A West Coast author has devoted many years of her life to researching and writing about Ucluelet, a place she calls home.
Shirley Martin’s sixth book, Calm Harbour, Turbulent Seas: A History of Ucluelet, takes a deep dive into the history of Ucluelet through factual evidence, as well as personal memories and stories from others.
“I have been researching for a long time and thought, ‘Oh, I should be writing this down,’” Martin said.
This latest project started out with Martin interviewing Indigenous Elders and researching the community she has lived in all her life.
It wasn’t until her friends encouraged her to submit her idea to a publishing company, did she realize she had something unique on her hands.
“I put in the book proposal to Harbour Publishing, and they responded they were interested the next day. ... I was in shock because it is not easy to find a traditional publisher,” she said.
Martin also quickly found out that there aren’t many books about Ucluelet available, especially like hers.
“A lot of West Coast books have been written, but there hasn’t been one of Ucluelet. There’s a gap on the bookshelves of West Coast history.”
The book focuses on life before European settlers arrived, the transition of the community during colonization and how Ucluelet became a logging and fishing town.
“Now that we are so popular as a tourist destination, it is important for people to know about the past,” Martin said.
“Changes are needed, but there is so much from the past that needs to be preserved and recognized,” she added.
Along with second-hand stories of others, Martin also includes vignettes from her own childhood growing up in Ucluelet and stories her father told her.
“My favourite thing to do was to sit and listen to my dad and his six siblings gather around and talk about their early stories of growing up on the coast. (They would share) the dangers they encountered and the crazy adventures they had, and I loved listening to those stories,” she said.
“I think they would be happy...I come from a line of loggers and fisherman, so I am proud to share their stories.”
The book also touches on the hardships and problems in Ucluelet’s history from colonization to the ‘War in the Woods’ protest against old-growth logging in 1993.
“(‘War in the Woods’) was difficult to write because I understand the passion for the environment, but I also understand the need for livelihood and the history of the logging industry.”
Martin believes that it is important for visitors and residents to know about Ucluelet’s past.
“We have a rich and vibrant past that is part of the basis of what we are today. If changes are going to happen, it doesn’t mean we can’t be aware of our history and retain some of our character as the fishing and logging village we once were,” she said.
“It is always important to remember that we’re on the traditional territory of the First Nations,” she added.
Even though Calm Harbour, Turbulent Seas was just released on July 22, Martin has already received positive feedback and reactions from the community.
“A lot of people want to buy the book ... and I think it reflects the love and interest people have with Ucluelet.”
For more information on her new book, visit www.shirleymartinwrites.com
