Port McNeill, British Columbia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Port McNeill
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settlement_type = Town
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mapsize = 220px
map_caption = Location of Port McNeill in British Columbia


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = BC
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = Vancouver Island
subdivision_type3 = Regional district
subdivision_name3 = Regional District of Mount Waddington
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leader_title = Governing body
leader_name = Port McNeill Town Council
leader_title1 = Mayor
leader_name1 = Town Gerry Furney
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 1936
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1966
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area_total_km2 = 7.74
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population_as_of = 2006
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population_total = 2623
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timezone = PST
utc_offset = −8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = −7
latd= 50|latm= 35|lats= 25|latNS=N
longd= 127|longm= 05|longs= 5|longEW=W
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elevation_m = 10
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blank_name = Highways
blank_info = 19
blank1_name = Waterways
blank1_info = Johnstone Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait
website = [http://www.town.portmcneill.bc.ca Town of Port McNeill]
footnotes = Port McNeill is a town on the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia ,Canada with a population of 2,623 (2006).
The area had been a basecamp for loggers for quite a while when a railroad was built and Port McNeill became a settlement in 1936. The town was named after Captain William Henry McNeill of the Hudson's Bay Company.

Public services offered include an RCMP dispatchment, Ambulance Service, Volunteer Fire Department and the District Hospital for all of the North Island. The town also offers all modern amentities including two grocery stores, two liquor stores, six restaurants, three bars/pubs, a few motels and B&B, two hardware stores, a Petro Canada gas station and ESSO gas station, a Subway restaurant, a Fields superstore and many small souvenir shops. The scuba diving is considered the best in North America, and has been ranked #2 in the world.

It is the seat of the Mount Waddington Regional District and acts as a central hub for all of North Vancouver Island. It offers the only access to the islands of Alert Bay and Sointula via BC Ferries which run daily.

Port McNeill is also the Hometown of Willie Mitchell, an NHL defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks. When entering the town off the Island Highway, there is a sign that says "Welcome to Port McNeill - Home of the NHL's Willie Mitchell".

The town is also a popular tourism destination during the summer, with a large population of animals including black bear, cougar, and deer. The town also features the world's largest burl, a museum and a rich heritage of logging.With accounting for 25.7 % of the labour force, logging remains the primary employer in Port McNeill [ [http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/dd/facsheet/cf224.pdf BC Stats Community Facts - Port McNeill] ] and contributes approximately 8 % of the total BC timber harvest. [ [http://www.portmcneill.ca/main.html Port McNeill website] ] The main contractors are Western Forest Products and LeMare Lake Logging. In 2008 Port McNeill reopened their old theatre with AC/DC cover band BC/DC as one of their first acts.

References

External links

* [http://www.town.portmcneill.bc.ca Town of Port McNeill]
* [http://www.hickerphoto.com/port-mcneill-photos.htm Pictures of Port McNeill]
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* [http://bluebookofboats.com/Cruisingdestinations/PortMcNeil.htm Port McNeil - Gateway to the Broughton Archipelago - Blue Book of Boats Cruising Destination]