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WEST COAST
JUNE 2015
TOFINO HAS A STRONG VOLUNTEER BASE Many local businesses and Chamber members are participating in the Tofino Food and Wine Festival, which runs from
TOFINO
June 5-7th
JEN DART
O
ne of our members p oi nted out at a recent Chamber event that we’re lucky to have the business community we do in Tof i no a nd I cou ld n’t ag ree more. Not only do we have a community of vibrant entrepreneu rs, but here busi ness owners work collaboratively to bring about positive impacts for the community as a whole. That mentality is also evident in the town’s volunteer base t h at suppor ts a n i ncred ible number of organizations and services. T he District of Tofino recently held an event to recognize local volunteers, and also issues volunteer awards each year. Ma ny loca l busi nesses a nd Ch a mber members a re pa rticipating in the Tofino Food and Wine Festival, which runs
f rom Ju ne 5-7 th. Gra zi ng i n the Gardens is the main event on June 6th at the Tofino Botanical Gardens, w ith ma ny other events also taking place throughout the weekend. For more information, visit www. tofinofoodandwinefestival. com. T hose who were for tu nate enoug h to attend ou r M ay Members’ Luncheon at the Ice House Oyster Bar were hosted us in style by Alan Beesley
a nd sta ff w ith fresh oysters to sta rt, fol lowed by a twocou rse lu nch. We welcomed Bill Collette from the A lbern i Va l ley Cha mber of Commerce and Sally Mole from the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce as g uest speakers to discuss regional collaboration around visitor’s services. Bill noted there is a Tofino section at the Alberni Valley Visitor’s Centre complete with a surfboard and video screen where several Tofino businesses are listed. This initiative, developed and partially funded by Tourism Tofino, is aimed at the many v i sitors on t hei r way to t he coast who stop in Port Alberni. Thanks to the many Port Alberni businesses and Chamber members that provided gifts for the business card draw – we were overwhelmed with your generosity! Our members also have the opportunity for regional marketing at both the Pacific Rim Visitor’s Centre (at the junction) and the Ucluelet Chamber of Com merce. Sa l ly a nd her team at the Ucluelet Chamber are also busily preparing for the Edge-to-Edge Marathon on Sunday, June 14th. Volunteers are still needed, so if you’re in the area, visit www.edgetoedgemarathon.com for more information.
TLBCC president Jennifer Steven welcoming members Here at the Tofino Chamber, we have just received economic development funding from the District of Tofino to develop our Buy Local and Made in Tofino program that will focus on the positive impacts of buying locally, and also highlight products unique to this area. I will share more details about t h i s e xcit i n g prog ra m a s it develops. The Tofino Public Market recently started up again for the su m mer season. Held ever y Saturday from 10am-2pm on the Village Green until Labour Day, the market allows vendors who Make it, Bake It, Grow It or Gather It to offer their wares. T h e r e ’s e v e r y t h i n g f r o m locally made jewelry and
cloth i ng, to coffee, ta ma les and bread products, and much more. New t h i s ye a r i s Tofino-grown fresh produce from the Tofino Community Food Initiative, a group focused on loca l food production. T h is group of volu nteers a lso recently presented at our Green Breakfast meeting about their efforts, which include dispelling the myth that food can’t be grown on the west coast. If you’re in town on the weekend this summer, be sure to check out the market in the centre of town. Jen Dart is Executive Director of the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.
EDGE TO EDGE MARATHON APPROACHING
WEST COAST SALLY MOLE
W
e are definitely experiencing a busy atmosphere here in our little tow n, compared to past years. Recently, cou nci l a nd Chamber board members teamed up for a series of business walks through town. One of the questions we asked on the walk was a rou nd per m i ssive ta x exemptions for a business doing major façade or frontage improvements. We’d b e i n te re s te d i n hearing from other communities that might have explored this same option. Some of t he com mon issues cited i ncluded c o n c e r n s a b o u t p a rki ng, sig nage a nd bylaw
Spinnakers up enforcement. It was great to touch in with our local businesses and not only hear their concerns, but also about their successes and future goals. It is so nice to touch base with the many new businesses establishing themselves this year. It looks to be a busy year for us, so we are all putting our shiny faces on! The Chamber is gearing up for a busy June, with the Edge to Edge Marathon taking place June 14, and we’re expecting over 400 runners, plus supporters, coming to town. Part of the race will take place on the Wild Pacific Trail, recently named the number one outdoor attraction in BC.
As the runners start crossing the finish line, yachts competing in the Van Isle 360 sailing race around Vancouver Island will start to arrive in our harbor T he Ch a mb er i s bu sy pl a n n i n g a welcom i n g ba rbecue a nd awa rds ceremony June 16 in partnership with the Westerly News and Solidarity Snacks. The community will come together for a big send-off at the lighthouse as the next leg of the race starts June 17. Sally Mole is Executive Director of the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce at 1604 Peninsula Rd.