While our powerful winter storms batter the rocky coastline and the rain comes down in sheets from all sides, the Wickaninnish Inn is brimming with the festivities of the season and shimmering both outside and inside. Early December finds the Inn adorned with white lights and handmade ornaments: from the tall cedar branches that line our winding drive into the warm incandescence of our porte-cochere to our decked halls. There’s something about welcoming this season that brings us together like no other.

There is so much to celebrate this time of year, and as always, our little town is getting festive in as many ways as possible. We welcomed another Jingle Into Christmas early in the month, a local holiday shopping tradition where the lights from local shops remain on past closing time and the cold crisp air of the night rolls in with revellers roving from shop to shop - possibly with a little mulled wine where available and while supplies last.

We are celebrating at the Inn too, and it is with great pride and sincere admiration that I congratulate our Chef Concierge Antoine Gay for achieving his Les Clefs d’Or accreditation and joining this elite fellowship of concierge members 4000 strong worldwide. We are also delighted to have hosted our second annual Holiday Light Tour; inviting our community and visitors to enjoy the displays of our Christmas spirit hung brightly around the property while we accepting donations to support our local community’s food bank.

It has truly been a tremendous year for the Inn and our entire team. This year alone, we were honoured with the distinctions of being rated #2 in Conde Nast Traveler and #2 in Travel & Leisure magazines reader-voted awards. A little closer to home the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce presented its annual Business Excellence Awards for 2021 on November 18th. I am humbled to have been nominated and selected Business Leader of the Year and delighted to share this honour with my amazing team - each and every one of them deserve a share of this award as they make all of this possible. I am also proud to say that our entire team at the Inn has also achieved the milestone of being 100% fully immunized against the COVID-19 virus, ensuring our collective safety, that of our community and you, our guests.

As the year comes to an end, we are truly overjoyed to be celebrating the Inn’s 25th Christmas with you. We will soon be closing our doors as we do every year on Sunday, January 2nd to reflect, work on renovation and renewal, and perfect all of the elements of who we are for our re-opening on Friday, January 28th, 2022. As we look forward to welcoming the new year, I hope this season brings you warmth and joy and brings you together wherever you may be. I wish you and your families Happy Holidays and all the best in the bright days ahead of us.

Charles