Client Profile: Jamie's Whaling Station One of the star attractions


Last year, approximately 50,000 people stepped onto whale watching boats in Tofino to venture into the pristine waters of Clayoquot Sound to view the magnificent Gray Whale in its natural habitat. From all indications, that number will grow significantly this year. Why the craze? As the oldest and largest (and the original) Gray Whale tour company on Canada's West Coast, Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventures Centres in Ucluelet and Tofino is gearing up for what could possibly be their busiest season in the twenty-one year history of the company. With a fleet of seven boats ranging from 29 foot Inflatables to the 65 foot Leviathan II or Lady Selkirk - Jamie's carried over 25,000 whale watching enthusiasts on tours last year, accounting for over half of the West Coast's whale watching business.

"The Leviathan II is really one of the reasons." Says Bruce Adams, Jamie's marine manager and 30 year veteran of coastal navigation and large vessel operation. "Our large boats have always made whale watching accessible to seniors and small children who aren't recommended on smaller inflatable boats." Adams continued "This way a whole family can go on the big boat and have the same fun together while staying warm and dry. It's really a class act."

The recently upgraded 65 foot Leviathan II is Tofino's premier whale watching vessel and Jamie's most recent upgrade in a progression of larger vessels starting in 1982. Launched in 1996, Leviathan II carries 49 passengers safely while still maintaining the speed of an inflatable. The high observation deck is ideal for viewing and photo opportunities. With an additional covered viewing area, washroom, snack and liquor bar and inside heated viewing area, she is the ideal vessel for the 'multi-generational' groups that seem to frequent Tofino. "Quite often we see families where there's mom, dad and the kids along with gramma and grampa." says Patrick Koreski, full-time skipper aboard Leviathan II. "It's really a treat to see everyone's face light up when we spot the first gray whale. It's better than Disneyland for some families."

Whale watching in Tofino was started in 1982 by ex-fisherman Jamie Bray. "I wrecked my back fishing." Says Bray "So I took an old troller that I had rebuilt in Vancouver and headed off to Tofino to run people up to Hot Springs Cove. When I got here there was already somebody doing it and I figured well, no point in us both going broke, so I packed up and started heading for Saturna Island, where I'd been living."

As fate would have it, Bray got a couple of miles past the lighthouse and decided the weather was too rough, so he headed back to Tofino. "I came back to the dock and no one had shown up to go to Hot Springs" Bray continues, "so I invited the skipper over for coffee. In the course of our conversation, he told me he sees Gray whales on his way to Hot Springs sometimes."

Bray said he was struck with the crazy idea that some people might want to pay to see the sight of the Gray whale in its natural setting. "So I wrote a half dozen Posters on writing paper and stapled them to telephone poles around town. The next day there were six passengers waiting to go whale watching!"
 One of the star attractions

And a few more people did show up. Since then, the Tofino - Clayoquot Sound area has become a mecca for whale and wildlife watchers from all over the world, and Jamie's is striving to keep up with the demand in an environmentally and responsible way. A $2.00 per head fee is charged to all passengers travelling on Jamie's tours to watch either Whales, Bears, Sea lions or visit Hot Springs Cove, (reportedly the most natural Hot Springs setting in Canada.) This fee is apportioned out to various non-profit whale research and bird rescue programs in Clayoquot Sound. "People are really impressed when they find out where the research money goes." says Dave Christensen, General Manager for Jamie's. "Travel Agents and Tour Operators we meet at the trade shows understand the need to maintain the pristine beaches and temperate rainforests, and to continue safe and friendly wildlife viewing practices. They understand that full time attention must be paid to these issues in order to preserve this area for future generations."

In 2000, Jamie's opened a satellite operation in Ucluelet touring Barkley Sound utilizing the 65 foot Lady Selkirk and one of the 29 foot Inflatables. In 2002, Jamie's added a specialty tour to view the thousands of Stellar's and California Sea Lions that congregate in the 'Broken Group Islands' in Pacific Rim National Park during August and September. Gray Whale watching with Jamie's continues from mid-February through October each year, first with the spring migration and later with the summer resident whales that feed in the bays and fjords near Tofino and Ucluelet.

Jamie's will have new tours coming up, including The Hot Springs Sea to Sky' a boat up - fly back Hot Springs Adventure, Kayaking and Canoeing, 4X4 Backroad adventures, Harbour and Specialty tours, wakeboarding, water skiing and tubing. Stop by www.jamies.com for more details.

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