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Ucluelet showcases its logging heritage at Ukee Days 2011
This long-running annual festival presents a lot more than just fun. Ukee Days is also a window into Ucluelet’s logging heritage, both past and present. The rich natural resources of the west coast: furs, fish and timber were what drew Europeans to this coast.
In the Ucluelet, one of those very first European settlements was the Sutton brothers’ sawmill, established in 1861—you can still see the site of that original mill across the harbour from the Ucluelet docks.
Logging and fishing were the two industries that drove this remote outpost into the town that it is today.
Although logging is no longer the mainstay of Ucluelet’s economy, many of Ukee’s logging families still live in town and some of them still work in the industry.
Competitions in “logging sports” are one way that workers keep their skills and strength up. The annual Ukee Days Festival is a chance to see these loggers in action - and witness first-hand the incredible strength and agility they show, whether bucking wood or sawing logs or throwing hammers.
Ukee Days 2011 takes place this coming weekend, Friday July 22 to Sunday July 24, The Men’s and Women’s Logging Sports competition takes place on the Saturday afternoon, with the kids competition the following day.
Aside from the sporting competition, the Ukee Days weekend offers a whole lot more: from live local music, a boat cruise, salmon and oyster barbecue, fairground and petting zoo, children’s theatre, and a beer garden.
Check out the full event schedule at http://ukeedays.wordpress.com/, for your chance to be a part of genuine timber-town culture.
- Photos & text by Jacqueline Windh©
