Calvert Island Facilities
Calvert Island is a remote location in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest - halfway between Vancouver and Alaska. The Quadra Centre meetings take place at the Hakai Institute Ecological Observatory facilities on 200 + acres in the middle of 14000 years of human occupied territory of the Heiltsuk and Wuikinuxv Nations, and the Hakai Luxbalis Conservancy Area.
Our site is alongside some of the most beautiful beaches, ancient bog forests and rocky terrain on the east Pacific Coast of North America.
Campus
Because of its remote location, the Calvert Island Campus has been designed to be fully serviced and self-sufficient. The site consists of three main accommodation buildings, plus meeting/seminar spaces and six laboratories, including a sea water lab on the dock. We can accommodate up to 60 guests.
Our site and the surrounding conservancy are ideal for locating our hi-tech systems to monitor watersheds, oceans, and weather. These systems also provide first-class communications for our on-site and safety for our boats when they are away from base.
Our solar energy system has reduced our fuel use dramatically over our ten years of occupation. We minimize our footprint and reuse, recycle, and compost everything possible. We have state of the art water and sewage systems. Please respect our need to conserve.
We have off the grid food production in our two greenhouses and vegetable garden to supply most of our needs.
Arrival
All travel to Calvert Island is organized through our staff. Flights leave Campbell River on chartered seaplanes with Hakai staff. They fly directly to Hakai Institute’s dock on Calvert Island. Other sea and air transport can be arranged as needed.
Safety
Safety is the priority in all that we do at this facility. You will have a detailed safety orientation before you begin any work or meetings. This may include boat usage where appropriate. We expect all to observe our safety policies and we reserve the right to remove anyone who disregards these. We have a Level 3 First Aid room and always have Level 3 certified staff on site. Most injuries and accidents happen during recreation activities, so safety policies still apply.
Evacuation from Calvert will be organised depending on the level of injury and may involve flights to Vancouver or Campbell River if our Level 3 staff or the local hospital in Bella Bella cannot give sufficient support.
Alcohol and Recreational Drugs
We are a dry facility. We do not supply alcohol and do not encourage any to be brought on site. Alcohol is not allowed in any locations except your room or the beach. Anyone who is incapacitated by drugs or alcohol may be prevented from taking part in research or meetings and may be removed from the facility. This is a safety issue. This is a 24 hour work site.
Accommodation
Accommodation for up to 60 people is divided between six buildings and varies from shared 2-5 bed units as well as single accommodation units. Allocation depends on availability and the size of the group. All rooms are fully equipped with linens supplied. Bathrooms include shampoo, soap, and body lotion. All buildings have laundry facilities available at certain times.
Meals
Meals are communal buffet style in the dining room at set times. We supply packed meals and early breakfasts on request for any research dependent on tide cycles or distance sampling. Our chefs and kitchen staff feed us very well with great vegetarian/vegan options and our kitchen can accommodate special needs diets if notified in advance. Our vegetable garden and greenhouse provide much of our fresh produce.
Communications
Internet access and wifi-enabled cell service are dependable but please download what you need before coming to the Calvert Campus as bandwidth is limited - there is no streaming, Facetime etc. We have phones in each building for outgoing calls, and phones for emergency incoming calls at the front desk or HQ.
Recreation
We have kilometers of trails to the 7 beaches south of West Beach and to the Lookout, as well as a trail to North Beach. Most beaches are very safe for swimming, use of boogie boards etc.as long as you keep off dangerous rocks where signs are posted.
Wildlife
We do not have bears or cougars on the Island. We have a wolf pack that may be seen anywhere on the island including the beach, trails and around the facility. They have never shown any aggression to staff or visitors. We respect them as an important part of the island community. We also share our island with deer, mink, river otters and other small mammals. Our ravens do need to be heeded as they have learned to open all manner of containers to check out the contents. Leaving items unattended is a quick way to lose your lunch or many other items that might pique a raven's interest!