2017 CANADA
SPRING SUMMER
BC 1871
BEAUTIFUL BRITISH COLUMBIA
THE COAST WITH THE MOST
BY CHARLES MCDIARMID
The managing director of the family-owned Wickaninnish Inn , Charles adopted the dream of his parents , who first acquired the original property in the 1950s . Within 18 months of opening “ The Wick ” in 1997 , it earned the prestigious Relais & Chateaux stamp of approval . The property was featured in the Spring 2016 issue of Six Star .
PHOTOGRAPHY : ( TOP ) DESTINATION BRITISH COLUMBIA ; ( BELOW ) MICHAEL BECKER
For visitors wanting to explore the best of British Columbia this summer , I recommend you start your journey in the Okanagan Valley . Whether it ’ s for the day , or for several days , you ’ ll relish the best of our food and wine . Once satiated , wind your way back to the lower mainland of the province . Of course , a detour out towards the Islands is always in order .
Ferry-hop the Gulf Islands of the South , or perhaps the Discovery Islands of the North . You need to take in Victoria — the harbour , Butchart Gardens — and seek out other endless opportunities to explore the west coast of Vancouver . If nothing else , take in a sunset on the Pacific Ocean . ( Oh , and make sure to sample our Dungeness crab !)
If you make it to our neck of the woods , Tofino , you ’ ll find a town woven from the rugged fabric of the many different movements of time . Pioneering families of the 1950s ventured here when no road existed . The logging , industrial and fishing trades forged gravel paths that washed out with the tides . The hippies of the ‘ 60s found us at the ‘ end of their road ’ and called us home , as did antiwar activists and our current collection of green living advocates .
What makes the people of Tofino — and , for that matter , the people of BC — so unique from the rest of Canada ? Our landscape . Our geography has shaped people to reflect an adventurous , rugged spirit and a willingness to get lost in the pursuit of discovery . We are willing to leave the comfort of home in order to explore and to learn .
Canada Day will be a special one for our family this year . For starters , we ’ ll be out on our new deck , enjoying the comings and goings of Chesterman Beach . We ’ ll then hit the 1st Street Dock so we can watch the fireworks that will be launched from out on a barge in the water . It ’ s always a special sight ; this year , it should be better than ever .
22 six star magazine