Help out with projects on our ocean property and enjoy west coast life on Galiano Island, Canada
Last activity
: 14 Jun 2025
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Usually responds within 2 days
Min stay requested: at least a week
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
Details
Host ref number: 249857269875
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Feedback (11)
It was a pleasure to meet Brenda and Frits. We felt really comfortable in their cottage with an amazing view on the ocean.
Brenda not only went shopping for us, she also made a fantastic hummus and Greek yoghurt.
She showed and explained us a lot about her garden and the things growing there. This was very interesting.
We had always nice talks
… read more with Brenda and Frits. At the end we planned our next trip to Whistler together and they told us all the spots to see.
The work was a lot of fun. We did around 5 hours a day. We burned the invasive broom, fixed potholes with rocks and painted their garage. So it got never boring and their explained everything very detailed.
In our freetime we could use their kayaks and did some nice hikes on the island. Or we sit on the terrace in the cottage and watched the See Otters.
We stayed only six days but would have stayed longer, because it was such a great experience. We would come back anytime.
Thank you Brenda and Frits for having us! Maybe we see you again
Greetings
Sitara and Simon
Sitara and Simon answered a last-minute workaway request for a 6-day stay to help paint our workshop and potting shed. In addition, they were also able to complete 2 winter clean up fires and help with some much-needed tasks in the garden.
During their free time they enjoyed hiking the local trails and kayaking close to the property. They also
… read more immersed themselves in the community spirit and local culture by cheering for the Canadian team during the hockey playoffs at the pub and getting to know the locals.
Sitara and Simon are a warm and lovely couple, well organized and approached every project with enthusiasm. They were a pleasure to host, and we would welcome them back anytime.
Thank you, Sitara and Simon! Frits and I wish you a journey full of new experiences and great memories.
Sarah and Lukas came to Galiano Island to help us with our garden, but this talented couple were so enthusiastic and organized ended up helping us with so much more. Lukas a professional gardener and Sarah's skills as a schoolteacher make them an amazing team that had my fall clean up done in no time. They inspired me to develop some new garden
… read more beds and better organize the ones I had. We were able to clean out all the overgrown raised beds and helped find new locations for the plants. Overgrown plants were divided, and many extra plants were potted up for new homes.
With the garden under control, they were able to help us with a list of tasks that come with an acreage, remove invasive species from several areas of our property then gather and stack firewood for the house and cottage.
They are a lovely couple and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended so if you have the opportunity do invite Sarah and Lukas to help you with your projects. Hope we see them again.
Galiano Island was our home for just over ten days and we can definitely say that it is a beautiful, unique and relaxing place.
Brenda responded to our enquiry at short notice in an uncomplicated and very quick manner. She picked us up at the ferry harbour together with Skipper (her dog 😉), showed us the most important places on the island and
… read more provided us with more than enough food for the time to come.
Brenda and Frits were very generous, also in terms of working hours. We really enjoyed working in the garden and were able to realise many great projects there. We also stocked up on wood for the winter.
They wanted us to explore the island in all its diversity and even provided us with a car. So we were able to hike up Mount Galiano, marvel at the impressive sunsets at Montague Park, watch the huge ferries at Bellhouse Park heading for Vancouver Island, visit the Hummingbird Pub, the farmers' market and the soup and bread event, take part in a yoga lesson at North Galiano Hall and even go kayaking.
We had plenty of free time and enough privacy in the separate cottage, where we enjoyed evenings in front of the fire and with a unique view.
At the end of our stay, we were able to travel back to Vancouver with Brenda, Frits and Skipper by ferry and car, as the Thanksgiving weekend was just around the corner. Frits even gave us a fantastic two-hour tour of Vancouver and the surrounding area afterwards.
Many thanks to both of you and Skipper for a great time!
