Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
1 Oct 2025
Reply rate
95.7 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
46
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Come explore stunning Vancouver Island!
We prefer a authentic message from people that are not using AI to message us as it is quite obvious when every aspect of our profile is brought up in a message and they look and sound the same! Please don't worry if your English is imperfect-this is our only first impression of potential guests. In a increasingly fake world we want to get a feel for you!
We live in a temperate rainforest climate and helping is both inside and outdoors, please bring appropriate gear for the tasks you are applying to do! We have dry summers and wet winters and jobs are always a combination of indoor and outdoor work.
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Hi! Meet our busy and loving little family of four. Bijan is a fun loving father and an open minded college Economics instructor who loves tech, a good discussion and is always happy to practice his Spanish and French. Renée is an energetic extroverted birth doula, clinical counselling intern and yoga instructor. We both love to cook and share house hold responsibility. Renée has an unpredictable birth work schedule and also works several evenings a week teaching. Our children are Ezra and Arya, 14 and 12 and we a have a shy cat Kali, and our joyful dog Toto. The kids are very active and love arts and crafts, playing and cracking jokes. We are very open to new people and have very big personalities. We are a neuordivergent family that both loves to socializes with our guests and sometimes need family time, space and studying focus time. We welcome guests that are both interactive and independent and enjoy entertaining themselves and exploring the local area. If you are flexible, open-minded and enjoy family life and good food please check us out and send us a message.
For fall we have a lot of on-going projects and need help with seasonal chores as well as day to day tasks like the dishes. We invite those who can do yard work, pruning, garden clean up as well as indoor organization and cleaning. For fall/winter 2025 we especially welcome those who are good at organizational tasks!
We have a small 10x10 cabin in the back of the yard that is private and ideal for those who enjoy their own space. The bed is a double and it is cozy, quiet and very private from both us and neighbours. The photo here shows an additional bed that can be added for small families but this is usually open floor space. The bathroom and other facilities are in the main house but the guest house has a strong good wifi connection. You are welcome to pee in the trees..it's that private!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House sitting
Interests
LGBTQ
Politics / Social justice
Events & social
Sustainability
Pets
Culture
Self development
Movies & TV
Charity work
History
Music
Plant care
Photography
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Drawing & painting
Animals
Mountain
Beach
Fitness
Camping
Nature
Yoga / Wellness
Water sports
Hiking
Adventure sports
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
People who stay with us enjoy our interest in their lives, global issues and enjoy being a real part of our family. This means coming with us on outings if desired, learning about gardening, cheese making, food preservation and whatever else we are up to. Weather and time permitting we try to get out into nature and include our volunteers in this experience. Everyone that has come has focused on different tasks. We enjoy discussions, games, outdoor activities and a large part of our life is about producing and preserving food for our family (and you) to enjoy.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We live in a small home with a large yard and garden that continues to expand. We have eleven fruit trees. We always need help with mulching, pruning, weeding, planting and harvesting, depending on the season. We try to keep a list of a variety of tasks so that volunteers can select something they enjoy doing. We appreciate people who can anticipate some needs and do things that are needed without being asked but will always give directions and guidance for larger tasks before asking you to take it on.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
French: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
Our 12 and 14 year old are study French.
Accommodation
Our photos show our little "shack in the back" a simple one room guest house with a shared bathroom in our home. This is a double bed. There is an option of a little bed on the floor for a family of three if the child is young. There is also space to have a tent if you prefer that but the capacity for the shack is two adults.
What else ...
Victoria has many amazing sites, both natural and historic. There are art museums, stunning gardens, many city parks, as well as amazing islands and provincial parks to explore. From downtown you can take tours of the city, go whale watching or travel to see the wild west coast of Vancouver Island in Tofino or go to Seattle on the Clipper. Vancouver Island is a scenic wonderland! I have lived here for 21 years and there are still islands and epic beaches I have not yet seen.
Note: If you are hoping to surf you will need a car!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
Street parking
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Kali
Toto
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (24)
Renée and Bijan are… read more
The first contact by video on Whatsapp was easy, we felt that Renée and Bijan were flexible and enthusiastic.
We were looking for long-term volunteering and are very grateful to have been able to stay with them for 4 months!
We were… read more
A and S made a hard… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Renée and Bijan are… read more
The first contact by video on Whatsapp was easy, we felt that Renée and Bijan were flexible and enthusiastic.
We were looking for long-term volunteering and are very grateful to have been able to stay with them for 4 months!
We were… read more
A and S made a hard… read more
I stayed with Renée, Bijan, the kids Arya and Ezra for 2 weeks and it was a great experience. They are an energetic and very loving family. I was welcomed from the moment I stepped in the house and they always made sure to… read more
We stayed 3 weeks with Bijan and Renée and it was a great time for both of us. We mainly did maintenance in the garden and cleaning around the house, which is not hard work.
Bijan and Renée are both such interesting people, you can feel that they really enjoy sharing their knowledge with you and Bijan can tell an anecdote every time… read more
Renée, Bijan, Ezra and Arya are very welcoming and helpful. I really appreciate their interest in my life and openness. They shared their lives and experiences which I… read more
They could only host us for ten days but we are very happy we had the opportunity to get to know them and help out in their garden. We felt welcomed in their house and their family, and loved talking about many different things and sharing amazing food :)
We liked helping in the garden:… read more
Renée and Bijan are very thoughtful, welcoming, warm people who are interested in those… read more
Renée and Bijan are incredible people ; they have always wise advices about everything (Renée help me planned the rest of my trip) and good tips about what to do in Victoria.… read more
There is always work to do but it is never too much and it is very often a new occasion to learn… read more
This was my first experience with Workaway and it has been GREAT! Renée, Bijan, Ezra, Arya, Toto and Callie are a beautiful family. They are very nice people, down to earth and funny! You can feel the love is in the air in this house.
During my stay I couldn't work in the garden because the weather was too cold but I… read more
Renee grow many vegetables in garden and eat very nourishing food.Bijan enjoys cooking food from many counties YUMMY!!
I enjoyed playing with Ezva and Arya.Toto is a cute and obedient little dog.
Thanks Bijan for understanding my English for helping me a lot.
We stayed two weeks at your Family. We felt very welcome and were directly integrated into the family right from the start. It was our first workaway experience and it was perfect. We got exciting jobs (gardening, working on the shed, walking with the dog...). They also… read more
Beyond helping with the cleaning, and gardening, was the time spent with the family that I've appreciate the most, I've learned so much from all of them.
The idea to bring the world at… read more
