April Point Resort & Spa Reel Reports

New Resort Video

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-12-19

We finished our new April Point resort video and posted it on YouTube. Check it out!

See you in the Spring!

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-09-29

Another season has come to an end for April Point Resort & Spa. We had another great summer on Beautiful Quadra Island with lots of excitement. We shuttled almost 52,095 guests on our 12 person capacity complimentary water shuttle in 4 months!

Live music, weddings on under the fir trees and lots of pedicures overlooking the Discovery Passage. We look forward to sharing all these things with you again starting in the spring of 2012.

Here’s what some of the crew had to say about their summer at April Point…

“Life on Quadra was slightly different than most. It rained through August but was hot in September! This didn’t stop the fish; they were never on schedule but always on time!” ~ ~ Leif, Dock Supervisor

“Another great season has passed at April Point Resort & Spa and I am already looking forward to opening in 2012. Every year brings new challenges – but the staff here at April Point is always ready and willing to face those challenges and to offer some wonderful solutions. It’s raining what can we do – how about the spa – ate too much – how about a bike ride – don’t want to fish – how about a zodiac trip and of course there is always the Gift Shop to browse through. We look forward to seeing all of our returning guests and we will enjoy welcoming all of our new guests and showing them what April Point Resort & Spa has to offer for that well deserved get away"

~ Bridget, Front Desk Manager

“My second season at AP (April Point) Front Desk proved once again to be an incredible experience. From meeting interesting people from around the world, working with a fantastic crew and working in a spectacular environment. I am Fortunate to be able to extend my season by finishing at PL (Painter’s Lodge).”

~Lynn, Front Desk

A Taste of April Point

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-09-25

April Point Resort & Spa’s second Annual Tastes of April Point was nothing but Incredible. We had new faces and familiar faces from all over BC come to indulge themselves on Quadra Island this weekend.

We kicked the weekend off with wine and cheeses from Vancouver Island. Nancy and Ben Gourlay from Little Qualicum Cheeseworks did a fabulous job of pairing their cheeses with wines from South End Winery (Jill Ogasawara and Ben McGuffie), Alderlea and Averill creek Vinyards (Jason Hyde) and Blue Grouse Wines (Jen Gidora). It may have been raining but that didn’t stop anyone from enjoying their evening. Jazz Berry Jam kept the mojo up in the Dining Room for the last time this year.

Saturday started with a Frog Coffee presentation. Perfect! Karla Foster did a great job teaching flavours and origins of coffee from all over the world. Three cups later and everyone was ready for the next event.

Saturday afternoon was a taste of all things decadent. Guests travelled between three venues sipping, smelling and tasting for the afternoon. Thanks to Stacy Talbot from Albion Fisheries and Lesley Brown guests relaxed outside on the Discovery lawn while sipping champagne and slurping 3 different types of oysters. During our second session guests were invited to challenge their senses with Ingo Grady during this “nose-on” presentation. And finally show cased in house 888 we had a house of typical pairings. This was my station favourite! With deep fried crab doughnuts, sangria and beer with ice-cream; this was my favourite station of the afternoon.

After snacking all afternoon as everyone was heading back to the Discovery lawn for a wine crush we were joined by a pod of about 200 Dolphins swimming and playing as they travelled north in the Discovery Passage.

Crushing grapes with a typical pair of fisherman rubber boots was a great laugh. The juice that come out of that barrel did not look at all appetizing but it was a blast watching these guys stomp while everyone sang The Drunken Sailor.

April Point’s Executive Chef Stephanie Dykes was the cherry on this weekend’s cake. Her five course meal was... absolutely breathtaking. Ingo Grady did a great job of presenting the wine pairings and Stephanie’s menu to the dining room for the evening.

To finish things up, guests were invited to enjoy champagne Sunday Brunch at Painter’s Lodge for one final feast and glass of champagne before heading home.

As always it was so great watching all the crew at April Point come together and help create this event that we hope will carry on over the years.

~ Caylin

Going out with a Bang!

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-09-22

Alright everyone this is the last weekend April Point Resort & Spa will be open. We are closed as of Sunday September 25^th. It has been a great summer with lots of excitement and we will continue with this vibe until the end.

