Enjoy the slow, scenic route to Tofino
There’s a mellower way to explore Vancouver Island
Getting here is more TOFINO, B.C. than half the fun when you take the slow boat(s) to Vancouver Island’s wild west coast.
Sure, you can make it from Vancouver in a day that includes a ferry ride across the Georgia Strait, a Nanaimo-to-Parksville highway slog and a two-and-a-half-hour Highway 4 jaunt to surfing’s “Tough City” — but there’s a mellower, more West Coast way to go.
It starts with a good ride. I was testing a snazzy 2017 Honda Ridgeline for the jaunt. It’s certainly a smoother ride than most rivals, but this truck’s sophistication was a treat on a twisty road trip that starts with:
HORSESHOE BAY TO THE SUNSHINE COAST
It doesn’t get much more hippie dippy West Coast than pulling into the eclectic Langdale ferry lineup and bellying up to the Good Karma Cafe on the terminal apron. It’s all organic here, folks … and you get 10 cents off if you bring your own mug. This should set you up nicely for the scenic 40-minute cruise across Howe Sound that will get you to the town of Gibsons.
Yep, the ghosts of Bruno Gerussi and his Beachcombers gang still happily haunt this seaside hamlet — but so do funky boutiques and a great little art gallery. There are also a few good watering hole/dining options on the waterfront if you’re in the mood. Linger as long as you like, you have no schedule for the rest of day, aside from driving the hour or so of beautiful scenery that lands you in …
PENDER HARBOUR
This watery wonderland offers a host of places to hide in, with names like Middlepoint, Madeira Park, Francis Peninsula, Kleindale, Garden Bay, Irvines Landing, Daniel Point and nearby Egmont. Every twisty turn reveals another gorgeous bay that will have you reliving great family vacations of yesteryear.
To keep that vibe going, check into a cabin, yurt or hotel room at the laid-back Pender Harbour Resort & Marina. Dinner and drinks can be found at the fancy Painted Boat Resort (20 minutes by truck) or renovated Grasshopper Pub (15 minutes), both in Madeira Park.
If you thought ahead, though, you’ll be content to fire up a barbie right where you are, and head to the end of the dock afterward to watch the sun sink amid bobbing boats. Stay up late if you want … it’s only a 20-minute drive to Earl’s Cove for your beautiful ferry ride to Saltery Bay and …
POWELL RIVER
Paper put this town on the map, and pride keeps it going. History is the draw here, but there’s plenty of youthful thinking going on, too.
The main drag houses some fine local art galleries/boutiques and dining options that range from sleek urban chic, to loco-Latin, to a quaint curry hut.
A typical new home in Metro Vancouver has air leakage rates of five to six times per hour. Nathan Stone, cofounder of Odessa Group, is building homes with half that — or 2.5 air changes per hour — thus meeting stringent energy efficiency standards, but at minimal extra cost to the homeowners.
Instead of using ultrahigh performance mechanical systems or materials, Stone is relying mainly on quality building techniques and support from BC Hydro to achieve his goals. As a result, Phase 1 of Harrison Highlands, a subdivision in Agassiz currently under construction by Odessa Group, is drawing attention for the homes’ ENERGY STAR® certification, as well as being an affordable investment for seniors, families, and those seeking a unique lifestyle experience.
Harrison Highlands features craftsman style homes on expansive view lots with majestic water vistas of the Harrison and Fraser rivers. The two- to four-bedroom ranchers and 1½- and twostorey residences come with a choice of well-appointed expansion/upgrade options.
Stone, who has been in the construction business for 18 years, took an interest early on in the many ways energy efficiency could be improved in the residential sector. “I’ve always been curious, plus more and more home owners are concerned about energy use,” he said. “Also, on a business level, I was motivated to build homes that were futureproof, meaning they would accommodate changing building code regulations.”
Stone was mindful that many so-called green initiatives were costly. But organizations like the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) are helping to drive innovation in the industry and accelerate the construction of affordable energyefficient homes. For example, the CHBA launched its Net Zero Labelling Program in May to formally recognize, promote and support the construction of Net Zero homes, which produce as much energy as they consume. Some of the earliest Net Zero homes built in Canada cost $100,000 or more than a home built to code. As the materials and technology to build these homes have become cheaper and easier to access, a typical Net Zero home can now cost an extra $40,000 to $60,000 in construction costs.
Stone’s business instincts compelled him to take a different path toward enhanced efficiency: “I kept incrementally improving construction,” he said, adding that a focus on creating superior building envelopes with high quality insulation and windows is crucial in improving a building’s energy performance.
When Stone first crossed paths on a professional level with BC Hydro in 2014, he and his older brother Heath were building homes with air change rates per hour of between 3.5 and four, “which is not bad at all compared to the average new home built today,” said Cynthia Curll, program manager, residential new construction for the utility. “Nathan learned about our New Home program, which was developed for builders looking to achieve a certain energy performance level. He decided to participate and further improved his building standards at Harrison Highlands with help from us.”
A year later, in 2015, upgrades to the BC Building Code encouraged BC Hydro to increase the required performance level for its program and reshape its program offer. “It was designed to ensure that builders met ENERGY STAR® for New Homes levels of performance — and, to his credit, Nathan embraced the challenge of building to this standard,” Curll said. Originating in the U.S., ENERGY STAR® takes a holistic approach to energy efficiency in products and homes, and has saved $362 billion on utility bills in that country alone since 1992.
Achieving ENERGY STAR® standards required bringing a certified energy advisor on board, to ensure the builder was supported appropriately throughout the construction process. “Our advisor helped us assess design plans and made cost-efficient recommendations on how to achieve our performance goals,” Stone said.
The resulting strategies included incorporating midconstruction air leakage testing on several homes, to improve air tightness. Stone also scheduled several hours of additional caulking and spray-foaming time, which has since become part of Odessa’s standard practice. Other incorporated strategies include extra insulation under slab, including a fresh-air ventilation system (heat recovery ventilator) and all-LED lighting.
Stone said the support given by BC Hydro was crucial to his success. “For small builders, lack of support in providing on-going advice often prevents them from going to the next level in terms of energy efficiency,” he explained. “BC Hydro was with us every step of the way, and it remains a great relationship today because its people are just as excited as we are about the potential for improving building performance while keeping homes affordable.”