Painter's Lodge Reel Reports

Get to Know Our Buildings

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2013-05-15

As you may or may not know, Painter’s Lodge is made up of many different buildings. When I first began working here I assumed they were all pretty much the same, but that’s not really the case. Each building offers a slightly different experience, but they all have one thing in common: they’re all a lovely place to spend your vacation.

The first building you’re likely to experience is the Main Lodge. This is where our lobby, Legend’s Dining Room, Fireside Lounge and Tyee Pub are located. If you head upstairs you’ll find our trophy room where you can relive the history of the lodge. You’ll also find 15 rooms, two of which are large suites with extended decks. The main lodge offers both ocean and garden view rooms that are just a few steps away from our lovely dining areas and right in the heart of the action.

The Redonda Wing is all ocean view, but what really makes this building unique is the lawn that the bottom decks open up to. Many guests love to pull their deck chairs out onto the lawn and lounge in the sun right next to the ocean. The top floor may not have the lawn but offers some of the best views of the ocean on the property.

Directly behind the Redonda Wing is the Vancouver Wing. Situated on a hill, this building looks over top of the Redonda Wing and also offers a wonderful view of the ocean. The top floor features lofted ceilings and the building is just a few feet away from our heated pool and hot tubs.

The Quadra and Cortes Wings are our garden view buildings. Thanks to our expert gardeners every view is a good one at Painter’s Lodge. These buildings allow you to sit out on the deck right next to a wide array of beautiful flowers. The top floors feature lofts and four beds, making them an excellent choice for groups of friends or families. The Cortes Wing is also home to our hospitality room, 325. This room has two floors, two decks and is perfect for large parties and functions.

Finally, we have the Victoria Wing. This ocean view building has seven loft rooms with large seating areas and king size beds. The couches fold out into queen sized beds, making them perfect for family getaways or romantic weekends for two.

In addition to our wings, we also have four cabins nestled in the woods at the back of the property, located right next to our tennis courts, children’s centre and fitness centre. These are ideal for those large groups that need a little more space than a regular hotel room can offer.

So, where are you going to stay when you come visit us? The choices are many, but they’re all good ones.

Catch you later,

Travis

Another Successful Photographer's at Painter's

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2013-05-05

As the 8^th Annual Photographer’s at Painter’s wraps up, it seems every participant is leaving with a smile. The event was a huge success, as some of British Columbia’s most esteemed photographers mingled with amateurs and shared their secrets. I’m sure everyone who participated is better photographer now than when they arrived. I know I am!

All the photographers were extremely friendly and more than happy to help everyone improve their skills. I even saw some of them posing patiently, acting as models so their students could practice what they had learned. The presentations covered a wide array of skills, including how to utilize light, garden photography and using a flash. There was even a presentation on how to take professional level photographs with your iPhone.

I couldn’t help joining in on a few lessons, and I was so impressed with how the photographers seemed to take time to help every participant. Everyone was smiling and having fun, including myself, and I can’t wait to try out some of the new skills I learned.

Another great part about the event was the brunch that was held both days. As usual, the kitchen out did themselves and produced a large selection of delicious goodies. I’m positive no one left hungry.

On behalf of the Painter’s Lodge staff, I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the event and helped make it such a success. We look forward to seeing you next year!

Catch you later,

Travis

Painter's Lodge Off to a Roaring Start

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2013-05-03

Painter’s Lodge may have only been open for only one day, but there is already a lot of excitement around here.

Photographer’s at Painter’s begins tomorrow, with the first presentation due to begin at 9 am. The Photographers are just arriving now and their work is beginning to be displayed around the lodge. As an amateur photographer myself I am in awe of some works I’ve seen so far. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to talk to some of these photographers so I can learn their secrets.

The local wildlife has also been on full display, with several seals being spotted around the docks waiting for the fishing guides to throw them some scraps. Most exciting though were the two orca whales that were spotted between Painter’s Lodge and April Point. With so much already seen after just one day I can’t wait what other wildlife I’ll catch a glimpse of throughout the season.

Of course, what Painter’s Lodge is really known is the fishing, and we’ve certainly lived up to expectations so far. Every boat that has left the dock has come back with fish. Our Spring Fling Salmon Derby is well under way with our first daily prize already being awarded. If you haven’t booked your fishing trip already then now’s the time as we really seem to be on a roll.

