Acknowledgements

I am filled with gratitude for the generosity of others. Some beloved elders, gone too soon, gifted me with information and encouragement: Mary Kimoto, Michael Mead-​Miller, Vi and Bob Mundy, Earl Mundy, Shirley Oye and Margaret Thompson.

So many people offered support during the writing and publication process. Thank you to west coast historian Ken Gibson who, when I told him of my ambitious plan, advised me to follow each trail to the end; he was right. Thank you to Leona Taylor for giving me a treasure trove of resources, and for her years of work transcribing early newspaper articles to make them more accessible.

Thank you to those who not only imparted information, but vetted sections of the book: Dan Edwards, Frank and Lavern Hillier, Gale Johnsen, Charles McCarthy, Karen Severinson, Kenji Shimizu, Terry Smith, Tlehpik Hjalmer Wenstob and Jenn Yakimishyn.

I learned so much through interviews and conversations. Thank you to Aki Arai, Ann Branscombe, Maureen Callaway, Brian Congdon, Dennis Craig, Lynette Dawson, Joey and Julie Edwards, Robin Fells, Lorry Foster, Judy Gold, Roger and Anne Gudbranson, Kiyo Harada, Sandy Henry Sr., Ellen Kimoto, Dorothy Larsen, Wojtek Malach, OJ Martin, Shirley Pynn, Vaida Siga, Mike and Jan Smith, D’Arcy and Carol Thompson and Olwen Watt.

Much appreciation to Helen Watts for sharing her knowledge gleaned from growing up at Amphitrite Point, and to Dana Curran for sharing ‘Westcoasters,’ her grandmother Phyllis Martin’s unpublished memoir. Thank you for providing information, Brian Baird, Theresa Bilodeaux, Susanne Bisaro, Crystal Bolduc, Lidia Borkes, Lloyd Bridal, Marlene Celinski, Mary Christmas, Susie and Barry Corlazzoli, Jean Duckmanton, David Edwards, Mark Fortune, Erin Galliot, Rick Geddes, Leif Hagar, Minnie Hornidge, Don Jepson, Silva Johansson, Bronwyn and Deb Kelleher, Ian Kennedy, Tine Lyche, Adrienne Mason, Jessie and Timmy Masso, Dal Matterson, Lois Moraes, Janet Neave, Stacy Newcombe, Linda, Gary and Reg Payne, Clive Pemberton, Rhondda Porter, Denise Reide, Rose Mary Roth, Louis Rouleau, Dianne St. Jacques, Catherine Taron, Marla Thirsk, Gert Touchie, Leo Touchie, Jeneva Touchie, Donna Turner, Dan Tuzo and Arlene Winpenny. Thank you, Ryan Cameron of the Royal BC Museum Archives, and Kirsten Smith, Collections Curator of the Alberni Valley Museum.

Appreciative kudos to Barbara Schramm of Schramm Design for creating the stellar maps. Thank you Julian and Nicky Ling of Ukee InfoTech, whose technical wizardry keeps my computers running.

Much gratitude to Joanna Streetly, whose mentoring made my book proposal shine, and whose empathy got me through an episode of authorly angst. Thank you also to the members of the Clayoquot Writers Group for encouragement and camaraderie.

Thank you to my fellow Book Club members, who always support my writing endeavours. It looks like we have another book to critique!

I am indebted to authors Caroline Woodward and Eric Enno Tamm, who took time out of their busy schedules to read this hefty volume and write detailed promotional blurbs.

Appreciation to my fellow Ucluelet and Area Historical Society members for support, and steadfast dedicaton to preserving local history: Board members Claudia Cole, Barb Gudbranson, Carolyn Langhelt, Terry Smith, Pieter Timmermans, and members at large Jacqueline Chamberland, Phil Hood, Paul Kariya, Katsumi Kimoto and David McIntosh.

I am exceedingly grateful to publisher Anna Comfort O’Keeffe for embracing my project. Many thanks to the team provided by Harbour Publishing: managing editor Ariel Brewster, who organized the process from afar; substantive editor Rebecca Philps, who successfully shepherded me through the daunting task of cutting my massive manuscript down to size; the eagle-​eyed and insightful Brian Lynch, copy editor extraordinaire; creative designer Libris Simas Ferraz; proofreader Lisa Frenette; indexer Emily LeGrand; and marketing manager Luke Inglis and publicist Fleur Matthewson for enthusiastically promoting the book.

Appreciation to Mark Hobson (www.markhobson.com) for permitting me the use of his gorgeous artwork for the cover, and to his gallery manager Rino del Zappo for dealing with the logistics.

Big thanks to my friends, who encouraged me and kept those eye rolls subtle when I talked too much about “the book.” (Large quantities of chocolate-​covered raisins were also appreciated.)

Merci beaucoup to my daughters Olivia and Kristin, for unflagging support along the way. And most of all, a huge thank you to my husband Keith, who, during this drawn-​out process, took up the slack on the home front, listened to large chunks of the narrative, and delivered countless servings of tea and reassurance.