We are going out with a bang!

Our final and most indulgent event of the season is Tastes of April Point. This weekend you can introduce your taste buds to everything international and local Vancouver Island wines and fresh cheeses to exotic coffees, gourmet cuisine, fresh oysters, champagne and more!

Read more about this weekend at http://bit.ly/qtigTC

~ Caylin

Explore Your Creativity

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-09-15

Our Live and Learn workshop are happening now! The Fun and Free Watercolours group had a great time learning from awarding winning artist, Leslie Redhead. This is just one of many getaways available at April Point Resort & Spa this month.

Leaving today was the Acrylics and Collage workshop, led by Louise Monfette. Louise’s love of colour and texture comes forth in her acrylic and mixed media works.

There was some major creativity going on in the Island View Room this week and there is still more to come!

~Caylin

Back Porch Banjo

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-09-12

The Back Porch Banjo played yesterday afternoon on the April Point patio and again in the evening. It was such a great for this. The sun was out, there were sea lions swimming around the point and music was awesome!

Next weekend is our BIG event, Tastes of April Point. Everyone is preparing for this weekend of indulgences with lots of care. There are still spots available, if you are interested get more details on our webpage at http://www.aprilpoint.com/resort/events/tastes/ .

~ Caylin

Photography by Dave Barr

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-09-05

The April Point Resort & Spa 2011 season is slowly coming to its end. With three short weeks left I know it’ll fly by. We are excited to start our fall Live & Learn programs tomorrow with our Women’s Yoga retreat.

We are even more excited for our 2^nd annual “Tastes of April Point” weekend of indulgence. This event was a grand success last year and we expect nothing less than that this month. The executive chef has been working very hard on the Saturday night dinner menu. If it’s anything like her 5 course meal last year it also will be a grand success. This weekend of indulgences starts on September 23^rd and there are still spots available.

We had Pender the transient Orca visit our dock waters this morning which consequently sent the seals to higher ground. 2 more pods of Orca were spotted in Kelsey Bay just north of Sayward. They were joined by a pod of about 200 white sided Dolphins! What a show that must have been.

Speaking of Orcas I was given some pictures taken by Dave & Mary Barr, frequent visitors at April Point. They got some amazing pictures last season during their stay and I have to share these amazing shots.

~ Caylin

Eric's Adventures

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-09-02

The Amazing Adventures of Eric the Eagle

Eric was a peculiar eagle. He only flew when it was absolutely necessary and yet he loved the sensation of a warm summer breeze in his feathers. When he arrived at Painters Lodge; on his way to April Point Resort & Spa, he ran as quick as he could down to the dock to catch the complimentary Water Taxi, but found out he was #13 for a boat that only carries 12. Lucky for Eric, eagles do not count as humans, and there was plenty of roof seating available, which suited him just fine.

Off he went to April Point. Once he arrived, he met the cheerful dock crew, and enjoyed their company as they carried his bags to the Front Desk Reception area. Eagles don't have hands you know; carrying luggage becomes quite a challenge. The Dock crew were very helpful, and led Eric to the Front Desk Reception area where he was again greeted with smiles all around. He could tell he was going to love this place!

Quickly and efficiently the Front Desk girls checked Eric into his room, gave him his key and assigned him his fishing time for later that evening. Eagles love to fish. Off he went, walking just behind the dock crew who were still carrying his luggage, and were now showing him the way to his room. Upon arrival, Eric opened the door and dropped his beak immediately.

It was the most beautiful nest he had ever laid his eyes on; the girls at front desk must have made a mistake he thought... but there was no mistake. The dock crew were still there and reassured Eric that this was in fact his beautiful nest, and it was all his for the night. Incredible he thought. Eric walked in and saw immediately the care and attention the Housekeepers had put into his room. Soap in the shower, a fold in the toilet paper and a note to welcome him...

He could get used to this. After a quick fluffing of his feathers and some more admiring of his nest, Eric was ready to make his first trip around the lodge.

