Tsunami pushed 1967 Port Alberni amalgamation forward

Port Alberni, B.C., celebrates the 50th anniversary of amalgamation Saturday with cake, rollerblading and 1967 prices for admission to the local pool and recreation centre.

Vancouver Island'stwin cities of Alberni and Port Albernidebated a possible merger for decades before the big event in 1967.

But it was a 1964 disaster that helped sealthe deal, Port AlberniMayor Mike Ruttan told GregorCraigie, host of On the Island.

Damage from atsunami that inundated the citieson Good Friday 1964 was "amajor impetus for the consideration of this," Ruttan said.

Dozens of homes were destroyed, more than 300 damaged, and about 150 people required emergency shelter according to a CBC report at the time.

"The two communities were hugely impactedby that tsunami coming through town,and they realized they had to work together," Ruttan said.

Long before the 1964 disaster, many local leaders supported the idea of merging the two communities that straddled either side of Rogers Creek. Discussions started around the Second World Warbut trailed off.

An$800-million assessment for the Port Albernioperations of leading forest industry employer, MacMillian BloedelLimited,revived strong interest in forging a single municipality, Ruttan said.

MacBlooperations, and the municipal taxes it paid,rested in the larger industrial hub of Port Alberni. Most of itsemployeeslived in residential Alberniacross the creek.

Concerns for fairness and the potential for stronger growth spurred the first serious talks.

Secret meetings

"The two city councils were so concerned that they didn't even meet in the city," Ruttan said. "They went over the hump and they met in Parksville, in secret."

The meetings continued off and on for about four years before the councillors finally went public about them,he said.

Ruttan told On the Island host Gregor Craigiehe remembered paying a dime for admission to the pool 50 years ago when hehad a job stocking shelves at the local Safeway for $1.71 an hour.

"That was pretty good money because Port Alberni was a very wealthy community," Ruttansaid.

With files from CBC Radio One's On the Island