Vancouver Island, B.C. – Every year around between March and May more than 20,000 Gray Whales pass up the west coast shore of Vancouver Island, on their way from Mexico to Alaska. It’s the longest migration of any mammal in the world (9,000 km). Some of the whales, which average 12-15 metres (40-50 ft) for an adult, choose to spend the whole summer in local areas such as Clayoquot Sound, rejoining the main group during the southern migration in the autumn. In the early spring it’s possible to spot some from shore, and loads of whale watching tours (which follow guidelines to keep a non-threatening distance from the whales) are available from communities such as Ucluelet and Tofino. Those communities, together with the Pacific Rim National Park Preserve, host the annual mid-March Pacific Rim Whale Festival – with parades, art shows, concerts, ‘chowder chow downs’, etc.
The communities of Ucluelet, Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve jointly host the Pacific Rim Whale Festival in the early spring.

Have you been out to watch? Please share..