Artisanship has been at the heart of the Wickaninnish Inn since our inception. Our unique location at the end of the road between old-growth forests and the vast Pacific Ocean offers endless inspiration and fosters a community of diverse and talented individuals.

Vancouver Island’s artisan community is tangible in many aspects throughout the Inn with craftsmanship breathing life into every detail. Our commitment to supporting artists and artisans goes beyond the beautiful aesthetics —it is a tribute to the terroir of Tofino, the vibrant spirit of our region, and the people who call it home. From the soap dishes in our guest rooms crafted by a local potter to the live edge banquet tables made of local maple by a Vancouver Island company, the Inn is a melding pot of artisanship drawn directly from our surrounding communities.

When creating the Wick, we envisioned a space that harmonizes with the natural beauty and bounty of our West Coast environment. We invite guests to connect with our captivating landscape by intentionally bringing the outdoors in through expansive picture windows, birder-quality binoculars, and handcrafted touches such as pressed seaweed art and driftwood chairs in every suite. Details such as barnacle-encrusted stone bookends and red alder branch stair spindles connect the elements of land and sea. We focus on celebrating texture with the meticulously adzed mantel pieces that grace every guest room, the deliberate bandsaw finishes that maintain the charm of the wood, and the natural stone accents in the bathrooms, among many others. Our design ethos naturally sees upcycling and sustainability as front of mind, coming together to create an experience of rugged elegance on nature’s edge.

A master welder, blacksmith, philosopher, and talented carpenter, Henry Nolla was our first resident artisan and artist. His work can be found throughout the Inn, in the adzed beams that grace The Pointe Restaurant and the iconic yellow cedar doors that welcome you upon arrival, carved using tools he designed and forged himself. Henry became a mentor to a community of wood carvers, and his legacy lives on at the Henry Nolla Carving Shed, a quick stroll from the Inn down Chesterman Beach.

Whether you are visiting us here at the Inn or venturing abroad on your travels, I invite you to take a moment to look up, look around, and appreciate the textures and craftsmanship that carry the stories of gifted artisans who are so passionate about their craft. We are fortunate to be surrounded by so many here in Tofino and on Vancouver Island, and we are proud to feature their work at the Inn.

With warmest regards and I hope to welcome you soon,

Charles

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