It's a fine January day, and I'm savouring a warm coffee while watching the intrepid surfers dotting the shoreline undaunted by the awe-inspiring swells and crisp coastal breezes. While the stormy weather is a profound sight to behold, we can't help but take each slightly longer and brighter day as a sign of the season ahead.

As is the tradition every January, our month-long closure has seen us roll up our sleeves and undertake an ambitious list of renovations, upgrades and preventative maintenance projects to further enhance your stay with us. From the back of house to the front of house, our team works together to polish the Inn and ensure it is brought back to perfection in anticipation of your return. New wall coverings in the hallways and plush new stairwell carpets have already been installed, and we have also fully renovated the first 12 of 30 bathrooms in our Beach Building, with the balance to be completed next year. We are also working to refresh and refinish our woodwork, including the handrails within the Beach Building, baseboards, and the benches in the Ancient Cedars Spa. By choosing to use solid wood, which is refinished rather than replaced for these pieces, we preserve the timeless nature and warmth of the original builds while significantly reducing our environmental footprint. With a final push ahead over the coming days, we look forward to re-opening our doors again on Friday, February 9th at 12 noon.

February is a month that invites us all to celebrate the people in our lives that matter most. Valentine’s Day and Family Day offer the ideal opportunity for a romantic escape or family retreat against the stunning backdrop of the Pacific Northwest. Whether adventure or relaxation beckons (or a touch of both), our reservations team is here 24-7 and only a call away to help put together your dream trip.

Within our very own Wick family, we recently recognized two team members for their outstanding contributions to the Inn. We are incredibly proud to celebrate Ally Richardson with our Leader of the Year award. Ally leads our Reservations team with confidence and positivity while fostering a culture of excellence amongst all of our employees. We were delighted as well to honour Wally Duquiatan of our Housekeeping team with our Employee of the Year award in celebration of his exceptional work ethic, leadership qualities, positive attitude, and unwavering commitment to nurturing community among team members. We are very fortunate to have such dedicated individuals on our team who make it a joy to come to work every day. They truly are what makes the Wick a truly special place to visit.

Finally, in keeping with celebrations of family both old and new, we are pleased to warmly welcome Fogo Island Inn to Relais & Chateaux! Located on one of the most remote corners of the East Coast of Canada, Fogo Island Inn offers guests an exceptional experience that is deeply rooted in the local community, mirroring our commitment to supporting and uplifting the regions we call home. As the two farthest-reaching R&C properties in one country, we hold a shared vision for sustainable practices and responsible tourism.

As we complete the finishing touches to ready the Inn for another incredible year, we hope to welcome you to the Inn and to our corner of Vancouver Island's rugged west coast soon.

Charles

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