Thank You Tofino for 50 Years of Community

As our 2023, 50th Anniversary celebrations unfold, the spotlight has been on new and returning guests that have been making memories at Pacific Sands Beach Resort for generations. We are equally grateful for the community of Tofino that has helped make it all possible. To commemorate our enduring connections in the community, Pacific Sands has donated $50,000 each to three organizations: Raincoast Education Society, Clayoquot Sound Theatre, and Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks.

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From loyal friends and guests to the extraordinary people of Tofino, Pacific Sands has been creating community and connection since 1973.

“These past five decades have been quite a journey for Pacific Sands and this incredibly supportive community has played a huge role,” declared General Manager, Sabrina Donovan. “So as part of our 50th Anniversary, and the ripple-effect of gratitude in our community, we’re honoured to support Tofino education, arts, and culture by dividing this $150,000 special donation amongst these three organizations.”

Raincoast Education Society

From full-scale UNESCO Biosphere Reserve projects to Summer Kids Camps right here at Pacific Sands, the mandate of the Raincoast Education Society is to protect shorelines, wildlife, and sustainable living. This future-focussed group specializes in youth and adult education via a broad range of high-quality educational and interpretive programs including a speaker series, summer camps, school programs, and events focused on the natural environment, cultures, and communities of the Clayoquot and Barkley Sound region.

The $50,000 Pacific Sands donation will help fund Raincoast Field School—along with maintenance on their 18-seat bus—which is an outdoor education program in collaboration with the teachers at the Tofino and Ucluelet elementary schools.

Mark Maftei, Executive Director of Raincoast Education Society, enthusiastically stated, “Our Field School reaches every single kid in the Tofino and Ucluelet area, and we run over 200 field trips a year, so this level of funding support is tremendous. In fact, it’s one of the most significant donations we’ve ever received. We are very grateful to Pacific Sands as a longtime, community partner.”

Clayoquot Sound Theatre

Since 1983, the Clayoquot Sound Theatre has been performing plays and hosting musicians out of a small yet magical black box venue on Campbell Street, and now—thanks to the $50,000 donation from Pacific Sands that has topped up fundraising efforts—the Theatre can finalize the grant for renovations that will increase capacity, natural light, and all of the important touches that make a community theatre so great.

“After almost four years of fundraising, this donation from Pacific Sands has helped us reach our goal to apply for final grant to start renovations,” affirmed Sophie L’Homme, Clayoquot Sound Theatre Manager. “It also is enabling us to buy sound equipment and fund this year’s Tofino Jazz Festival, which is going to be a fantastic, 3-day, free and ticketed venue entertainment event for locals and visitors this coming weekend: June 23-25.

“It’s so great to see Tofino’s arts culture really coming alive. Our goal is to not only bring more diverse culture to Tofino, but to also inspire youth and enhance the tourism experience. So, when we can get support and donations from the town and local organizations like Pacific Sands, it’s the golden key to be able to apply for additional grants to keep the spirit of entertainment arts thriving in our community.”

Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks

With a goal to uphold the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations’ relationship and responsibilities to its homeland—including guiding, balancing, and informing newcomers and tourists—Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks restore rivers impacted by logging, revitalize salmon habitats, remediate dune-grass habitats, maintain trails, and more.

Pacific Sands is pleased to contribute $50,000 to these important cultural and environmental efforts.

Watch this video for an interesting overview on the historical foundation and significance of Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks’ model.