It’s been a great start to the season and I’m sure it will only get better.

Catch you later,

Travis

A Fond Farewell

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2012-10-09

Another wonderful season is officially in the books. Clear blue skies kept guest and crew morale high right through closing weekend. On Sunday it reached 21 degrees in Campbell River which is amazing for this time of year and perfect for an outdoor wedding!

Our very own Erica, a server in the Tyee Pub, married her fiancé, Doug, on Discovery Lawn in a very intimate ceremony on Saturday. On Sunday it was Heather and Shawn’s turn to be bride and groom and give thanks for one another. It’s no secret what all of us at Painter’s Lodge were thankful for this Thanksgiving...the summer behind us!

Chinook fishing was fantastic this year and a total of 38 spring weighing over 30 lbs. were brought to the Painter’s dock. South of town is where the majority of the Chinook were being caught right through until the end of August. These great numbers were highlighted by the fact sockeyes and pink were scarce and the Coho that did bite were all wild so we couldn’t keep them. The future of Chinook fishing looks promising, too, because of the numbers of bait fish hanging out by the Lighthouse.

On Monday at noon our front doors closed and in approximately an hour from now our docks will be towed away to April Point Marina where they are stored all winter.

Thank you to all new and return guests that we had the pleasure of hosting this year. Your company was just that…a pleasure! We hope to see you again in 2013.

Have a happy winter!

Joanna

A Look Back

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2012-10-03

It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole 6 months since I introduced myself in the first Reel Report of the season. I had high hopes walking into this position but my experience far exceeded my expectations. As this final week comes to an end I’ve tried to compile a list of my favourite memories of my first year with Painter’s Lodge.

June 22^nd- 25^th marked our 20^th Annual Women’s Derby. What a momentous year to first expose myself the tradition! Meeting the women who have been part of the derby since the very beginning gave me a better understanding of why we’re known as ‘Historic Painter’s Lodge’…and 20 years is only the tip of the ice berg! All of the women were so excited to be here reuniting with old friends and doing what they do best—fishing! Jan Lim’s 34.9 lb. Tyee was the overall winner and the first 30+ lb. Chinook I’d ever seen in the flesh.

There’s something about little kids and big fish. The gleam in their eye when they see what someone has caught, when they are suiting up to go fishing themselves and most of all when they return from fishing with a catch they’re proud of. In general, observing children on family vacations warms my heart. You know they’ll never forget something as special and exciting as a zodiac adventure or fishing excursion with mom and dad, splashing in our pool on a hot day or watching our resident harbour seals from the dock. I loved capturing the enthusiasm of our young guests in photos.

Each Tuesday evening between June and September I sailed on the water taxi to April Point for Jazz at the Point. The music, the return guests I’d see each week and the sunsets (my God, the sunsets!) were something I’d always look forward to.

Rain is simply a part of west coast life but this summer the liquid sunshine held out for long stretches and allowed it to really feel like summer here on Vancouver Island. Our weddings are what made me take notice of this superb weather. In fact, by the end of September only one ceremony had to be held indoors. Everyone loves a wedding and I’m no exception. I photographed so many beautiful couples and intimate ceremonies this summer, each unique and touching.

Every morning, afternoon and evening that I was on the clock you can bet that I was on our dock for the return of fishing boats. I thoroughly enjoyed weigh-ins and hearing friends and family cheer for one another’s achievements. The stories anglers and guides alike would tell of their adventures on the water were always entertaining although every so often they had to be taken with a grain of salt. It was on the dock that I met most of the wonderful guests that I did.

Finally (or not, as I really could go on all day), acting like a guest at the Lodge on my days off provided me many great memories. My husband and I took a Rapids Tour in May, “brunched” on multiple Sundays and treated visiting relatives to meals in the April Point Dining Room.

