Tofino Hummingbird Cottage: Across from Chesterman Beach -"Serenity by the Sea"

When Vivienne O’Keeffe first set foot in Tofino, she knew she had come to a rare location in the world – a place alive with healing energy set in the wild, magical beauty of the Pacific. Surrounded by ancient forests and guardian mountains, the magnetic power of this village on Vancouver Island’s western edge attracts those seeking renewal of body, mind and spirit. As a wellness consultant who specializes in curating guest experiences, Vivienne is attuned to places that are elixirs of the soul. Originally from Ireland, she grew up attuned to sacred sites, and lyrical landscapes.
In Tofino, the healing energy is compelling: Vivienne felt called to share it with people seeking renewal: urban dwellers craving respite or those needing a sabbatical from their daily lives. She wanted to give visitors the experience of coming home – to themselves – in a space conducive to relaxing, self-directed retreats, or wellness sabbaticals.
In her work, Vivienne had witnessed the toll of chronic busyness and stress on people’s mental and physical wellbeing. Vivienne bought a property just a breath away from the sandy, wild expanse of iconic Chesterman Beach and built Tofino Hummingbird Cottage, a retreat of extraordinary beauty, tranquility and sustainability - not a typical vacation rental, but a place to be use as a form of pause, as described by author Joan Anderson, “…it is a time apart in solitude, a precious space in which we can see our world in a different light – acknowledge the grief, celebrate the gifts, and honor our own unique spirit without worrying about how others see us or what jobs still have to be done.” Hummingbirds are often drawn to places of such tranquility. Two of them came to Vivienne one evening while she was meditating at the property. “The joy and surprise of hummingbirds gave conception to the cottage,” she says. “The vision took flight and I was given the gift of courage and confidence to set about the process of building a sanctuary from scratch.”