Kiwanis and its family of international clubs are nearly 600,000 members strong. Kiwanis annually raises more than $100 million and dedicates more than 18 million volunteer hours to strengthen communities and serve children. The Port Alberni Kiwanis Club was incorporated in 1972. The Kiwanis Club or Port Alberni was formed is largely funded by its involvement in the Port Alberni Salmon Festival, h
eld each year during the first weekend in September. The first Salmon Festival was also held in 1972 and the club has been part of each year’s festival. The first Salmon Festival was headquartered at the Greenwood Motor Hotel, now Howard Johnsons. As the story goes, you weighed in your fish and the Kiwanis cooked it for you. That year we sold a whopping 10 dozen beer, in bottles, served from a kids wading pool at the hotel. The event that year was sponsored by McDonald's To***co and the Alberni Valley Times. (Fred Duncan was the publisher of the paper at that time, and was the society's first President). The Kiwanis Club has evolved since 1972 and currently serves a number of community and youth groups, including: 109 ALBERNI Sea Cadet Corps, Alberni District Secondary School Bands, The Kiwanis Hilton Centre, Our Town events, The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign, the Load the Lockers Campaign, ADSS Pancake breakfast, the Polar Bear Swim, Kids Sport, and so much more. New members are always welcome to join.
