Dennis Sr.

Fraser stated in his comments that that the announcement comes after years of pressure from the people of Huu-ay-aht, Bamfield and other interest groups who came together to move the project forward.