Released on = February 7, 2006, 10:37 pm

Press Release Author = Seasmoke PR Inc.

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = UCLUELET - TOFINO, BC--It is a spectacle unlike any other in
the animal kingdom. Each spring the entire population of Pacific Gray Whales migrate
along the West Coast of Vancouver Island.


Press Release Body = An estimated 22,000 Gray Whales make the 16,000 km round-trip
journey between the Mexican Baja Peninsula and the Bering Sea near the Arctic. This
annual migration is the largest known migration of any mammal.

To celebrate the arrival of these 36,000 kilogram (72,000 pound) denizens of the
deep, the coastal villages of Ucluelet and Tofino along with Pacific Rim National
Park Reserve are staging one of the largest whale festivals in North America, March
11-19, 2006.

\"If you love whales, the West Coast of Vancouver Island is the place to be in
March,\" says Abby Fortune, Event Co-Chair for the festival. \"It is truly an
extraordinary natural spectacle and a remarkable two weeks of celebration.\"

Over 75 events are being offered for the 20 th Annual Festival! A few highlights
include: the Parade of Whales in Tofino, the Chowder Chow Down in Ucluelet - a
seafood chowder cook-off competition, A Whale of A Time- Kid\'s Bazaar Day in Tofino,
An educatonal Maritime Kid\'s Day in Ucluelet, Artists in Action - featuring local
West Coast artists, the unveiling of 2 new whale inspired Roy Henry Vickers prints
at Eagle Aerie Gallery in Tofino, First Nations Cultural Workshops, an appetizer and
martini event plus an entertainment line up featuring Uzume Taiko from Vancouver,
and international star Valdy at the Barnacle Bash! The festival wraps up on Sunday
with closing ceremonies at the Tin Wis Resort featuring a traditional bannock and
salmon BBQ and Nuu-Chah-Nulth storytellers.

\"This is a unique combination of three groups working together to highlight and
educate both tourists and locals alike\" says Fortune. \"And above all, it\'s fun!\"

WHALES AHOY!
The Gray Whales, some measuring 45-46 feet (13.7-14 m) travel close to shore in the
spring, pausing to feed in shallow waters, providing excellent viewing opportunities
from strategic shore locations. Both Ucluelet and Tofino provide exceptional viewing
areas, including a site set up with high quality spotting scopes for optimum viewing
including one at Amphitrite Point Lighthouse. Hiking along the new Wild Pacific
Trail offers unparalleled views of the whales as they go by. The Wild Pacific Trail
skirts the jagged, black volcanic coastline, opening up a once-impenetrable marine
forest to people of all ages, and only minutes from the roadside.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
For an even more exhilarating, close-up view of these gentle animals, one can
venture out onto the open Pacific aboard local charter boats or float planes
offering scheduled whale watching excursions from either Tofino or Ucluelet.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
If one cannot take in the March festival, visitors to the Ucluelet-Tofino area are
afforded the opportunity to view the numerous resident Gray Whales that reside on
western Vancouver Island through the months of February to October.



Web Site = http://www.pacificrimwhalefestival.com/

Contact Details = IF YOU GO:
Location: Ucluelet and Tofino are approximately a four and a half hour drive from
Victoria, BC and a 45-minute flight from either Vancouver or Seattle to the Long
Beach Airport, which serves both Ucluelet and Tofino.
Pacific Rim Whale Festival Head Quarters at 250-726-7798 or e-mail:
info@pacificrimwhalefestival.com
www.pacificrimwhalefestival.com
Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce: www.uclueletinfo.com
Tofino Chamber of Commerce: www.tourismtofino.com