Tofino City Map Poster

About Tofino

Tofino is the administrative centre of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations band government. The name "Tofino" means "big island" in Nuu-chah-nulth, and refers to an island just off Clayoquot Arm that was once used as a burial site. The area around Tofino was first settled by Europeans in 1864 when John Mackenzie built a trading post at what is now called Cox Bay on Cormorant Island near Long Beach. In 1866, Captain Daniel McNeill (1812–1892) moved his family from Vancouver Island to settle at what became known as MacKenzie's Landing (later renamed Hot Springs Cove). His daughter Flora married Robert Cameron, who also settled there; their son Roderick Cameron later served as premier of British Columbia for several years during World War II and after Confederation with Canada until he died suddenly while still holding office in 1948.