Staff Template

Welcome to the QCL Team!

Below you will find all the need to know information to help you prepare for our summer adventure together. The details are abundant so be sure to read each section thoroughly, and click all linked text. Additional information will be added in the weeks/months leading up to our departure so be sure to check the webpage periodically. General emails will also be sent fairly regularly so if you haven’t heard from us in a while, check your junk folder! Should questions or concerns arise at any point don’t hesitate to touch base. We look forward to working alongside each and every one of you.

The countdown to the upcoming season is officially on!

Uniforms

Within the FOH Uniform Codebook, each FOH and Spa position has been broken down with detailed requirements listed for each respective role.

If clarification is required kindly email Jessica Bulteel – jbulteel@fishqcl.com

Please keep in mind that uniforms are often worn 6 days a week. Duplicates or higher quality items may be preferred for longevity reasons. It is also highly recommended that new shoes are broken in pre-season.

Those working a serving role, please arrive with your own corkscrew. A 2-step corkscrew is suggested.

Notepads and pens are provided on property but please do feel free to bring your own, should you have a preference.

Packing Policies & Suggestions

Be sure to review our Packing Policy + Suggestionsto ensure you haven’t forgotten anything major and are adhering to our policies as outlined.

Although you will be in Haida Gwaii for the summer, pack as though you are travelling for just a few weeks (on the clothing front). You’ll be found in your uniform more often than not and when off shift most are in something comfortable and casual.

Include a bit of everything in your luggage (warm layering pieces to a bathing suit or two) as the weather can vary. Keep in mind it is much cooler in Haida Gwaii than Vancouver, especially at the beginning and towards the end of our season.

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Crew are required to bring their own pillow(s) and layer for warmth be it a duvet, comforter, blanket or sleeping bag.

It is also suggested that you pack your own towels and sheets, if room permits. Although both towels and sheet sets are available on property upon request, having your own often helps make your new space feel a little more like home.

Should you feel packing a pillow and layer for warmth will be too cumbersome there is an alternative. Crew may purchase a $119.00 package through QCL – See here. If this is something you’d like to take advantage of kindly touch base with your manager before April 11th, 2025.

* Please note that pillows can be carried onto the plane with you and do not count as your carry-on item *

Travel Details

STAFF CHARTER SPECIFIC

We will be flying staff north by way of two QCL Staff Charter flights, departing May 16th, 2025. Manifests are forthcoming and we’ll specify your designated plane (Flight 1 or Flight 2) closer to departure. Until then, please plan to be available for Flight 1.

A few from our office team will be on premise to assist crew with the check-in process, just find the kiosk with our logo inside the terminal. In order to complete the check-in process, you will be required to show two pieces of government issued identification, one being photo ID.

FLIGHTS:  May 16th, 2025   |   AIRPORT:  South YVR Terminal (4440 Cowley Crescent, Richmond)

FLIGHT 1 CHECK-IN: Opens: 5:00am, Closes: 5:45am   |   FLIGHT 1 DEPARTURE: 7:00am

FLIGHT 2 CHECK-IN: Opens: 10:00am, Closes: 10:45am   |   FLIGHT 2 DEPARTURE: 12:00pm

Once landed in the arrival terminal, all staff will be transported from the airport to the nearby marina. At the marina you will be escorted onto one of many QCL boats headed for our dock. The boat ride, weather dependent, is often upwards of 1.5hrs and will more than likely be chilly. Bundle up with sweaters and/or jacket. If you are prone to seasickness, it is suggested that you take one Gravol the night before travel and then again on the plane northbound.

There is nothing located in the terminal and as the day is often a longer, you should eat in advance and pack snacks/water for along the way.

If you are from out of town and need a hotel room the evening before the departure please review the attached. QCL receives a discounted staff rate at select hotels near the airport.

NOTE  |  If you’re a part of the Rig Up team, or travelling to the resort after season start, your travel details will be emailed to you separately.

First class dining experiences

Expectations

At QCL, we pride ourselves on providing first class hospitality and customer service.

Our goal is for guests to feel at home for the duration of their stay and leave wishing they didn’t have to.

