Help renovating and painting a historical building on the west coast of northern Vancouver Island, Canada

Canada

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Favourited 452 times

Host rating
Feedback
11
Last activity
23/01/2021
Nº of Facebook friends
149
Reply rate
100.0 %
Average reply time:
within 25 days
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Availability

2021

Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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What's this?

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Description
A wonderful old fishing village on the rugged west coast of northern Vancouver Island.
While the commercial fishery does not exist any longer, the little town is still here to enjoy. In July and August each summer the town population grows from 2 to a few hundred adventurers and sportsfishing types who marvel at the bald eagles, whales and otters!
We hope to restore the massive and beautiful fisherman's co-op/ice plant and it will take alot of scraping/painting and restoration. Other projects available include natural landscaping etc. very friendly area with a happy/healthy lifestyle!
We run a small sports fishing marina with RV spots and stay busy late June to early August so rarely accomadate workawayers during that time!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Language practice
Art Projects
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Do you enjoy fishing, exploring remote beaches and walking in the remote & wild Northwest Pacific Coast!
Wildlife is everywhere and ocean fishing is fantastic! Rural Canada is full of characters, lumber jacks/jills and fisher folks!
Help
Need help renovating and painting a historical building in a remote but wonderful little village on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island.
Remote area, we will arrange transportation in and out! Must be minimum 2 weeks between May and October (prefer longer) as this is very remote area and getting into town is a two hour trip each way! For mid-July to mid-August you must have your own accommodations (tent, RV or van) as all units here are full.
Either gender is fine, skills appreciated would be painting or carpentry, but good work ethic and honest/happy outlook on life is the most important!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Accommodation
Comfortable accomadations in cabins/Rv with cooking facilities! (But not for mid- July to mid-August)
You will have private room but may have to share cooking area and bathroom with other volunteers. Lots of fresh fish (salmon, cod, halibut and snapper, often you get to catch them)
What else ...
Abundance of remote wilderness areas with beautiful rugged beaches! Lots of nature, animals and the ocean! Fishing, hiking, kayaking and nature photography!
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
Well mannered and you must clean up after! Dogs
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos

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Big yellow building is old ice house and Co-op.... Accommadations are in this building built out on wharf!

Hosts.... Patti and Mike

World famous shoe tree

Feedback left by and about host (11)

10/09/2018

Left by Workawayer (Felix & Pamela) for host

At the end of the road you find this very beautiful, mystical harbour – Winter Harbour. Surrounded by magical forests, bears collecting food at the beaches, sea otters and Oli cracking mussels whole day long, mist hanging in treetops, bald eagles waiting for a good catch. And in the middle of that there are Mike & Patty, our wonderful, hospitable… read more

(Excellent )

09/05/2018

Left by Workawayer (William) for host

Thank you so much Mike for an excellent 3 weeks in Winter Harbour, I wish it could have been longer. What an incredible place that I am so happy I got to explore. Mike is an excellent host and a great guide to the beautiful area. This truly is a wild and rugged place and Mike made sure I got the best experience I could. The work schedule was very… read more

(Excellent )

27/02/2018

Left by Workawayer (Anthony & Isabella) for host

So, so sorry that it took us this long to leave this feedback!

Patti and Mike were excellent hosts, they and the rest of Winter Harbour's residents couldn't have made us feel more at home. We greatly enjoyed exploring the harbour during the day and sitting around the fire and talking into the night. We were also lucky enough to be present for the… read more

(Excellent )

13/06/2017

Left by Workawayer (Kaitlyn) for host

Thank you Mike, Patti and Kaeli for a great first workaway experience. Food was delicious and plentiful. I learnt some great new skills and had a lot of fun. Accomodation was great, it was seperate and private.

I was there for two weeks and it was a wonderful peaceful place to relax in the wilderness. There are many things you can do despite the… read more

(Very good )

08/06/2016

Left by Workawayer (Judith) for host

I had a really good time in Winter Harbour! I spent almost one month there and I can recommend it. It's a beautiful spot, very remote but absolutely worth visiting. The work was varied and Mike is very relaxed about the working hours. I could easily get a day off if I wanted to. I did some painting, gardening, cleaning and a few other things that… read more

(Very good )

08/06/2016

Left by Workawayer (Jakob) for host

I stayed with Mik and Patty for four weeks and it was an awesome experience. Mike took us to several beautiful Beaches around Winter Harbour and told us about hikes we can do.
The work was really relaxed, theres is no such thing as time pressure in Winter Harbour, everybody is nice and helpful ( and a little crazy but the good kind of crazy). The… read more

(Excellent )

01/06/2016

Left by Workawayer (Julianne) for host

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Neutral )

24/08/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Lea & Darren)

We miss you 3..so glad you have the best souvenir of all :^)

(Excellent )

23/08/2015

Left by Workawayer (Lea & Darren) for host

I can't believe we waited that long to write a review... Shame on us ahah!
Where to start?? We stayed in Winter Harbour for over a month (May/June) and all I can say is that the town and everyone there will forever be in our hearts. Mike and Patti are amazing hosts, welcoming and so helpful, anyone working for/with them would be very lucky! They… read more

(Excellent )

27/07/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Maria & Trevor)

We hope to see you again too! We very much enjoyed your company and your assistance!!
Any host should be happy to have you!

(Excellent )

13/07/2015

Left by Workawayer (Maria & Trevor) for host

This is one of the places which made our travels on Vancouver Island so special. Living in a RV on the dock of that old, beautiful ice house we were working on was a very cool and extraordinary experience. A great view and privacy included. Patti and Mike were great hosts who warmly welcomed us. We enjoyed spending the evenings with them and all… read more

(Excellent )

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Host ref number: 146341224685

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