Our Story

A Legacy of the Tofino Botanical Gardens

After 24 years of operating as the Tofino Botanical Gardens, the stunning 10-acre property was purchased in 2021 by the IPCA Innovation Program–a project of MakeWay Charitable Society. Ownership of the property has since transferred to the Clayoquot Indigenous Conservation Innovation Centre. Renaming of the site came with former owner George Patterson’s blessing, who remains involved as an advisor.

A Meaningful Shift

While elements of the original gardens will live on, the Clayoquot Campus will shift its focus to supporting and upholding Indigenous governance, knowledge, and culture. The Ecolodge, which has been renamed the IISAAK Learning Lodge, will remain a place of education, with programming transitioning to a focus on Indigenous-led conservation and related topics. Darwin’s Café has been renamed čukʷaa haʔuk Café, meaning "come, let’s feast" in the spirit of feasting on knowledge, in Nuu-chah-nulth. The gardens have been renamed the Naa’Waya’Sum Coastal Indigenous Gardens, a reference to traditional Nuu’chah’nulth cedar benches used for knowledge sharing and observation among the older and younger generations. Clayoquot Campus will be the inaugural satellite campus of the Pacific IPCA Innovation Centre, which will grow to include a network of campuses across the Pacific region (from Alaska to Costa Rica) for gathering and sharing ideas, creative solutions, and knowledge to support Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs).