Pettinger Legacy Lives On – Tourism Bursary Awarded

If you ever met Bill Pettinger over the years, you’d remember… especially his kindness and generosity, his passion for life and his love for Pacific Sands.

It was Bill and his wife Joan that discovered and bought “Pacific Paradise Motel” in 1972.  From guests he called friends and a resort team he called family, Bill was a legendary visionary that knew ambition when he saw it.  Which is why it’s not surprising Bill made sure “big dreams” were a part of him and his beloved’s legacy.

Joan passed in 1999 and Bill in 2007 at which point The Bill and Joan Pettinger Tourism Bursary was established – a $3,000 annual bursary benefiting a local Ucluelet Senior Secondary graduate continuing their education in a tourism/hospitality program at an accredited college or university. 

Fast forward four years and we’re thrilled to announce Emily Lamarche is the first graduate to fit Bill’s criteria.  Officially awarded the Pettinger Bursary at a ceremony on June 4, Emily’s headed to Camosun College in Victoria BC where she’ll study business administration with a focus on hotel management.  

Born and raised in Tofino, Emily was exposed to tourism from the outset and inspired by her mom’s vacation rental business.  She has a busy schedule ahead as she gets ready to go south to Victoria… and misses her friends already.  But she also looks forward to starting her career with a hotel there and is hinting about aspirations to travel and work in other parts of the world. 

Congratulations Emily!  We wish you best of the best at school and with your career.  Good luck, be good, live large… and don’t forget you can always come home.  Who knows, maybe there’s a place for you at Pacific Sands some day (?)