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Host rating
100 %
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Last replied
19 Aug 2026
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Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 5 days
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Feedback
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Find your perfect host
Min stay requested: 1 month or more
Details
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Description
Offering stipend!
We’re looking for one wonderful Workawayer to join our family for at least one month, ideally longer, in beautiful Gordon Head, Victoria, BC, and on Cortes Island.
This would be a great fit for someone who genuinely enjoys cooking, caring for babies, and helping keep a home clean and organized. We’re looking for someone who appreciates a generally calm environment but can also roll with the occasional chaos of family life, is flexible about spending time with us in both Victoria and on Cortes Island, and is comfortable working independently.
In return, you’ll have lots of time to enjoy beaches, nature, island life, and everything Victoria has to offer.
👋 Who We Are
We’re Elinor and Brenden, two counsellors in our mid-40s, living in a charming mid-century modern home with our baby Maisey and our sweet dog, Poppy. Our 18-year-old daughter Gaia has just left home for university!
We also recently bought a home on beautiful Cortes Island, and we’re hoping to find a Workawayer who would enjoy travelling back and forth between Cortes and Victoria with us.
We’re an international household with roots in Australia, the USA, Canada, and France. We value warmth, respect, humour, and thoughtful communication.
We run two busy mental health clinics in Victoria, so our schedules can ebb and flow depending on what’s happening with work and family life.
We’ve hosted around 20 Workawayers over the years and have genuinely loved the experience. Many have stayed with us long-term, and we’ve made some wonderful connections along the way. We weren’t always very good at remembering to ask our past Workawayers for reviews, but the ones we do have should give you a good sense of what staying with our family is like.
⏱ Time Commitment
4 hours per day, 5 days per week
Generally, this would include:
* Around 2 hours helping care for Maisey or helping with household chores
* Around 2 hours preparing dinner and cleaning up afterward
There may be some flexibility from day to day depending on what our family needs.
🏡 What We’re Looking For
We’re best suited to someone who loves babies, enjoys cooking, and takes pride in caring for a home.
This is a full season of life for us, with a baby and a busy family business, so we’re looking for someone who is comfortable managing their own time and settling into an independent routine.
At the same time, we’d love to connect over shared meals, conversations, and outings, and we’ll happily help you get to know Victoria and Cortes Island during the early days of your stay.
We’re hoping to find someone who can feel like a comfortable addition to our household while also enjoying plenty of independence and their own life here.
🌊 Location
Our Victoria home is in Gordon Head, one of Victoria’s most beautiful coastal neighbourhoods.
We’re:
* A short walk from Hollydene Beach
* A bike ride from UVic, Cadboro Bay, and Gyro Beach
* One block from a bus stop with easy access to downtown
* Able to offer occasional use of a car, as well as a bike
Victoria is known for its coastal beauty, mild climate, great food, and relaxed lifestyle, with plenty to explore during your free time.
You’ll also have the opportunity to spend time on Cortes Island, a beautiful Gulf Island surrounded by forests, beaches, lakes, and the ocean. It’s a very different experience from Victoria and gives you the chance to enjoy both city life and peaceful island living.
🏠 What’s Included
* Private bedroom
* $500/month stipend after the first month
* Access to garden space
* Use of a bike and, when available, a car
* English-language help if you’d like it
* The opportunity to experience both Victoria and Cortes Island
✨ Interested?
We’d love to hear from you!
Please tell us a little about yourself, what you enjoy doing, your experience with babies and cooking, and what drew you to our Workaway profile.
We’re looking forward to connecting.
Elinor, Brenden, Maisey & Poppy 🐾 -
Types of help and learning opportunities
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
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Interests
Self development
Culture
Movies & TV
Charity work
Events & social
Drawing & painting
Writing
Cooking & food
Gardening
Carpentry
Camping
Fitness
Nature
Water sports
Mountain
Beach
Hiking -
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I can help you with English and tell you about some beautiful places!
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Au Pair Help
This host is looking for Au pair help.
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Help
4 hours per day, 5 days per week
Generally, this would include:
* Around 2 hours helping care for Maisey or helping with household chores
* Around 2 hours preparing dinner and cleaning up afterward
🍳 What You’ll Help With
Cooking dinner Monday–Friday (we love great food and are open to a wide range of cuisines, with a focus on whole foods and quality ingredients)
Cleaning up after dinner
Keeping the home clean, organized, and running smoothly
Occasional light gardening
Dog walking
Errands -
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Indonesian: Intermediate -
Accommodation
A studio suite
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What else ...
💬 A Note on Lifestyle
This is not a highly social or host-led experience day-to-day. We’re warm and welcoming, but busy. This setup works best for someone who enjoys independence, has their own rhythm, and is happy doing their own exploring. -
A little more information
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Internet access
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Limited internet access
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We have pets
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We are smokers
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Can host families
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Can host digital nomads
Good internet connection and space to work from
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How many Workawayers can stay?
One
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My animals / pets
Poppy (9 years)
20 pound chihuahua shitsu cross
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (4)
After spending two months at Elinor's place, I have to say: THANK YOU!
Elinor is a very friendly, helpful and easygoing person. We had a very clear communication together. Elinor know what she wants, she will tell you what kind of help she needs but she will also always make sure that you are feeling well. I … read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
After spending two months at Elinor's place, I have to say: THANK YOU!
Elinor is a very friendly, helpful and easygoing person. We had a very clear communication together. Elinor know what she wants, she will tell you what kind of help she needs but she will also always make sure that you are feeling well. I … read more
I felt confortable. I spent a great time with them, talking french, cooking, walking with dog, speaking english with Elinor, the garden... Thank you for this opportunity and your patience in english with me !
I was a pleasure to meet and help Elinor with her new project.
It was something new for me that she simply accepted me without any expactations.
I felt like a member of family.
Thank you to Gaia for teaching the piano and violin!
Organic food, delicious coffee, … read more
