Naomi thought she was moving to Tofino for “just a summer” when she arrived in 1997. She’d grown up in Drumheller and nearby Nanaimo, and heading to Tofino for a season was par for the course.

After splitting her time as a guest services representative at the Inn and another nearby property, Naomi decided to focus on the Inn and after one and a half years, was offered a position as the Accounting Manager. She fondly recalls Dr. Howie McDiarmid showing up with handwritten chicken scratch of all of his cash flow calculations – he did not use spreadsheets (Naomi’s favorite tool). His end results were often relatively accurate but she says never really understood the “method to his madness”.

Wanting a change of pace, she moved into the Front Office as the Front Office Manager in January 2001. Shortly thereafter in 2002, she came into work one day and when she answered the phone, learned for the first time that the Inn had just been named on the Today Show as Travel + Leisure’s #1 hotel in North America and #3 worldwide!

After a couple of years, travelling goals came to the forefront, and Naomi took a leave of absence to travel Europe and the Mediterranean for six months. When asked what she missed most about Tofino during her travels, Naomi states:

“The fresh Tofino air and drinking water. You do not necessarily realize how unspoiled our environment is until you spend extended time away. I often take Tofino drinking water with me when we leave town for any extended time….and my Wick Family – I called home on regular basis – by home, I mean the Inn. Christine [Director of Operations] talked me out of coming home half way through the trip.”

On her return to Tofino, she rejoined the Senior Management team of the Inn as Accounting Manager.

The “Tofino summer job” led into a home for Naomi. On days off, you will find Naomi walking the local beaches and trails with her family: partner Shaun, son Cohen, and the newest addition “Henry” the pup! She also manages her own busy vacation rental, volunteers as treasurer for the elementary school Parents Advisory Committee, and practices yoga. After almost 20 years, Naomi is proud to call Tofino home, and - dare we say - she’s settled? “It is the perfect place to raise a young family, especially because of the support network of the “Wick”.”