Boat Captain SVOP – Seasonal (May to end of September)

Principle Responsibilities:

• Safely operate 12-passenger 28-foot aluminum passenger-carrying landing craft and/or a 22-foot aluminum support boat
• Ensure compliance with Transport Canada policies, local laws, commercial whale watching regulations, and company rules.
• Ensure the accurate execution of all COVID-19 onboard safety protocols.
• Maintaining ship’s certificates and documentation by producing daily and monthly reports.
• Communicate with management and office
• Maintain vessel cleanliness and smooth operation
• Lead and participate in regular safety briefings and drills
• Maintain awareness of your surroundings and exercise conservative judgement.
• Provide rescue and first aid attention when required.
• Familiarize yourself with the local area, and be continually aware of current and predicted weather conditions.
• Ensure that the vessels and equipment are in good working order and/or make or report necessary repairs
• Act as a representative of Spirit of the West Adventures in the field
• Maintain a friendly professional demeanour at all times
• Produce accident / incident / injury / illness reports, if necessary.
• Provide guests with information about local wildlife, culture and geography in collaboration with guides

Qualifications & Requirements (hold or obtain):

• SVOP (Small Vessel Operator Proficiency Certificate) or greater
• Small Domestic Vessel-Basic Safety (SDV-BS formerly called Marine Emergency Duties/MED A3) or greater
• Marine Basic First Aid or Equivalent
• Marine Medical Certificate
• ROC-M or ROC-MC (Restricted Operator’s Certificate – Maritime Commercial)
• Clean Drivers license (Class 4 preferred)
• Experience on commercial vessels in order to qualify as a captain on our boat insurance
• Fully vaccinated, 2 doses or greater

Dates Captains Needed (this is likely to expand to additional dates, but these are ideal dates at this time)

May (is negotiable, but this ideal driver training window) 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27

June 30

July 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30

August 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 26, 29

September 1, 4, 7

*plus some additional dates if available and desired

**potential for work into October TBD

Remuneration & Benefits

*This work is to take place out of Telegraph Cove/Port McNeill region on Northern Vancouver Island. If the captain lives locally and can meet at the dock then a higher rate of pay will be offered. If the Captain needs transportation from Quadra Island to the departure location, then that can be arranged, but the rate of pay for that travel time will be at the lower end of the hourly range. Our ideal candidate is based in the North Vancouver Island region- Port McNeill or Telegraph Cove (but willing to discuss other locations and see if we can make it work).

• $27-$35 per hour – commensurate with experience and location of the candidate/travel time required (see above)
• 4% vacation pay on all wages (in lieu of paid vacation time)
• Health & Well Being Stipend of $5.00 per day worked (as per date of hire) must provide receipts, non-accruing
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program including free, confidential counselling through Upper Island Counselling
• Access to pro-deals on outdoor gear
• Access to kayaks – borrow kayaks anytime (when available and after completing safety training). If you are accompanying a group of friends and we have kayaks/gear available, we may be able to loan kayaks to you and your group free of charge.
• ​​Staff Discounts on kayak tours

Background Information about Spirit of the West 

• Spirit of the West Adventures is based on Quadra Island, BC, a beautiful remote, rural community of approximately 3000 year-round residents. It is a 10-minute ferry ride from Campbell River on Vancouver Island which is a community of 35,000 residents with access to just about every service required or desired. Click here to learn more about Quadra Island 
• Spirit of the West Adventures offers multi-day guided sea kayaking tours all over the Vancouver Island region, mainly in the Johnstone Strait region as well as abroad in the winter month.
• We make the magic happen with the help of a seasonal team of upwards of 50 employees in our operational season and a team of between 5-8 year-round.
• We are a tight-knit team who truly care about what we do, our colleagues and our community
• A rustic camping area is available for staff on a seasonal basis. If looking for more fixed roof accommodation on Quadra Island expect rent to range from $800- $1500/month for most types of accommodation.
• We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We strive to create a culture that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.