Meet Some Of Our Friendly Staff
Ocean Island is proud to employ a mix of international & local staff. All of our staff members are readily available to help you out with any burning questions about Victoria, but more importantly: they are here to make you feel at home. Check out their stories and unique Victoria recommendations below.
Lana
Lana came down all the way from Fort St. John and loves to work at the hostel as past travels have made her aware of the value of a good hostel. Ocean Island allows for travellers to be able to experience the island affordably and it’s a great experience as well. Her days consist of making sure that we are on top of things, so that Ocean Island is always at its best. She highly recommends to get some bikes and do the Galloping Goose Trail as there are so many great spots to check out along the way.
Marc
Originally from New Brunswick, all the way in Eastern Canada, Marc has since settled in Victoria. As the cook of Ocean Island Inn, he is in the kitchen all day to make sure everyone can enjoy the delectable meals. He enjoys his time cooking and meeting cool individuals who give him compliments about his food. If you’re visiting Victoria, why not head out to Quazar’s Arcade where you can play retro arcade games and have a real’ good time.
Kath
All the way from Manchester in the United Kingdom, Kath moved to Ontario in 1987 and has since settled down in Victoria. She enjoys working with her great coworkers in an international environment and has some great tips for people visiting Victoria.If you like food, hit up Bin 4 Burger Lounge for the best burgers. For the tastiest cocktails, visit Belleville's Watering Hole & Diner who have the best margaritas. If you’re visiting in summer, attend one of the Breakwater Barge evenings for live music and great beer.
Sonja
Sonja is from beautiful British Columbia! She holds a photo of a starfish, which she took when she had her first encounter with the beautiful marine wildlife found in BC. She likes working at Ocean Island as it allows her to work with people from all around the globe. Her recommendation for Victoria? Having a picnic by the bridge in beautiful Beacon Hill Park.
Michelle
Michelle is originally from Brisbane Australia and loves working at Ocean Island! Active as ever, you can catch Michelle biking around town. It may come as no surprise that her recommendation for Victoria is to bike around town and hit up some bike trails such as the Galloping Goose.
Lauren
Lauren was born and raised in Victoria! She loves dogs and therefore brought her stuffed corgi with her as she couldn’t bring her actual dog. Working at Ocean Island allows her to connect with people from all over the world and she enjoys working with her co-workers in an international environment. If you’re in Victoria for summer, she highly recommends to go out to Thetis Lake with a bunch of friends. Or, if you really want to go out for brunch.. Check out Jam Cafe. There might be a line, but it’s worth the wait every time.
Jag
Jag came down from Vancouver to grace us with his presence. He just started but already loves meeting cool cats from around the globe. If you’re in Victoria and looking for some time away from the city - why not go for a nice walk around Swan Lake or enjoy the view from Christmas Hill?
James
Originally from Canberra, Australia, James is devoted to help things grow hence the plant in the photo. He enjoys meeting travellers from all over the world and to help them discover the things he loves about Victoria and Canada. His recommendation for you is to visit the Bug Zoo as it’s interesting and more engaging than a museum. The staff is passionate to answer all of your questions and if you’re lucky you get to hold spiders!
Destinee
Originally from Vancouver, Destinee has since moved to Victoria! Destinee enjoys doing yoga and going to summer festivals is high on the list as well. Working at Ocean Island allows her to connect with similar minded people as well as offering genuine customer service and getting to know the guests. If you’re hungry, she recommends to check out the Bin 4 Burger Lounge. They have the best burgers in town and will substitute meat at no extra charge, so great for veggies. The cherry on top is that if you go after 9 pm, you’ll get 50% off!
Cody
Simon
Rick
Rick moved here all the way from Arnhem, The Netherlands. Busy in both his professional and social life, it’s the peanut butter that gives him the energy to maintain his lively lifestyle. Why he loves working at Ocean Island? Because it’s a safe space where everyone can be themselves! His Victoria recommendation is to go to the Delish Cafe in Oak Bay, get some coffee and treats and then walk up to Anderson Hill, where you can enjoy the magnificent views of the Olympic Mountain Range.
Sarah
Sarah is originally from Cairo, Egypt and has since settled down in little Victoria. The new bike lanes conveniently allow her to commute to and from work on her new bicycle. As someone who always liked working in the hospitality field, she enjoys working at Ocean Island even more as everyone is from different backgrounds. In spring and summer she loves to go the Moss Street Market, a local market with music and vendors selling food, crafts & jewellery.
Beibei
BeiBei is from Jiangsu in East China. Having worked at the hostel for quite some time, she sums up why she’s still here: because it’s flexible, fun and she feels free! She always has her phone with her as it’s her best assistant for her busy life. But, she also likes to relax and drive or hike up to the top of Mount Douglas to watch the sunset and thinks you should do that too!
Liz
Rachel
Sandy
Sandy was born in Winnipeg, but moved to Victoria when she was six years old. She did kickboxing for 8 years and she just made it before her brown belt. Working at Ocean Island allows her to work with diverse staff from all over the world, something she really enjoys. If you’re in Victoria, she suggests to to do some kayaking in the Victoria waters. And what better way to start in our inner harbour?
