When I first heard that some publication had identified Port Alberni as the "Worst City" in Canada, I thought perhaps it was simply a typo.  Surely they had meant to say "Best", for these days one usually assumes that the media properly researches their material and achieves some degree of accuracy.
When it finally dawned on me that Money Sense Magazine wasn't actually saying Port Alberni is the best city in Canada, a sense of sympathy crept over me, the type of sympathy you might feel for someone so deprived, or depraved, that they can't recognize a valuable gift staring them in the face.
There are numerous points on which I could dispute the accuracy of this study, for instance, the fact that they grouped the entire Regional District from Bamfield to Ucluelet to Tofino and nine First Nation territories as being in the City of Port Alberni.  However, I think they have presented us with a golden opportunity!  What a great time to talk, between ourselves and to others, about how great our City is, about how we are going to make it even greater, and how proud we are of us - that's right - us - the people that make this possible!
The irony of all this however, was that as the mobile device I carry began to spring alive with emails, texts and voicemails of various reporters salivating over a potential story, I was buried in meeting and greeting and touring visiting business interests to our community.  This gave me the ultimate pleasure of apologizing for my slow response to their inquiries, and giving as the reason, the climate of growth and the vibrancy of health that our City is moving towards.
This opportunity also allowed me to have some great conversations about what truly is important to our City.  Core services such as clean, safe streets, swimming pools and parks, affordable housing, excellent health and social support services, new beaches and old traditional values!  So where are we now? Well some of us knew we had a good city. Now more of us know that, and more of us can speak highly and proudly of what a great City we have!
That is where we are.
Mayor John Douglas