TELEGRAPH COVE - With its one hundred year anniversary approaching, Telegraph Cove staff and tourists are gearing up for a summer of celebration.
The Centennial Celebration will take place the weekend of June 22-24. "Everything's in place for it," said owner Gordie Graham. "The resort is booked solid. We're expecting lots of people."
The weekend begins with a meet and greet Friday. The Old Saltery Pub will be open, Gordon Henschel and Ron Mollinga will provide music, and a screen show will portray the colourful history of the Cove.
The official opening will begin Saturday, June 23, after a guided hike along the new Telegraph Trail at 9 a.m. The opening will be held in the Whale Interpretive Centre at 1:30 p.m. Later, the Killer Whale Cafe will feature a salmon barbeque. There are two seatings, one at 5 p.m. and one at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday night, the Eccleston Band, known for their songs of the history of B.C., will be performing at the Whale museum.
On Sunday morning guests may participate in another hike, as well as rides aboard the Gikumi and Lukwa Whale Watching boats and kayaking with North Island Kayak. The Killer Whale Cafe will host a special farewell brunch at 11 a.m.
One of the highlights of the celebration will include a number of guest speakers at the opening ceremony, who will share the history of the Cove. They will present stories about living and growing up in such an isolated place. One speaker was born in the Cove.
"The big thing for us is these families," said Graham. "They've seen what has happened here. We'll get to hear stories about the old days of the coast."
Telegraph Cove's summer event list doesn't end there. July 12-15 will see the 10th anniversary Springer Reunion. Springer is a killer whale who was rescued after being abandoned in Puget Sound and reunited with her family in Johnstone Strait in 2002. The reunion will bring together scientists and whale lovers alike.
The weekend of B.C. Day will mark two more Cove events. August 4 is the annual Craft Fair on the boardwalk, and August 5 is the annual Fishing Derby.
For more information about Telegraph Cove, or to book any reservations for the Centennial Celebration, call 1-800-200-HOOK.