Welcome to your home away from home in Campbell River
Q̓ʷalayu House welcomes pregnant women and families whose children (19 years of age or younger) are accessing health care services in Campbell River. Q̓ʷalayu House was built to increase access to health care. Learn more here about how we will work to ensure Q̓ʷalayu House reduces barriers to improve health outcomes for children, youth, and their families.
Q̓ʷalayu House is located at 565 2nd Avenue on the North Island Hospital – Campbell River campus, behind Yucalta Lodge. Q̓ʷalayu House is accessible through the Yucalta Lodge driveway.
Amenities at Q̓ʷalayu House
- 10 guest bedrooms including one accessible room
- Large fully equipped kitchen – stocked with basic food staples
- Guest laundry facilities
- Playroom
- Multipurpose rooms for meetings and gatherings
- Great room and quiet sitting room
- Two outdoor deck spaces
- Large backyard with a patio, winding walkway, and basketball hoop
- Elevator
- Televisions
- Wifi
Take a virtual tour
Stay with us
Talk to your referring health care professional
Talk to your referring professional (doctor, social worker, community services worker) to determine when you need to be in Campbell River and for how long. Your referring professional will be the one to verify your stay at Q̓ʷalayu House.
Get on the list
Get on our waitlist (due to the nature of stays, there are times when we are unable to provide confirmation until 24 hours prior to arrival). Information needed to request a stay:
- Child’s name
- Guardian name
- Guest phone
- Guest email
- Number of guests
- Home location
- Referring professional name and contact info
- Date of arrival
- Anticipated length of stay
- Reason for stay
- Health condition
Confirm your stay 24 hours prior to arrival
We will make every effort to confirm stays as far in advance as possible, however, confirmation can be made anytime up to 24 hours before anticipated arrival.
FAQs
Q̓ʷalayu is pronounced kwuh-lie-you and it is a traditional word that Kwakwaka’wakw Elders use when talking about their children and babies as their reason for being.
Listen below to hear Elder Frances pronounce Q̓ʷalayu.
Q̓ʷalayu House welcomes pregnant women and families whose children (19 years of age or younger) are accessing health care services in Campbell River. This could include services at the Campbell River General Hospital, visits to pediatricians, specialists, or other health care providers in the region.
Day use of the Q̓ʷalayu House facilities can also be arranged for eligible families who do not require a room overnight. Guests must pre-register with Q̓ʷalayu House and meet eligibility requirements. Walk-ins are not permitted.
The room rate at Q̓ʷalayu House is $26.25 per night per family (includes GST). We recognize that families come in all shapes and sizes. Q̓ʷalayu House staff will discuss room capacity at the time of booking.
If a family is accessing the house for day use there is no fee but the family is welcome to make a donation in support of Q̓ʷalayu House.
Payment can be made by cash, debit card, or credit card. No family will be turned away if they cannot afford to pay — Q̓ʷalayu House staff will work with families to access funding through third parties as well as additional support from Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.
Families should bring their own clothing and toiletries. Q̓ʷalayu House will provide emergency supplies when necessary and as available. Rooms are fully equipped with beds, linens, and televisions. Q̓ʷalayu House has highchairs as well as playpens to support safe sleep practices.
Guest bedrooms
There are 10 guest bedrooms with one accessible room – please let staff know if an accessible suite is required. Most bedrooms have one queen bed and one double bed. There is one larger guest suite that has two additional twin beds. Rooms will be assigned based on need and availability. Each guest bedroom has a private bathroom.
Kitchen
Families are welcome to use the kitchen facilities, including the outdoor BBQ, to cook their own meals. Basic food staples and additional donated food are provided. Families may use the common fridges and freezer and are assigned a set of lockable drawers for their personal food items. An ice machine is available.
Laundry
There are laundry facilities available at the house for families. Unscented laundry soap is available for family use.
Internet
Thanks to Telus, wireless internet is available around the house.
Play
The Rainbow Room is a children’s play area with books, games, and activities.
Outdoor spaces
Families are invited to enjoy the outdoor spaces at Q̓ʷalayu House. At the back of the house there is a patio, winding walkway, gardens, and basketball hoop. There are two decks at the house with spectacular views and comfortable outdoor furniture.
Private multipurpose spaces
There are several bookable rooms integrated into Q̓ʷalayu House. These rooms may be booked for meetings with health care professionals, quiet family gatherings, and/or spiritual practices and ceremonies. Please ask staff about how to access these spaces.
No medical or counselling services are provided at Q̓ʷalayu House.
Child care services are not provided. Children staying at Q̓ʷalayu House must be under the supervision of parents at all times; they cannot be left on the premises without adult supervision.
Guests may have visitors at Q̓ʷalayu House, subject to reasonable limitations on time and numbers. They are asked to sign in when they arrive at the house and to respect the privacy and needs of other families.
While Q̓ʷalayu House is your home away from home, it is a shared space. Often families are in urgent or stressful situations. We strive to provide a nurturing and supportive environment while respecting that families value their privacy.
Q̓ʷalayu House is a drug-free, alcohol-free, and smoke-free facility. A full orientation to house rules will be provided to families when they arrive. Click here to see a copy of our family handbook.
If there is no room available, staff can share information about alternate accommodation or refer you to our Bear Essentials program. Learn more about the Bear Essentials program.
Please make sure you have alternate arrangements in case a room is not available.
Q̓ʷalayu House is staffed 24/7 so there is always someone home to welcome families.