All the best and see you soon... 😊
My girlfriend and I had only been in Canada a week when we arrived on Galiano Island to Workaway with Brenda and Fritz. We were greeted with nothing but kindness and an abundance of useful advice about Canada. When you’re trying to find your feet in a new country, there’s nothing more you could ask for. We stayed in Brenda and Fritz beautiful
… read more cabin overlooking the sea with a wood burning stove and very homely feel. We were able to make our own food including taking vegetables from the garden which we really enjoyed. In the evening we had access to Kayaks and navigating the island is easy through hitchhiking. Galiano is stunning! Make sure you climb up to Bodega ridge. During our stay, we worked independently for a few days clearing a portion of the 7 acres of woodland in preparation for landscaping. This meant moving a lot of wood up a steep incline. Luckily, we were provided with an ATV to help move heavy pieces to the top off the hill. I was equipped with power tools to help cut the wood which we neatly stacked. We also tended to the garbed and flowers that a local florist was preparing for a wedding. Brenda, Fritz and Galiano island will forever have a place in our hearts. We would recommend this workaway to anyone!
Catherine and Tom were a pleasure to host. They are independent, enthusiastic, hardworking and always with a smile.
We needed last-minute help with yard clearing as more trees needed to come down for our Island project. When they answered our request, they were excellent at communicating their availability and arrived as planned, which was much
… read more appreciated.
The project required a lot of heavy lifting and the ability to work independently. They caught on quickly to the task with the help of our ATV and small trailer they cleaned up the area in no time. Along with the downed trees there was a lot of debris on the side of a steep slope which we left to clear on their own as we needed to go to town for 2 days. When we returned the slope was cleared and the debris placed into an impressive huge pile ready to be chipped.
They are true adventurers and used their free time well to explore the island and meet the locals. Great people do not hesitate to invite them to help you with your project. We would welcome them back anytime.Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
It was a pleasure to meet Brenda and Frits. We felt really comfortable in their cottage with an amazing view on the ocean.
Brenda not only went shopping for us, she also made a fantastic hummus and Greek yoghurt.
She showed and explained us a lot about her garden and the things growing there. This was very interesting.
We had always nice talks
… read more with Brenda and Frits. At the end we planned our next trip to Whistler together and they told us all the spots to see.
The work was a lot of fun. We did around 5 hours a day. We burned the invasive broom, fixed potholes with rocks and painted their garage. So it got never boring and their explained everything very detailed.
In our freetime we could use their kayaks and did some nice hikes on the island. Or we sit on the terrace in the cottage and watched the See Otters.
We stayed only six days but would have stayed longer, because it was such a great experience. We would come back anytime.
Thank you Brenda and Frits for having us! Maybe we see you again
Greetings
Sitara and Simon
Sitara and Simon answered a last-minute workaway request for a 6-day stay to help paint our workshop and potting shed. In addition, they were also able to complete 2 winter clean up fires and help with some much-needed tasks in the garden.
During their free time they enjoyed hiking the local trails and kayaking close to the property. They also
… read more immersed themselves in the community spirit and local culture by cheering for the Canadian team during the hockey playoffs at the pub and getting to know the locals.
Sitara and Simon are a warm and lovely couple, well organized and approached every project with enthusiasm. They were a pleasure to host, and we would welcome them back anytime.
Thank you, Sitara and Simon! Frits and I wish you a journey full of new experiences and great memories.
Sarah and Lukas came to Galiano Island to help us with our garden, but this talented couple were so enthusiastic and organized ended up helping us with so much more. Lukas a professional gardener and Sarah's skills as a schoolteacher make them an amazing team that had my fall clean up done in no time. They inspired me to develop some new garden
… read more beds and better organize the ones I had. We were able to clean out all the overgrown raised beds and helped find new locations for the plants. Overgrown plants were divided, and many extra plants were potted up for new homes.
With the garden under control, they were able to help us with a list of tasks that come with an acreage, remove invasive species from several areas of our property then gather and stack firewood for the house and cottage.
They are a lovely couple and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended so if you have the opportunity do invite Sarah and Lukas to help you with your projects. Hope we see them again.