Here are some of my fellow crew members’ favourite memories of the 2012 season…

“I picked up a young boy and his grandfather from the airport and on the ride to the Lodge he kept asking me if he’d see an eagle. He explained that the eagle is his national bird but he’s never seen one and really wants to. I told him that his chances were pretty good. When we pulled up and they entered the lobby, you could see through the Lounge windows that there were about 50 bald eagles on the sandbar at low tide. The boy dropped his bags and ran all the way down the dock to see them.” – Joe, Guest Services

“Spending the evenings weighing fish on the dock for the August Heat Derby.” – Christine, Operations Manager

“Even though it’s very cheesy, I really enjoyed working with this group of people…and watching weddings!” – Shauna, Front Desk

“Seeing new things and meeting new people every single day.” – Marjan, Front Desk

“When Ron took me fishing and we saw sea lions and dolphins. That was super cool.” – Kaleisha, Pub Server

See you in a few,

Joanna

We're Not Finished...Yet!

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2012-09-29

With just one week of operation left this season things may be winding down here at the Lodge but there is also a fair amount happening.

This morning a stag group of ours went fishing, as did a number of other pairs. Bear guided his guests to an 11 lb. Chum and Trevor led his to another weighing 16 lbs.

Shortly after those boats returned, Ed and his Wildlife Adventure passengers arrived home from their Saturday zodiac ride. The Powell family were thrilled to have seen 16 transient orcas just north of Seymour Narrows, 10 Steller sea lions, 20 harbour seals sunbathing at low tide and 20 (extremely active and friendly) Pacific white-sided dolphins.

Yesterday we lit the first fire this fall in the Fireside Lounge. It was a grey, rainy day in Campbell River and the Lounge’s crackling warmth provided the perfect hang out spot. Speaking of the Lounge, just today we had an A-list celebrity visit for lunch, baby Skye of Quadra Island. Skye is our very own Painter’s Lodge baby as she was the first ever to be born on property (Aug. 20^th of this year). It will certainly be neat to watch Skye grow over the years knowing where her first breaths were taken.

We only have two Sunday Brunches left this year and next week will be a busy one with it being Thanksgiving. It’s hard to believe on Monday it will be October, too! That means our fishing tides change to just 8 AM and 1 PM.

See you in a few,

Joanna

Property of Painter's Lodge

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2012-09-27

In 1967 Butch Dunstan began as a fishing guide at Painter’s Lodge. It was at his job that he met his future wife, Terri, who was hired as a waitress in 1970. The young couple married in 1973 and briefly left their jobs at Painter’s that same year but soon returned. Terri assumed the role of Dining Room Manager and Butch took on a role as Dock Supervisor and worked in maintenance. In 1975 Butch and Terri had their first son, Geord, and in 1977 moved a trailer onto the property that they could live in (it was located where the 500 building now stands). In the years following, their second and third sons, Joel and Geoff, were born. The family was on the grounds when the original lodge burned down on Christmas Eve ’85 and were part of the package when Oak Bay Marine Group purchased the new Lodge in 1987. The Dunstans were here when the new Lodge debuted in 1988 and when each of the present day accommodation wings were erected year after year until 1992. In fact, one of those buildings was a private home built for The Dunstan Family. To this day Butch and Terri reside in this house (knows as the Gatehouse) and devote their time to beautifying our grounds and maintaining the general upkeep of the buildings and boats. During the off season they also act as caretakers of the lodge. They are an incredibly special and valuable part of our team and many veteran crew members can't imagine this place without them.

Just recently I came upon a photo album belonging to the The Dunstans that chronicled their early years at Painter’s. The very first photo in the album was a Painter’s Lodge staff photo taken in 1970. Sure enough Butch is there in the back row but unfortunately it was taken just before Terri came aboard.

The pair reminds me of the saying ‘If these walls could talk’ except in this case we don't even need the walls. Butch and Terri have seen everything!

See you in a few,

Joanna

I Spy Something With a Trunk...

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2012-09-21

On this first cloudy day in weeks we had over half a dozen fishing boats out on the morning tide. Bob, guided by Bear, reeled in a 12.3 lb. spring while Nels, fishing with Bruce, landed a 14.8 lb. Ling Cod.

With the closure of April Point traffic on our dock has died down quite a bit. In fact, running the dock is now a one-person operation versus the two or three crew members we have working at any given time during high season. This morning it was Heather’s duty to tie up all the boats, re-fuel them and make sure our guests’ fish were properly bagged, boxed, labeled and delivered or placed in the cooler. During high season when 30 boats come in, all with their limit of fish, you can imagine the pace of the dock!

