Explore Alberni Valley Explorer Guide!

Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay is almost as iconic as the steam train and Mount Arrowsmith. Ever since it was opened on August 11, 1984, it has been a place for people to gather, shop, and enjoy the view. 

It has always been a big deal in this community – and it’s been like that from the very beginning. At the grand opening gala, it was estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 people were in attendance. An old Alberni Valley Times article said the large crowd gave “the opening a carnival atmosphere as they browsed through stores and market booths, munched on snacks, watched dancers, listened to bands and climbed the clocktower to the observation deck.” And it wouldn’t be a party in Port Alberni back then without a fly-past of the Martin Mars flying tanker as it dumped thousands of gallons of water into the harbour. 

The clock tower was an impressive sight and offered a great spot to take in the sites of the community – to this day people still climb that tower to get a great photo of Mount Arrowsmith. The clocks were funded by a donation from the estate of Fred Duncan, the owner of the Alberni Valley Times. His family has said that it was fitting that a man who was on deadline at the newspaper will be remembered with a clock.

The chairman of the Port Alberni Harbour Commission Hugh Anderson said, “We have a start here at Alberni Harbour Quay, a basic plan we can be proud of. I hope we just don’t stop and say the waterfront has been developed, because I think there are other things that can be done.” 

Initially the plan for the bottom of Argyle was to create the Harbour Heritage Park. In 1982, the estimated price tag was $2.3 million, with the city contributing $800,000. The drawing of the plan was that in 1984 when it opens it will be “Port Alberni’s answer to Vancouver’s Granville Island Market,” adding that Port Alberni is going one better because they have the Lady Rose, charter boats, a heritage sawmill, the Two-Spot locomotive, and a spot for boat launching and building. The first plan was approved and passed by Mayor Paul Reitsma’s council in 1982.

The Waterfront Development Committee, chaired by then mayor Gillian Trumper, was the driving force behind the project after that. Once their plan was finalized, they passed it over to the Alberni Harbour Quay Commission. Soon a design created by architects Norman Hotson and Associates was approved by city council, and the project began to move forward. In the end, they had extra money, which they put toward a boat launch ramp, a small boat dock, and funding for the Two-Spot Locomotive restoration. Luckily, through the years, Anderson got his wish as the Harbour Quay just continued to get better over the years. 

In June 2022, Port Alberni gathered again at the Harbour Quay to celebrate. It was National Indigenous Peoples Day, and the celebration would mark another exciting day in the history of the Harbour Quay – the day the Clock Tower was renamed Wolf (Tlookwaana) Tower and given a new look to reflect its historic location in the community. The project included refurbishing the tower to improve safety, replacing the clocks with Indigenous art, painting the tower in traditional Tseshaht First Nation colours, and installing Indigenous storyboards.

The town leaders who first had a vision of what the Harbour Quay could offer the community were on the right track. It is now home to lots of businesses and it a place of gather for the community. Some of the businesses at the Quay include, The Donut Shop (which has been there since day one), The Sugar Shak, Community Arts Council & The Grove (is a new addition to the area), Salmonberry’s, CG Hair Studio, Lady Rose Services, The Starboard Grill, Pinto Goods & Refillery, Homestead Cookhouse, and many more! Not far up the road you can find Porto Taco, Boutique Belle Amies, Kinsmit Quilts, and The Spice Hut in the historic Carmoor Building which is a historical building in our community since 1912. Across the road there’s the Card Corner, Gayle’s Fashion, Belle’s Boutique, and Iron Works Café. The old train station is abuzz with activity as the community awaits a new business that will open in the future in that location.

There are many things that bring us down to the Harbour Quay through the year; beautiful sightseeing spots, a playground, friday night and saturday morning markets, live music throughout the summer, and countless small businesses and restaurants. Whatever the reason is that brings you to visit the harbour quay, you are guaranteed to walk away with a piece of Port Alberni’s amazing history.