Galiano Island was our home for just over ten days and we can definitely say that it is a beautiful, unique and relaxing place.
Brenda responded to our enquiry at short notice in an uncomplicated and very quick manner. She picked us up at the ferry harbour together with Skipper (her dog 😉), showed us the most important places on the island and
… read more provided us with more than enough food for the time to come.
Brenda and Frits were very generous, also in terms of working hours. We really enjoyed working in the garden and were able to realise many great projects there. We also stocked up on wood for the winter.
They wanted us to explore the island in all its diversity and even provided us with a car. So we were able to hike up Mount Galiano, marvel at the impressive sunsets at Montague Park, watch the huge ferries at Bellhouse Park heading for Vancouver Island, visit the Hummingbird Pub, the farmers' market and the soup and bread event, take part in a yoga lesson at North Galiano Hall and even go kayaking.
We had plenty of free time and enough privacy in the separate cottage, where we enjoyed evenings in front of the fire and with a unique view.
At the end of our stay, we were able to travel back to Vancouver with Brenda, Frits and Skipper by ferry and car, as the Thanksgiving weekend was just around the corner. Frits even gave us a fantastic two-hour tour of Vancouver and the surrounding area afterwards.
Many thanks to both of you and Skipper for a great time!
All the best and see you soon... 😊
My girlfriend and I had only been in Canada a week when we arrived on Galiano Island to Workaway with Brenda and Fritz. We were greeted with nothing but kindness and an abundance of useful advice about Canada. When you’re trying to find your feet in a new country, there’s nothing more you could ask for. We stayed in Brenda and Fritz beautiful
… read more cabin overlooking the sea with a wood burning stove and very homely feel. We were able to make our own food including taking vegetables from the garden which we really enjoyed. In the evening we had access to Kayaks and navigating the island is easy through hitchhiking. Galiano is stunning! Make sure you climb up to Bodega ridge. During our stay, we worked independently for a few days clearing a portion of the 7 acres of woodland in preparation for landscaping. This meant moving a lot of wood up a steep incline. Luckily, we were provided with an ATV to help move heavy pieces to the top off the hill. I was equipped with power tools to help cut the wood which we neatly stacked. We also tended to the garbed and flowers that a local florist was preparing for a wedding. Brenda, Fritz and Galiano island will forever have a place in our hearts. We would recommend this workaway to anyone!
Catherine and Tom were a pleasure to host. They are independent, enthusiastic, hardworking and always with a smile.
We needed last-minute help with yard clearing as more trees needed to come down for our Island project. When they answered our request, they were excellent at communicating their availability and arrived as planned, which was much
… read more appreciated.
The project required a lot of heavy lifting and the ability to work independently. They caught on quickly to the task with the help of our ATV and small trailer they cleaned up the area in no time. Along with the downed trees there was a lot of debris on the side of a steep slope which we left to clear on their own as we needed to go to town for 2 days. When we returned the slope was cleared and the debris placed into an impressive huge pile ready to be chipped.
They are true adventurers and used their free time well to explore the island and meet the locals. Great people do not hesitate to invite them to help you with your project. We would welcome them back anytime.
Left by host for Workawayer (SachaMollier)
Sasha volunteered to collect wood that had been recently cut into rounds from several downed hardwood trees, lift them into a trailer then drive them to the cutting area where they needed to be properly stacked so they could dry and be ready for splitting. The trees were large, and the wood was heavy. Sasha along with another volunteer worked 4 to
… read more 5 hours a day. They completed the work faster then anticipated and were able to go onto gather older wood from our very steep property and get that stacked, After the wood they went on to remove broom an invasive highly flammable plant and continued until the entire region was cleared even working overtime as they said they wanted to ensure the job was complete.
Sasha is a joy to work with. He was not only hardworking but thoughtful and a pleasure to be around. We spent several evenings sitting around a table telling our stories. He used his free time and visit to Galiano well, Kayaking, hiking and exploring the island. Although he did not know his fellow workaway volunteer before arriving they worked as a team and a great companion while exploring.
