For Michelle Hall, home has always been next to water. Originally from the bustling port city of Liverpool, England, life by the sea shaped her fondest childhood memories. “Wherever I go, I’m always drawn to water—it’s where I find both inspiration and peace,” she says. It wasn’t until 2013, after some years of global adventures, that she found her way to her future home on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Michelle’s path to Tofino was as inexorable in some ways as the tides. She was inspired while working on an organic farm in New Zealand to write a business plan for a retreat by the water, envisioning a place where people could rest and focus on wellness. Her research took her to Italy, then back to Liverpool, where her life took a sharp turn following an accident that left her with two broken arms. “It was a wake-up call, I had time to reflect—I reconnected with friends, faced some hard truths, and made a better plan.” That introspection led her to embark on a journey of discovery: from yoga teacher training in Costa Rica, along the Pacific Northwest coast through Oregon and California, back to New Zealand, and ultimately to British Columbia. Her first month in Tofino left a lasting impression: after a snowy surf lesson with Surf Sisters and watching the O’Neill Cold Water Classic surf competition, her love for North Chesterman Beach became profoundly permanent. But it was the town’s plucky spirit and tight-knit community that most deeply settled into her heart.

While falling in love under the stars and by the fireside along Tofino’s coastlines, Michelle was volunteering with local environmental organizations to help clean up and conserve our shores, working on projects with the United Nations as well as completing her MA in Environment Practice from Royal Roads University. She joined the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT), the steward of the region’s UNESCO Biosphere designation, and serves today as the Campaign and Donor Relations Lead. “It feels incredible to be part of a community that genuinely cares for the environment and comes together to stand up for it. People here work tirelessly to conserve, educate, protect, restore, and, of course, play,” she says. Michelle’s work with the CBT reflects her commitment to both the community and environment, prioritizing partnerships with the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations and other local stakeholders to ensure that initiatives honour both the breathtaking nature and cultural heritage of the region.

Michelle plays a pivotal role in the keystone project of building the Biosphere Centre, a planned hub for education, environmental research, culture, and community programming, serving both residents and visitors. Highlighting its inclusivity, she shares that “… whether you’re attending a traditional cooking workshop, learning about seaweed, or accessing research about the Biosphere Region, there’s something for everyone.” Michelle is looking forward to celebrating the opening of the Biosphere Centre and seeing it full of initiatives that support this region to thrive. “The centre is funding-dependent, and we are now at $10.1M of a $15.3M for the project, with a goal to finish construction by the end of 2026. We are so grateful for the support from the Wickaninnish Inn,” she says. She invites anyone interested in supporting the project to get in touch.

Today, Michelle channels her energy into her community work as well as into Cedarwood Cove, the retreat she founded with her husband, where they invite guests to immerse themselves in life by the sea and to reconnect with nature. As she reflects on her life in Tofino, she speaks not just of the beauty of its beaches or the calm of the inlet but of the people who make it unique. “At the core of what I do is community building: whether I’m a host at Cedarwood Cove, welcoming guests from around the world and helping them connect to nature, or working to bring people together for causes that matter.”

For Michelle, the future is as bright as Tofino’s stunning sunsets. Whether she’s welcoming guests to the magic of the area on a retreat, mentoring the next generation of community leaders, advocating for environmental change, or working to bring the Biosphere Centre to life, her mission remains clear: to protect and celebrate the natural beauty of the region and the community that makes it so extraordinary. “It’s a privilege to call this place home and to work alongside others who share the same vision,” she says with gratitude.

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