From Sea to Studio: Celebrating Ucluelet’s Women in Art and Business
A hub for creativity, Ucluelet has quietly emerged as a hidden gem for women-led businesses and arts, where innovation and community thrive amidst the wild landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, Ucluelet has transformed from a quaint fishing village into a flourishing tourism hub, attracting guests from around the world drawn to its coastal views and welcoming community. In the center of this transformation are the women of Ucluelet—entrepreneurs and changemakers—shaping its identity and redefining what it means to lead with heart and creativity.
In today’s blog post, we’re celebrating these individuals and businesses who encompass a diverse and expansive understanding of what it’s like to live and create in Ucluelet, as well as the challenges and successes they’ve experienced along the way.
Redefining “Success” and The Realities of Female Entrepreneurship
Running a business anywhere comes with challenges, but for businesses in Ucluelet, those challenges can be heightened by the town’s remote location and its heavy reliance on seasonal tourism. “Over the last few years, it has been challenging to work seasonally and balance being busy with tourism in the summer, and finding other unique ways to stay busy when the season slows down,” says Karla Strickland of local ceramics studio and shop Kay Ceramics. Female entrepreneurs here also face systemic barriers—including limited access to funding and gender biases—that mirror those experienced by other women in business globally. On top of that, businesses sometimes have to contend with the local hurdles of longer supply chains and staffing issues.
Lily Verney-Downey of Pluvio Restaurant and Rooms says, “Running a business in a remote coastal town comes with challenges—limited resources, staffing shortages, and the seasonal nature of tourism. As a female entrepreneur, I’ve also had to navigate assumptions and biases that still exist in the industry.” Despite the obstacles, Verney-Downey and others have shown remarkable resilience, turning these challenges into opportunities to innovate and adapt. Their success is a testament to the power of perseverance and creative problem-solving.
For female-driven business, building support networks to share knowledge, offer mentorship, and foster a sense of community that uplifts one another is incredibly important to limit that feeling of isolation in the work you do. Warren continues, “I envision women entrepreneurs continuing to lift each other up, sharing knowledge and mentorship to create more supportive and inclusive workplaces.” And as Jeneva Touchie of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government puts it, “When there is a lot of support for one another, we all win.”
Highlighting the Women Shaping Ucluelet’s Tourism Landscape
One of the most inspiring aspects of Ucluelet today is the breadth of women-led businesses that now form the backbone of the town’s art and business scenes. These businesses offer a wide array of experiences, from guided marine adventures to hands-on ceramics studios, all of which reflect the passion and creativity of their owners and staff.
Lynette-Dawson Summerfeldt of Cameron Ocean Adventures, which offers whale watching tours in the area, is a wonderful example of this. “My job was kind of non-traditional for women when I started,” she says. Despite initial resistance from some in the male-dominated marine industry, Summerfeldt persevered with support of her colleagues and now works for a successful ocean adventure business that welcomes tourists eager to experience Ucluelet’s coastal wonders. She reflects on the way the town has grown, noting that Ucluelet now boasts several women in marine roles: “I think it’s fantastic! Like everyone here, we sometimes have to wait for supplies, but it makes us more resourceful and creative.”
Creativity and resourcefulness are traits echoed by other entrepreneurs in Ucluelet. Karla Strickland of Kay Ceramics offers pottery classes in her studio, which has become a gathering place for both tourists and locals. “Creating unique and authentic experiences for visitors is, I think, an important part of providing a tourist-based economy,” she says. Strickland’s business is a reflection of her belief in the power of shared spaces and the role of art in connecting people.
The balance between work and family life can also present additional challenges. Diane Rudge of The Den Quality Goods & Refillery, a mother and business owner, speaks candidly about the difficulties of managing both roles, particularly in a small town with limited resources for childcare. “Trying to balance both work and mom life is something all women face if they want to start a family. Living a slightly more rural life adds to that with fewer resources for things like daycare,” Rudge shares. Her determination to create a lifestyle that honors both her family and her business speaks to the strength and adaptability of Ucluelet’s female entrepreneurs.
The Ripple Effect: Female Leadership and Community Impact
The women-led businesses of Ucluelet are not only driving the town’s growth but are also reshaping its cultural identity. Their commitment to inclusion, mentorship, and sustainability has created a ripple effect that inspires future leaders and fosters collaboration across sectors. Their impact goes beyond their individual businesses—they are collectively redefining what leadership looks like in tourism.
“Our work at The Den has helped create year round secure employment. We operate our business twelve months of the year, and maintain regular hours during the slower tourism seasons,” says Rudge, “by diversifying our business through both business to customer and business to business, we have been able to create stable secure jobs for our employees and have become a reliable business for other businesses in the area.”
As more women step into leadership roles, they bring fresh perspectives and values that emphasize community, sustainability, and support for others. “When women thrive as entrepreneurs, entire communities benefit,” says Lily Verney-Downey of Pluvio. This sentiment rings true in Ucluelet, where women’s contributions are felt in every corner of the town.
Here’s a few other female-led businesses to add to your Ucluelet travel itinerary:
Don’t see your business listed? Send us an email for a revision request to add your business to this growing list of female-led businesses.