Sasha will always be welcome back to our home on Galiano and if you have the opportunity to host Sasha you will find a very interesting and hardworking volunteer.
Left by Workawayer (SachaMollier) for host
I had the pleasure of spending 10 incredible days at Brenda and Fritz's home on Galiano Island, and it was an experience I won’t soon forget. The work was physically demanding but satisfying, with tasks that kept us engaged and productive. What truly made this stay special was the opportunity to retreat to a charming cottage right next to their
… read more house. The cottage offered stunning views of Salt Spring Island and the ocean, creating a perfect environment to relax in after a day's work.
Brenda and Fritz went above and beyond in their hospitality, generously providing us with kayaks, bikes, and even a car to explore the island. This allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of Galiano, from kayaking along the coast to cycling through scenic trails. Their warmth and generosity made us feel at home and truly enriched our experience. If you're looking for a perfect blend of meaningful work and island adventure, I highly recommend staying with Brenda and Fritz on Galiano Island!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Nils)
Nils volunteered to collect wood that had been recently cut into rounds from several downed hardwood trees, lift them into a trailer then drive them to the cutting area where they needed to be properly stacked so they could dry and be ready for splitting. The trees were large, and the wood was heavy. Nils along with another volunteer worked 4 to 5
… read more hours a day. They completed the work faster then anticipated and were able to go onto gather older wood from our very steep property and get that stacked, After the wood they went on to remove broom an invasive highly flammable plant and continued until the entire region was cleared even working overtime as they said they wanted to ensure the job was complete.
Nils had some free time before his expected arrival, so we invited him earlier to help clean up our sailboat which he did immaculately. Through this we learned he came from a sailing family which inspired a sailing trip. Grateful for his inspiration!
Nils is a joy to work with and 100% dedicated to getting the most out of every experience be it work or play. We spent several evenings sitting around a table telling our stories. He used his free time and visit to Galiano well, Kayaking, hiking and exploring the island. Although he did not know his fellow workaway volunteer before arriving they worked as a team and a great companion while exploring.
Nils will always be welcome back to our home on Galiano and if you have the opportunity to host Nils you will find a very interesting and hardworking volunteer.
Left by Workawayer (Nils) for host
It was amazing! Me and Sascha (I met him just on the beginning of our workaway) stood there for 10 Days and we had a great time. We stood together in the nice and cozy cottage - there are 2 sleeping rooms and one living room. Also a balcony with a wonderful Sea view.
Here something I wish, somebody had told me before: if Brenda ask you, what you
… read more want to eat, she needs a concrete overview from you. Don't be shy! Food on Galiano is really expensive, so she have to get it from the City, before you arrive. You'll cook for yourself, most of the time, so it would be helpful to have some groceries in the Cottage. 😃
The Work: I helped Frits to get there Boat in shape for this summer, till Sascha arrived, three days later. Our main tasks were: getting rid off wild Broom and collecting and stashing cutted wood. We worked 4-5 h per day, 3 days in a row, with one day off after. It was a hard and physical work, but the stay worth it and we both were really proud, what we just did at the ending - try to enjoy the workout 😉. But I promise, there will be enough time to enjoy the island every day. We had a lot of little adventures on Galiano island and even other gulf islands. There is a lot to see on Galiano and I'm pretty sure, you'll never get bored!
Enjoy your Stay! 😊
Left by Workawayer (Lisa & Michel) for host
We stayed with Brenda, Frits and Skipper for 10 days in June 24. We enjoyed an amazing time there. The cottage where we stayed had a beautiful view over the ocean and was really cozy. Brenda was very helpful giving us tips what to visit around the island and even took us along for events. We could always use kayaks which you can launch directly
… read more from the access to the ocean right below the house and you can see otters, seals and other animals very close... A very special experience to us.
