Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
22 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
31
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Hello Workawayers,
Thanks for viewing our profile - may your travels be full of adventure , safe and rewarding, stay healthy. Audrey and I have been hosting couples ever since Covid to reduce the risks associated with the virus . We have now decided when ever possible we would prefer to continue to host couples,
We and I have two homes for our guests to enjoy, the first is in the beautiful mountain community of Canmore and is our primary home. We also have a second weekend home in the Alberta foothills, our Millarville farm. We spend time with our workaway guests between both of these properties. There is always lots to do at the farm, repairing and building fences , cleaning up our wood lot, gardening and numerous do it yourself (DIY) jobs, painting and carpentry. There are also jobs to do at our Canmore home, daily chores such as house keeping, yard work and general maintenance, as well as DIY projects.
Because we spend time at both of our homes and there is more to do at the farm we do prefer that our workawayers take their days off when we are in Canmore.
Canmore is a great outdoor life style community , with lots of outdoor activities hiking, climbing, canoeing, snowshoeing, skiing, and beautiful mountain scenery, there are lots of summer and winter activities. Millarville is beautiful farm with a year around stream , we have large raised garden beds and the opportunity to work with nature and learn about Alberta. There are great farmers markets, biking, and hiking in the area as well.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Events & social
Culture
Charity work
Gardening
Cooking & food
Camping
Nature
Mountain
Outdoor activities
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Audrey and I have travelled through Europe, South America and much of North America, including Mexico and parts of Central America. We are happy to share our experiences and advise if asked.
We along with our sons have lived in other countries and have enjoyed learning about different cultures. Our youngest son now lives in Scotland and the second is married with twin son and daughter.
We both love meeting new people and sharing our and your life experiences and skills with each other. We both have been a volunteer leaders Audrey with the Canmore Highland Games and me with the Calgary Stampede for more than 40 years and love helping people learn and contribute to community.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We just built a new building at Millarville and did a lot of the work ourselves, carpentry, electrical, insulation, etc. We also have new work projects of a similar but much smaller nature ongoing. We have a large garden that needs the normal care spring sowing (May, June), weeding (July, August), and harvesting ( August, Sept, Oct) gardening does not start until late April and finishes in October. We also manage our tree lot with chain sawing trees, and cutting firewood. While in Canmore there is less to do but we do have yard work, house work and chores around the house, and some painting and deep cleaning. We always encourage our guests to help with the preparation of meals, clean up after, and participation in preparing a meal from their culture. There is no shortage of food or great conversation at our dinner table. Our work days starts after breakfast (weekends it is eggs, bacon, hash browns, fruit, juice, milk and coffee and perhaps pancakes) weekdays are normally lighter with cereals, eggs, yogurts, fruit, juice, milk and coffee. On the weekends we normally start work around 10 am and stop for a light snack during the day and finish with a hardy meals around 5 or 6 PM. We are omnivores so there will be meat protein at almost all afternoon meals.
Many of our workdays at the farm finish with time spent around a campfire.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Audrey and I are working on learning and speaking Spanish .
Accommodation
While staying in Canmore you stay in our home in a private bedroom with its own bathroom and living area. At our Millarville property we have a guest bedroom and bath in the main house, we also have an RV with multiple sleeping areas and bathroom.
All meals are normally prepared and eaten together as a family. There will always be plenty of food at every meal. As workaway hosts you are our guests but we appreciate your help with making dinners, clean up after and sharing kitchen duties. We sometimes have wine or beer with meals, or around the campfire. We are happy to share but do ask that you check with us before helping yourself and consuming these drinks.
What else ...
We normally start our day with a good breakfast and then have one or two short breaks for refreshments and snacks during the day and finish with a large meal at the end of the work day. We try and work extra hours at Millarville and then provide our workaway guests with more time off in Canmore. Both of our properties offer lots to do, but Canmore is world famous for its beauty and outdoor activities. Summer, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, site seeing. Winter offers both great down hill and cross country skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife photography, and site seeing. Our home at Millarville has our horses, biking, hiking, and fishing in the stream. There are also farmers markets and three lovely small communities within a ten minute drive.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have great WIFI at both properties and with the time change between Western Canada and Europe it has been easy for our digital nomads to work from both properties. Both homes have amble space to allow digital nomads privacy and quiet works areas.
Space for parking camper vans
We have loads of room for vans and campers at Millarville, space is somewhat limited to street parking in Canmore.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (15)
If you're lucky enough to share a moment with them, you'll know what I mean.
The accommodation is really perfect, whether in Canmore or at the Ranch, I felt as comfortable as in a hotel. As for the meals, what can I say!
All the food and dishes from them… read more
The accomodation is nothing short of perfect at both of their locations and the work is more than fair. They make a huge effort to make you feel home and as apart of the family. We felt so… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
If you're lucky enough to share a moment with them, you'll know what I mean.
The accommodation is really perfect, whether in Canmore or at the Ranch, I felt as comfortable as in a hotel. As for the meals, what can I say!
All the food and dishes from them… read more
The accomodation is nothing short of perfect at both of their locations and the work is more than fair. They make a huge effort to make you feel home and as apart of the family. We felt so… read more
Their two homes : a cozy chalet in Canmore and a charming ranch in Milarville - are simply perfect. The… read more
We worked hard, had lots of fun and shared our Canadian culture and experiences, including Canadian football.
It would be a pleasure to have him join us again… read more
What wonderful house guests, hard working, helped with preparing meals and clean up , egger to learn new skills.
They stayed with us for ten days late August to early September. We painted doors, sanded Tipi poles and did all sorts of odd jobs both in Canmore and at the farm in Millarville. A pleasure to work and play with and we… read more
They are just the most lovely people and they literally felt like our parents for the two weeks we spent with them, that’s how caring and inclusive… read more
They were very easy to… read more
Communication before hand was quick and very good.
We really appreciate them having us in their home in the current worldwide situation. John and Audrey take covid seriously enough for you to feel safe, but it does not… read more
Matt is especially skilled and was a great help with servicing and doing some repairs on both our tractor and farm truck and the BMW. He takes pride in his work and the work place. Hannah is also very helpful and always willing to take… read more
Thank you for the really fun week we experienced at your two homes in Canmore and Millarville! We felt part of the family and very comfortable. We did some carpentry and end up with making this big door! We just had so much fun and learned a lot about Canada through John’s great stories. We hope to see them back again!!
John and Audrey
They are both very polite and Molly love to be in the kitchen but both helped out and were always there to help clean up after… read more
The accommodation is amazing and the work is fair. I was made to feel at home from the start, and there was a very family feel to the experience… read more
