As the site of the main ferry terminal, Nanaimo is the gateway to many other destinations both on the island — Tofino, Comox Valley, Parksville, Campbell River, Port Alberni, Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park — and off its coast — Newcastle Island, Protection Island, Gabriola Island, Valdes Island, and many other of the Gulf Islands.

Port Alberni is a deep port city which lies within the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet, Vancouver Island's longest inlet.

Adam Horne found this trail leading to the Alberni Valley and it became known as the Horne Lake Trail.

Many other settlers used this trail to get to the Alberni Valley.

Rogers, the discoverer of Rogers Pass, when he surveyed in the Alberni Valley for the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 19th century.

The Alberni Valley has a museum and many ancillary attractions.

From 2003 to 2008, several eco-tourism companies have set up shop in the Alberni Valley, taking advantage of the city's location on the fringe of wilderness yet proximate location to Vancouver and Victoria.

An energetic team of salmon enhancement volunteers and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have been improving salmon habitat throughout the Alberni Valley, adding a Coho hatchery at the McLean Mill National Historic Site, in addition to the highly successful Robertson Creek Hatchery on the Stamp River.

There are over 100 trails in and around the Alberni Valley, including mountain bike trails for all abilities.

Coulson Aircrane, Canadian Aero Technologies, Alberni Valley Flying Club and Vancouver Island Helicopters.

* Alberni Valley News

* Alberni Valley Times

* Alberni Valley Tourism

* Alberni Valley Heritage Network

Category: Alberni Valley

* Beaver Creek, British Columbia, an unincorporated community in the Alberni Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Category: Alberni Valley

Other notable cities and towns on Vancouver Island include Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Parksville, Courtenay, and Campbell River.

Sky Lee ( born September 15, 1952 in Port Alberni, British Columbia ) is a Canadian artist and novelist.

Category: People from Port Alberni

* Catalyst Port Alberni ( Port Alberni, Canada ) ( demerged )

It is common in southwestern cities such as Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Alberni, Vancouver and Victoria.

Port Alberni is a city located in the province of British Columbia in Canada.

Port Alberni is the sister-city to Abashiri in northern Japan.

Port Alberni was named for Captain Pere d ' Alberní, a Spanish officer, who commanded Fort San Miguel at Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island's west coast from 1790 to 1792.

Many place names in Port Alberni have a Nuu-chah-nulth origin, such as Somass ( washing ), Kitsuksis ( log across mouth of creek ), Pacheena ( foamy ), and Nootka ( go around ).

Frances Barkley is also the name of one of the two vessels that makes trips down the Alberni Inlet from Port Alberni to Bamfield and Ucluelet.

Anderson Sawmill Port Alberni, B. C.

Rogers Creek, which flows through the centre of Port Alberni, was named after A. B.

In 1912, Port Alberni was incorporated with the arrival of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway, and planned arrival of the Canadian National Railway, and the trans-Pacific telegraph cable at Bamfield.

Mining took place on the Alberni Inlet and, as with many fish camps and outports, depended on Port Alberni as a base.

Port Alberni was once an industrial resource-dependent town, with logging and mining being the main economic drivers.

Port Alberni is in the process of " re-developing " itself as a tourism destination.

The Alberni Quartet is a string quartet, whose members have included:

In the Canadian House of Commons, Nanaimo is represented by the ridings of Nanaimo — Cowichan ( Jean Crowder, New Democratic Party ) and Nanaimo — Alberni ( James Lunney, Conservative ).

Sproat Lake, located just outside of Port Alberni is the present home of Martin Mars water bombers.

The former city of Alberni is now dubbed " North Port ", and is centered at Highway 4 and Gertrude Street.

The total population of Port Alberni and surrounding suburbs consisting of both Cherry and Beaver Creek districts is 26, 569 ( as of the 2004 census conducted by Statistics Canada ).

The median household income in 2005 for Port Alberni was $ 43, 624, which is below the British Columbia provincial average of $ 52, 709.

One major characteristic known is the twin city demographic, where previously there were the distinct Port Alberni and Alberni municipalities, the remnants remain with two distinct city centres.

Public education is offered by School District 70 Alberni, which operates 11 schools in Port Alberni.

The chief source of employment in Port Alberni is the forest industry.

There is also a lumber mill, Alberni Pacific Division, that also sits on the inlet.

Some farming is also practised on the Alberni Valley's red clay soils.