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Description
We are Mark and Kim, a friendly, down-to-earth couple living in the beautiful mountain town of Hope, British Columbia. We share our home with our two daughters, Phoenix (13) and Autumn (2 years) plus Cedar, our affectionate red Labrador, and Bella, our independent but charming cat.
Our home is a custom built 1980s family house that we are steadily renovating and updating. We sit on a 1/3-acre property with patios, firepit, garden areas, a barn, and a travel trailer that we’re restoring. There’s always a project on the go, from garden landscaping and painting to helping Mark with projects and creative touches around the property. Mark self identifies as a semi-professional amateur DIYer :) and is always willing to teach people new skills.
We enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds, learning about their cultures, and sharing our own. We’re all English-speaking (except the cat) and would love to help travellers improve their English while perhaps learning a few words in their language too. We are LGBTQ-friendly, non-smoking, and non-vaping, and our home has a relaxed but respectful family atmosphere.
Hope itself is an outdoor-lover’s paradise and the filming location of the Sylvester Stallone 1982 movie Rambo, First Blood. The town sits at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers, between the Northern Cascades and Coastal mountain Ranges surrounded by stunning mountains, lakes, and forests. hiking, fishing, kayaking, swimming, and mountain biking are all on our doorstep.
Our projects range from gardening and landscaping, painting, and restoring our travel trailer. Sometimes, we may ask for help with taking care of our pets or babysitting our youngest daughter as part of the weekly hours. We would only ask people to do tasks they are comfortable with but do encourage people to join in and learn new things. In return, we offer friendship, a private bedroom, shared bathroom, snacks, three meals a day, and a warm family welcome.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House & pet sitting
Interests
Culture
Events & social
Technology
Pets
Movies & TV
Photography
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Books
Animals
Water sports
Outdoor activities
Nature
Hiking
Mountain
Cycling
Camping
Adventure sports
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Staying with us offers a genuine Canadian family experience (although Mark is originally from England :) in a small mountain town surrounded by stunning nature. Travellers will be part of our daily life, sharing meals, conversations, and activities, and will get to see what life is like in rural British Columbia.
You’ll have the chance to:
- Improve your English through everyday conversation in a friendly, supportive environment.
- Learn about Canadian traditions, local history, and outdoor culture, from camping, hiking and fishing to exploring the Fraser Canyon and Manning Park.
- Experience the warmth of a family home and take part in Canadian-style home cooking, and ample opportunities to share your own recipes with us.
- Join in on our occasional trips to nearby cities and explore small-town events, farmers’ markets, and seasonal festivals.
- Join us around campfires and experience the wilderness with experienced outdoors folk.
We also love learning from our guests, whether it’s trying food from your home country, hearing about your traditions, or learning words in another language. By the time you leave, you’ll have made personal connections, picked up new skills, and experienced both the relaxed pace and adventurous side of life in this part of Canada.
Help
We’re looking for practical, hands-on helpers who are comfortable working both indoors and outdoors. Our projects vary, but can include:
- Yard and garden help – digging, weeding, laying weed matting, spreading mulch, planting, and some light stone or slab laying.
- Painting – walls, doors, trim, and some outdoor surfaces.
- Assisting with small tasks around the property – painting, minor repairs, and general fix-up help.
- Household help – keeping your own space tidy, helping with cleaning in shared areas, meal preparation, and washing dishes.
- Childcare – occasionally babysitting our youngest daughter, Autumn (18 months), for the right person as part of the weekly hours. If this isn't your thing, no problem, plenty of other things to keep busy.
We ask for up to 25 hours of help per week (about 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, which may include weekends). In return, you’ll have a private bedroom, shared bathroom, snack, three meals a day, and a warm family atmosphere.
We’re looking for helpers who:
- Are confident using basic tools and willing to learn
- Have a positive attitude and work well independently and as part of a team
- Are non-smoking and non-vaping
- Can provide a Police Information Check if required
- Understand that due to Hope’s limited public transport, having your own vehicle is recommended but not essential
There’s always something new to work on here, and we welcome people who bring their own ideas, energy, and creativity to the projects. We're not seeking skilled labourers or crafts people, just enthusiastic people who want to help out and enjoy their stay with us.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Language exchange: English – open to travellers with basic English, eager to learn and share other languages.
Accommodation
You’ll have a comfortable private bedroom with a double bed, wardrobe, and drawers, giving you plenty of storage space. The room is equipped with air conditioning and a fan for your comfort. Occasionally you’ll share a full bathroom with our eldest daughter when she's home, which includes both a shower and a bathtub.
We provide full Wi-Fi access, and you’re welcome to help yourself to tea, coffee, juices, and other drinks, as well as fruit and yogurt for snacks throughout the day.
Workawayers are encouraged to join in with meal preparation and clean-up, as well as relaxed evening activities like movies and board games. When the opportunity arises, you’re welcome to join us on trips into the city for shopping or sightseeing.
What else ...
In their free time, helpers will find no shortage of things to see and do in and around Hope, BC. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy dozens of hiking trails ranging from gentle riverside walks to challenging mountain climbs with panoramic views. Popular spots include the Othello Tunnels in Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, with its historic railway tunnels and stunning rock canyons, and the many scenic trails around Kawkawa Lake and Lake of the Woods. On hot summer days, swimming, kayaking, or paddleboarding on the lakes and rivers is a great way to cool off, while fishing enthusiasts can cast for salmon, trout, and steelhead in the Fraser River and surrounding waterways.
For those who love cycling, Hope offers both a well-maintained local bike park and access to extreme downhill West Coast mountain bike trails. Manning Park, just a short drive away, offers year-round adventure, from alpine hiking and wildlife spotting in summer to skiing and snowshoeing in winter.
If you’re looking for more relaxed pursuits, you can stroll through town to see the famous chainsaw-carved wood sculptures, browse local shops, visit small art galleries, or enjoy a coffee in one of the cafés. History lovers can check out the Hope Museum or follow local heritage walking routes. In the evenings, the surrounding mountains make for spectacular sunset views, and stargazing can be incredible on clear nights.
For day trips, Vancouver is about 1.5 hours away, offering big-city culture, food, and shopping, while the Okanagan wine region and its scenic lakes are within a two-hour drive. Public transportation is daily to Chilliwack and beyond but is limited, so having your own vehicle will give you the freedom to explore the many sights and activities the region has to offer independently.
*Hope is the filming location of Rambo First Blood and many other movies and commercials; it's a Location Scouts dream.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We welcome digital nomads and remote workers. Our home has high-speed Wi-Fi with unlimited data and generally stable power, making it suitable for online work. During severe weather, occasional power outages can occur, but they’re usually short-lived. As this is a family home with children and pets, it can sometimes be lively, so if you require complete quiet for calls or video conferencing, there are quiet spaces available.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a flat hard surface space at the rear of the property (21 ft long x 21 ft wide) with access to water and 110 v power, suitable for campervans. Please note that access to this space is via a narrow side lane, so larger vehicles may find it challenging to manoeuvre. For shorter stays, there is a longer driveway at the front of the house that can be used instead, this has 50 amp service and water connection. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Cedar (8 years)
Very friendly food begging red Labrador
Photos