While out fishing, Richard and his guests spotted an elephant seal; an ocean creature he has yet to see in 22 years of fishing our local waters. A member of our Front Desk crew, Todd, reported seeing these creatures on the west coast of Vancouver Island, but I hadn’t even heard of them. If they are currently in the area maybe our zodiac passengers will see them in the next few days. (I’ll let you search images of elephant seals and draw your own conclusion about their appearance!)

Tomorrow (at 10:49 A.M. EDT) marks the autumnal equinox—or more importantly “wedding day” for Steph and Adrian! This evening we’re excited to have John Reynolds on the Tyee Pub marquee and this coming Tuesday night the Pub will host our annual Tour de Rock Beer & Burger Fundraiser. Each September Tour de Rock riders cycle the length of Vancouver Island in order to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. We’re proud to have the entire team stay at Painter’s Lodge each year when they come through town and always look forward to their presence at the Beer & Burger event.

See you in a few,

Joanna

Hot Fun in the September Sun

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2012-09-19

The weather gods have been good to us here on Vancouver Island! On Monday, September 17^th we broke a temperature record in Campbell River when we hit 28.2 degrees and still nothing but sunshine is in the forecast for another week.

Needless to say the fishing, swimming, hiking, outdoor dining and zodiac conditions have been perfect. Due to the number of whales in the area our whale watching season has been extended by a week so there have been even more chances to get on the water and soak up the fun while we still can.

Chums are now pouring through and are even starting to bite. In fact, we’re already seeing some weighing in the low teens. Coho are still around and springs are still being caught down south (although most are back in the rivers). All of our guides have had mega dolphin shows entertain their guests over the past week and a humpback has also been hanging around feeding on herring. Amanda in the Marine Centre suggested we name the humpback because we’ve become so well-acquainted…any suggestions?

Oh, and for those anglers who don’t like Chum, remember that they taste great smoked!

Our free water taxi to April Point made its last run of the season Saturday afternoon and since then we’ve been punching the numbers to get a total. Turns out 66,098 persons rode the Connector and Connector 2 to Quadra Island this summer. A big thanks to our shuttle operators, Eddie, Dave, Bert and Greg, for their outstanding service!

See you in a few,

Joanna

It's a Girl!

Painter's Lodge - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2012-08-21

At 8:28 AM Monday, in the Pat Martin Bates room at Painter’s Lodge, a little girl, Skye MacLean, was born into this world weighing 7 lbs. 6ozs. Allan and Brett MacLean, Quadra Island residents, checked into the Lodge Sunday night for an appointment the next day with their midwife. Very early on Monday they called the midwife who came out to check on Mrs. MacLean. By the time she got here it was too late to move mom so baby Skye was delivered right here on property! (The midwife must have been prepared as we were told that there was no damage to any of the bedding or mattress.) This is proof that there's always something new and exciting happening here at Painter’s. You can read the entire heartwarming story here (yes, it made the local news!) http://www.campbellrivermirror.com/news/166950836.html.

Saturday was also an eventful day. Thankfully the rain held out so Cathy and Robin’s wedding went off without a hitch on the Discovery Lawn. The Tyee Club held a lunch meeting in our Discovery Room (I snuck a peek at all of their shiny trophies on display) and one of our visiting groups, Baker Auto Supply, fished on the morning tide. Those Baker folks caught some nice looking fish but it was Franck from Cannes, France, who had the catch of the day at 25.6 lbs. On Sunday morning Dave Parsley reeled in a 32.6 lb. Tyee with guide Doug T and on Monday it was Michelle Cook, guided by Rick Janz, who won herself the title of Daily Derby Winner by snagging her 28 lb. Chinook. Michelle is the first daily winner to have caught their Chinook while rowing in the Tyee Pool. Nice job, Michelle!

Zodiac guide Ed and his Whale Watch Adventure passengers began their trip by observing 12 transient orcas right in front of the lodge this morning. Throw in the bear they spotted in Bute Inlet and the pacific white-sided dolphins who surprised them in Cordero Channel and you could say they had quite a wildlife viewing experience!

See you in a few,

Joanna