It’s a standard for us to learn guest names, listen to their stories and to share ours. Be genuine, smile and have fun.

In the attached Crew Expectations document you’ll learn a little bit more about our team mentality and guest experience practices.

Read this document prior to season start to ensure you’re heading into the summer of the right mindset and ready to take on this new position!

Dietary Concerns


The Cook Shack culinary team does their absolute best each season to acknowledge and accommodate dietary concerns and allergies of 170+ crew. If you have any special requirements or restrictions to note please advise. Kindly state what may be an allergy (anaphylactic or otherwise) and what is a dietary concern/preference (vegetarian, pescatarian, keto, etc). The more information we have pre-season, the better we can meal plan.

Although meals are taken care of, you’ll likely miss snack items over the summer period. Packing comfort foods (IE: chips, candy, popcorns, etc.) or small items to add to meals/snacks (IE: specific seeds, nut butter, protein powders, nutritional supplements, etc.) is suggested.

There is a dedicated area, within the Cook Shack, that crew are welcome to use as storage for their personal food items. Simply place your name on the box/bag/jar and leave in the dedicated area for your convenience.

Rig Up

*Rig Up is full! A waitlist has been started and should numbers change, those on the waitlist will be contacted. Thank you to everyone that has expressed interest.*

A few weeks before Staff Week begins, small teams from each department head up early to whip the Lodge into shape, getting their respective areas to be what we call “guest ready”. This period involves cleaning, stocking, organizing and the general set up of both the guest and staff sides of property.

Rig Up serves as a perfect opportunity to settle in before the hustle and bustle that comes with the arrival of the Crew Charter.

This period is paid and no R+B is incurred. Flights from the South YVR Terminal (Vancouver) to ZMT (Masset) are covered by QCL.

If you’re interested in joining Rig Up connect with your Department Manager ASAP – Space is limited.

Staff Week

Staff week is the period that takes place prior to official season open. It allows you time to settle into your new room, become acquainted with the QCL team, familiarize yourselves with the property and participate in hands on training catered to each respective role.

A training schedule will be distributed once on property. We will meet every day for a few hours to ensure all are up to speed on our programs and protocols. A few days before opening day we will also organize dry run services.

This week is unpaid however no R&B is incurred. There is also an opportunity for all to take advantage of the world class fishing we have in our backyard. We are fortunate enough to see guests travel across the globe to visit us each season and we want you to experience why!

Wi-Fi + Communication

It is imperative that we are able to communicate on season and the most effective way to do so is often via WhatsApp. In advance to your departure to the Lodge, please download the app, if you do not already have it on your device(s). Once onsite, we will establish groups based on role and necessity!

WhatsApp

While at the Lodge, events and activities are posted in the Staff Cook Shack and through our Instagram. If you wish to stay up to date with employee offerings and events, please email your Instagram handle so you can be added to the closed group.

Fishing + Boating Licenses

Planning to fish this summer? Then you’ll need grab yourself a fishing license before you depart for the Lodge!

Your Tidal Water Fishing License must be kept on your person whenever on the water, whether fishing or not.

Be sure to purchase one of these AFTER April 1st, 2025 to ensure a 2025-2026 license is administered. At that time, complete online by following these steps:

  1. Register Now + Enter Info (or log-in for any returning guests)
  2. Obtain a Licence – Select “Canadian Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licence”
  3. Add Additional Stamps – Choose the Pacific Salmon Stamp 2025/2026 (you must have this to make your license valid)
  4. Pay, print  and bring with you! We’ll record your license number and care for your catch throughout the summer

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In addition to your fishing license, you may want to grab yourself a Boating License (PCOC). This isn’t necessary but if you want the flexibility of heading out on the water when convenient for you, rather than bank on another crew driving, you’ll need this. The exam is quite lengthy but once you’re done it’s good for life!

Things to Do

Although we all work hard, 6 days a week, there is a healthy amount of free time to take advantage of this picture perfect place we call home each season. If you’re curious what most do on their time off, keep reading.

