Alert Bay, British Columbia

Alert Bay is on Cormorant Island, off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island and reached by a 40-minute BC Ferries sailing from Port McNeill. The Village of Alert Bay runs its own water, sewer, residential garbage collection and the transfer station, animal control and the dog pound, the boat harbour, the community hall, the campground, building permits, business licences, planning and ICBC and drivers licensing. Curbside recycling is collected on Wednesdays in the Village and on Thursdays in the 'Namgis, Whe-la-la-u and Regional District of Mount Waddington areas. Policing is by the Alert Bay RCMP detachment. Marriage licences, health cards and driver's licences are provincial matters.