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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
13 Jul 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
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Details
Description
Host Description
Hello! We’re Lee and Gayle — a friendly, recently retired couple with a passion for adventure, creativity, and welcoming people from all over the world.
We’ve raised five wonderful grown children (ages 30–36) who now work as a school teacher/counsellor, electrician, wildland forest firefighter, operations manager, and communications/art director.
Before retiring, Lee worked as a Facilities Management Coordinator, and Gayle supported students through her work in Student Services at a university. These days, Lee loves captaining our boat or cruising the Sunshine Coast on his vintage motorcycle, while Gayle spends her time creating beautiful pottery and paintings. We both enjoy the outdoors, antique hunting, and travelling to experience new people and cultures.
A few years ago, we restored a 1912 California Craftsman home, and now we’re pouring that same love and energy into our latest adventure — our stunning waterfront marina on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Nestled in a sheltered bay in Pender Harbour (Madeira Park), our marina is for annual moorage only and is surrounded by peaceful islands and forested coastline.
We recently built two cozy guest cabins and listed them on Airbnb — fulfilling our dream of sharing this beautiful place with others. We’re also working on launching our website for Headwater Marina and Cabins to welcome more visitors in the future.
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The Help We Need
We’d love your help maintaining and improving our 2.5 acres of oceanfront property. Tasks vary by season and might include:
• Clearing blackberry bushes and overgrowth
• Splitting and stacking firewood
• Building and tending vegetable beds
• Cutting grass, raking leaves, and general yard work
• Pressure washing, painting, or light building projects
• General handy-person maintenance
If you have special skills (gardening, carpentry, landscaping, or creative ideas), we’re always open to hearing them!
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What We Offer
In return, you’ll get to experience life on the gorgeous Sunshine Coast — a truly magical place surrounded by forests, mountains, lakes, and the Pacific Ocean.
You’ll stay right on the waterfront and join us for daily forest walks with our friendly chocolate lab. There’s ocean swimming off our dock in summer, peaceful lakes nearby to explore, and plenty of chances to go boating or fishing when time and weather allow.
Madeira Park is a welcoming small community with local shops, cafes, and cultural events throughout the year. Sechelt is only 30 minutes away, and the vibrant seaside town of Gibsons is about an hour’s drive.
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Come Join Us
We enjoy sharing our home and way of life with curious, respectful helpers who love nature, good conversation, and lending a hand. If you’d like to experience the beauty of BC’s Sunshine Coast and help us bring our dreams for Headwater Marina to life, we’d love to hear from you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Sustainability
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Pets
Movies & TV
Events & social
Culture
Charity work
Plant care
Photography
Performing arts
Music
History
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Art & design
Architecture
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Winter sports
Water sports
Team sports
Sailing / Boating
Outdoor activities
Nature
Hiking
Beach
Adventure sports
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
• Gayle loves to cook, and would enjoy sharing her cooking skills.
• Gayle and Lee would love to take the work-away person boating.
• Learn grounds maintenance and gardening skills.
• Learn handyman skills.
• Enjoy an amazing community that holds many festivals throughout the year.
Help
We are looking for people who love being outdoors, enjoy gardening and physical tasks. Gardening and construction skills are an asset, but not necessary. We do ask that those who apply have a can-do, enthusiastic personality. We love to give back (meals, boat rides etc.), but we do need tasks done and would have expectations of a certain amount of production. This person must like dogs as well.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Interested in learning Spanish, French, Italian and Norwegian.
Accommodation
Accommodations would be in a private furnished suite on the ground level of our home. The suite has two single beds (can be joined together if desired), kitchen and private bathroom. A view of the marina can be seen through the sliding door. Large screen TV with Apple controller. Great WiFi. Shared laundry on the ground floor.
What else ...
To get to Madeira Park on the Sunshine Coast, you would catch a 40 minute ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale (near Gibsons). From Langdale ferry terminal to Madeira Park there is a 60 minute drive. We can arrange pick up at the ferry terminal in Langdale (near Gibsons). We may be able to pick up in Vancouver if family are joining us, or we may be in Vancouver.
The Madeira Park village is 5 minutes away by car. It can be walked. E bikes may be available.
There is amazing hiking, kayaking, mountain biking and fishing in this area, and also really great shopping in Sechelt and Gibsons.
The scenery is stunning everywhere. You will see seals and all kinds of sea life, and maybe even a whale.
Gayle is an artist and would love to do painting or other crafts with anybody who wants to join her.
Gayle and Lee enjoy a good meal in the evening and a glass of something to celebrate their hard day's work as they look out to the marina.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Can work in the private suite. WiFi is exceptional and the suite has its own router.
Space for parking camper vans
We have one RV hook up location for power, water and septic.
Can possibly accept pets
Dogs are welcome. Must be people/ pet friendly.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Cyrus (5 years)
Chocolate Lab
Feedback (6)
When we arrived, we had a flat tire with our RV and Lee came… read more
We had the pleasure of hosting Thomas from Belgium, and his time with us in British Columbia was nothing short of exceptional. Before arriving, he had already explored Quebec and the Yukon, but when he reached our home, he was faced with a… read more
Gayle and Lee are a lovely couple. Very welcoming and so kind. Lee is a funny guy, i laughed a lot with him and Gayle is a very creative / attentive person.
About the work, you are usually working with Lee but sometimes he can be busy with paperworks. Don't worry, the work is most of the time about… read more
Belen’s journey began in sunny Spain, but she soon found herself in the winter chill of New York City with her daughters. While in the city, she had a small mishap… read more
Photos
Feedback
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When we arrived, we had a flat tire with our RV and Lee came… read more
We had the pleasure of hosting Thomas from Belgium, and his time with us in British Columbia was nothing short of exceptional. Before arriving, he had already explored Quebec and the Yukon, but when he reached our home, he was faced with a… read more
Gayle and Lee are a lovely couple. Very welcoming and so kind. Lee is a funny guy, i laughed a lot with him and Gayle is a very creative / attentive person.
About the work, you are usually working with Lee but sometimes he can be busy with paperworks. Don't worry, the work is most of the time about… read more
Belen’s journey began in sunny Spain, but she soon found herself in the winter chill of New York City with her daughters. While in the city, she had a small mishap… read more
Pauline and Mo are truly an inspirational couple. In Germany, they rebuilt their sought after 4X4 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Syncro. Taking a break from full time work, the VW Bus was shipped from Germany to Halifax, Canada, for a grand life adventure. Being… read more
From the moment we arrived they made us feel at home. We had so many… read more
Charlie Chaplin
If you could bottle up Heidi’s laugh and sell it, you would be an instant millionaire. Better yet, it is best to have the privilege to enjoy her company.
For any traveller who comes to Canada and embraces our game of hockey, with such passion and yearning to learn, they are a star in our… read more
They have a beautiful property and live in a stunning area. Lee will take you on hikes with their dog, Cyrus, in which you will… read more
"Punctuality and a great work ethic cannot be understated."
Callum would always confirm start time and expectations for the next work day. He made a good impression by always showing up on time and working hard to complete tasks. Callum has a great understanding of… read more
“Hard workers rep rewards beyond a good reputation”.
We were extremely fortunate to have Patricia and Yanick as our first work away experience. As a host, it was a very positive experience.
Patricia and Yanick hold themselves to high standards and exceeded expectations. Highly valued,… read more
