The Tofino Guide to Gifts & People

by Tofino Time Magazine

The giving of gifts has come to mean Christmas, and the season itself. The gifting is what all the advertising is about and what can lead to excess baggage in one's life. How does one navigate through such a pervasive and commercial season? Some try to avoid it altogether, some love to shop, some try to find a spiritual path, some circle with uncertainty, others dive deep into the waters of traditions both young and old.

Here are some locally made gift ideas for the rather diverse and often idiosyncratic population of Tofino.

 

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For those from here and away who love to read.
Local literature to evoke the feeling of the coast and its people.

"Silent Inlet" by Joanna Streetly, "Chasing Clayoquot" by David Pitt-Brook or "The Wild Edge" by Jacqueline Windh.
Available at: Wildside Booksellers

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For the Carpenter.
Gift certificate for lunch at Sobo's

Available at: Sobo

Gift Certificate for a massage.

Available from: the many masseuses and spas in town.

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For the pagan.
Make some candles at home

Roll up colourful sheets of beeswax with wick inside and presto! Happy Solstice!

Supplies available at:
The Crow's Nest, Ucluelet.

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For the disenchanted and cynical. Also for the hopeless romantic.
Tofino Stone Poetry by Jan McDougall.

"Choose your stone, choose your poem." This little gift works for who loves to stand high up on rocky crevices, clutching their hearts, singing to the sea... It can be tossed into the ocean like a message in a bottle for some future beach walker to receive.

Available at:
Reflecting Spirit gallery.

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For the recovering romantic.
A hot stone massage.

To help balance chakras and ground that flighty energy.

Available from: Pretty much any masseuse in Tofino.

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For the Toddler in your life.
A handknitted hat.

Choose from different knitters, each with their own style - textured yarn, froggy shaped, and more...

Available at: The Lounge Collection and Shorewind Gallery.

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For the surfer.
A Cold Surf Company leash.

A locally shaped surfboard.
Available at your local surf shop.

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For the want to be surfer.
A gift certificate for surf lessons.

Available from: One of the many Surf schools in town.

 

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For those who love.
Chocolate from Chocolate Tofino.

Chocolates hand formed with loving care and attention to taste and form.

Available at: Chocolate Tofino.

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For the absentee landowner.
Subscription to The Westerly News

Available at:
The Westerly News, Box 317
Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
(250) 726-7029

westnews@ukeecable.net

 

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For the art lover.
Art by Aaron Marshall

Reproductions, in sticker form of some of the fantastical magic painted by Tofino Artist Aaron Marshal.
Or go for the print.

Available at:
The Lounge Collection

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For the sculler living on the edges where water meets land.
Knitted woolen warm hats and mittens.

Available at: The Winter's People Art Show.

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For the pugnacious person.
A gift certificate for a relaxing stint at one of the local spas.

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For children.
A Swim Pass.

Available at:
MacKenzie Beach Resort.

One of Adrienne Mason's book's for children.

Available at:
Wildside Booksellers.

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For the grandparent.
Hand made gifts.

Get out the paint, glue, collections of cedar sprigs, salal leaves, shells, etc... Make cards and little ornaments. Made with love and stickiness.

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For the hardy westcoaster.
A bicycle tune-up.

The price of gas is up, why not take your bike to work instead - Gift certificate for tune-up to make your winter riding - blissful.

Available from: Marc Vezina

 

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For those living in bushes, tents, campers, vans, and other such dwellings.
Stone candle holders made by Alex Cutler.

Available at:
Reflecting Spirit Gallery

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For the westcoast prima donna.
Hoodie by Dianne.

Available at:
The Lounge Collection.

Capelet & wand by Lisa Jewel.

She makes stockings too!

Available at: Boutique Upstairs.

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For purveyors of body art.
There are many shapers of metal and twisters of wire, and beaders of beads in this town.

Available at: The Winter's People Art Show. Most local galleries carry local work.

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For the mermaid in your life.
Bubbling bath salts

Various scents to refresh or calm.

Available at: Fiber Options

 

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For the parents of small children, the computer geek, and those who work more than one job.
A sampling of salves, and tonics from clayoquot botanicals - to keep the body buzzing.

Available from: Tofitian.

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For a made-in-Tofino binge

go to the Winter's People art show at the Tofino Community Hall on Sunday Dec 11, from 11:00 - 4:00, where local artisans are selling their arts and crafts.