Twin Creeks Spa  |  A perfect little pick me up

Kayaking + SUP  |  These are available by sign-up on the dock

Fishing  |  Book a staff boat for the day, catch some fish and we’ll box it up for you to take home season end

Exploring  |  Pick a direction and go. Twin Creeks, Germania, the tall tree, etc.

Workout  |  The staff gym is open 24/7

Beach Combing  |  Keep your eyes peeled for glass floats, Japanese debris and whale teeth

The Dugout  |  The “hub” and the best place to socialize, anytime. Cozy up and watch a movie with friends during the day or grab a casual drink and shoot some pool at night

Wine  |  Spirits  |  Beer – Cider – RTD  |  Cocktails  |  Tobacco  |  Spirit-Free

1. Guest Breakfast Options

Main Lodge  |  Bell Ringer

2. Guest Lunch Options

Main Lodge  |  Hook Bar

3. Guest Dinner Options

Main Lodge  |  The Buoy  |  Bell Ringer Seafood Boil

QCL TERMS & CONDITIONS

At QCL we strive to make every visit to our facility a truly enjoyable and memorable experience.  To enable all of our guests to enjoy their QCL experience to the fullest, we have terms and conditions which apply to all our guests and are aimed at ensuring that all our guests comport themselves in a way that is respectful of the lodge, our staff and their fellow quests.  By agreeing to participate in a trip with QCL, all guests will be deemed to have agreed to the following:

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR

All of the staff and guests at QCL have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.  As a responsible employer and host, we believe that we have a duty to our staff and guests to protect them from inappropriate behaviour by any guest.  Inappropriate behaviour will include drunkenness, profanity, racial or discriminatory comments, unwelcome physical contact or innuendo, excess noise and any other behaviour which is rude, disrespectful, discriminatory or otherwise considered to be inappropriate by any member of QCL’s staff or any other guest.  Final decisions regarding inappropriate behavior and the appropriate consequences for the applicable party will rest with QCL’s Duty Manager.  The Lodge reserves the right to take such action regarding the party found to have acted inappropriately as the Lodge determines to be appropriate, which may include requiring the party to leave the Lodge immediately (all associated transportation costs being borne by the party found to have acted inappropriately) and where necessary involving the police or other appropriate outside agencies.  

RELEASE OF LIABILITY

QCL is a wilderness fishing lodge and guests are participating in sport fishing activities on the open ocean, all of which carry inherent risks.  All guests therefore use QCL’s lodge, boats and other facilities, as well as the aircraft and helicopters with which they travel to or from the Lodge, at their own risk, and all guests voluntarily assume all risks associated with their travel to and from the Lodge and all sport fishing activities, including all risks or personal injury, including the potential for serious injury or death, whether as a result of their own actions or the actions of QCL staff, guides, suppliers, contractors or other guests, or through other circumstances, including weather conditions.  

Therefore, all guests, by choosing to travel to and from QCL, stay at the QCL Lodge, use any QCL equipment or facilities, and/or participate in any sport fishing activities (collectively, the “Trip Activities”) and in consideration of QCL permitting them to do so:

  1. voluntarily assume all risks associated with participation in any Trip Activities, including all risks of physical injury, however caused;

  2. release Queen Charlotte Lodge Ltd. and its directors, officers, shareholders, employees and contractors (collectively, the “QCL Parties”) from any and all claims, liability or causes of action whatsoever which arise from or relate to any Trip Activities, from any cause whatsoever and whether or not caused or contributed to by any defect or other condition in the Lodge property or any dock, boat or other piece of equipment, or any act, omission or negligence of any QCL Party.  

SMOKING

In British Columbia, the Tobacco & Vapour Products Control Act prohibits smoking or vaping in any common areas of the Lodge such as lobbies, hallways, and restaurants.  QCL, as a matter of Lodge policy and because our buildings are wood frame and located in a remote area with limited firefighting facilities, also prohibits smoking or vaping within any guest rooms.  Smoking and vaping are permitted outside of Lodge buildings, as long as guests are more than six metres away from all doorways, open windows or air intakes around the Lodge.

Any breach of these smoking rules is subject to a fine/additional fee of $200, on account of QCL’s costs associated with rectifying the affected environment.

