Tofino Fish Pier

The Tofino Fish Pier was built in 1962 at the edge of the picturesque harbor in downtown Tofino and originally functioned as a shrimp and salmon processing facility. Over the following years, the facility was expanded multiple times, including the addition of a large ice plant that supplied deep-sea fishing vessels along the west coast of Vancouver Island with ice. Today, the pier is one of the last remaining purpose-built wooden ice plant buildings on the west coast – a relic of British Columbia’s once-prominent maritime industrial heritage.

Guided by the Nuu-chah-nulth concept of kwislap, meaning "to do things differently", Wolfgang Rieder, in collaboration with the architecture firm Leckie Studio, launched the pier’s revitalization. The aim was to preserve the architectural heritage of the dock, honor the region’s rich history and simultaneously create a safer and more inclusive space for the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations.

At its heart, the transformation of the Tofino Fish Pier is about the decolonization and adaptive reclamation of a historic landmark that originally displaced the traditional ways of life of the Nuu-chah-nulth. The pier now serves as a tool for reconciliation and community empowerment, providing space for underrepresented groups and showcasing Canada’s cultural diversity. In 2009, the five Nuu-chah-nulth nations – Ahousaht, Ehattesaht/Chinehkint, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, and Mowachaht/Muchalaht – gained the right to catch and sell all species traditionally found in their territories. The project now functions as a physical hub to fully leverage the economic, social and political potential of these rights.

After a comprehensive assessment of structural deficiencies, targeted restoration plans were developed using advanced 3D scanning, digital modeling and an integrated design approach. These plans enable extensive repairs that restore the pier’s structural integrity while preserving its historical character.

The pier’s new use follows a clear cultural and community-focused concept. The historic ice plant is converted into an exhibition and event space for First Nations artists, while the former engine room becomes a studio. The old workers’ residence at the cannery is repurposed as a fisheries office for T’aaq-wiihak organizations. The historic cannery space will serve as a versatile community hub for Indigenous marine education programs, public marine stewardship events and a seasonal pop-up waterfront café. In addition, a maritime research and education lab will be established, showcasing First Nations knowledge alongside traditional scientific methods. The redesign is complemented by a seasonal First Nations market. An expanded marina for Indigenous marine tourism, including kayaking, water taxis and whale watching, as well as a tidal park providing visitor access to the seafloor and tidal changes, will also be developed.

For its careful, culturally and architecturally sensitive execution, the project received the Canadian Architect Award of Merit in 2024. Juror Matthew Hickey noted: "Interventions that consider the significance of the site are key to designing appropriate structures. The Tofino Fish Pier is exactly that – a minimal contemporary intervention that respects the existing architecture while visually integrating into the ensemble. The project honors the past while embracing contemporary approaches to enhancing existing buildings."

The Tofino Fish Pier thus connects past and future. It remains a piece of maritime industrial history, reimagined to make First Nations’ cultural identity visible and to sustainably strengthen the Tofino community.