We worked 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week and that work was mostly picking broom (an invasive plant that needs to be taken out) and moving wood (they are about to do a renovation to the house and cut some trees that had to be moved afterwards). In general it was hard work, but with the best view imaginable and exactly what we were looking for. And it made the free time all the more rewarding when you get to enjoy the scenery... Brenda and Frits are very nice, we had some interesting talks and felt very welcome. I would definitely go back if they need help again!
Thank you so much for having us!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Lisa & Michel)
Lisa and Michel, great couple! Hard working, friendly, outgoing and independent.
We posted a last-minute request looking for a volunteer to remove invasive broom off our 7-acre steep property when it was in full bloom. Lisa and Micheal had some time so came to join us on Galiano Island for 10 days. After an initial introduction to the project
… read more independently got started and stayed with the project for their stay. We switched it up for a few days with collecting wood that needed to be split. Cannot over emphasise what a great job they did. The mountain of picked broom and the piles of gathered wood are truly impressive. What we really liked was how they used their free time to explore the island, meet people and learn about our part of the world. Always in good spirits and a pleasure to be around.
Do not hesitate to host Lisa and Michel.
Left by host for Workawayer (Marcel)
We were very fortunate to have Marcel and his professional quality carpenter skills come and help us for 2 weeks in December. A lovely thoughtful person who takes great pride in what he does. He was very capable to tackle the projects and give the better suggestion for getting the job done.
I am so in love with the new workbench he built for my
… read more potting shed. He came up with the best solution to add existing cabinets so the whole project looked custom. Creating doors for the pump house for our equipment well done. He is a quick worker, so we were able to get a lot of other tasks completed during his stay.
We very much appreciated Marcel and will always welcome him back.
Left by Workawayer (Marcel) for host
I stayed a Workawayer with Brenda and Frits on Galiano Island from early December for two weeks. It was personally one of the most beautiful stays in my year in Canada. I quickly realized that they were happy and it was important to them to get to know me as a person, not just to help them maintain their property and they also showed me their
… read more beautiful home and the island. As a trained carpenter, I was able to help build a workbench in the garden shed, a small fence, and doors for the water pump house. I joyfully took care of tasks that are constantly arising, such as procuring firewood, maintaining the driveway, and keeping the property clean, independently and without pressure. The sleeping accommodation in the freestanding cottage is a dream, and the food couldn't be better. Brenda and Frits are absolutely inspiring individuals, respectful, and they even took me out for sunday dinner. Wonderful hosts whom I will always remember fondly.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Nicolas & Corinne) for host
We had a great time with Brenda, Frits and Skipper on Galiano! Brenda took really good care of us, even before our arrival. As they live on an island, we had a few exchanges pre-arrival about our diet and what kind of supplies we would need for our stay. It was really sweet and everything was perfect. The little cottage in which we stayed in was
… read more really cozy and well equipped. During the first few days, we felt sorry because we could not help much, as most of the tasks where outside and a big snowstorm occurred. Frits told us not to worry about and took us for a tour around the island, showing us where the little shops where and where the treks started. Two kayaks where also available and the marine wildlife on this part of the island was amazing!
Workwise, we helped cutting and restocking wood, we cleaned part of their land from dead branches and logs, we took care of wintering the plants, and reorganized the garden once the snow had melted!
We had great conversation and exchanges about culture, food, travel, etc.
We 100% recommend sharing this experience with Brenda, Frits and Skipper on Galiano.
Hope to see you again,
Coco & NicoYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Nicolas & Corinne)
Coco and Nico are great volunteer/workers! Fast, quick learners, self starters and ready to suggest ways they can help you.
They came to us in January to help tame our new gardens. Due to the unexpected deep freeze they needed to contend with canceled ferries, frozen pipes and abnormally cold temperatures. They did all this with a good grace and
… read more a sense of humor. They found ways to contribute. Instead of gardening they split wood, helped reinstate our water system and when it eventually warmed up cleaned out the garden beds and potted up a ton of new plant starts in the green house.
