Keeping up its impressive winning streak, the district of Ucluelet pulled in yet another major award over the weekend. April May, executive director of the Coalition of BC Municipalities (CBCM), announced Sunday that this year’s Mayor Sunshine trophy would be going to Ucluelet mayor Dianne St. Jacques.
The rotating award goes each year to the small-town mayor who projects “the most grindingly, blindingly, relentlessly positive image for their town, in the face of everything to the contrary” May said. “Every time [Mayor St. Jacques] speaks, everything she says is brimming with optimism and hope for the future. She deserves this award like nobody else.”
District residents seem to agree. “Every time she opens her mouth it’s like a friggin’ soap commercial for the town,” they say. “Just as it should be, ’cause we’re all happily housed, with great jobs and a swell town with no problems at all.”
Ucluelet CAO Geoff Lyons was a strong contender for the Making Problems Disappear by Waving Your Arms Around award, but was beat out by the district of Duncan, which recently signed famed magician David Copperfield to a long-term contract.
Tofino mayor John Fraser was also considered for the award, but fell out of the running because he briefly discussed the town’s critical water problems in a public forum. “There’s a time and a place to talk about controversial civic issues,” May said, “and unfortunately Mr. Fraser let the cat out of the bag once too often. But he got his head bit off because of it, so we have every hope that he learned a lesson and will be in the running for Mayor Sunshine next year.”
—Thanks to submitter (who wants to remain anonymous)
5 responses so far ↓
Waves of change // 5 August, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Yes, the debate over the name of Ucluelet. Why is it that so many people are in love with the name Ucluelet? I know it has historical significance and all of that stuff but most people— and espescially tourists —-can’t even say the name.
It’s a beautiful place with a stupid name. As much as everyone (most) of the cool Ucluelet locals like to talk about how annoying the tourists are and how your not a local until you’ve lived in the town for a million years, the truth is we depend on tourists for our sustainable livelihood. Sorry you redneck fools but Mac blo is’nt coming back. Not that they did anything positive for our town when they were here anyways!!!!
Why is it so bad an idea to name our town something that makes sense to a wider more diverse audience. Why not the town of Grey whale or even something as boring as Long beach. I know there I go again just making too much sense. But I’ll tell you from a business and pride of town perspective our town has so much potential that is not being harnessed because of so many of you wonderful old locals.
Thats ok, I will keep going to the beach with my 2 best friends and I’ll clean up your garbage and pick up your kids smashed beer bottles and I’ll smile and say hi to the tourists. You can only do so much damage to our great town and the tide of positive change is slowly cleaning all of you negative rednecks off our beautiful little paradise. Have a nice day.
Dianne St Jakes // 8 August, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Yes I totally agree with the last comment by the waves of change. Don’t tell anyone but I can’t stand some of these cave man locals. Sure I use to like it when they would support our business when we owned Smileys Restaurant but now that I am in public office I can see the bigger picture, some of the locals in this town are really stupid. Of course the dumb ones are the ones that voted me in so don’t publish this.
Leric Harsen // 8 August, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Hey Dianne—–you better watch those nasty words about the stupid redneck locals, they have been paying and paving our way for a long time. They all even looked the other way when I was cheating my way to easy money back when I was mayor. They are stupid, but tell them you love logging and hate tourist developers and tourists and they will die for you (or at least vote you into office again.) Oh ya and heres another pointer for you Dianne, make sure we don’t become a member of the biosphere because that just makes way too much sense to join such a cool and sustainable smart organization. I mean biosphere, how green is that, I think we should bring back the good old days of Mac Blo, at least the old age home has adopted the red and white theme.
Just Clued in // 8 August, 2008 at 8:51 pm
You mean Ukee isn’t a part of the bisphere? Thats just crap. I am looking at a map of the biosphere on the west coast and you are absolutely right. What a joke—-the bisphere has to do a complete circle around Ucluelet because of our stupid politicians decision to exlude us from it. Why hasn’t this been more of a topic around town. I think its just because people don’t know. Figures, these dummies vote themselves in and then they reach a new level of arrogance by making such unbelievable decisions on behalf of the town. Well, I sure don’t agree with that decision. If you want my vote Dianne, you better start doing what is right, not what a handful of ex logging morons tells you. Ucluelet should be a part of the Biospher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful Tofino Local // 8 August, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Just wanted to let you guys in Ucluelet know that you can’t join our biosphere club because you dont shit in the ocean. Thats right, Ucluelet has a sewage treatment facility and Tofino doesn’t so I guess we get to still call you Pukey Ukee cause until you crap in the ocean like us you can’t join. Ha ha.