Tofino and its Community 2004

by Adam Buskard

As this new year gets ushered in all frosty and clear I can’t help but wonder what it will hold for us. As a community we are walking the windy path of a town fighting to remain a community and a tourist destination working to be vibrant and attractive. This balance I feel will be found, and Tofino will flourish for all of us.

I’m excited that ground has been broken at the skatepark and that there is no looking back now. Congratulations to the folks who worked so hard to make that happen. They are a great example of people seeing a need and stepping up to make it happen.

Surfing has continued to grow as a driving force in the community with cars lined up from here to the pass with boards on top, summer and winter alike. It is great to see the native youth getting into the sport and their involvement at the surf jam was fantastic. Between riding the winter swells and watching them from shore Tofino is becoming more and more of a four season destination.

Congratulations to SoBo for successfully defending their Oyster festival trophy. This years surf and turf oyster crisp was phenomenal. Despite the Tofino rains both the Food and Wine Festival and the Lantern Festival in the Botanical Gardens were great successes. These people in our community that take the time and risk of organizing such event really are the pulse of our town.

Congratulations to everyone for a great year and best of luck in 2005.