Riding the Wave: Pacific Rim Surf Stories Exhibition opening makes waves in Tofino, celebrating surf history

Written by Abigail Franceschetti, Museum Intern. Edited by Marcia Pound, former Museum Manager.

On Sunday July 14th, the Tofino Clayoquot Heritage Museum opened its new exhibition, Riding the Wave: Pacific Rim Surf Stories. Excited guests visited the museum for our opening celebration to get a first look at the exhibition. The festivities started with a land acknowledgement given by the museum manager and the exhibition’s curator, Marcia Pound. Steve Bernard, the museum’s Board of Directors President, shared some kind remarks to the audience and thanked everyone involved in the exhibition’s development.  

Guests took to the museum, learning about Tofino’s surfing history and culture. Riding the Wave highlights many aspects of surf history, from individual surf stories, to how Tofino became Canada’s surf capital. The exhibition features unique artifacts on loan from local surf icons.  

In collaboration with the exhibition, mułaa - Rising Tide Surf Team is currently selling a variety of their merchandise, including a surf break poster, and two different postcards, at the museum. All the proceeds go to supporting the Nuu-chah-nulth youth surf team.  

The Tofino Clayoquot Heritage Museum would like to thank everyone who contributed to the development of Riding the Wave: Pacific Rim Surf Stories! We are grateful for the support, feedback, and guidance the community has given us throughout the creation process. Riding the Wave: Pacific Rim Surf Stories runs from July 14th to August 25th, 2024, at the Tofino Clayoquot Heritage Museum. The museum is open 7 days a week, from 11am to 5pm. Come check out this radical exhibition before it is too late!