Tofino and Clayoquot Sound: A History

by Margaret Horsfield, Ian Kennedy

Clayoquot Sound, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island is not only a place of extraordinary raw beauty, but also a region with a rich heritage and fascinating past.
"Tofino and Clayoquot Sound" delves into all facets of the region's history, bringing to life the chronicle that started with the dramatic upheavals of geological formation and continues to the present day. The book tours through the history of the Hesquiaht, Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht as well as other nations that inhabited the area in earlier times. It documents the arrival of Spanish, British and American traders on the coast and their avid greed for sea otter pelts. It follows the development of the huge fur seal industry and its profound impact on the coast. It tracks the establishment of reserve lands and two residential schools. The coming of World War II is discussed, as is the installation of a large Air Force base near Tofino, which changed the town and area dramatically. From here the story spirals into the post-road period. With gravel and asphalt came tourism, newcomers, the counter-culture of the 1960s, the establishment of Pacific Rim National Park and, of course, surfing. The book also addresses logging--which became the main industry in the area--and its questionable practices, going into detail about the "War in the Woods"--the world-famous conflict and largest mass arrest in Canadian history.
A place is shaped by its people, and Horsfield and Kennedy highlight notable figures of past and present: the merchants, the missionaries, the sealers and the settlers; the eternally optimistic prospectors; the Japanese fishermen and their families; the hippies; the storm- and whale-watchers; the First Nations elders and leaders.
Offering an overall survey of the history of the area, "Tofino and Clayoquot Sound" is extensively researched and illustrated with historic photos and maps; it evokes the spirit and culture of the area and illuminates how the past has shaped the present.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

640 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2014

Reviews

[Tom Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This history book of my hometown is a gift wrapped in a dust jacket waiting to be opened by some fortunate Hollywood producer. The history of this area staring in the late 1700s to modern day is incredible. The sinking, burning, hijacking of various trade ships. The endless boom-and-bust cycles, from sea otters to herring roe. The fortunes made. The countless lives lost at sea. The injustices from culture clashes, the ravages of disease, the fortitude of peoples living on a raw coast on the Pacific Northwest where if its storms and occasional tsunamis don’t drown you its 200-plus-days of precipitation falling on a temperate rainforest just might. Authors Horsfield and Kennedy use lean language to clearly convey their research attained by meticulously pouring through the archives and talking with those alive to tell the stories. This is a book I wish I read back when it was first published, the history of my fantastic home, Tofino, Canada. It is a rich resource for my current novel.

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[Becca Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because I had a trip planned to Tofino, and it was certainly informational but super dry and slow. I actually finished it over a month after my trip since it was so hard to get thru, I feel like maybe 40-50% of this could’ve been cut out and I still would’ve retained about as much information. The author and the locals clearly love this area of BC so much, and it is so easy to see why. Thanks y’all for fighting so hard to preserve the natural beauty and make it a welcoming tourist destination. My trip was deff 5/5 :) It was definitely a privilege to visit!

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I specifically got this book out to read Chapter 21: The War in the Woods. I was interested to learn more about the Clayoquot Sound protests and any parallels with the current protests to stop Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline.

The chapter provides a general overview. It does not go into great detail about the mass arrests during summer 1993. Citations would have been helpful for continued reading and research.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and well-researched history of Tofino and Clayoquot Sound. It’s hard to capture thousands of years of history for any area but this book captures the key moments of the past few hundred years of this area. Many of the chapters could be (and many are) full length books in themselves but the summation of key events is very informative. An enjoyable read while hanging out in Tofino for a few weeks.