Still Standing

Locals like to say that ‘all roads lead to Hope'. It's a place to gas up and a place to ‘go,' but locals want it to be known that the town is more than just a place to pee — it's a place to be.

When Port Stanley's prosperous commercial fishing industry collapsed, the beach town was left with an identity crisis and an uncertain future.

While its tourist train dollars are long gone, the proudly-weird town of Wakefield is reimagining itself as a place known for culture and outdoor fun.

Things looked bad for Chemainus when its sawmill closed in 1983. Then, the town used gorgeous murals to draw in tourists. Now it's looking for the next generation of visionaries to keep it on the map