Unsung Heroes Clean Up!
Paul and Lana Hawkins of Campbell River (shown right) are ready to take on full-time caretaking duties at Bear Lodge. Paul has worked on the mountain for six years as head of Security and Custodial services.
Bear Lodge is the latest condo building to open at Mount Washington,
joining its sister hotel Deer Lodge and other large buildings such as
Blueberry Hill, Paradise Ridge, Ptarmigan Ridge, Creekside House.
All of the homes are privately owned, and some are individually managed
by accommodation companies that takes care of checking in guests.
But who are the people who look after these buildings; changing light
bulbs, vacuuming hallways, taking care of burst pipes... the caretakers
who often give up their own homes to live full time at the Resort?
The Marmot will profile some of these people over the next couple of issues.
Lana and Paul Hawkins are preparing Mount Washington’s newest
accommodation for winter occupation. Bear Lodge began accepting visitors
in the summer, but the winter season really began December 3 with the
booking of a wedding party.
The Hawkins came from Campbell River to take on the full-time caretaking
job at Bear Lodge. Paul is no stranger to Mount Washington, having spent
the past six years as head of security and custodial services at the
Resort. With the Hawkins’ new position as caretakers, his commute
just dropped dramatically.
Lana has worked as a cleaner in office buildings and apartments and
says Bear Lodge will be no different. “It was one of those things
where I was working (at cleaning) anyway and this is closer to work
for Paul,” Lana explains. “This is a new building …
it’s a great opportunity to come up here.”
The job came with a furnished one-bedroom unit, which Lana has personalized
with a few things from home. Their calico cat, Kitty, makes herself
at home following the sun’s rays as they move across the carpet.
Lana enjoys the view from their front window, which overlooks the parking
lot and the trees and mountains beyond.
The Hawkins have been at Bear Lodge since August and, although the summer
was quiet, they have been busy.
Lana has already established a cleaning routine that is as detailed
as dusting the door jams and polishing the doorknobs. The foyer is cleaned
every day.
The cleaning and maintenance taken on by caretakers at Mount Washington
are building-specific – they don’t clean individual units,
Lana explained.
Paul Hawkins doesn’t anticipate too much maintenance will have
to be done at Bear Lodge this year, but he’s prepared for the
unexpected!
Bruce
Frame has been at Blueberry Hill for the past nine years. The Comox
Valley native is hard-pressed to come up with just one happy memory
of his caretaker’s job. “They’re all good, the whole
nine years,” he says. “I’ve made a lot of friends,
good friends. Some of them lifetime. I’ve met people from all
over the world. Even the renters that come up here, we’re on a
first-name basis. They’re like family to me.”
Frame has seen 600 visitors a year pass through the doors to Blueberry
Hill, Mount Washington’s first drive to condo development. The
building was just three years old when he packed up his construction
business, took a building manager’s course and answered a newspaper
ad for Blueberry Hill.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes. Raven Lodge, a few extra ski
runs, and double the people.” He’s never regretted answering
that ad, even though he rarely has a day of rest during the ski season.
“It’s been like a working holiday. I’ve loved every
day of it.” Frame will retire in July, much to the chagrin of
his granddaughter, who has been visiting him at Blueberry Hill since
she was four years old. An avid outdoorsman, Frame plans to fish once
he’s retired. But he will be back to the Resort: taking his granddaughter
horseback riding or hiking in Paradise Meadows.
Bruce Frame (shown left) uses a snowblower to clear the way for guests
at Blueberry Hill during an especially snowy season. Frame is retiring
in July after nine years as caretaker at Blueberry.