Port McNeill is a small community on the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia (south-western Canada) with a population of 2,821 (2001). Public services offered include an RCMP dispatchment, Ambulance Service, Volunteer Fire Department and the District Hospital for all of the North Island. The town also offers all modern amentities including two grocery stores, two liquor stores, six restaurants, three bars/pubs, two hardware stores, a Petro Canada gas station and ESSO gas station, a Subway restaurant, a fields superstore and many small souvenir shops.
It is the seat of the Mount Waddington Regional District and acts as a central hub for all of North Vancouver Island. It offers the only access to the islands of Alert Bay and Sointula via BC Ferries which run daily.
Port McNeill is also the Hometown of Willie Mitchell, an NHL defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks. When entering the town off the Island Highway, there is a sign that says "Welcome to Port McNeill - Home of the NHL's Willie Mitchell".
The town is also a popular tourism destination during the summer, with a large population of animals including Black Bear, Cougar, Deer and Elk. The town also features the world's largest burl, several museums and a rich heritige of logging.
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