He figured, as he was a 20 year old eagle and a lover of anything fishy, that he would start out with a drink at the Bar and a quick snack at the Sushi Lounge. What could be more perfect?

The staff were extremely helpful and informed Eric of all the great things to do while at April Point Resort & Spa and sent Eric straight away to the Spa to make an appointment for the following morning. Fisher Eagles need relaxation time too.

He left the Spa and made his way further around the property, and started to realize why April Point is considered one of the most beautiful places to be on Earth. The scenery is impeccable. The Smells are infectious. The people are incredible; it's perfect.

After lounging on the chairs for a bit, Eric made his way down to the dock for his Fishing Adventure! Again, the dock crew were imperative in getting Eric suited up and getting Eric where he needed to be to meet his guide and start his trip.

4 hours later, Eric was one happy Eagle. His guide had helped him land 3 fish! One Chinook, one Sockeye and one Pink. Food for the family he thought, so he got his guide to clean his catch and he had it sent home through the St. Jeans Cannery right to his tree step. Eagles live in trees you know!

While filling out his St. Jeans order forms, Eric noticed a bright red scooter helmet sitting on the counter in the Fish Centre, and he knew exactly what he was going to do next.

After a few minutes of paperwork and a 10 minute instruction on how to operate a scooter, Eric was on his way.

The trip of a lifetime. 2 hours he was gone, and he loved every millisecond of that ride, but it definitely made him hungry. In he went past front desk right to the hostess stand, where he met the Dining Room service staff who, again, were all smiles.

A very cheerful place he thought to himself. One of the bussers noticed that Eric was travelling alone, and since they were slow that day, she offered to sit with Eric to keep him company until his food arrived. How sweet of her, she really didn't have to do that! Maybe that's what makes this place so great; the people.

Dinner arrived right on time, and was absolutely delicious. Who knew you could catch a fish and eat it at the same Resort that very same night? The chef had left Eric speechless, and off he waddled back outside to gaze at the scenery just beyond the helicopter pad, and to put his talons in the cold Pacific Ocean that surrounded the Resort.

It was the perfect night he thought. After a short walk he ran into a Crew member from the dock who was re-arranging the checker pieces on a life-size board.

Luckily he had time for a quick match; however Eric didn't tell him that he was a world Class checkers player. What was to be a short match was an extremely short match, and off went his opponent back to work on the docks; sad as can be. After a full day like that, Eric was definitely one sleepy Eagle! Slowly he made his way back to his way back to his nest, which in all honesty was room #1 in the Main Lodge at the resort. Calling it his nest made Eric felt more at home. In he went, up the stairs which after this long of a day look like a tower; it's too bad he wasn't more accustomed to flying.

He brushed his beak, and off to bed he went. This was the perfect day he thought to himself as he laid in bed... I only wonder what this place has in store for me tomorrow.

~ A story by Leif Nordman

Kayaking at April Point Resort & Spa

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-08-23

Gowland Harbour is the perfect place for a beginner or advanced kayakers to paddle around. Beginners can stay near the shorelines and check out the seals mischievously watching you from the log booms and more advanced kayakers can all the way across the harbour a check out some of the gorgeously landscaped homes.

People of all ages are welcome to explore beautiful Quadra by sea at April Point Resort &Spa. what Leif had to say about kayaking at April Point.

~ Caylin

Happy Contest Winners

April Point Resort & Spa - Oak Bay Marine Group — 2011-08-18

Thank you so much for the contest for a romantic summer getaway. It was an amazing experience. Darwin and I did indeed have a romantic and fun experience. We had never fished for salmon and it was terrific. The room and view we had was awesome. The beauty of the area was spectacular. We have so been so busy with work and home renovations since we moved to the Island in Brentwood Bay 5 years ago. This was a perfect celebration of where we live and the sacrifices we made over the last 5 years to get us to this point. How lucky we all are to live on Vancouver Island- We feel so fortunate. The OBMG-great organization and two great resorts out there with great staff and location with April Point and Painter's Lodge.

Thank you. Thank you. We totally reveled in this great and beautiful gift. We fully appreciated the opportunity.

Joanne and Darwin