They are very experienced gardeners so were able to offer excellent suggestions that we will use. Nico is a terrific cook and Coco is wonderful with animals. They make a great team with a bright future. Don’t hesitate to invite them to help you with your project.
Brenda, Frits and Skipper managed to let us have the best possible February on Galiano Island. During our time there, we mostly picked up dead wood out of the forest and tried to get the upper hand over invasive blackberries and broom. But there are lots of smaller and bigger tasks to do, that basically all are located outside. Which we enjoyed
… read more very much :)
Even though we lived in a separate cottage, we still felt very connected to Brenda and Frits. While they were still figuring out the best way to provide food (groceries), we got everything we needed and were always abled to cook for ourselves. They showed us around the island, made sure that we were abled to go on hikes and see the „big events“ during that time.
All in all, it was a blast! Thanks again for having us and sharing that special place with us!
Nick and Kathe came to help us clear our very steep 7 acre forested property of downed branches for 3 weeks in February 2023 here on the stormy west coast of BC Canada. When the winds were calm enough they would burn the large piles of downed branches. The work was very physical and the weather was not always nice but they showed up every day and
… read more did a great job. We needed to leave them for a few days and when we returned were surprised at how much they had done while we were away. They are a real pleasant couple and a lot of fun to work with. Great communication hard working. Don’t hesitate to host either Nick or Kathe.
Left by Workawayer (alex871) for host
I had an awesome time volunteering at Brenda and Frits property and left feeling invigorated. Their property has a sanctuary feel that made work really fun. We were supplied plenty of foods and none better than the greens from the garden. The cottage we stayed was super comfortable and it was a very relaxing to sit on the patio overlooking Salt
… read more Spring Island.This workawayer has chosen to keep their profile private, but can be contacted regarding this feedback by other workawayers.
Left by host for Workawayer (alex871)
Alex stayed with us for two weeks in early January along with another workaway volunteer. He was attracted to our request to help clean up our forest of downed branches to be burned. Alex did a terrific job and went on to help split two cords of wood from downed trees and assisted in clearing out a tangled area of forest. Loves nature works great
… read more in a team and was a pleasure to have stay with us. If you have the opportunity to host Alex do it, you will be well rewarded.
Left by host for Workawayer (Yves)
Yves stayed with us for two weeks in early January along with another workaway volunteer. He was attracted to our request to help clean up our forest of downed branches to be burned. Not only did he do a clean up he along with Alex split two cords of wood, split enough kindling for a year and then went on to clear out a tangled area of forest that
… read more we thought would be there forever, we are most grateful. He did all this methodically with great energy, and always kind. A true pleasure to have stay with us. If you have the opportunity to host Yves do it you will be well rewarded.
Left by Workawayer (Yves) for host
I started that Workaway the 2nd of January and I finished the 13th : it was exactly what I hoped to do, working in woods on the property of Brenda and Frits, gathering branches, and burning them, splitting wood with a machine, not complicated to use and very safe . I enjoyed working with an other Workawayer Alex and we stayed in a very beautiful
… read more cottage, close to the sea, with everything to make cooking, to heat with a good wooden stove, despite there is too an efficient electric heating. From time to time by car we went to the groceries and bakeries to have a chocolate or a tea or later in evening a pizza. All food was provided beyond our expectations. It was a perfect stay, we were warmly welcomed, and all along our stay the host , Brenda and Frits payed very much attention to us. Brenda and Frits are two very good persons, it was very interesting to stay and share their life in that part of Galiano on their property. Not very far from there there is a trail and Frits asked in afternoon , if we wanted to make some hiking, a short break instead of working. The view on the ridge was absolutely amazing.
The host are wonderful people. I was happy to meet them.Lend me a hand with my twins near Vancouver in BC, Canada
Enjoy nature and join our family near Rimouski in Gaspésie, Quebec, Canada
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