DAMAGE TO LODGE PROPERTY

Guests will be charged for all costs and damages incurred by QCL, including the full cost of rectifying any damage to any Lodge property (including boats and motors, dock structures and any Lodge building), which such guest causes either deliberately or through negligence or recklessness.  Should this damage come to light after the guest has departed, the guest authorizes QCL to charge the full amount of such costs to the guest’s credit/debit card, or send an invoice for the amount due to the guest’s address in our records.  While QCL will take reasonable steps to keep the costs chargeable to the guest to a minimum, if the damage is such that a room or boat is rendered unusable for a period of time, the guest will be liable for any loss of revenue that the Lodge suffers while the room or boat is being repaired.

REMOVAL OF LODGE PROPERTY

Guests will be charged for all costs of replacing any items that are removed from the premises by the guest without QCL’s consent or which are so damaged or stained by the guest as to be unusable.  The charge will be the full replacement amount of the missing or damaged item, including any carriage charges.  Should the fact that the item is missing or damaged come to light after the guest has departed, the guest authorizes QCL to charge the full amount of such costs to the guest’s credit/debit card, or send an invoice for the amount due to the guest’s address in our records.

TAMPERING WITH FIRE DETECTION SYSTEMS AND FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Tampering or interfering with any fire detection or fire suppression equipment at the Lodge is an extremely serious matter.  QCL reserves the right to take immediate action against any guest found to have tampered or interfered with any fire detection or suppression equipment throughout the Lodge, including detector heads in public areas and bedrooms, break glass points and fire extinguishers. Guests found to have tampered with any fire detection or fire fighting equipment will be charged for all costs incurred by the Lodge due to their actions and additionally may be asked to leave the Lodge. Depending on the severity of the guest actions, the Police may become involved at the Lodge’s discretion.  Should the fact that fire fighting or detection equipment had been tampered with come to light after the guest has departed, the guest authorizes QCL to charge the full amount of such costs to the guest’s credit/debit card, or send an invoice for the amount due to the guest’s address in our records.

LOSS OF PERSONAL ITEMS

None of the QCL Parties is liable or responsible for any loss of or damage to any guest’s personal property or valuables while the guest is staying at the Lodge. 

DIETARY OR ALLERGY CONSIDERATIONS

At QCL we do our very best to accommodate our guests with dietary requirements, food sensitivities, allergies and health conditions to the extent possible.  If a guest advises us in advance that they suffer from a food sensitivity or allergy or have other dietary requirements, we will endeavor to provide suitable menu or beverage options, such as gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan options.  However, QCL does not and cannot operate a gluten-, allergen- or meat or dairy-free kitchen, and cross-contamination from work surfaces, cooking utensils and other sources may occur.  Our cooking facilities and ingredients are not kosher or halal-compliant.  Many allergens such as nuts, gluten and shellfish may be present in our kitchen and we cannot ensure that cross-contamination or simple human errors will not occur.  Any guest with a food sensitivity, allergy or dietary requirement must discuss their needs with QCL staff prior to arrival at our Lodge, to determine whether we will be able to accommodate their needs appropriately.  QCL cannot accept any responsibility or liability for our guests’ food sensitivities, allergies or dietary requirements. 

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Guests are responsible for, and will pay to QCL on demand:

  1. the full balance due under their account at the end of each trip, including amounts payable under any of the above terms and conditions as well as alcohol and other purchases and staff tips charged to the guest’s account; and

  2. where the guest has booked the trip on behalf of multiple persons in a single party (a “Group”), the full balance due under the account of each Group member, if such Group member has failed to pay all or any portion of their account, including any amounts payable by such Group member under any of the above terms and conditions as well as alcohol and other purchases and staff tips charged to the guest’s account.

Guests specifically authorize QCL to charge the full amount of such costs to the guest’s credit/debit card, or send an invoice for the amount due to the guest’s address in our records.

BREACH

Management of the Lodge reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to ask any guest to leave the Lodge in the event of non-compliance with any of these terms and conditions (all associated transportation costs being borne by the non-complying guest).