The Wick Newsletter 
A Note from Charles
This storm season has kept us on our feet with calm, sun-kissed beach time, contrasting with big surf, hair-raising gales and impressive downpours, the phenomena that inspired us to build the Wickaninnish Inn and share the magic of storm watching with you fifteen winters ago.
We've been talking over the past few months in our newsletter and on Facebook about our complete redesign of all 45 guest rooms in the original Pointe building, set to start in less than a month. We're excited to work again with the brilliant Madeleine Eng and her team at BBA Design as well as a host of talented trades people from throughout British Columbia. The Inn will close its doors as usual on January 2nd (after our New Year's getaway), to welcome you back right in time for Valentine's Day week-end on Friday February 10th. I am infinitely grateful to all of you who have taken the time to visit our two prototype rooms with me. Your input is valuable and you will see that many of your ideas have been incorporated into the new room design. After all, the Inn is your West Coast home away from home and it should suit your needs – and hopefully exceed your expectations.
The holidays are here, and we're preparing for your cherished time on our rugged coast with our popular West Coast Christmas vacation package. Seeing our team gather to craft ornaments for our in-room spruce trees reminds me that the Inn represents fond memories for so many of us, including our staff, who hail from both Canadian coasts all the way to Germany and even South Africa and beyond. I hope this holiday season brings you and yours happiness and relaxation. Remember, if you find yourself wondering what to give this season, our custom gift certificates are easily ordered online from the comfort of your home, check out our brand new EGiftGallery for the full range of items available.
Wishing you wonderful, relaxing holidays from Canada's west coast,
- Charles
Meet our Tofino Neighbours: Jeff Mikus
Tofino is known for its interesting mix of residents, including wood carving artisans, surfers of all ages, and adventure guides. Just a few decades ago, it was a hardworking hub for logging and fishing, earning it the name of Tough City – arm wrestling, brawls and all! Today, Jeff Mikus is the sole commercial salmon fisherman based in Tofino, and if you've enjoyed seafood at the Inn, there are excellent chances that it was fished – sometimes just hours ago – by Jeff.
Jeff's home is Tofino, although he is away between four to six months of the year fishing BC's coastal waters all the way from Washington State to Alaska, including right here in Clayoquot Sound for shrimp, prawns, herring, and our favorite flavourful superfood, salmon. A strong advocate for eating locally, Jeff sells all the shrimp and salmon he fishes close to home in Tofino and neighbouring Ucluelet. He loves working with West Coast chefs like our own Chef de Cuisine Nick Nutting, who in turn can inform guests about the story behind the seafood on their plate. Jeff sits on the board of the Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild, and was a key organizer of its inaugural Feast! in May 2011, celebrating boat-to-table cuisine.
It's safe to say that Jeff likes to keep busy, as you can also find him and his fresh catch at the Wildside Grill, where he and Chef Jesse Blake serve up Tofino favorites like fish and chips in a refreshingly rustic outdoor setting.
Jeff used to navigate waters of a different sort for a living, as a Vancouver-based freelance photojournalist. After spending one week aboard The Challenger fishing boat researching his "A day In the Life of a Fisherman" story, he was, as we must put it, hooked. Lucky for diners at The Pointe Restaurant, Jeff continues to find adventure and Mother Nature's bounty in the waters off our beautiful coast.
Meet Our Relais & Châteaux Friends
In the spirit of sharing the vision of our 400+ fellow Relais & Châteaux properties, "All Around the World, Unique In the World", it is our pleasure to introduce you to the award-winning Triple Creek Ranch.
Set amidst the calm, forested slopes of Western Montana's Bitterroot Mountains, this all-inclusive hideaway melds the worlds of romance and cowboy culture, with a touch of adventure and serious pampering. For rates as low as $750 USD per couple per night, guests relax in the comfort of a deluxe private cabin, dine in the world-class restaurant, and enjoy an array of activities ranging from fly-fishing to hiking, snowshoeing, nature drives, and more.
New this season – and worthy of a wow – are the Nordic tradition of Equestrian Skijoring (where skiers are drawn through the countryside by mounted horses) and Team Penning, the art and real-life task of separating calves from the herd and moving them to their own pens – on horseback, of course.
Cherish Montana's blue light of winter and year-round beauty with our friends at Triple Creek Ranch.