Rebuilding Telegraph Cove After a Devastating Fire

On July 31, 2025, I visited Historic Telegraph Cove on Northern Vancouver Island with my best friend Christine and her family. We arrived just seven months after the devastating New Year’s Eve fire of 2024, which claimed the heart of the village, including the historic pub, restaurant, and the world-renowned Whale Interpretive Centre.

What we found was a community in "full-on rebuild mode." The work completed in such a short window is truly remarkable. In this 36-minute in-depth walk-around, I take you through the village to see the restoration of the iconic boardwalk, the progress on the new docks, and the temporary "Whale Shed" housing the remains of the Interpretive Centre's collection.

Telegraph Cove is a gateway to the Johnstone Strait and remains one of the best places in the world for orca watching, grizzly bear tours, and ocean kayaking. Despite the fire, the spirit of the Cove is alive and well.
Travel Times & Location: Telegraph Cove is located on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, approximately 15km off Highway 19 (via Beaver Cove Road). If you are planning a trip, here is what to expect for driving times:

From Victoria: ~465 km | Approx. 5.5 to 6 hours

From Nanaimo: ~350 km | Approx. 4 to 4.5 hours

From Campbell River: ~200 km | Approx. 2.5 hours

From Port McNeill: ~25 km | Approx. 25 minutes


Support the Rebuild: The Whale Interpretive Centre is a non-profit society. If you'd like to help them restore their world-class skeleton collection, please consider donating through their official website or the CanadaHelps page. https://www.killerwhalecentre.org/mak...

I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge that Telegraph Cove is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, and specifically the Kwakiutl First Nation. I am grateful to be visiting and sharing this special place, and I acknowledge the deep connection these Nations have to the land and waters here.


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