PORT HARDY – Your vote could put Port Hardy on the map as the Ultimate Fishing Town Canada.
Port Hardy leads the race in votes in the World Fishing Network's competition that will award $25,000 to the winning community.
As of Monday afternoon, Port Hardy had leapfrogged Port Renfrew into the lead in the Western Canada contest with 4,175 votes to 3,978. Campbell River, which briefly held the lead a week earlier, was third with 3,036 votes.
Voting is being held with finalists in four regions. Port Hardy and Port Renfrew are No. 1 and 2 nationwide, with Central Canada vote-leader Port Colborne at 3,262 votes.
Port Hardy's cause has been aided by the efforts of the tourism class at Port Hardy Secondary School, which is using social networking and good, old-fashioned face-to-face lobbying to get people to vote for the community.
To add you vote to the tally or to ad your own comments about why Port Hardy is the Ultimate Fishing Town, go to www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/porthardy-bc. First round voting for the Top 20 began April 12 and ends May 3, after which the top fishing towns in Western Canada will go up against leading vote-getters in Central Canada, Eastern Canada and The North. You must register to vote.